The Film Daily (1923)

THE nday, August 5, 1923 Jack Holt in I Gentleman of Leisure" Paramount a Whole FAIRLY GOOD 3ROOK COMEDY THAT OFFERS SOME AMUSEMENT IN JPITE OF AGE OLD FORMULA WITH THE EVER POPULAR AND MUCH SOUGHT VFTER PEARLS. ir Will please his admirers :nd makes the most of the opporunities afforded by role that loesn't quite measure up to his retirements. St Sigrid Holmquist, a pretty ead; others Casson Ferguson, Alec 7rancis, Adele Farrington, Frank kelson, Alfred Allen, Nadeen Paul ind Alice Queensberry. pe of Story Adaptation of ohn Stapleton and P. G. Wodeiouse stage play makes average enertainment; a good summer lumber that will amuse sufficiently o get it over; has to do with wager if rich fellow that he will win a cerain girl as his bride; the plan incudes his turning crook and beaming involved with gang really cheming to steal some famous •earls. x Office Angle The majority vill enjoy this one. The story sn't strong nor do the situations ;et very far from the beaten track »f crook stories, but the comedy •usiness saves it most of the time. Ml right for most audiences. ploitation Use the star's lame prominently. If he has many tdmirers among your regulars, ap>eal to them especially in his behalf md promise them he will entertain hem with his adventures as an amiteur crook in "A Gentleman of ^eisure." In connection with the title you night give the town a laugh and ex)loit the picture at the same time >y having a man togged out as the jroverbial "weary willy," going a)out town with a sandwich sign •eading: "I'm not a hobo, just 'A jentleman of Leisure.' I'll be at he blank theater on (date.)" In contrast to the above, have a fashionably attired gentleman drive ibout in a sport car, which a local dealer might be glad to provide, ind displaying signs reading "Meet me at the blank theater on (date.) Signed 'A Gentleman of Leisure.' " Paramount has some attractive ads that can be used prominently, particularly one headed "Chasing the Blues Away," showing Jack Holt running away from an officer and safeguarding the much coveted picture of the girl he wagers to marry. irection by Joseph Henabery; appears to have gotten the most out of the story and manipulation of comedy business has helped to cover up shortcomings of story. Jthors John Stapleton and P. G. Wodehouse. :enario Jack Cunningham and Anthony Coldeway. imeraman Faxon Dean tiotography Good ocale...Long Island country home ength 5,096 feet Roy Stewart in "The Love Brand" Universal As a Whole. . . .A PLEASING PROGRAM PICTURE THAT WILL SATISFY THE AVERAGE AUDIENCE; COMBINES WESTERN STUFF WITH PLENTY OF ROMANCE. TYPES WELL SELECTED THROUGHOUT. Star.... Well suited to part of ranch owner. Exhibits some good horsemanship and is entirely adequate otherwise. Cast.... Has been very well chosen as to types. Margaret Landis opposite Stewart; others Wilfred North, Arthur Hull, Sydney De Grey, Marie Wells. Type of Story. .. .Contains pleasing romantic incidents with beautiful backgrounds of cattle ranch in southern California. Story deals with three Easterners who plan to get possession of the ranch knowing there is oil on it. The girl, however, really falls in love with the owner and when he is informed of the plot afoot, brands herself to prove her love. Box Office Angle. .. .Should prove suitable for the average theater either in combination with another feature or with good selection of short reels; especially suitable for audiences who like westerns. Exploitation. .. .Feature the star's name in conjunction with the title, which is a fairly attractive one, and if you have played his last picture "Burning Words" and it went well, you might tell them this has the same star and director. Play up the fact that the locations are extremely beautiful, showing the large expanses of the cattle country in Southern California. The Spanish hacienda looks like the real thing and not like one constructed for a picture. A lobby display of scenes from the film should attract, as should a trailer showing either the shot of the cattle rustling or a bit of the chase after the thieves, or the scene in the cabin where the girl is ordered to cook for the first time in her life. You might also use catchlines to this effect: "Do women love men who order them around?" See 'The Love Brand' — the story of a society girl who branded herself to prove her love." Should you care to boost it any further you might use as a stunt a man in cowboy get-up, having him either ride