The Film Daily (1924)

THE Wednesday, July 16, 1924 m Newspaper Opinions "Babbitt"— Warners Rivoli AMERICAN—* * * While we bow to Sinclair Lewis for his story and to Warners for choosing Harry Beaumont and his intelligent direction, I should say the lion's share of the plaudits this time go to an actor — Willard Louis. • * * * * * is rather long drawn out, although it is not much more than seven reels. * * • BULLETIN—* * • a good f^lm, if a poorly visuaUzed translation of a novel we didn't like. * * * DAILY NEWS—* * * The types have been picked with excellent results. » • * You'll like "Babbitt." • • * Warner Brothers are content to merely tell a story, they've done good work. EVENING WORLD— Characters familiar to every small town fail to give us much of a thrill when there is little to admire in the film in which they appear, and this is the case with us so far as "Babbitt" goes. HERALD-TRIBUNE—* * • A great deal of the picture, however, might have been lifted from the book to the screen, so faithfully has it been reproduced, and the casting of the characters has given somebody a great deal of thought. Willard Louis, * * * is perfect. Mary Alden is a bit too attractive for Myra, the good wife. * * ♦ MORNING TELEGRAPH—* * * It is a true reflection of modern domestic life, but. like life itself, it is at times a bit tiresome. Instead of suggesting the monotonous and banal life of the principal characters the director gives us ever so many minute details, which, although true, are not important and tend to make us lose patience with the people rather than promote any feeling of sympathy. » * » POST—* * * the picture doesn't do the book justice. » * * The producers have tried to make it a character study, a comedy, a drama, and a narrative, with the result that it wanders on and on like a spavined horse for four leaf clovers in a daisy field. * * * SUN — * * * a highly amusing photoplay, with occasional divagations into rather sentimental tragedy and with a happy ending FOREIGN Research Photographs ■JXl^ DAILY m^ LOU HOWLAND ^iLM Developing Corp. 210-16 Veehawken St. West HobokenJJJ. Laboratory with the lowest Insur«iriie Rates in the East. Negative Developiug, Printing, Cutting and Projection lioomi). Phone. UNION 4800 THE THRILL THAT COMES ONCE IN A LIFE TIME "UNMARRIED WIVES" DON'T MISS IT fitted neatly over the whole and all the edges tucked in. That it has nothing in particular in common with Sinclair Lewis's novel of that name does not at all detract from its qualities as entertainment. * * • TELEGRAM— * * * The spirit of the book has been adhered to in the film, even if the incidents are pointed a little more sharply than they are in this diffuse novel. Of course, some incidents have been omitted or shortened necessarily, but the main story is here and it is well expressed. * • * TIMES— While * * • "Babbitt," » • * possesses signs of being an earnest effort, it is nevertheless a tedious affair to watch. It lacks subtlety and spark in characterization, so essential in this particular instance to make the story entertaining. Then, too, the accompanying comedy in this photoplay is of the type handled with the bludgeon rather than with the rapier. * * * WORLD — • * * a prolonged love afifair, broken up by a noble young son, and the film ends in the usual domestic reunion. Buy Out Fred Miller (.Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Loew's Inc., has purchased the fifty per cent interest held by Fred Miller in Miller's theater. At The Rialto and Rivoli "The Side Show of Life," will be the feature at the Rivoli next week, while the Rialto will show "Behold This Woman." Gene Marcus Here Gene Marcus, of 20th Century Film Co., Philadelphia is here, making headquarters at Principal. At Broadway Theaters Capitol The Capitol Magazine starts the performance, instead of the usual overture, which this week is third ; Goldmark's "Queen of Sheba" having been appropriately selected to precede the feature, "The Arab". Florence Mulholland sings "Dreamland" (A Lullaby), assisted by Lina Bellis and Jean Hamilton, of the Capitol Ballet Corps. The third of the new "Kinekrom" series is then presented, preceding an elaborate prologue to the feature. Rivoli Von Suppe's, "Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna" is the overture, followed by "Fighting The Mountains" and "I Hear A Thrush At Eve", sung by Miriam Lax, soprano. "Babbitt" is the feature. Other numbers are : Zena Larma and Anette Nory, dancers, interpreting Von Beethoven's, "Minuet" ; the Pictorial News Weekly, and the Closing unit, "Flying Fever", an Aesop Fable. Strand Kitty McLaughlin sings selections from "Naughty Marietta", and "The Italian Street Song", accompanied by the orchestra. Next comes the news weekly. A long and elaborate song-dance piece, titled "The Arbor of Love", is offered just before the feature, "For Sale", is screened. An Aesop Fable, "Amelia Comes Back" and an organ solo, are the last two numbers on the bill. At Other Houses "The Sea Hawk" continues on ^ at the Astor and "Girl Shy" at the Cameo. The Cohan still houses "The Ten Commandments", with "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall" at the Criterion. The Liberty continues with "The Thief of Bagdad", while "Wanderer of the Wasteland" moves from the COMING SOON ^>^^^^V»."X".^--/|J;M.llHJ..T.-i.lhJ:ll:!ltdl?rclV.l!H.l;y:Sm^35gSSS^ „ Dean I *%e Siren 1 of Seville i Shnjbij HH.VAN lOM-Oirectidbijjmt^l STORM V-^^^~^*^^^^^^^'-^'^^'^^^^^^^^^v'^^^ Canton, O. Waits -Jury Verdict (.Special to THE FILM DAILY) Canton, O. — Exhibitors are waiting with special interest the decision of a jury which is to try Ed Bockius of the Valentino for opening his theater on Sunday, contrary to law. A Great Triumph! = ^ ' at the -^^ 2^^ Grand Opera House Pittsburgh, Palace Theatre Philadelphia Baby Peggy in Captain January" Stood them up at [matinee and night shows lastJiMon day. It's A ^'Knockout" For Every Theatre A Sol Lessor Presentation c/4 9\tneLpa£ j^leixxABA Mjd/deA 3\oclujctlcrrL Distributed through our territorial franchise holders who own and operate individual distributing branches in every key center. CLARENCE BROWN PRODUCTIONS Super-Jewels released by Universal "THE SIGNAL TOWER" HAS BEEN BOOKED BY THE STRAND, NEW YORK, BEGINNING SUNDAY PROOF OF BOX OFFICE MERIT