The Film Daily (1923)

THE -S&n DAILY Sunday, August 5, 19 1 Reviews of the Newest Feature. Hoot Gibson in "Out of Luck" Universal As a Whole PLEASING LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT WITH SOME AMUSING COMEDY BITS THAT HELP PUT IT OVER DESPITE FLIMSY PLOT. Star. . .Thoroughly likeable as unwilling sailor and bashful cowpuncher lover. Should more than please his admirers in this one. Gets his comedy stuff over in great shape, but inclined to overdo it just a trifle as the bashful suitor. Cast Laura La Plante looks very good and is a very satisfactory opposite for Gibson. She gives a good performance. Others DeWitt Jennings, Freeman Wood, Howard Truesdell, Elinor Hancock, Jay Morley. Type of Story No very strong situations but a pleasing plot that does not tax the mind and affords light entertainment. Cowpuncher strikes father of girl he loves in self-defense. Thinking he has killed him he runs away and joins the Navy. Learning that the man is not dead, he wishes to leave the Navy but is forced to stay the period of his enlistment. Girl visits rich aunt who turns out to be wife of captain of ship boy is on, and whose life he saves. After several delays boy and girl are reunited. Box Office Angle. . . .Should be good where star is a favorite or where light entertainment is desired. Build up program with good short reels. Troubles a green "gob" endures in the navy will bring many laughs. Exploitation Feature the star's name and that of Laura La Plante. They are a pleasing combination that should prove attractive to many. The title should be used in conjunction with catchlines to the effect that "Sam was 'out of luck' but he couldn't get out of the navy." or "He wanted to 'resign' from the navy but they told him he was 'Out of Luck.' " A trailer of any of the bits on board the battleship, showing Gibson leaning over the rail, or trying to board the boat, or his struggle with the hammock will undoubtedly bring them back. These are the funniest bits in the picture, however, and they may expect more than they see if you show the best bits first. A good advertising stunt might be to have paper sailor caps given away with suitable lettering. Direction by Edward Sedgwick; lets the first part run too long but the comedy bits are well done, and players well-handled. Author Edward Sedgwick Scenario George C. Hull Cameraman Virgil Miller Photography Very good Locale A ranch, U. S. Navy, a home in San Francisco. Length 5,518 feet David Smith Prod. "The Midnight Alarm" Vitagraph As a Whole.... RAPIDLY MOVING MELODRAMA WITH SEVERAL FINE THRILLS. STORY IS ALWAYS OBVIOUS BUT THE PICTURE IS SUREFIRE ENTERTAINMENT. Players. . . .Generally satisfactory. No one does anything unusual but the picture depends on its rapid action and not acting to put it over. Leads played by Alice Calhoun. Percy Marmont, Cullen Landis and Joseph Kilgour. Type of Story. .. .Out-and-out melodrama with all the usual trimmings. There's an auto collision with a train; an open drawbridge and the hero's saving act; and the final punch, a very well done fire sequence. The "papers" cause all the trouble and Joseph Kilgour the heartaches of the hero and heroine. Box Office Angle. . . .Holds a decided appeal for the general public. There will be the usual well wishes for the hero and her lover and the curses for the villain. Exploitation. . . .Treat this for what it is: an old-fashioned melodrama such as was in vogue in the "10-2030" days. If you attempt to use a dignified exploitation campaign on this, you're sunk. It isn't that kind of picture. Ballyhoo it and circus it and you'll get the business. Tell your patrons just what kind of a picture it is: that virtue and honesty triumph over the dirty machinations of the villain who seeks the girl's fortune. Get confidential and tell them that they know they all want to see the hero win and the deep-dyed villain get his just deserts. Tie-up with your fire department and arrange special showings for the force. Do the same with newsboys because Alice Calhoun in the picture appears as a "newsgirl." Maybe you can turn part of one day's receipts to the fire department fund for disabled men and in this way arrange a display of some of the apparatus. Make a lot of noise about the thrills and above all. don't attempt to disguise the character of the picture. It's regulation melodrama with all the punches the director could get into it and play it up as such. Direction by.... David Smith: has done very well; fire sequence a fine piece of photographic work. Permitted action to slow up after the train wreck but the thrills at the end make amends. Some detail occurs conveniently. Author J. W. Harkins Scenario C. Graham Baker Cameraman Steve