The Film Daily (1922)

THE Sunday, December 17, 1922 DAILY A Very Definite Appeal to a "THE NINETY AND NINE" Vitagraph DIRECTOR David Smith AUTHOR Ramsaye Morris SCENARIO G. Graham Baker CAMERAMAN Steve Smith, Jr. AS A WHOLE Fine money-making possibilities in this one for a big majority of exhibitors STORY Contains elements of appeal that make it a good general audience picture that will prove sure-fire for "fan" crowd DIRECTION Very good for a picture of this kind; sequences too long drawn out occasionally; climax a genuine thrill PHOTOGRAPHY First rate LIGHTINGS All right PLAYERS Warner Baxter and Colleen Moore both do splendid work in this with Lloyd Whitlock, Gertrude Astor, Robert Dudley and others giving capable support EXTERIORS Suitable rural locations INTERIORS Good DETAIL Ample CHARACTER OF STORY Fugitive, seeking forgetfulness in drink, is saved by little country girl and eventually has his name cleared LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6,800 feet For the biggest majority of picture-goers in this country, the city patronage in particular, "The Ninety and Nine" will undoubtedly prove an especially strong attraction and sufficiently popular to make it a definite box office offering for those exhibitors who make up the largest part of the entire number of picture exhibiting theaters, catering to people who seek action and thrills for their entertainment in preference to originality of story or artistry of production. And as an entertainment of its kind, "The Ninety and Nine" is thoroughly capable of satisfying the many who want their diversion supplied in quantities of thrills. Besides this element of appeal Ramsaye Big Majority of Picture Goers Morns' story, adapted from the piay, contains other angles that make it an attractive audience picture. It includes the ever popular regeneration thtme in which a fugitive from justice, trying to drown out the past in drink, is urged to "go straight" by the little girl who sticks by him even when her father falsely accuses her and turns her out of his house. This sequence, especially, is very well handled by Colleen Moore and Warner Baxter, who have the principal roles. Director Smith has directed it well also except that he uses too much footage and draws it out longer than he should to obtain the best effect. The development is smooth and the interest very well sustained. Coincidence is the most prominent means of development, but it probably won't annoy those to whom the picture will appeal and for whom it is evidently intended. Prohibition has been ignored for purposes of the plot, and hero drinks freely at an honest-to-goodness bar. The very best feature of this production is the splendid climax which Smith has provided. The forest fire has been staged with unusual realism and offers a genuinely spectacular thrill. It has been excellently photographed, and no doubt will set a good many wondering how it was done. The train flying through the forest with the flames jumping at it from both sides is indeed fine. Story: Tom Silverton, a fugitive, hides in Marlow, where a little girl of the town, Ruth Blake, urges him to give up drink, and her interest in him finally causes her father to send her from the house. Leveridge, owner of the railroad who, with his fiancee Miss Van Dyck, is stopping with the Blakes, secures the cooperation of a half-wit admirer of Ruth's to frame a robbery on Silverton, whom he suspects to be Bradbury, the fugitive. How Silverton saves the lives of many in a forest fire and wins the admiration of all follows the clearing of his name which proves him not guilty of the crime which made him a fugitive. Play Up The Forest Fire Thrill to Get Them Interested Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It looks like a sure-fire box office attraction for the exhibitors who can use it to advantage, and there are such a large majority of them that "The Ninety and Nine" will undoubtedly bring the producers a splendid return. The picture runs too long as shown for review and needs cutting to speed it up at times, such as the sequence in which the girl makes her various appeals to the hero to reform. This is too drawn out. This is Vitagraph's second production of this story, the first having been made in 1916. Exploitation should be a simple matter and getting them interested may best be accomplished by your promises for a picture of action and thrills. Try and secure a trailer of the forest fire. That alone should bring them back to see the picture. Exploit the fire in your announcements and use the names of Colleen Moore and Warner Baxter. Your local church organization might be glad to cooperate in view of the title. L