The Film Daily (1924)

THE 12 ■^m 4 DAILY Sunday, October 5, 1924 Newspaper Opinions "The Alaskan"— F. P.-L. Capitol, Cincinnati POST — * * * is made of shoddy that's not been twisted into a particularly design. TIMES-STAR—* * * It's all right as "Westerns" go, of you like that kind, but Meighan is worthy and capable of something better. Beautiful exteriors filmed in the region about Banff are a feature of the production. State, Cleveland NEWS — * * • as a photoplay deserves very little praise. It is just a motion picture and that's all. ♦ ♦ ♦ PLAIN DEALER — Meighan, I am sorry to report, does his customary amount of walking through the picture. • * * Meighan's acting seems to be on a par with Jack Dempsey's. * * *The scenery, however, is great. Ohio, Indianapolis STAR — Thomas Meighan seldom makes a poor picture. Of course, some are better than others, but as a general average the films he turns out rank high in entertainment value. Such a picture is "The Alaskan.'' * ♦ * Palace, Montreal GAZETTE — * * * excellent panoramic views of the north country, few mountain scenes which are gems of artistic photography, plenty of action, and the requisite amount of romantic interest to make the production a satisfying one. * * * "The Arab"— Metro-Gold New Garrick, Minneapolis DAILY STAR—* * * Raymond Novarro, who plays the title role, is every bit as handsome and makes love as well as Rudolph Valentino, * * * "Being Respectable" — Warners Delmonte, St. Louis TIMES — * * * Irene Rich's pleasing personality and ability to put over most any role that is handed her, helps the picture along not a little. The picture is nicely mounted and Phil Rosen, director, has apparently made the most of the story that didn't oflfer him great possibilities. ♦ * * performed chiefly by the tireless T. Roy Barnes. ♦ • ♦ "Boy of Mine"— 1st Nat'l Strand, San Francisco BULLETIN — One of the interesting photoplays of the season • * ♦ CHRONICLE—* * * it is a fine picture, poignant in its study of boyhood and rich in sympathy * * * EXAMINER—* * * is one o£ those rare types of pictures which interpret real life upon the screen, a photod'ama that seems to live through its very humanness. * * ♦ "Bread"— Metro-Gold. Apollo, Indianapolis STAR — * * * is an excellent picturization of the novel by Mr. Norris, dealing with the problems of the woman in business. It is a vital discussion of American life, containing many thrilling moments of drama as well as a plentiful supply of comedy. "Broken Barriers" — Metro-Gold. Colonial, Detroit NEWS — * ** It is a modern story, dealing with present-day youth's defiance of conventions, and the narrative is told with as much speed and many high, climatic points. * * * "Butterfly"— Universal Randolph, Chicago AMERICAN — * * * intelligent production, a little long, a little leisurely in places, but a production considerable above the average in quality. It is one of the best of Universal's output. » ♦ • Broadway Strand, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * delighted crowded houses at the Broadway Strand Sunday. Its love interest and comedy make for fine entertainment. * * * NEWS — * * * has been handled with intimacy and finesse, but it has the usual number of cocktail drinking and wild dancing scenes. Somehow, the swimming pool was left out. There are a number of amusing little scenes "Circe the Enchantress" — Metro-Gold. Capitol, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * colorful, lavish, a bit naughty, with Mae showing her pretty form just as much as the censor will stand for. The thread of the plot is never permitted to overshadow any of Miss Murray's specialties. * ♦ * NEWS — Mae is in the spotlight most of the time and she speeds through the action at a record-breaking clip — dancing much, but pouting, shrugging shoulders and registering a score of other little mannerisms known only to herself. * * * TIMES — * * * affoids Miss Murray opportunities for vamping and dancing not only, but for serious acting into which she puts depth of feeling and the color of reality. Some of the glimpses afforded of her are surpassingly beautiful. * ♦ ♦ "The City That Never Sleeps"— F. P.