Smith, Jr. Photography Generally good. Locale A Western city. Length 7.000 feet. James Cruze Prod. "Hollywood" Paramount As A Whole LOOKS AS IF IT SHOULD GO BIGGER THAN "SOULS FOR SALE"— AND THAT'S GOING SOME* SURE-FIRE AND WITH A VAST APPEAL. Players Nearly everyone in the movie colony puts in an appearance in the picture; a long list of real stars and all of them given good prominence even though they are not a definite part of the story; those actually taking part in the story are Hope Brown, Luke Cosgrove, G. K. Arthur, Rubie Lafayette and Eleanor Lawson. A few of the celebrities appearing are Mary and Doug, Chaplin. Pola Negri, Turpin, Lila Lee, Lois Wilson, J. Warren Kerrigan, Agnes Ayres. Jacqueline Logan, Nita Naldi. Stuart Holmes, Cecil DeMille, William DeMille, and others too numerous to mention. Type of Story A winner for the box office; all about Hollywood, its people, pictures, studios and whatever else goes with the making of pictures; a lot of interesting, intimate detail that is going to give the fan crowd thrills galore; small town girl goes to Hollywood, to "break into the movies." She is followed by her whole family and they all get in except her. Laughs are numerous and the dream sequence a riot and the best bit of hokum ever done. Box Office Angle Spells success for the exhibitor. "Hollywood" should be a clean-up. And regardless of whether they have seen "Souls for Sale" or not. This is more strictly and more intimately a look into movieland than the other. They'll eat it up. Exploitation Here is one you can afford to get excited about. "Hollywood" will undoubtedly prove one of the biggest money makers of the year unless the dope is way off. Picture patrons the world over, and in this country particularly, can't find out enough about Hollywood and its people. The story is there too. Let them know "Hollywood" isn't propaganda even though it may seem so at the start. Promise them a load of laughs, — real ones. There shouldn't be any exploitation diagnosis necessary. You know besl how to get them in. Do it. Better install a new electric S. R. O. sign. Direction by James Cruze; he of "The Covered Wagon" fame adds another to his successes; has done a great job on "Hollywood,"— a picture that affords genuine entertainment and looks like sure-fire box office material. Author Frank Condon Scenario Tom Geraghty Cameraman Karl Brown Photography Splendid Locale Hollywood Length 8,197 feet Marion Davies in Old New York' , roducer: Cosmopolitan Prod. IMstributor : Goldwyn-Cosmopoli 1 As a Whole STAGE PU BEAUTIFULLY PICTUR ) AND GORGEOUSLY PHOTGRAPHED; WILL PLEA? ESPECIALLY FOR ITS P TORIAL VALUE AND STA 5 FOLLOWING WILL LIKE Jhar Docs some real troupingl young Pat O'Day; handles the in her own style with charaJ originated by Genevieve To the stage, slightly changed to I her personality. Probably her l,t performance. Cast. .Fine types all the way throu ; Harrison Ford good as Larry D van; famous personages of old Ml York portrayed by Sam Hard\ I. M. Kerrigan, Courtenay Fo . Mahlon Hamilton, Norval Ki well, Montague Love, Riley Hal Louis Wolheim. Type of Story. . . . A romance of r York in the early days; delighjj atmosphere and picturesque tings make up for rather si it story material; picture is much I long and something should I with anti-climactic ending tha is flash-back of early episode. Box Office Angle.. For anyone infested in the early history of ] York when Bowling Green was! "great white way," so to spi "Little Old New York" will be a charming entertainment they'll welcome heartily. On the other hand the offe g will appeal for its pictorial sp I dor. They have spent a toinf money to make it good to looUl and it surely is. Marion Davie ^ probably the most advertised : hire star there is and with i wealth of publicity that will rl been given "Little Old New Yc before it reaches you, your hi should already have heard eno ti about it to want to sec it. Exploitation. . . . Exhibitors opera g houses in and around New ^ k will find it much easier to inte I their patrons in this one than tl ■< outside, for here is a picture \ h a story dealing with New Yor A street stunt might consist tally-ho with the occupants drerd after the fashion of the player' n the picture. The entrance to your theW might represent the garden as .'■ in the picture, and if you hi women ushers, have them drc I in hoop skirts and bonnets. Direction by ...Sidney Olcott; I certainly gone the limit to irl the picture beautiful; has injeil many fine touches and hanw story with historical bits afford! unusually interesting touches I tractively. Author Rida Johnson Yo « Scenario Luther E* Cameraman Ira H. Morm Photography Beauiul Locale Early days of New V'K Length About 10,000 « .