The Film Daily (1924)

THE ■^m DAILY Thursday, October 9. 1 Newspaper Opinions "His Hour"— Metro-Gold. Capitol AMERICAN — * * * No matter what any erudite critic may say about the trashiness of the story — it's a moneymaker. It will pay the losses on the other pictures less Glynisli, bu tnot so popular. • * * BULLETIN — * * * It is a costume picture, full of brilliant soldiers and a semioriental prince who loves an English girl. # « * John Gilbert plays the dashing prince and Aileen Pringle is charming as the English sweetheart. Bertram Grassby * * • was very picturesque and Emily Fitzroy was excellent ♦ • ♦ The photography was excellent. DAILY MIRROR—* * * This is the best Elinor Glyn picture ever made. * * * it has action, pace, beautiful backgrounds, and an excellent cast. It attempts only to unfold a tempestuous love story with Russia as the locale. It succeeds. There's no lessening of suspense until the final close up. * * * EVENING JOURNAL—* * * the photoplay ♦ ♦ * will undoubtedly pack 'em in the theater and form a long line around the block. It's that kind of a picture, and, whether you admit it or not, you'll like it. EVENING WORLD—* * • a typical Elinor Glyn story, the semi-erotic Graustark tale which has a way of flowing fluently from the pen of the English author. There is the usual Prince, ♦ * » the highborn English girl, * * » the gossiping old dowagers, in short, all the fixings. * * * * * * will take hold in any theater it is shown in. * ♦ * HERALD-TRIBUNE— "His Hour" should furnish a forgetful hour for a great many people — that is, if they enjoy the picture * * * as much as we did. It is so much better than "Three Weeks" and some other of Elinor Glyn's screen stories that comparisons are odious. * * * King Vidor has directed "His Hour" with considerable skill and imagination. * ♦ * MORNING TELEGRAPH—* * * "typical Elinor Glyn stuflf." * * * is indeed more typical than other pictures that have borne Madame's name. * • * There are moments when her romantic characters step up a little too far and become amusing, but on the whole her work is keyed in a tone that the sweet young things of all ages will respond to. * * * POST — * * * In acting, directing and general excellence of production it would be difficult to find a better picture, but the story is so malodorous that it seems a shame that these other good features were wasted on it. Every one knows what an Elinor Glyn story is ; they're all alike. • * * SUN—* * * "His Hour'' is a typical Glyn photoplay. It is fair entertainment. TELEGRAM—* * *An hour of the Glyn style of love is not holy. It's positively immoral. Everything the broad-chested, handsome Glyn lover has, and he has much to say and do, becomes a bit crowded when he tries to make each of sixty minutes work on all six cylinders. * * •• TIMES—* * • Miss Pringle is charmingly natural as Tamara, and John Gilbert, who indulges in lots of hand kissing as the Prince, is really thoroughly capable in this part. Some of the scenes are interesting. WORLD—* * * There is about as much sense in it as there is in Matteawan ; of drama I found practically none. As I walked out of Mr. Rothafel's theater I playfully observed to myself that what I had just seen was little short of Capitol punishment. "Three Women" — Warners Mark Strand AMERICAN— Even if Lubitsch did bow to the great god, public opinion, and let h'.s picture sag at the end, it is well worth seeing. As picttures go, in spite of the unsatisfactory finish, I should say that "Three Women" comes pretty close to the top of recent productions. It is directed with a deftness and a sureness that make every Lubitsch production a delight. BULLETIN—* ♦ * In the fine cast May McAvoy and Pauline Frederick stand out pre-eminently, but such splendid performers as Mary Carr and Marie Prevost appear in important roles. Lubitsch shines in clever photographic tricks, effective situations, spectacular scenes and artistic photography. * * * DAILY MIRROR—* * * splendid entertainment. There is a paucity of subtitles which enhance the picture, the story interpretation coming direct from the players. Pauline Frederick is particularly fine in an unsympathetic role and May McAvoy gives a sincere and emotional portrayal * * * Marie Prevost hasn't niuch to do, but she shows to good advantage in what she has. * * * DAILY NEWS—* * * "Three Women" is a picture you'll like. Lubitsch always seem to go through his scenes carrying a torch to light the dullness of a story. His little neat touches make the picture breathe instead of looking like it was filmed in the back yard by some trusty mechanic. * * * EVENING JOURNAL— Lubitsch has told his story with a suavity and directness that disregards the obvious, and not until the end does the charm lag. But, at the climax, when Miss Frederick shoots Cody * * ♦ there is a conventional movie situation which forces one to suspect a deference to the boxoffice. Otherwise, the photoplay is consistently exceptional and so subtly delightful as to be best described by a shrug of the shoulder and a wave of the hand. EVENING WORLD— Pandering to public taste for a moral ending and mutilation by censors contributed * * * to mar an otherwise nearly perfect picture. If it were not for these two considerations, "Three Women,'' a dramatic portrayal of a trio of finely drawn types of femininity, would be something in the nature of another triumph for Ernest Lubitsch. * * * HERALD-TRIBUNE— Never before have we been willing to concede greatness to Pauline Frederick. Now