The Film Daily (1924)

12 THE -c^ak DAILY Sunday, January 6, 1924 PUBLIC LEDGER (EVENING)— The picture holds the interest through every foot. Continuity and photography are excellent and the vehicle fits Miss Murray perfectly. PUBLIC LEDGER (MORNING)— Mae Murray demonstrates her amazing versatility in the dual roles * * * Both characterizations are clear-cut and marvelously well done. "Fashion Row" is an absorbing tale * * * RECORD — "Fashion Row" is entertaining, with many a thrill and numerous ex amples of splendid photography. Columbia, Washington POST — Miss Murray's flair for the extravagant and the exotic sometimes conceals the plain fact that she can perfectly well act an ordinary human being. The truth is that she is at her best, so far ac real value is concerned, when she assume' a simple, everyday character. * * * In "Fashion Row" she runs the range o< her talent by playing two sisters of con trasting personality. STAR — "Fashion Row" lias the usua embellishments which distinguish Mae Mut ray productions — sumptuous interior settinp? unbelievably beautiful lighting effects whicl bring out the fragile loveliness of the star and gown creations which are startling ii their originality. "The Hunchback"— Universal Tivoli, Toronto MALL AND EMPIRE— The plot in its bare outline might be almost that of th< modern movie. But 'it is distinguished and removed to a plane of its own by the rich ness of its setting and by the fullness of life which it portrays. The casting of the production is flawless. "Long Live The King"— Metro Capitol, Cincinnati POST — * * * makes much above average motion picture entertainment. The chief kick we have is that the film is too long and that Jackie is overshadowed by the massive settings. COMMERCIAL TRIBUNE— With Jackie Coogan almost any picture will hit the bull's-eye. Added to the entrancing little actor the romantic story by Mary Roberts Rinehart of the mythical Balkan kingdom of Lavonia, set up in regal grandeur, you have excellence plus excellence. TIMES-STAR— While the picture is diverting, with many good touches, Mr. Schertzinger apparently failed to get full value out of his material. Moreover, he didn't seem to know when to stop, for he prolonged the footage beyond the logical ending * * * Mary Anderson, Louisville HERALD — Jackie Coogan again demonstartes his unusual ability to please and divert especially the children * * * TIMES — Pathos, comedy and romance are delightfully woven into an unusually interesting picture * * * Capitol, Montreal 'STAR — If the part does not suit him quite as well as some other characters that have made him famous, * * * he is, at least, always interesting and spontaneous, always a natural and winning youngster. * * * The picture has been well staged. The palace scenes are admirable, * * * "Mile-A-Minute Romeo" — Fox Rialto, Milwaukee JOURNAL—* * * if you like him (Tom Mix) you're sure to like what he does. Moon, Omaha WORLD-HERALD—* * * a clever picture * * * There is a good western background. * * * Lambert Hillyer is responsible for the good direction. "North of Hudson Bay"— Fox Majestic, Louisville HERALD — A production that is replete with the tang of the frigid north wastes. It is a gripping picture and one that demonstrated conclusively the strides Mix has made in improving his histronis ability. TIMES — Again the picturesque beauty of the frozen North is unfolded a story that is crowded with entertainment, and the theme is one that gets away from the hackneyed plot, which should make it appealing to those whose tastes are a bit jaded along this line. "Our Hospitality"— Metro Delmonte-Rivoli, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT—* * * a wonderful comedy melodrama, in which Keaton is seen at his very best. POST-DISPATCH—* * * the best sustained effort of the frozen-faced comedian. It is not funny all the time, but when the laughs come, they have behind them the force of an avalanche of humor. STAR — It cannot be classified as straight comedy, for there are heavy moments of slapstickery. and it is not consistent satire or burlesque. Nevertheless, it provokes a smile here, a chuckle there and a guffaw once in a while, and is, on the whole, divei ting. TIMES — Here is an evident refinement in comedy, a step forward in Keaton's offerings, a comedy with atmosphere, with plot, and with a reason for being. There s fun in the 7iatural situations arising from the story. There is delicious Fun in the picturization of a railroad journey on the primitive train of that day. "Red Lights"— Gold-Cosmop. Strand, Cincinnati COMMERCIAL TRIBUNE— Thrills galore, mystery and romance. POST — If you crave excitement see "Red Lights" by all means. It is mystery without bloodshed. The crooks make motions but they are deflected from their evil ways. TIMES-STAR— While somewhat overdramatic, "Red Lights" provides a nervetingling entertainment. "The Rendezvous" — Gold.