The Film Daily (1924)

Thursday, July 17, 1C24 Newspaper Opinions New York "The Arab"— Metro-Goldwyn Capitol AMERICAN — • * * is by no means in the same class with "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" or "Scaramouche." but it has touches that lift it above the ordinary film and gives unmistakable evidence that it has been produced by an artist. • • • • * * some exceptionally beautiful scenic eflFects and the photography is * * good • • * * * • "The Arab" gives us the best idea of life in a Mohammedan country of any film that has yet made its appearance. BUTXETIN— Artistically "The Arab," * * * is a comnlete success. In the matter of arranging his people properly before a camera and in the selection of locations and backgrounds, Ingram is excelled by none. In this particular he has made the desert a real vivid thing. * * * What is lacking in "The Arab," and also what has been absent from several of this director's most recent pictures, is drama. There doesn't seem to be any fire, pep or punch in it. * * * DAILY MIRROR—* ♦ * If you have an hour or so of leisure and are not especially interested in how you spend it, you may appreciate "The Arab." It will dovetail with your mood. » * * DAILY NEWS—* * * The interest Is divided between the artistic glimpses of the land of the mosques and the performance of Ramon Novarro. • * • Rex Tneram has made better pictures than "The Arab," but T should like to bet he never . enjoyed making a picture so much. It's brimful of sly satire and open horseplay. _ EVENING JOURNAL—* * * The settings are really beautiful, and there is all the atmosphere needed to make the production authentic. Miss Terry and Novarro are well cast • • • EVENING WORLD—* * * it doesn't measiire up to the rest of the pictures directed by Rex Ingram. • * • This is just another one of those films taken from tales and plays laid in the more or less picturesque land of the Sheiks • • • Ramon Novarro and Alice Terry * • • do credit to the reputation they have established in the past. HERALD-TRIBUNE-* * 'The picture is filled with "atmosnhere" and humor ; the two leading players have fallen in with Mr. Ingram's mood and do not obti-ude their personalities to the exclusion of the "atmosnhere" : they are a part of a beautiful picture. Mr. Novarro and Miss Terry • • • MORNING TELEGRAPH— • * • Patrons who like romances with a desert flavor will find this a sunerior production, not so much because of the story, but for the fine atmosnhere. unusual types pnd careful direction. • * * Rex Ingram, » • • has obtained such a wealth of colorful backgrounds and Picturesque material that these .scenes at times overweigh the rather slight Storv. • • • ,.,^^,^'^~* * • a nretty fair picture, if vou like these 'ons-of-the-desert stoWf-s. So manv neonle don't. But this one is different • • • "The Arab" would get by any censor in the WO*"'n. • • • SUN— Desnite Alice Terrv. Ramon Novarro and scenes • • • tiken * • * in Ecvnt. • • • "The Arab" • • • might swirl faster and do better • • * It i= rertainlv be.-iutifullv photoeranhed And filled with touches of unquestionable autiient"-'tv, • • • TET.-Pr.RAM• • • Rnmon Novirro ,nd Ali'-e T..^„ again have the chief ro'es • • • and this t.'me thev ap"»ar ps a handsome vonno' Bedouin and f'e daup-hter of an -American missionarv. The remainde nf tT^e pla^'ers were chosen from famous continental prtojs and the mobs inr'ude thousands of At ah and Berber tribesmen • • • . TIME.S-* • • Althou-h "The Arab" has I's moments, it is based upon a decidedly sVetcbv narrative and Mr. Ingram se»ms occasionally to have (rrown imnatient with the frail nlot, as he falls to give nlausible reason for some of the action .^crordine *u *"'',. '**s of oroducers and distributors the ending of this narrative is not satisfactory, although its artistic vforth h undeniable. • • • WORLD—* * * The film is crowded with breathless adventure, but it is difficult to keep the mind on the plot because the scenery is so distractingly beautiful. » ♦ * Certainly "The Arab" is the best of recent white-and-tan romances. * * * it is the most absorbing production in many months of reels. "For Sale"— First Nat'l Strand AMERICAN—* * * "For Sale" is one of those impossible tales concocted to please certain type of mind — that portion of the public that dotes on millionaires' drawing rooms, luxury and the social world. * * * BULLETIN— The film * * * is the average producer's idea of what the public wants. First there is the snappy title "For Sale." This, of course, has an appropriate background of female beauty so there may be no doubt in the minds of prospective theatergoers. • * * DAILY MIRROR—* * * Just why Earl Hudson, clever usually, should have ransacked antiquity for his plot will remain just another one of these film mysteries which is never cleared up. * * * * * * poorly directed and has little to recommend it save the sincere and natural performance of Claire Windsor, and the suave and polished acting of Adolphe Menjou. * * * DAILY NEWS—* * * There's nothing to distinguish "For Sale" from any movie version of high life. It's frankly "Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model" stuff. But for a pleasant hour watch dainty Claire Windsor, the bargain bride. EVENING JOURNAL—* * * Goregous gowns, tapestried furniture and hilarious