The Film Daily (1924)

THE •a&H DAILV Sunday, January 6, 1924 Reviews of the Newest Features Hoot Gibson in "Hook and Ladder" Universal As a Whole. . . .ANOTHER GOOD GIBSON ENTERTAINMENT WITH STAR DOING HIS BEST TO PLEASE HIS AUDIENCE; THEY'LL LIKE IT. Star Always dependable. Gives another fine performance and his numerous admirers are going to get a lot of fun out of his learning to be a fireman. Cast. .. .Mildred June a pretty heroine and Philo McCullough the regulation villain. Frank Beal good as the fire captain. Edward Davis a typical political boss. Type of Story Comedy-drama. Gibson strikes another good vehicle in one especially prepared for him by Edward Sedgwick and Raymond L. Schrock. The story starts off to be a particularly original one but drifts into the regulation stock situations with the introduction of villain McCullough and his devilish attempts to put hero Hoot out of the running. Of course the efforts of McCullough and his devil attempts to put hero out of the running. First there's the fight in the dance hall which Hoot battling a dozen. antagonists easily enough. Then there's the grand fire climax in which villain plans to get the political boss in trouble and at the same time spoil hero's faith in his sweetheart. His plan miscarries, the boss' home catches fire and hero has a chance to save the girl's life while villain is killed by a dog. The latter reels contain regulation hokum but this isn't going to hurt the film's chances as entertainment. Box Office Angle Exhibitors in the habit of playing the Hoot Gibson features should be able to judge pretty well how big a drawing card the star is by now. Exploitation Here's a good title and one that should be easy to put over. If you can persuade your local fire chief to cooperate with you, you might have the department parade the apparatus and announce the showing of "Hook and Ladder" at your theater on blank date. Have men going about in firemen's uniforms distributing throw-aways reading: "Would you jump from a ten-story building into a life-net? It's part of a fireman's duty. See 'Hook and Ladder.' " You could easily win the cooperation'of the firemen by promising a performance for their benefit. Direction. .. .Edward Sedgwick; this Hoot Gibson-Edward Sedgwick combination seems to be a wise one; they've already turned out many good entertainments. Authors .... Edward Sedgwick and Raymond L. Schrock Scenario E. Richard Schayer Cameraman Virgil Miller Photography Good Art Director E. E. Sheeley Locale Los Angeles Length 5,568 feet. "The Rendezvous" Producer: Marshall Neilan Distributor : Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan As a Whole.... PRETTY LITTLE LOVE STORY WOVEN IN BUT TOO MUCH ELSE IN THE WAY OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONARY BUSINESS THAT ISN'T SO INTERESTING. SOME GOOD DRAMATIC BITS. Cast. . . .Lucille Rickson gives a thoroughly pleasing and sincere performance as the Russian peasant girl while Conrad Nagel is the American soldier who goes back to claim her as his bride. Elmo Lincoln a fierce villain who cringes and creeps in terrifying fashion. Sydney Chaplin good except in some overdone comedy bits. Type of Story. .. .Dramatic romance in which a child of royalty, in the old Russian regime, is left in the care of peasants, and reared as one. How she marries a brigand to save the life of the man she believes is her father, in spite of the fact that she is waiting for the return of her American lover, is followed by brutal encounters with the man she has married but avoids. Deaf from a beating he has given her, she fails to hear his cries when he is entombed in a stone shrine. How death comes to the man and happiness to the girl in the return of her lover closes the story. Marshall Neilan travels far for atmosphere in his latest picture, one that starts out to be a lagging Russian revolutionary plot with a, prologue that fails to get the interest'. Once they get into the main story, there's a pretty love theme, charmingly played by Lucille Ricksen and Conrad Nagel, that will probably send them out satisfied. There are several good dramatic climaxes, a trifle brutal in nature, but they'll serve to please those who favor something a little more substantial than just plain romance. The happy ending could be reached much sooner. Box Office Angle. . .You might judge this to better advantage by seeing it yourself. Exploitation For the romance lovers you can talk about the little Russian peasant girl who became the bride of an American soldier as the happy climax of a tragic and unhappy life in dissatisfied Russia. Talk about Lucille Ricksen and the very charming performance which she gives as the little Russian girl. Of course use Marshall Neilan's name prominently, mentioning his previous productions which proved successful. Direction. .. .Marshall Neilan; good, on the whole, but might have made a much better picture. Author Madeline Ruthven