The Film Daily (1924)

THE 16 ■eM^ DAILY Sunday, October 12, 1924 Newspaper Opinions Granada, San Francisco (Week Ending Oct. 4) BULLETIN—* * * at the Granada this week, Ernst Lubitsch, the director, has again constructed a picture with stellar human interest. The photoplay * * * CALL AND POST—* * ♦ There are weak spots in the directing and a few in the cast, but there are also flashes of brilliant work. And the picture is saved when Miss Fredericks and Miss McAvoy work up to the emotional climax by some fine, sincere acting. ♦ » * CHRONICLE—* * * is fine drama, big, strong, modern and, above all, interesting. We have had so few Lubitsch pictures, it is diflicult to say "his best," but he will make few better. * * • EXAMINER— * * * It is excellent from any point of view The story is good, the direction is lovely to behold, the cast is interesting and capable, the entertainment value is way above par, the intelligence and the "manner" are similarly great. * * * "Yolanda"— Metro-Gold. Roosevelt, Chicago AMERICAN—* * *Exclamations of delight with the work of the star and the dramatic points of the story, besides with the artistry of Joseph Urban's settings, were heard frequently during the first show. * * * "Wine"— Universal Karlton, Philadelphia INQUIRER—* * * it is an interesting picture, and has the added charm of novelty in its settings. * * * PUBLIC LEDGER— * * It tries with some success to give a true picture of an average bootlegger's life since the passage of the Volstead act. And it carries a very potent moral along with it, illustrated by a series of hectic episodes in the life of an aristocratic family which has joined the coterie of local bootleggers in an effort to recoup the ancestral fortune. * * ♦ RECORD—* • * is a typical post-war jazz picture, with a flapper heroine, numerous cabaret scenes, bootleggers, and with an abundance of the stuff that cheers nearly always in evidence. * * * Short Subjects "Wine of Youth"— Metro-Gold. State, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT—* * * With the exception of several unnecessary platitudinous subtitles, "Wine of Youth'' is a corker. * * * POST-DISPATCH—* » * The picture has elaborate settings and fine photography. * * ♦ STAR — * * * is a jazz picture with sound ideas. • • • TIMES — * * * speeding roadsters, syn• copated music, dancing till dawn, convention tossed to the wind, and just enough "deep stuff" to make it all interesting. Romance? Nothing else but. Three New Deals Closed Three new deals have been made by Lee Bradford. Cosmopolitan Films, of Boston has purchased "In The Shadow of the Moon" and "Paying the Price." M. D. Martin, of New Orleans, has acquired "In The Shadow of the Moon," "The Lure of the Yukon" and "Who's Cheating?". The "Red Head" comedies were sold to E. Schloetzser, of Los Angeles. (Continued from Page 10) "Why Hurry"— Christie— Educ'l Rayart Head Forms Finance Unit {Special to THE FILM DAILY) Albany — W. Ray Johnston, of New Y'ork, has chartered the Rayart Syndicate Corp., with headquarters in New York. Surf Action; Pleasing Comedy Type of production. . . .2 reel comedy The farce plot wherein a young couple trying to catch a boat or train meet with every possible and impossible set-back has been done before, time without number. However, Harold Beaudine has directed Frank Conklin's story this time in a manner that will undoubtedly hold the average audience, or rather keep it on edge until the finish. The laughs are ti:cked in very neatly, and the work of Jimmy Adams who is starred is first-rate. Kathleen Myers is the young wife and there is a very cute baby around whom much of the action centers. The taxi-driver also does very well. His name is iiot mentioned. The plot is slight, — Jimmy is about to take his family consisting of wife and baby away on a vacation. He leaves the tickets in the department store where he is employed. Has much difificulty in regaining them. Finally gets started only to find that the baby is missing. And other variations along the same lines. However, the action is swift, and Adams very amusing. It should have no difificulty in making the average audience laugh. "The Age of Oil"— Fox Educational Some New Facts Type of production. .. .1 reel educ'l "The Age of Oil" contains some information that will probably be new to the majority of people. The various uses to which oil is put, the method of pumping it from the earth, the process of refining, etc., are intellitjently dealt with and present an interesting educational number. That ^ scarf-like substance of wax can be obtained from certain oils will probably be especially interesting. Its general use is already familiar. W. Ray Johnston, head of Rayart Pictures, has formed the above company to finance independents. "Kintjs of the Turf"— Fox Fine, Interesting Horse Picture Type of production. .. .1 reel novelty Very fascinating. Tremendously interesting even to those who are not fond of race horses. This shows not only some of the most famous horses that have been retired from the track to enter the stud but shows the vearHngs as well in some very "cute" poses with well handled titles. After the introduction of the famous celebreties of the turf, of course, there comes a race at Churchill Downs where the youngster wins out over the other pedigreed champions. It will hold almost any audience and will particularly appeal to the youngsters. "The Race" No. 3 of the Van Bibber Series — Fox Second Reel Good Type of production. .. .2 reel comedy The third issue of the Van Bibber series, called "The Race," offers some good laughs in the second reel but the first is slow and not especially funny. These Richard Harding Davis stories should make good material for comedies. It doesn't seem, however, that director George Marshall is making the most of them. Earle Fox, to begin with, isn't the most suitable player for the title role. He isn't a good comedian. "The Race" deals with Van Bibber's attempt to beat his rival in a relay auto race. 