The Film Daily (1924)

Wednesday, January 9, 1924 fj?^ DAILY Newspaper Opinions Additional newspaper reviews, loal and out-of-town, will be found telow : New York " Black Oxen"— 1st Nat'l Strand AMERICAN — But there is an interesting icture, and one that will keep Joseph •lunkett, managing director of the Strand, usy counting the box office receipts, if the rst day's business is any indication of what e may expect all week. * * * Mr. Rowland * * not only filmed a subject that had uniersal interest, but he has made a picture iat is a credit to his company. DAILY NEWS — Nice, compact bit of ■ork, this. Compact is exactly the word, :nce the story (Mrs. Atherton's) is faithfully jllowed, and there are no loose ends. * * • 'he theme is new, the acting has dignity and le picture merit. EVENING WORLD—* * • in the capale hands of Frank Lloyd, blossomed forth 5 a fine, stalwart bit of picture making. • * it makes for film entertainment that le think will start you thinking. Better :e it. MAIL — * * * gives every indication of sing as good a seller as the book was. To 3 the picture was dull entertainment. The film is just another of the flapper, igh society variety of which, if we have :en one, we have seen fifty or more during le past year. MORNING TELEGRAPH— The picture lunges right into the story in direct fashn. * * * In our opinion they tried to put iio much in the picture, and the attempt to capture the jazz element every few minutes almost a bit too obvious, though very enrtainingly presented. * * * Frank Lloyd has given the piece a sumpious production with sets that shriek for )od taste, i Some of the extra * * * POST — * * * finely acted and staged and le story is interesting every moment of e way. In fact, very few "movies" are | brilliantly cast throughout. Corinne Griffith * * * is beautiful ; yet ere is an enimatical, provocative air about , r that gives an ad dcombination of cynicism id sweetness * * * SUN — * * * one of the most facinating ctures of the year. * * * seems to us a ntastic, brilliant story, * * * The picture Hows the book operation for operation, le might say, and it is one of the photoays that ought not to be missed. ; TELEGRAM— "Black Oxen," faithfully ansplanted to the screen * * * tells a eat story with dramatic portentousness hich every seeker after genuine entertainent will like. It also has the advantage fine acting * * * iTIMES— * • • a brilliant example of ithful adherence to an intensely interestg narrative. » « » There is dignity and ace in her movements, so pronounced that ■e almost forgets that Miss Griffith is actg for the screen. • • • This is a delightful cture with a well-told story. TIMES SQUARE DAILY— Corinne riffith gives a likeable delineation • • * adame Zatianny and Mary Ogden. Hower, it is in the youthful stuff that she ex■ 11s. Hetj£otJWan $ut timber You Buy a Mint when you get THE FIRE PATROL with its remarkable cast Ask I. E. Chadwick— He Knows Lloyd has given the film adequate direction and has provided a competent supporting cast. Nevertheless, there is nothing outstanding other than the unusualness of the story. If that is sufficient it will get over. TRIBUNE — Probably no one who saw the picture was disappointed, for if there was any who had not read the story the suspense was well sustained as to the identity of the heroine, and the adaptation cannot prove anything but satisfactory to those who know the story. * • • The whole cast does splendid work. WORLD—* * • Corinne Griffith is not only one of the loveliest figures which we have looked upon in the films for weeks but she acts various scenes in the story with remarkable sweep and charm. * * * There is nothing very exciting about the action of this picture, and so it is likely there will be set up howls of devitalization. * * * We have never seen a motion picture brought to a close with such abruptness and lack of care as to dramatic effect. "Pleasure Mad"— Metro Rivoli AMERICAN— The titles are bromidic, of the trite sort that we used to say were just grand about ten years ago. We hate to be unkind, when a director like Reginald Barker makes a picture and really tries to do something, but "Pleasure Mad" is almost the worst thing he or Louis B. Mayer have ever brought forth for our gaze. * * * most of the cast is as good as it can be in a picture of this kind. DAILY NEWS— "Pleasure Mad" is entertaining, though not specially original. EVENING WORLD— This being a more or less typical movie, all the happenings are not pleasant, • * * With Mary Alden and Huntley Gordon heading a cast containing such names as William Collier Jr., Frederick Truesdell, Winifred Bryson and Joan Standing, there are bound to be some excellent spots in any picture * * * MAIL— It is executed in a highly emotional key and never becomes maudlin. It is sincere and on the whole excellent entertainment. We enjoyed it very much. MORNING TELEGRAPH— Taken all in all, this picture is good entertainment, and there is a kick in the last scenes which will make the film fans sit up and gasp. POST — Reginald Barker has done a great deal with a well-worn story * * * but even at that it is a good film, which will entertain the majority who will see it. SUN — It is a well assembled picture, largely through the ministrations of its cast. TELEGRAM—* * * just as appealing on the screen as it is between book covers. TIMES — It is not often that we have to sit through a picture quite as bad * * * The picture appears to go on, on and on. TIMES SQUARE DAILY— There is nothing new about it no matter from what angle one views it. As a whole it is tabbed as just an ordinary program feature more or less stereotyped in plot and direction. TRIBUNE— It has been done so often and so much better that it seems a waste of time for the producer and a waste of time, though in a lesser degree, for the spectator. * * * by any other name It would be quite as dull, * * • WORLD—* * * there are numerous scenes of fine appeal and competent acting, and still there is not much in it worth telling about. The appearance of Mary Alden, always a capable actress in mother parts, and of Huntley Gordon and William Collier, Jr. will help it much. "Reno" — Gold.