The Film Daily (1924)

THE -.%g^ DAILY Sunday, August 31, 1924 "A Soul's Awakening" Hepworth — State Rights As a Whole... HUMAN INTEREST STORY OF COCKNEY LIFE. HAS GOOD BITS OF COMEDY AND IS WELL ACTED. CONTINUITY COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER AND LESS FOOTAGE USED. Cast. .. .Flora le Breton pleasing as the little cockney girl, the victim of a brute father's abuses. David Hawthorne plays latter role very well. Ethel Oliver contributes comedy touches. Gives interesting performance. Others Maurice Thompson, Sylvia Caine, Philip Desborough. Type of Story Drama; story by Frank Powell. There's a pleasing little human interest story in this latest picture from the English studios. It deals with the struggles of a pretty little girl who is forced to make flowers to support a brute of a father. A wealthy girl becomes interested in the case and decides to prove her theory that the man will reform under kind influence. He has been making money by stealing dogs and selling them. Since he is kind to the animals which brings him a revenue, the woman decides that he will be kind to his daughter if he is paid to be. So she gives him two pounds each week and gradually he becomes fond of his daughter. Later he serves a prison sentence when wrongly accused of having stolen another dog. Upon his release the father admits that he no longer needs to be paid to be kind to his daughter and there is a happy reunion. There is considerable heart interest brought out through the plight of the little girl and the kindness of the woman who befriends her. It's nicely touched off with humor through the character of the neighborly Sal who does her best to keep peace in the flat across the hall. The continuity could have been better; it is inclined to be a bit episodic. And a faster development would have held the interest better. The director has injected a trifle too much detail. Much of it is effective but unnecessary. Box Office Angle Will probably please the average audience although they may have a little difficulty getting the sub-titles which are written in. cockney dialect. Exploitation. .. .It is more than likely that any local childrens' society will be glad to help you on this one. It deals with prevention of cruelty to children so that they might use it as propaganda for their own work and at the same time interest people in seeing the picture, thereby helping you. Mention Flora le Breton's name and the fact that she is now appearing in pictures in this country. The title should also attract and can be used effectively with catchlines. Direction. .. .Richard Killino; ample on the whole. Author Frank Powell Scenario Not credited Cameraman A. Brown Photography Fair Locale England Length . About 6,000 feet Richard Talmadge in "American Manners" Producer: Carlos Prod. Distributor: Film Booking Offices As a Whole.... STORY MOVES ALONG AT A GREAT PACE. WILL SURELY MAKE A HIT WITH THOSE WHO LIKE SPEED. TALMADGE HASN'T AN IDLE MOMENT IN THIS ONE. Star.... Is on the jump from start to finish. Has a busy time trying to show his father that he can make good without his help. Cast. .. .Fair. Includes Marc Fenton, Lee Shumway, Arthur Melette, Wm. Turner, Pat Harmon and Helen Lynch, the lead. Type of Story. .. .Action meller. For any one that likes a speedy story, "American Manners" should fill the bill completely. There isn't an idle moment in the film. But along with this speedy development they'll have to accept considerable far-fetched business in the way of marvelous knock-outs and escapes which Talmadge puts over. He hasn't anyone on his side but the way he combats a half dozen or so brawny sailors without coming to harm is little short of miraculous. Most of the action takes place aboard ship where hero Roy Thomas is trying to get evidence of smuggling which threatens to send his lather to jail. Roy's presence leads to suspicion and the plot resolves itself into a series of battles with Roy on one side and the crew on the other. Talmadge offers some first rate thrills in this action sequence. His several leaps, including daring jumps from the ship's rigging, are hair-raisers and his many fistic encounters help fill up the time when he isn't hopping about on the sails and beams. The story is the conventional sort but with plenty of fast action to hold the attention, it isn't likely that even a commonplace plot will keep it from entertaining them. Box Office Angle. .. .Should hold them, especially the crowd that likes action pictures with a stunt star on the order of Richard Talmadge. He certainly spares no effort to amuse his audience and thrill them as well. Exploitation. .. .Here's a title that should be easy to exploit. Arrange a stationery store tie-up by having the proprietor display books on etiquette. A sign in the window could read: "Better buy one of these books today and be up on 'American Manners'. See a Yankee hero do his stuff in the picture at the blank theater, with Richard Talmadge, the star." Distribute throwaways with appropriate catchlines. Run a trailer showing Talmadge at his stunts. Direction. .James W .Home; average Author Not credited Scenario Frank Howard Clark Cameramen. .. .Wm. Marshall — Jack Stevens Photography