Scenario Josephine Lovett Cameraman David Kesson Art Director Cedric Gibbons Photography Good Locale Russia 'Length 7,415 feet. Glenn Hunter in "West of the Water Tower" Paramount As a Whole... HOMER CROY'S NOVEL GIVES INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO SMALL TOWN LIFE WITH MANY CONVINCING ANGLES THAT ARE SPLENDIDLY BROUGHT OUT. DEVELOPMENT IS FAR TOO SLOW. Star. . . .One of the best of his screen performances so far. Is given a role that fits him splendidly and handles it well. Is allowed too many close-ups that are too prolonged. Cast. .. .Ernest Torrence has a less vigorous role than is usually allotted him but plays it very well; Maj' MacAvoy a pleasing heroine; George Fawcett good in minor part. Type of Story Drama of small town folk in which the familiar atmosphere is extensively brought out — that of community bigotry. Homer Croy has dealt with the situation rather openly and without stihr. He shows them up for just what they are. His handling of the idea is splendid and to be commended. Director's Sturgeon's picturization of Croy's novel is also worth while to the extent that he brings out the author's intention splendidly, pictures his people realistically and puts the more important parts in hands of players capable of getting them over, but ^Director Sturgeon, from an entertainment viewpoint, has missed on one important point: his development is slow, the theme drags and there is too much arbitrary business, too much uncertainty in the progress, an apparent effort to hold the suspense of the climax by giving each side an equal opportunity to win; either hero or the narrow-minded townsmen. Box Office Angle. . . .There's a really charming, fine audience appeal ending to "West of the Water Tower" that will certainly send them out feeling fine, but you will have to be judge as to whether or not the foregoing reels will keep them that long. Exploitation. . . . Paramount, previous to the New York showing of the picture, had billboard teasers that were quite attractive. They contained the picture of a water tower and the word "West." These were followed by the same posters with the title completed. It should prove a good advertising stunt. Get book storedealers to display Homer Croy's novel in conjunction with cards announcing the picture showing at your theater. Direction Rolin Sturgeon; good but lets story drag. Author Homer Croy Scenario .... Lucien Hubbard and Doris Schroeder Cameraman Harry B. Harris Photography Good Locale Western town Length 7,432 feet. Jane Novak in "The Lullaby" Film Booking Offices As a Whole JANE NOVAK'S EXCEPTIONALLY FINE PERFORMANCE THE OUTSTANDING FEATURE OF "THE LULLABY," A TRAGIC THEME, BEAUTIFUL IN HEART INTEREST TOUCHES BUT OFTEN QUITE HARROWING. Star. .. .Offers what is probably one of the best performances of her career; carries her emotional bits with a force and deep sincerity that makes her work thoroughly absorbing. Cast Robert Anderson gives a splendid characterization as the Italian who worships his Sicilian bride. Fred Maletesta suitable as the jealous friend. Dorothy Marion Mack about the cutest youngster that ever appeared on the screen. Apparently entirely unconscious of the camera, she's bound to win the hearts of everyone. Others are Marguerite Snow, Otis Harlan, Peter Burke, Lydia Yeamans Titus. Type of Story. .. .Chiefly a tragedy .;, but with a happy ending. Here's a picture that many will like extremely well providing they don't object to having their heart strings tugged upon to a great extent for "The Lullaby" is sad in atmosphere. Mrs. Ducey's story is a pathetic tale of the great love and devotion of a young Italian couple and the sudden tragedy wherein the husband kills his best friend when he finds him attacking his wife. The swiftness of the law which claims the Italian's life and leaves his wife ;in prison with her new born babe, is probably the picture's most tense sequence. Box Office Angle Most women folks enjoy a "good sad picture." . Here's -one over which they'll enjoy weeping and feel thoroughly justified in doing it. "The Lullaby" is a deeply human and sincere picture with a story that is interesting and good entertainment if they ; don't mind it being tragic. The happy ending does help to offset the harrowing bits, nevertheless. Exploitation Talk about the remarkably fine performance of Jane Novak. Her work merits all the publicity and exploitation that you can give her. Let them know that her's is a real mother role and go into the story sufficiently to give them an idea of what they may expect. Perhaps you'll need to do some considering if you think "The Lullaby" will be too heavy for them or else you might build up your program with good, amusing short subjects. The title is a good one. Direction Chester Bennet; very good. Author Lillian Ducey Scenario . . Hope Loring & Louis D. Leighton Cameraman Jack McKenzie Photography Good Locale New York Length 7,179 feet.