The Film Daily (1924)

THE -2&*\ DAILY Monday, January 14, 1924 Newspaper Opinions Additional out-of-town newspaper reviews will be found below. "Ponjola"— 1st Nat'l Karlton, Philadelphia BULLETIN— The plot, while highly improbable, is one which holds the interest of the audience from the beginning to end. NORTH AMERICAN— A thrilling tale * * * Her (Anna Nilsson's) impersonation, of the young man is excellently done, and completely lacking in the various superfluities usually indulged in by actresses who are called upon to play such a role. PUBLIC LEDGER (MORNING)— The picturization * * * hits a high mark in clever scenes and good acting. PUBLIC LEDGER (EVENING)— The clever performance by Anna Q. Nilsson, * is highly commendable, and * * * is one of the high lights of the production.* * "Ponjola" is a picture that holds one's interest throughout. The plot is unique. Eastman, Rochester DEMOCRAT— CHRONICLE— There are some realistic settings, a fairly good supporting cast and the commendable work of Miss Nilsson before mentioned to recommend the photoplay to prospective patrons. From a technical viewpoint the picture suffers from an excess of introductory incidents. HERALD — Except for its ending, that part of it which makes a subservient bow to the theatrical box office, it is a good picture Miss Nilsson, as Desmond, does a splendid bit of screen acting and James Kirkwood as Lundi Druro is exceptionally fine. JOURNAL — * * * Entertaining picture * * * I liked Mis* Nilsson a whole lot. It's difficult a difficult job to play the part of a boy, and she does it rather well. Mr. Kirkwood didn't please me quite so much. TIMES-UNION—* * * good, interesting drama well worked out in the medium of the motion picture, its only flaws being some minor comedy bits which go over the verge into farce and offer a jarring note in the general excellence of the film. "The Rendezvous" — Gold-Cosmop. Rialto, Washington STAR— The picture is dramatic — very. It's characters are picturesque and the settings exotic. "Rupert of Hentzau"— Selznick B'way Strand, Detroit FREE PRESS — • • • follows the book more faithfully than is usually the case. NEWS — * * * melodramatic events begin to happen with startling regularity and much suspense is aroused. TIMES—* * * is not unlike "Zenda." It has that same military swagger, the same plot intrigue, the same gorgeous spectacle of court life and is laid in the same locale. It has the edge on "Zenda" in the cast which it presents. 50,000,000 PEOPLE are waiting to see WHEN A MAN'S A MAN BY HAROLD BELL WRIGHT A smashing photoplay from the superb novel by the greatest living author. It's a Principal Picture A First National Attraction "Six Days"— Gold-Cosmop. Mr. Smith's Indianapolis NEWS — The film is worth little. STAR — It takes eight long and laborious reels to develop Miss Glyn's painfully detailed story • * * waste their dramatic talents on a worthless story. Sun, Omaha JOURNAL — Gorgeous settings, the beauty of Corinne Griffith, and acting which makes the best of a mean deal — * * * Also melodrama, large quantities of it. WORLD-HERALD— And the scenes underground! Weird, some may call them horrible; these scenes fascinate and are intensely dramatic and marked by a number of thrills. There seems to be an absolute disregard for expense in production. Piccadily, Rochester DEMOCRAT CHRONICLE— Regarded as a series of pictures, the photoplay is a delight to the eye; regarded as a dramatic production, the merit of the play and players is moderate indeed. * * * However, "Six Days" will be a financial success. HERALD — * * * makes up one of the most monotonous strung out and wholly without reason motion pictures that the present writer has had the misfortune to view. TIMES UNION— There are plenty of gorgeous gowns and every habitation is on the scale of a palace. Corinne Griffith looks exceedingly beautiful * * * the producers, with the fear of the censors in their minds, and the censors themselves, have kept the film technically clear but the Elinor Glynn touch is there * * • "The Song of Love"— 1st Nafl Capitol, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * has at least novelty to recommend it, splendid acting on the part of the star and her capable supporting cast, several excellent scenic "shots" and such action as is usually found only in western drama. * * * may not be Miss Talmadge's best picture, but it is a colorful, lively romance, capably acted and produced on a costly scale, and to 99 per cent of screen followers it will prove highly entertaining. NEWS — * * * it is decidedly box-office, as the exhibitors put it. * * * There are many nice things that could be said * * * the sets are many and beautiful and the night scenes showing the Arabs * * * are picturesque. Still it is not a big picture or one worthy of the beauty and talents of Norma Talmadge. TIMES — Schildkraut gives one of the finest performances * * * we have had the pleasure of reviewing since Percy Marmont was seen in "If Winter Comes." * * * "A Song of Love," builds to a climax that can even eclpsses in dramatic tensity, the acting of Miss Talmadge and Schildkraut * * * "The Temple of Venus"— Fox Apollo, Indianapolis NEWS — * * * is a curious mixture of fact and fancy, drama and melodrama, and practicality and mythology. Yet, despite such a conglomeration, it is interesting. STAR — * * * marked by nothing so much as versatility. * * * at least a little bit of everything ever thrown on the screen. "Through the Dark"— Gold.-Cosmop. Kings, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT— The story is unraveled neatly and rapidly and proves engrossing from the first flicker to the final "Tiger Rose" — Warners' Stanley, Philadelphia BULLETIN—* * * one of the most thrilling pictures of the season. * * * Miss Ulric's characterization is excellent, and as a whole the picture is well above the average.. 