-Cosmop. Capitol AMERICAN— But be that as it may, "Reno" has a box office title that will mean money to the exhibitors, even though it will never do much toward helping the divorce laws. Probably Mr. Hughes never intended it as a lesson, only as an amusing satire on one of the burning questions of today. EVENING JOURNAL— The story is interestingly presented and well acted, and succeeds in showing the trouble occasioned by going from one state — matrimonial as well as geographic — into another. EVENING WORLD— We have never seen more human characters on the screen than most of those which go to make up the grand ensemeble of "Reno," and it is just this attribute that made "Reno" such a thoroughly enjoyable picture to us. * • • It is a Goldwyn production, and they should be right proud of it. HERALD— But Major Hughes makes his point at the expense of his story, and what starts out as legitimate drama turns into an incoherent diatribe. Thus, Hughes's argument is sound, but his picture is not. MAIL — * • * about the worst we've ever seen. * * * It's the type of film that would be advertised in the trade magazines as a "smashing box office success." The idea behind "Reno" is a very good one. • • • The greatest. fault of the film is the lack of proper treatment. MORNING TELEGRAPH— The tale fairly oozes with melodramatic incidents, and not always very convincing incidents, either. * * * Certainly this is a hectic and improbable story. * * * "Reno" is an argument for fourwheel brakes on matters matrimonial, but with a stronger and less theatrical story it could have been a hundred per cent more convincing. _ POST — It is really an interesting theme with many ramifications; and it is just the latter which unbalances this production and makes it too long drawn out * * * It is a pity for the acting, staging and photography are all well done. SUN — The author seems a little confused in his mind as to just what he is working toward — * * * TELEGRAM—* * * highly dramatic and absorbing story. TIMES — * * * would have made a sidesplitting farce. But as a drama it is as flat as the proverbial pancake, in spite of the capable acting and pleasing countenances of some of the players. Certainly it has its entertaining moments, but they are not frequent, and on the whole the narrative is obvious, the comedy is poor and the direction quite faulty TIMES SQUARE DAILY— It's not the best thing the author-director has done, but should register on the strength of the production, cast and the divorce angle. TRIBUNE — * * * its entertainment value. * * * seems to us negligible. * * * Perhaps "Reno" is a good picture. It is certainly a picture that is "different," but it seems to us merely indifferent. It failed to entertain us in the least. "Through The Dark"— Gold-Cosmop. Cameo AMERICAN—* * * keep your faith. George Hill, the director, has made it one of the liveliest melodramas we have ever seen. EVENING JOURNAL^-Adventure, romance and dramatic situations make • * * " Through the Dark," a compellingly interesting "crook" photoplay, • • * EVENING WORLD— Colleen Moore is seen as the Daughter and it is one of the best things she has yet done for the screen. She is ably assisted by Forest Stanley, as "Blackie;" Hobart Bosworth, George Cooper and Margaret Seddon. If you enjoy a crook yarn, here is one that you must not miss. MAIL — The story is intelligently told, the characters seem real and there is not one bit of hokum in it, with the exception of a paragraph that is flashed on the screen at the very end * * * It was evidently inserted at the request of the censors. Such a film as this one is a decided relief after the flood of costume, high society and flapper pictures to which we have been treated. MORNING TELEGRAPH— A well-written and well-told crook melodrama * * * a treat to all who revel in detective stories and tales of adventure. POST — Pretty good entertainment, in spite of the preachy subtitles. SUN — We must admit that we liked it all very much. And you probably will, too. Hobart Bosworth * * * still possesses as much virility and acting talent * * * Colleen Moore is just as efficient as she was in "Flaming Youth." But Forrest Stanley will always labor under a handicap untli he is cast in a great production * * * TELEGRAM — Even if you are not always convinced of the plausibilty of the story, there are plenty of thrills in these crowded reels TIMES — Except for the fact that it rather glorifies felons and flings mud at officers of the law. "Through the Dark." * * * is by no means a bad picture. The story moves along rapidly, and the suspense is well kept TIMES SQUARE DAILY— It is a corking melodramatic picture '.hit is full of tin ills ami is ceitain to hold any picture audience from the first moment that it starts to the finish. TRIBUNE— "Through the Dark," would lave been an intensely interesting picture ri if hadn't been so eager to point a moral. WORLD — Not content with producing • moderately interesting crook drama, the manufacturers were moved to soak it in sirup of sweetness and light. * * • The chief current of interest * * * is the playing of Colleen Moore. Particularly able in her support are George Cooper and Hobart Bosworth. Elsewhere "Tiger Rose"— Warners' Randolph, Chicago JOURNAL — Along comes the best knit melodrama the screen has mirrored for lot these many moons.