All right Loccde American seaport town Length S 200 feet. Leo Maloney in "Riding Double" Wm. Steiner — State Rights As a Whole FITS IN THE "GOOD WESTERN" CLASS. HAS ACTION, SUSPENSE AND THRILLS PLUS THE USUAL ROMANCE AND ELEMENTS THAT GO TO MAKE UP AN ENTERTAINMENT OF THIS TYPE. Star . . Likeable and will please the admirers of western heroes. Goes about his work calmly and convincingly. Cast. .. .Josephine Hill pleasing lead but not always well photographed. Jim Corey the regulation villain and Leonard Clapham a capable aid. Barney Fury suitable and Bullet a clever well trained dog. Type of Story. . . . Western drama. "Riding Double", a state rights release, offers a good western entertainment that can be counted on to satisfy those who like this type of picture. It contains all the popular elements of appeal and the story, while not especially strong on originality, holds the attention nicely through a speedy development that includes some action in the way of fights, captures, rescues and the usual line up. The climax has a popular brand of suspense in which the little old lady is about to sign away her property while hero is galloping at a mad pace in order to reach her in time to prevent it. They bring in all the stock tricks of suspense in this bit but to good effect at that. Maloney has a likeable personality and should please the fans. The story treats of a he-man hero who befriends a war veteran, long separated from his mother. Hero and his protege arrive at the old home to find another man posing as the old lady's son. a scheme to cheat her of her ranch. How hero shows up the schemers, installs his pal in his rightful place, is followed by hero's falling in love with his pal's sister. Box Office Angle Suitable attraction for the average audience. Should satisfy for regulation one time showing. The star is known for his work in westerns, both features and short subjects. The picture is by no means big. but it will give average satisfaction in houses that change programs daily. Exploitation. .. .The usual method of exploitation, posters, stills and trailers, plus prominence for the star's name can be followed with "Riding Double". The trailer might include shots showing how Maloney rescues Chuck when he's attacked in a cafe. If they aren't acquainted with the star do your best to get them interested and tell them about his work in "Riding Double". Run catchlines relative to the story and mention the thrills and romance. Direction Leo Maloney; ample. Authors. .. .Francis and Ford Beebe Scenario The same Cameraman Jacob Badaracco Photography .... Poor on interiors Locale The West Length About 5,000 feet. Jack Hoxie in "Daring Chances" Universal As a Whole... PLENTY OF FINE LONG SHOTS AND FAST RIDING THAT WILL GET THIS OVER NICELY. PLOT OF A FAIRLY CONVENTIONAL ORDER BUT WILL SUIT A MAJORITY. Star. .. .Manages to get roles that keep him pretty busy. Does some fine swift riding that will win the admiration of patrons who favor this star. Cast Jack Pratt and Claude Payton a fine, scheming pair of villains who provide the excitement with hero Hoxie showing them up in great style at the finish. Alta Allen suitable lead and Doreen Turner a pleasing youngster. Type of Story Western; from a story by Isadore Bernstein. They don't seem to be able to get very far from the beaten path on the average western offering. "Daring Chances" is another that furnishes good action and some thrills but isn't distinguished by a plot offering any new ideas. There is the usual triangle of hero, villain and girl, worked out very much after the usual fashion with hero busy at every turn combating the efforts of villain and his co-workers. Naturally there's plenty for hero to do before he's safe enough to stand a close-up with the girl in his arms. This time he has a little niece who needs a lot of protecting and besides there's a big race on, which offers a first rate thrill and plenty of good, swift riding. Villain and his crew do their best to prevent hero from winning. At the last minute they frame his arrest but fortunately for hero, the sheriff is good natured, and decides to allow him to take part in the race. His scheme gone wrong in this direction, villain kidnaps hero's niece. The chase and rescue is staged with some first rate thrills and the camera work in this connection is especially commendable. There are some splendid long shots and panorama views. Box Office Angle. . . .Satisfying western. If you can use this type of entertainment at any time you won't havt any trouble getting "Daring Chances" over. It has good action and should please. Hoxie has appeared in enough Westerns for you to know whether or not your patrons like him. Exploitation. . .Secure a trailer showing some of the chase scenes and long panorama shots. They ought to gain the attention of admirers of westerns. Where Jack Hoxie is popular you might say that he does fine work in this. They'll probably like "Daring Chances" better than some of his recent releases. Promises of action, thrills, etc. can be made. Direction. .. .Clifford S. Smith; all right. Author Isadore Bernstein Scenario Wyndham Gittens Cameraman Harry Neuman Photography Good Locale The West Length 4,543 feet.