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Sunday, May 13, 1923
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Production Excellent and Artistic But Story Makes Dull Picture
7
Hugo Ballin's Prod.
"VANITY FAIR"
Goldwyn
DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin
AUTHOR Wm. Thackeray
SCENARIO BY Hugo Ballin
CAMERAMAN J. Diamond
AS A WHOLE. . . . A highly artistic production, splendid photography and with unlimited pictorial appeal, but this alone fails to spell entertainment
STORY The author's manner of writing could
not be visualized although much effort and expense is displayed in picturing his story
DIRECTION Deserves credit for tackling what
doesn't lend itself readily to film purposes; his artistic efforts have not secured genuine entertainment
PHOTOGRAPHY Excellent
LIGHTINGS Very good
PLAYERS Mabel Ballin tries very hard to make
Thackeray's flirtatious Becky Sharp an interesting personage; the cast is reasonably effective and includes Hobart Bosworth, George Walsh, Harrison Ford, Earle Fox, Eleanor Boardman, Willard Louis and Robert Mack
EXTERIORS Pleasing
INTERIORS First rate
DETAIL Far too much in spite of the fact that
it is all good
CHARACTER OF STORY A chronicle of the
adventures of pretty Becky Sharp who spoils her life through her own vanity
LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 7,668 feet
Hugo Ballin isn't strictly to blame for the fact that "Vanity Fair" doesn't provide good entertainment. Certainly he has shown every effort and spent plenty of money to make the picture attractive. But he is to be criticised for selecting Thackeray's well known novel which, as proven by Mr. Ballin's attempt, is not suitable screen material. It was Thackeray's manner
of writing, his dialogue and description, that made "Vanity Fair" popular as a book rather than the chronicled adventures of his heroine, Becky Sharp.
The result is an offering colorful in atmosphere, artistic in settings, technically fine and beautifully pictured, but the story development lacks a sustained interest, contains little or no dramatic incident and resolves itself into a series of pretty pictures in which Becky Sharp holds the center of the stage and carries on her vanities to her heart's content. All the good features of Ballin's production fail to give it an absorbing interest, fail to create in the spectator any anxiety as to the outcome and little thought regarding what has already taken place. 'Vanity Fair" fails to impress other than for its pictorial appeal.
The picture is far too long and made so through an over-abundance of detail that, while effective and entirely descriptive of Thackeray's novel, makes the picture quite tedious at times and anti-climactic There is a sequence about a quarter way through in the feature that contains some first rate humor of a quaint order. It deals with the effort of Sir Pitt Crawley to obtain a third wife in the person of Becky Sharp.
"Vanity Fair" is almost entirely lacking in dramatic incident except for the instance where young Rawdon Crawley finds his wife in the embrace of the wealthy old Marquis of Steyne. Incidentally this is the only chance in the picture where George Walsh has an opportunity to act humanly. The rest of the time he is seen flitting around in back of "Miss Ballin, once in such an awkward fashion that he collides with the shepherd crook she carries.
Miss Ballin does very well with the role of Becky Sharp except for moments where she appears to be Irving too hard to get her part over. Eleanor Boardman is a pretty Amelia Sedley, while George Walsh, Harrison Ford and Earle Fox do all that is required satisfactorily. Hobart Bosworth makes the most of a small character part and Robert Mack injects the humor mentioned above.
Will Please From a Pictorial Standpoint If That Is Sufficient For Your Crowd
Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor
"Vanity Fair," aside from whatever else it may be conceded to be, is one of the current offenders for long distance footage. It is close to eight reels and the story doesn't deserve it regardless of the expense that was evidently incurred to present it. It is unfortunate that a picture upon which serious effort has been expended should hold such an unsettled forecast as far as the box office is concerned.
That folks will be pleased with the picture as far as
its being good to look at should give you little concern, because it is pictorially attractive. But whether or not they will be entertained by what occurs against these pretty backgrounds is another matter. Of course "Vanity Fair," as a title, should mean something and in all probability serve to bring in many admirers of Thackeray. Hugo Ballin's name can be used and that of Miss Ballin for the benefit of those who have seen their previous pictures