The Film Daily (1922)

THE Sunday, November 12, 1922 ■sm DAILY Not Much to the Story But It Will Please Star's Following Rodolph Valentino in "THE YOUNG RAJAH" Paramount DIRECTOR Philip Rosen AUTHOR * J. A. Mitchell SCENARIO BY June Mathis CAMERAMAN James Van Trees AS A WHOLE Presents star in elaborate and fantastic surroundings; a picturesque romance that makes it a pretty picture but little more STORY Fanciful tale that makes costume model rather than actor of star DIRECTION Adequate; Oriental episodes are good to look at; could not make such material convincing entertainment PHOTOGRAPHY Excellent LIGHTINGS Good STAR Has little real acting to do SUPPORT Wanda Hawley not the most suitable lead for Valentino; a satisfactory cast generally EXTERIORS Good INTERIORS Appropriate DETAIL Ample CHARACTER OF STORY Boy adopted by Connecticut farmer turns out to be famous rajah LENGTH OF PRODUCTION. 7,705 feet For the admirers of Rodolph Valentino, "The Young Rajah" will undoubtedly furnish satisfactory entertainment because they are not likely to complain about anything as long as the star is present. His host of followers, the "flapper" crowd in particular, will be pleased with the highly improbable but colorful romance contained in "The Young Rajah," a fanciful story with two widely different episodes that have not a convincing connection. Connecticut and the Orient are a great distance apart but they are the two principal locales in the story, with the situations almost as widely separate. On the one hand there is an Oriental kingdom with considerable squabbling over the right to the throne and on the other there is a village in America where the rightful heir, a young rajah, has been hidden by those protecting him against the wrath of his father's enemies. The story's most outstanding implausibility is the boy's power to forecast the future. He can definitely foretell coming events and there is an explanation of how he came by this gift which is equally vague and fanciful. In fact it would have been much more satisfactory if they had given this one a dream finish rather than try to present it in a serious vein for the situations are such that they cannot provide serious entertainment despite the efforts of Director Philip Rosen to make them so. The piece appears to have been selected solely for the variety of situations and atmosphere which it gives the star. To mention a few of the bits in which he appears are as a college student, a member of Yale's rowing team, a horseback rider, lover and rajah. Valentino uses a large wardrobe in this one and as far as his admirers are concerned they'll probably consider it a first rat6 vehicle. Wanda Hawley does satisfactory work as the girl but doesn't make a particularly attractive lead for the star. Others in the cast are adequate. The picture has been well produced with several more or less lavish scenes in the Oriental sequences. A slight comic vein appears at intervals and the romance is prominent throughout. The trouble over the throne is never very clear. Story : It develops that Amos Judd, college student, is a rajah and heir to the throne. How he foresees that he will be compelled to return to his native land and events transpire as he anticipates them compose the most of the picture. Should Be Easy to Get Them In With Valentino's Name Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Judging from the crowd at the Rivoli this week it would seem that all you need is Valentino's name to get them in. And for those who like him, "The Young Rajah" will probably please them as well as anything, that is if they are satisfied with just seeing him, regardless of the story. This one doesn't require very much of his acting ability but it does show him off to advantage in a variety of ways. You can count on the "flapper" contingent especially to support "The Young Rajah." They will be delighted with the romance and for their benefit let them know about the young heir to an Oriental throne who fell in love with an American girl. You can rely upon it to attract attention particularly by displaying stills of Valentino in his rajah attire. They may expect another "sheik" picture. Wanda Hawley's name can also be used but Valentino's should be sufficient.