-Cosmop. California, Los Angeles , (Week Ending Dec. 29) EXAMINER — Despite the merciless cutting room scissors, enough action, characterization and story are left in this film to make first-rate, very much alive entertainment A few sequences end abruptly, it is true, and a number of transitions are a bit shocking in their suddenness. * * * EXPRESS — Marshall Neilan's real genius and poetic imagination lightens and makes a thing of beauty of a grim and terrible tale that unrolled on the California screen yesterday. "The Rendezvous" is a creation of artistic merit and exceptional human sympathy. HERALD — While there have been countless pictures with mo-e elabobrate settings and larger casts, it is doubtful if any recent picture has been able to pull at the heart strings of an audience like this film. It is a not altogether sad picture. You will laugh on numerous occasions with Sydney Chaplin. RECORD— This is one of Neilan's best pictures. But I think he heedlessly passed up the opportunity to make it a great picture by failing to build up to this idea of the rendezvous of friendship, of love, of death. TIMES—* * * Lucille Ricksen. Sydney Chaplin and Conrad Nagel. * ' * work so excellently that the picture is worth going to see on their account. Otherwise it is uninspired, draggy and trite. "Reno"— Gold.-Cosmop. B'way Strand, Detroit FREE PRESS— Rupert Hughes has written and directed an unusual film play * Decidedly daring and risque in spts. "Reno" nevertheless brings to light some facts on the incongruities of America's divorce laws, * * # NEWS — * * * drama foremost and pictured commentary on existing divorce conditions * * * If you are satisfied to look upon "Reno" as merely a diverting melodrama, with moments of comedy relief, then you will enjoy the picture * * * TIMES — There's a lot of good, sound teaching in "Reno." Basically it's founded on cold fact * * * Photographically the picture is perfection itself. It is sensational in its revelations, at times, * Strand, Louisville HKRALD — Altho we do not altogether share the rather far-fetched conclusions of the author nevertheless it must be admitted that there is a world of truth in what is laid graphically before the eyes of the film fans. Moreover the silver sheet feature is corking good entertainment and presents scenes in some instances that are positively sensational. Merrill, Milwaukee SENTINEL—* * * Hughes, who directed the picture in addition to writing the story, has satirized it by handling it seriously we think, for as a result the finished product is as much overdrawn melodrama as satire. # # * "Reno" is the type of picture the average play goer wants and enjoys. Rialto, Washington POST — The plot seems to resemble a sort of matrimonial hash, * * * STAR — The actors are most serious in their performance of roles portraying domestic tragedies. Doubtless not one incident .in the play is exaggerated, for it is well known that such things happen. But there is something wrong with the story somewhere that stamps it as mediocre. "The Shepherd King"— Fox Washington, Detroit FREE PRESS— The value of filming a story of the magnitude of "The Shepherd King" on the exact sites described in the Bible can be seen in the matchless natural atmosphere which surrounds the thrilling dramatic action in the film. No studio setting could approach the historical sites selected in Egypt and in the Holy Land. TIMES — The picture is a spectacle, and ful if there is an equal in the annals of nlmdom. * * * In every way "The Shepherd King" is a great work. Liberty, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT — Massive sets and impressive mob scenes add to the spectacular beauty of the picture at every turn. The interiors of the picture are remarkable enough, but the active desert scenes, filmed in the shadows of the pyramids, are' even more so. Spectacles o* this nature are few and far between, but "The Shepherd King" will long be remembered as a great motion picture. STAR— "The Shepherd King" is gaudy rather than gorgeous, and obviously expensive rather than brilliant in production. J. Gordon Edwards did it. TIMES — The picture is a spectacle, and the massive interior scenes and the desert views are superb. But that fails to make of the photo play a convincing story. Such a picture is long remembered, because of its spectacular appeal and its Biblical theme. "The Silent Command"— L. A. Sun, Omaha WORLD-OMAHA — It carries a most interesting story which, for a while, appears to be simply the adventures of a weakling officer