-L. — McVicker's, Chicago POST — * * * has become a very worth while motion picture. Louise Dresser's name heads the cast, and it is her fine playing which gives the picture much of its distinction. » • * "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall" — United Artists Washington, Detroit FREE PRESS — It's a lavish piece of work * * * and some time or other when they're compiling a list of the year's best productions, it probably will find a place near the top. • ♦ ♦ NEWS — * * * True, it is a costume picture, but if all the dressed up movies were comparable to this one in the manner in which it has been staged there would be few complaints about an over-abundance of them. ♦ ♦ * TIMES — Mary Pickford, showing all the stufif that won her the title of America's sweetheart. * * ♦ Capitol, Montreal GAZETTE — * * * engrossing and beautiful picture * ♦ * has merits and charms additional to those that appear on the surface. * * * Eastman, Rochester DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE—* * * an achievement of rare beauty and well worth seeing. « * * HERALD—* * * Mary Pickford in the title role * * * has a splendid opportunity for the very sort of acting she does so well. * * * JOURNAL — The new Mary Pickford film is not a great piece of work by any means, but it is fairly interesting and will uphold Miss Pickford's reputation as an actress of grown-up roles. • * • TIMES-UNION—* * * seems to us the most worthy oflFering of the star in many years. While she seldom rises beyond her mannerisms in it, it has the advantages of an interesting story. * * * "Drums of Jeopardy" — Truart World, Omaha DAILY NEWS—* * * Elaine Hammerstein has a chance to do more than be beautiful in this "action story." ♦ * * WORLD-HERALD—* * * There are murders, kidnappings and fights before this thrilling picture ends • * ♦ Elaine Hammerstein gives a good characterization * * * excellent support by Jack Mulhall, who has the hero's role and Wallace Beery, who is the villain. * * * one might call dramatic, nor does it seem in the romantic class. It might be catalogued as merely a series of incidents in a mechanical fable. * * * PLAIN DEALER—* * * Here is a curious mixture of the improbable and real that is certain to please a large following. • * * Missouri, St. Louis POST-DISPATCH—* * * There are some attractive jungle and hunting scenes, but aside from these the picture does not pass the ordinary level. STAR — * * * There are many loose ends to the picture, but there is no lack of action, and tliose who like Miss Compson and pretty clothes will find plenty of bo'.h. * * * TIME.S — * * * Miss Compsoii, ai the iovuly, untamed Dalla, does some vorK wliicli is remarkable for its fiery emot:oM appfid. Warner Baxter registers satisfactorily ;is 'he mighty hunter and heart-breaker. Col. \^alentia, Noah Beery is convincing as the rugged old DeBee;s and the support i3 adequate. "Flirting with Love"— 1st Nat'l Rialto, Omaha WORLD-HERALD— ♦ * * The treatment of the plot and the action really makes this story interesting. It is devoid of complications, has scarcely any comedy relief and lacks suspense. The photography is good — so is the atmosphere. * * * Regent, Rochester HERALD—* * * Blonde hair and brunette fly in all directions. Silks and satins rip and tear, feminine eyes fill with the ferocity of mountain lions. Furniture is dashed pell mell. So it goes until the referee yells "Enough." And that ends one of the lively scenes * * * JOURNAL — * * * isn't the best picture the little star ever has had, but it nevertheless is entertaining and boasts a plot that is at least somewhat out of the ordinary, with an assumed case of amnesia as its basis. ♦ * * TIMES-UNION—* * * it does give Miss Moore an opportunity to try her hand at a serious, grown-up role and to show that she is developing and still more to the point, that she has still greater possibilities. and Adolphe Menjou in the "heavy" role, ; give effective performances. A newcome Laska Winter, is excellent as a half-brei native girl. * * ♦ "In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutter"— 1st Nat'l Wistonsin, Milwaukee LEADER — The screen hasn't dimmed or in any way perverted the funniness of Potash and Perlmutter. the popular Jewish business partners. * * * NEWS — * * * is a comedy classic one of the best ever. It will be a man with lockjaw who doesn't laugh continuously at not only every move of the inseparables, but at the breezy, snappy titles. ♦ * * Metropolitan, Washington POST — If you want to smile, chuckle, sigh a little, and laugh a lot more, then "Potash and Perlmutter in Hollywood" * * * will fill the bill. * * * "Lily of the Dust"— F. P.-L. New Aster, Minneapolis TRIBUNE — Pola Negri is given ample opportunity to demonstrate her emotional ability ♦ ♦ * Ben Lyon, Noah Beery and Raymond Griffith are splendid in their respective roles are the three men who influence the girl. * * * "Feet of Clay"— F. P.