we do. She plays the ageing and rebellious mother in "Three Women" and she plays it with no compromise. ♦ ♦ » Ernest Lubitsch has drawn a vivid picture — relentlessly, but, alas I authentically. MORNING TELEGRAPH— Ernst Lubitsch has scored another triumph » ♦ » Again the director's masterful direction and subtle touches are evident. His skill in handling daring scenes seems to surpass that of any of his contemporaries in the directorial field. There is that finished continental atmosphere about his work which is irresistible. * * * In the matter of story, "Three Women'' does not equal "The Marriage Circle." ♦ * * COMING SOON 01 i PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION Florence Vidor «' mmCdgarSellOpl'S successful Bmdwafpkf Oiruttd bij . ~ George Archtinband ^i^-^^^' }%y^'fiX?rxX?;S:i}:i^!iiy' % % % % y/, y/, % AOAPTCD lY ^< ,c^ FRANCES MARION fA tni C QARONtR SULLNAN 'f J SEASON 1924-1925 THIRTY FIRST-RUN PICTURES POST — Despite an ending which, from the standpoint of sociology, cannot be too strongly condemned, "Three Women,'' at the Mark Strand, is an interesting and entertaining drama, verging on the "mellow" of human wnotions. SUN — * * * the most powerful motion picture that has come to Manhattan borough since Joseph Hergesheimer's "Cytherea.'' * * * it is Lubitsch's best modern drama. * * * a stirring and powerful photoplay. TIMES—* * * reveals Mr. Lubitsch as a talented stylist in direction, a producer who makes the most of every detail and whose work scintillates with original ideas. * * * This is a work of art so far as the direction is concerned, but the story is weak in comparison. Nevertheless it is a film we advise picture enthusiasts to see as there is so much in it that is enjoyable. WORLD—* * * "Three Women" bears the imprint of that director's talent. Still it is nothing like so good a play as the former ("The Marriage Circle"). "Her Love Story"— F. P.-L. Rivoli AMERICAN—* * * "A select story for sentimental souls." It drips with romance, kings, queens, "Three Weeks" atmosphere, and other elements that never fail to please a large portion of the inhabitants. * * * Gloria does good work and * * • Dwan has done his best to make an impossible scenario into a plausible produc ticn. * * * BULLETIN— There are some rather splendid moments in "Her Love Story." ♦ * ♦ More also should be said for Miss Swanson. Until a short time ago her principal use was decorative; of fate she has become an actress capable of ranking with the best of them on the screen. Maybe it's Allan Dwan's directing ; anyway, its something DAILY MIRROR-* * * It is too Dad this picture was riargged into six reels, instead 01 (wo or three. The interest even nov/ '.vould be mor^ sustained if it were generously -mt * ♦ *■ DAILY NEWS—* * * Gloria wins. She is a good actress. In time she probably will be hailed as great. * * ♦ This is a beautiful and moving romance. EVENING WORLD—* * • a veil cellent Gloria Swanson picture, "Her . Story" ♦ * * This is one of the best i\ Mrs. Rinehart has offered the screen. GRAPHIC—* * * Miss Swanson has been seen in a more sympathetic role. George Fawcett, as the Archduk though having only a bit, nevertheless out as the finished actor that he is 1 be picture shows the master ha Alan Dwan in its direction and alto is one of the most satisfying features 1 way has seen in many weeks. MORNING TELEGRAPH— Try as| Swanson does to reach the audience in Love Story," she is invariably stumblin) the artificiality and conventionality t setting. Allan Dwan * * ♦ has a chance to in the towering and broad sets from he departed in "Manhandled." He has Miss Swanscin ample opportunity to the mother love feeling to come to tti face. POST — Gloria Swanson in "Her Story" is Gloria Swanson. There Wi much for her to do except look like treated and much abused young woma at that her performance did not carrj viction. The story was improbable bl so improbable that it could be plac the fairy tale class and enjoyed as sui SUN— "Her Love Story" has bee pensively produced. Miss Swanson c wear many different gowns in the pi so doubtless the large amount of s money was spent on the handsome sc The photoplay will please those to there is no other motion picture actre| sides Miss Swanson TELEGRAM— So far Miss Swanso not be called a tragedienne. But who have her be? Any woman who can gorgeous clothes as Miss Swanson can them has contributed her share of hap to the world. Let her continue to I film American princess and let who t tragic. WORLD—* * * The star is under: sity of carrying most of the burden,') her peculiar charm and shrewd anB pantomime is consistently before the Ci As usual she carries the thing off witbi sistless competence. ♦ * • ^ J^gndon J^ew York I^s Angeles The Jess Smith Motion Picture Enterprises A Service for the Producer EMBODYING a producing unit with the representation of eminent STARS AND DIRECTORS, the development of new screen personalities and the financing of worthy propositions. It is a known fact that we have introduced more screen personalities than any other managerial service— Dorothy Mackaill, Pauline Garon, Glenn Hunter, Ben Lyon, Reed Howes and Manuel Granada speak for themselves. As our affiliations are international we have signed European contracts for Mae Marsh, Seena Owen, Wanda Hawley, Pedro de Cordoba, Wyndham Standing, Marguerite Marsh, Renee Adoree, Gustav von SeyfFertitz and others. When distinctive service is required call on us. 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