or walk through the streets with a banner on his back which reads: "I am looking for the girl who branded herself for love. Have you seen her? If not, see 'The Love Brand' at the blank theater." Direction by. .. .Stuart Paton; usually entirely satisfactory. Girl's entrance in ballroom scene not as well done as it might have been. Author Raymond L. Schrock Scenario Adrian Johnson Cameraman William Thornley Photography Extremely good. Locale A ranch in Lower California. Length 4,832 feet. "Mignon" As a Whole.. ..PICTURIZED FOREIGN VERSION OF THE OPERA WITH TITLES TAKEN FROM THE LIBRETTO; PICTORIAL BEAUTY ITS BEST FEATURE Players A title designates that the film was "made abroad with internationally known stars of stage and opera," but no names are given nor faces recognized. The girl in the title role gives a pretty fair performance but overworks her eyelashes in registering emotions. The gypsy types are excellent, and the rest of the cast equally wellchosen. Type of Story A combination of tragedy and drama written by Goethe, with the music by Ambrose Thomas. Deals with troubles of a girl whose parents commit suicide upon learning they are half brother and sister. The girl is stolen by gypsies in her childhood, but after many years is at last happy with man she loves. The period is in the eighteenth century. Box Office Angle Taken in the Swiss Alps and on the Riviera. You can promise really exquisite natural settings and a theme that is acknowledgedly a classic, so this ought to appeal to a so-called '"highbrow" clientele, although to uneducated audiences it may prove boring. Exploitation. . ..The complete musical score of the opera has been prepared and used in conjunction with the picture will afford a treat to music lovers, who probably will find the most enjoyment in the picture. If you decide to play "Mignon," get after the folks in your neighborhood who are lovers of the opera by advertising the fact that this is the picturized version of Goethe's masterpiece, gaining in charm by having been taken on location given in the story. Proper exploitation should get your crowd interested. If there are any "better film" movements in your town by all means perfect a tie-up. A phonograph in your lobby with records from the opera should attract attention, and you could have a girl dressed as a gypsy to change the records. A woman dressed in a powdered wig and hoop-skirts of the _ eighteenth century going about distributing librettos of the opera might also serve to attract attention to your theater. Direction by Not credited. Continuity might be smoother, and titles taken from the librettos are confusing. Author Goethe Scenario by Not credited Cameraman L. Kutzleb Photography Very good Locale The Swiss Alps and the Riviera. Length About 8,000 feet Jenkins and Hawks Together Wells Hawks and John Wilber Jenkins have opened publicity offices at 140 W. 42nd St. De Luxe In Deal (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Philadelphia — De Luxe Film has closed for the territorial rights to "Adventures of the Far North." Cartoon To Boost F. B. O. Pictures Arrangements have been made by F. B. O. with a newspaper syndicate to run a series of cartoons in a number of leading papers throughout the country. The comic strip will deal with life at the coast studio. Vote Against Bad Films According to cables from Geneva, at the annual meeting of the International Child Welfare Ass'n a resolution was adopted to keep children away from undesirable films. A central bureau was created at the meeting to act as a sort of clearing house where information can be obtained relative to the character of films. Two Sales on Columbia Pictures Two more sales have been completed this week by C. B. C. on the new series of Columbia Pictures. The first was to Federated of Boston, for New England and the other with William Oldknow for Southern States Film Company for the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama. Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas. Canadian Distributors Meet; Elect (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Toronto — At the annual meeting of the Ontario M. P. Distributors Assn., the following were elected officers: president, Clair Hague, Universal; vice-president, G. E. Akers, Famous Players; treasurer. H. V. O'Connor. Regal; John A. Cooper was re-elected secretary. The advisory board will consist of Arthur Cohen, Regal; Louis Bache, First Nat'l; Clair Hague and John Cooper.