fascinated by the beautiful feminine decoy of the enemy. Then it takes an unfamiliar and perfectly satisfying twist. "Six Cylinder Love"— Fox Fox, Philadelphia BULLETIN — There are laughs aplenty in every cylinder of "Six Cylinder Love," which has humor or high horse power and finishes with a high speed record. INQUIRER— The play has lost little in its transference to the screen. * * * is a comedy in every sense of the word and is replete with laughs from beginning to end. The picture has been realistically handled and none of the laughs are forced. It goes along in a breezy way, * * * NORTH AMERICAN— This is a charming little comedy * * * Truex is much the same on the screen as on the stage, and many of the details of his performance are highly effective. PUBLIC LEDGER (MORNING)—* * * so genuinely funny in its foundation that it overcomes some ra*her shoddy direction and an absence of subtlety. Perhaps an even greater factor in its success is the work of the four players referred to above. PUBLIC LEDGEP (EVENING)— The plot has its weak spots, but there is enough freshness in the acting to make up for this lack. We believe that the stage version was more striking * * * RECORD— Much of the humor of "SixCylinder Love'' lay in the dialogue and that was not an easy matter to handle for the screen. Tn consequence some of the Truex humor is lost in the "shuffle." * * * "Stephen Steps Out"— F. P.-L. Piccadily, Rochester DEMOCRATCHRONICLE — Our final expression on "Stephen Steps Out" is that it consists of finely interwoven threads of cmedy and melodrama with a gifted young pantomimist to wind them about the heart strings. HERALD — Douglas Fairbanks. " ■ ' is not bad, but he is in no way startling. On3 feels that any youth of 14 or 15 could do just about as well. * * * A rather entertaining picture in which Theodore Roberts. James O. Barrows and Harry Myers do fine work. JOURNAL—* * * an admirable vehici for introducing Douglas Fairbanks Jr. * * 4 It is extremely light comedy, concerned with those things that never happen but which prove highly diverting TIMES-UNION—* * ♦ "to be natural", and this Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. accom-j plishes to an admirable degree in his in1 terpretation of the title role * * *He both! looks and acts like the elder Fairbanks * * * "Her Temporary Husband" — 1st Nat'l Wash. St. Olympia, Boston TRANSCRIPT—* * * makes up in humo what it lacks in plausibility. * * * Sydney Chaplin's acting is as nearlv tech nically perfect as a comedian's can he. Park-Mall, Cleveland PLAIN DEALER— In three reels, as anl ordinary slapstick comedy, "Her Temporary] Husband" would probably cause the audience to pull down the chandeliers in its amusement, but six or seven reels of it • is much too much. PRESS—* * * a mild stage play made* into a routine movie comedy which echoes! the style of Mack Sennett. Strand, Omaha WORLD-HERALD— We promise you ai hour of laughter. * * * Added to this is a light story which has a bit of drama, mystery! and comedy. Metropolitan, Washington POST — * * * a lengthy and lively cinema comedy of situation ,in which mistaken identities, an effort to defeat the proviso of i an eccentric's will and much slapstick provide the hilarity. * * * Excitement and fun j there are a-plenty, and good acting, too, I but Mr. Chaplin's performance is not particularly noteworthy. STAR — It is one of the funniest pictures, with really clever comedy situations and sub-titles, that has been shown in Washington. Audiences packed the theater to capaci I ty and laughed and shrieked over it yesterday afternon and evening. "Twenty-One"— 1st Nat'l Allen, Cleveland PLAIN DEALER— It is indeed a picture which will amuse you, and after you have seen it you will say that it's quite unworthy of Barthelmess' talents . "Twenty-One" is filled with situations intended to "get to" you * * * Whatever there is against it ,it is well made, and it will entertain you. PRESS — But it is only fair to say that Julian, as played by Barthelmess, is a likeable youth and the other actors, for the most part, do their best with the material they have to work with. Madison, Detroit FREE PRESS— The closing reels border on melodrama, but Richard acquits himself manfully, * * * interesting, even if it is not to be compared with many of this young star's releases of other years. TIMES— If Dick Barthelmess would only stick to stories like "Twenty-one," * * * he would make his fortune — maybe not. in dollars and cents but, surely, in popularity. "Twenty-one" is a nice combination of romance and melodrama — two ingredients you seldom find well mixed on the screen. Additional newspaper reviews will appear in Monday's issue of THE FILM DAILY. $ut timber