-L. Stanton, Philadelphia PUBLIC LEDGER—* * * everything is upon a standard of exceptional excellence, except, the story. A bright new little star has flashed upon the silver sheet, and twinkles with a forceful brilliancy in the presence of Vera Reynolds. * * * RECORD— * * * The production was admirably handled by De Mille's forces, and there was considerable interest to the story, although there was little of what may be called "spirited" action. * • * "The Female"— F. P.-L. Park Mall, Cleveland NEWS — * * * And what an unconvincing picture they made of it. It is hardly what "Never Say Die" — Assoc. Exhibitoi Circle, Cleveland NEWS — A pretty wild story, this, 1: humorous enough to furnish a pretty gOM show. * * * j PLAIN DEALER—* * * As with mr forces it goes a little out of reason to the laughs, but so long as the laugh delivered, one should not complain. * ' Colonial, Indianapolis STAR — * * * has enough laughs in it aid digestion for some time to come. * * "Little Robinson Crusoe" — MetroGold. Stanley, Philadelphia INQUIRER—* * * The title sounds alluring and the theme offers all kinds of possibilities, but the actual result is disappointing. ♦ * * PUBLIC LEDGER—* * * This picture is more plentifully supplied with humor than his others, and he seems to grasp situations without having to be so carefully coached as formerly. His intelligence as well as his body is growing up. ♦ ♦ * RECORD — It is the mischievous boy who brought added fame to himself in the laughs and tears of "The Kid." * * * provokes those same laughs and tears in "Robinson Crusoe, T »' » # ♦ "The Marriage Cheat"— 1st Nat'l Strand, Minneapolis TRIBUNE—* * * Percy Marmont as a missionary-hero, Leatrice Joy as the heroine "Tarnish"— 1st Nat'l i The Chicago, Chicago HERALD AND EXAMINER— No dor about it, "Tarnish" is a good film. it adult and straightforward, and it has ltaken from Gilbert Emery's play witliii alterations. ♦ * * ] JOURNAL—* * * Well, here is high ' tertainmcnt worth considerably more tithe price of admission. The story is SW' moving and always forceful, the play more than adequate, and the mechanics ' construction excellent. Mr. Goldwyii serves a vote of thanks for his effj suave ingeniousness. Warfield, San Francisco BULLETIN—* * * May McAvoy ri splendidly in the principal role, while ' land Coleman is her leading man. M;: Prevost * * * is realistically human * ' CHRONICLE—* * * tells a somewj bitter story, but an intensely human I interesting one, exposing one phase of and character that we all know. * ♦ *' CALL AND POST—* * * The casi good. May McAvoy herself is sincere, fits into her role admirably. Marie Pi ■ as a flapper manicurist, fairly sparkles. EXAMINER — * * * supplies amusing tertainmcnt, nevertheless, with its shadehumor, pathos and romance. HERALD—* * * very well produc: George Fitzmaurice, is an attractive an teresting picture, ♦ ♦ * "Vanity's Price"— F. B. O. California, San Francisco Week Ending Sept 27 BULLETIN— * • * Anna Q. Nilsithe role of the actress-mother, givtgreatest characterization for the picture CHRONICLE—* * * The picture is boyant and sensational with pretty i everything in it that belongs to ukioJ CALL AND POST It is la'. , produced * * * and Miss Nilsson, who iiW tually 38 in real life, makes a very beat" Vanna Du Maurier, the great actress goes to Vienna and has a gland opera ii restore her youth. ♦ * * "Welcome Stranger"— Prod. \\ Corp. — Karlton, Philadelphia!! I INQUIRER — A fine screen adaplatii Aaron Hoffman's stage success, * * vided delightful entertainment for the ences at the Karlton last night. Tli ture follows the story of the play wil usual fidelity, ♦ • • RECORD — * * * story of small townf with well-portrayed characters and a | dtal of human interest. • ♦ * | Granada, San Francisco ' Week Ending Sept. 27. BULLETIN — When you have seen ' come Stranger" ♦ * ♦ you will feel \ It is one of those plays forming a ! contrast to the general run of preset photoplays, and in this lies its chief c CHRONICLT* * * it has ;i most esting story, was well directed, in the and is acted by a company any prcl would be glad to announce as his. C5(| and drama are well mixed in the stc the climaxes bring applause. * * CALL AND POST—* * * An tionally good cast makes the picture ful. Dore Davidson as Isadora really wonderful part. * ♦ * EXAMINER— Simplicity of the soi makes other people "just folks" ser| win for "Welcome Stranger.'' which the screen at the Granada by hearted acclaim. • * *