'I'he race itself is funny and there are some comical situations through hero's effort to win. The object is for the contestants to change cars at a given point. At each changing station there are less cars than men, the idea being to eliminate contestants, with the last one in winning the race. All sorts of broken down, dilapidated "Lizzies" and what not are used in the race. There are some thrills furnished in the spectacular spills and fast riding. Screen Almanac — Selznick Thoroughly Interesting Type of production. .1 reel magazine Some interesting views of stage and screen celebrities "off duty" make up this reel edited by E. V. burling. Among others are shown Marie Prevost burying her cast-off Sennett bathing suit; Eddie Cantor, of "Kid Boots", entertaining a lot of youngsters at his camp for boys; the Duncan Sisters who pay a visit to the Ince studios: the Dolly Sisters fresh from Deauville on the sands at Long Beach. New York; Jackie Coogan on the links with Marcus Loew; and lastly Gloria Swanson on the deck of an ocean liner entertaining some reporters. A thoroughly interesting magazine. Incorporations Albany — Minetta Studios, New York. Caoital $.S0.000. Incorporators, S. Friedman, M. S. Brotman and D. J. Madiean. Attorney, R. C. Thompson, New York. Springfield, 111. — Riviera-Orpheum Theater Co. Chicago. 1.000 shares common stock, no par value. Incornorators. C. Sommer, G. Fried and P. Podols. Hamilton, Ont. — Tivoli Ltd. Capital $200,000. Theater, Albany — Amron Producing Corp., New York. Capital $10,000. Incorporators, J. Amron L. Mintzer and T. Pulitzer. Attorney, H. S. Hechheimer, New York. The Weeks' Headlines Monday Norma Talmadge, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford may release through Famous Players. This report strenuously denied by all parties concerned. Warners select Chicago theater site. Ini portant Mid-West theater plans under wa> Democratic National Committee attacks "The World Struggle for Oil," a Selz nick release, on the ground that it i' propaganda for Harry F. Sinclair. Tuesday Erich Pommer, production head of the Ufaen route to New York to study Americat| pioduction methods. C. C. Griffin, Oakland, Cal. exhibitor, charge independents with attempts to sell only i block. Many of them deny the charge. W. E. Atkinson returns from Europe. !Sai nothing worthwhile in foreign productioi Wednesday I. M. P. P. D. A. abandons plan to est.-i lish own exchanges. Declare conditioi are so improved the step becomes necc sary. Selznick reorganization under way. K name to be selected. Milwaukee exhibitors form public servi board. Thursday Warners make deal with Piccadilly to sh their pictures there. New theater a' books First National special, "Sundowi|jj Emil E. Shauer, Famous foreign manag returns from long trip abroad and declailj foreign business will soon exceed (fl mestic returns. M. P. T. O. A. will not join uniform e(|| tract committee, now under way by Hays office. Considerable speculation in Berlin over of Dawes plan. Sentiment growing change in "contingent." Friday William Goldman buys fitty per cent itil in St. Louis AmusemeWx Co., operating]! St. Louis theaters. First National to hold annual meetillg| Atlantic City. J. F. Cubberley forms Independent FilOCJ in Minneapolis to supply Northwest hibitors with steady flow of Wester M. P. T. O. of Nebraska meets at OS Resolutions passed against free showi | non-theatrical bookings. Selznick adds forty salesmen to sales force. Saturday John Cromwell, Inc. seeks to restrain Sh showing of "Tarnish," alleging con1| calls for first showing Oct 15. Ashtabula, Ohio goes "blue." Only iu| sities to remain open. Important bankers agree that speculat^ in pictures is over. To Meet On Contract Questioi| The question of an equitable J tract between distributors and exlj tors is causing much discussioij Australia, especially among thef hibitors. In the near future, ll sides will meet and attempt to £1 the problem by drawing up a conij favorable to both. John C. J<l First National manager in AuStil suggested the meeting as a soluj Sprinefield 111. — Francis Steele Production Co., Chicasro. Canital $5.000 Incorporators, E. W. Clark, H. Tobin and L. Posner. Albany — Rayart Syndicate Corp., New York. Sues for $1,750 Salary (.Special to THE FILM DAILY)l Los Angeles — May McAvoy Madison Prod. Co., do not agrej how much salary she should | received for her work in "TarrI it developed when a demurrer ol producing company to her suif $1,750 was heard. Miss McAj claims she was never paid foij week of May 26, last. k