'NORTH AMERICAN— The picture is one of a very common type of "northwest" films, * * * There are many tense moments and suspense is excellently maintained until the end of the picture. It is interesting to compare Miss Ulric's performance on the screen with her stage performance, an done finds, in spite of very fine work and excellent direction, that her funny little rough voice is sadly missed. PUBLIC LEDGER (MORNING)— "Tiger Rose is neither the worst nor the best melodrama of the North Woods that ever found its way to the screen. It is filled with action, and even though that action is not always new it holds the interest. * * * In certain close-ups she (Lenore Ulric looks like a woman of forty, * * * PUBLIC LEDGER (EVENING)— There is nothing novel about the story. There have been so many stories of this type shown on the screen that it is a great tribute to the acting of Miss Ulric to say that it does furnish real entertainment. The picture is notable for its beautiful settings. (ml "This Freedom"— Fox Washington, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * not only the finest picture that has ever been imported from that country but also equal to the best American society dramas. * * * Denison Clift, an American director, in handling delicate situations, has shown rare skill; * * * TIMES—* * * A daring film * * * Fay Compton, directed by Denison Clift, is incomparable in her part as the woman. The supporting cast is to be complimented * * * Liberty, St. Louis GLOBEDEMOCRAT— A splendid picture, finely directed, well acted and artistically executed * * * The story is one that not only stirs the feelings, but appeals to the mind. STAR — * * * an improvement on the book * * * This theme is developed with intelligence in the picture, and is superbly handled by an English actress, Fay Compton, dignified, expressive, earnest. TIMES — * * * more interesting as a motion picture than it was in novel form. * * * Perhaps it is not. At any rate, the theme has been intelligently developed, and the resulting photoplay is good entertainment. "To The Ladies"— F. P.-L. Mc Vicker's, Chicago HERALD-EXAMINER—* * • I don't think there is any one alive with soul so dead as to miss or not appreciate its point. * * * If you miss "To the Ladies" you are missing one of the best comedies ever written, better directed and better acted than most of the productions you'll find in town. NEVVS — It is a simple and honest picture, telling its story just as Jimmy Cruze wanted it told, without any useless flourishes. "Unseeing Eyes" — Gold.-Cosmop. Alamo, Louisville TIMES — Tremendous scenic effects mark Lionel Barrymore's latest picture, "Unseeing Eyes," at the Alamo all week. "West of the Water Tower"— F. P.-I Rivoli, Baltimore AMERICAN— "West of the Water Towei in passing from book to screen has been pre tied up and censored considerably. Noneth less, I am not so sure that it isn't one i i the best films of the current season. Capitol, Cincinnati COMMERCIAL TRIBUNE— Can offc only one excuse for existence — its appe curious, and a painfully frank picturizatic I of things that once were taboo in good s I ciety. POST — Glenn Hunter, Ernest Torrenc \ and May McAvoy do some fine work j "West of the Water Tower," from Hom< I Croy's novel, but that is about as far s j we can go in recommending it. TIMES-STAR—* * * a flat disappoin I ment. In the first place, it is a theme whit i does not lend itself well to screen transl \ tion. Secondly, the original plot has bet so altered * * * Missouri, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT—* * * an unmi takable masterpiece if not a screen epic Tl credit for this beautiful picturization must 1 divided between the cast of the picture ai Rollin Sturgeon, the director. The delica situations in the book are handled with degree of intelligence that is gratifying at reflects the ingenuity of Sturgeon's efforts. POST-DISPATCH—* * * the book w. not butchered in the filming, to be true, tl story has been altered somewhat, but 1 i.o means to its artistic hurt. * * * a simpl natural, human tale of life as life is lived a small ytic anywhere in the great Mississip Valley. STAR — * * * a notable piece of wor though, frankly, reducing Homer Croy novel of Junction City, Mo., to movie for lost much of the book's pungency. TIMES— "West of the Water Tower" as fine screen entertainment as it was novel form. * * * One may call the sto a bit sordid, but one cannot deny that t! characterizations are well done, and th the photoplay is a finished production. I Ti ke "The Virginian"— Preferred Regent, Rochester DEMOCRAT-CHRONICLE—* * * one of the best photoplays it has been our gratifying pleasure to review for this paper in months. Here is a photoplay that revives the spirit of hope in that will-o'-the-wisp, cinema art. HERALD— The Virginian, all told is very well done. It is not high drama, it is what one might call restrained melodrama of the old home sort, and consequently, well worth the visit. This best seller of a score of years is fairly truthfully depicted in the screen version. JOURNAL—* * * a better western film than most, with less shooting and more excuse for it than is usual. * * * it holds with admirable veracity to the text and brings to the screen all the essential elements of the book except the Virginian's own particular, deliciously profound humor TIMES-UNION—* * * have faithfully transplanted the characters of the novel to the screen and have used excellent discretion in selecting the incidents so as to give smoothly running, if slim, plot and plenty of action. YOU BUY A MINT When You Show THE FIRE PATROL With A STAGGERINGLY GREAT ALL STAR CAST Anna Q. Nilsson Madge Bellamy Helen Jerome Eddy Johnny Harron Frances Ross Jack Richardson Spottiswoode Aitken Charles Murray Bull Montana Gale Henry Billy Franey Charles Conklin Hank Mann CHADWICK PICTURES CORP. 729 Seventh Ave. NEW YORK CITY LDUI3 a-\ q]ct7i svr a\ Mi If L MEYER mfi CRAFTSMEN FILM LABS. inc. 251 ^EST 19™ STREET 7620 7461 i