dancing make the photoplay another society drama * ♦ * EVENING WORLD—* * * will certainly aid in the sale of seats at this theater, as its cast alone is one that will attract hundreds of the movie fans and fraternity to the doors of this theater. * * * HERALD-TRIBUNE—* * * One thing we should like to learn is bow Mr^ Hudson ever sold his story, in the first place, and then how George Archainbaud ever persuaded the powers that he to let him direct it for the screen. It couldn't be by accident that every one was so bad. It is all to terrible and we want to forget it; but every picture like "For Sale" which is exploited sets the day of emancipation back just that much. * • * MORNING TELEGRAPH—* * * Were it rot for the presence of the star this photodrama would have little to recommend it. for it is bi't indifferently directed and the storv is weak -ind trite. Purnorting to be what is G^eneral'v characteri7ed as a society drama, it has little reeard for the convenances and the wanderings of the plot from on-* continent to the other have nothing to oflFer in the wav of novelty of thought of treatment. • • • POST — * * * This is an example of the type of stnrv which we thought bad pn^sed into the dis'^ard long aeo. • • * The actincr. * * • fulfills all the demands madp bv the story The action consists of about ten thousand close-ups. the camera pointing first at one and then at another of the characters until von have an intimate acquaintance with every mn'e a^d beaded eyelash on their facial topOTraphv. * • * TELEGRAM— The plot * * * is decidedly not new. but the acting of the entire cast is SO penuinely convincint> that your attention is held lone after yon have guessed that the heroine will marry the man she really loves ere the final fadeo"t. TIMES—* * * Ta'enfed playe-s have been ^■•asted in "For Sa'e". ♦ • ♦ The depth of t^^e story, its drama and the loeic of the situations reminded iis of a discarded effort of Daisy Ash ford before she wrote "The Young Visitors." • * * This is one of those productions ivhirh provoke admiration for the temerity of the scenic constructors and the photographer's good word. WORLD — Bv her performance in "For .Sale" * • • Claire Windsor establishes herself with me as being a pretty poor emotional actress. • * • And then this "For Sale" is directed like a funny piece. • • • terribly like hundreds of other screen plays T have seen. It certainly hasn't the virtue of beine uncommonly bad. It is iust normally lacking in vitality or imagination. Out-of-Town "Being Respectable" — Warners Modern, Boston TRAVELER—* * * a most annoying picture. The characters are thoroughly unpleasant, the action pains a romantic soul, yet it is continuously interesting and engrossing, and though you realize that just what you least want is going to happen, you have to stick it out. "Between Friends" — Vitagraph Neighborhood Houses, Chicago DAILY TRIBUNE— * * * is one of the best Vitagraph has ever made. * * * Much thought has been handed out to the entire production of "Between Friends." California, San Francisco (Week Ending July 5) BULLETIN—* * * catches the interest of the audience from the very first and holds it to the end. Then there are moments of tension which are accentuated in the film, but handled in a natural manner and presented with a smoothness that grows upon you and makes an indelible impression. CALL & POST--* * * story is a thoroughly satisfying bringing together of every thread, leaving an impress on the spectator that is well nigh unforgettable. CHRONICLE— Lou Tellegen never appeared to such advantages as he does in "Between Friends.'' * * * HERALD — Lou Tellegen gives one of his most notable characterizations in the film version of Robert W. Chambers' gripping story. * * * Rivoli, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT— "B e t w e e n Friends" is intense photodrama with novel twists. STAR^Certain parts of the scenario seem to have been thrown together pell mell. The cast is notable both as to names and ability. TIMES — The picture has been well photographed, and the settings are unusually beautiful. "The Code of the Wilderness"— Vit. Colonial, Detroit NEWS — There are several shootings, a good broncho-busting scene, and the usual happy ending, with John Bowers as the two-gim hero performing in his usual likeable manner. "Daddies"— Warners Ohio, Indianapolis TIMES — "Daddies" is good, clean entertainment. It is not dull because it is clean and harmless. Very near an ideal family story for either the stage or the screen. Imperial, Montreal STAR — It has any number of laughs and is as funny on the screen as it was some years ago on the stage. "Daring Youth"— Principal Strand, San Francisco (Week Ending July 5) BULLETIN — It has a serious and novel theme but the idea is expressed clearly and with * * * humor. CHRONICLE — The picture is well made and Miss Daniels looks quite enchanting as the modern wife. EXAMINER— "Daring Youth." • • ♦ * * * is a light, breezy story, a'ong novel lines, and presented by an excellent cast headed by Bebe Daniels, Norman Kerry and Lee Moran. HERALD— Good in spots * * * the cast are * * * all in pretty good form, especially Miss Daniels, upon whom the photographer has directed a well managed lens. "The Enemy Sex"— F. P.-L. Grauman's, Los Angeles (Week Ending July 5) DAILY NEWS — Betty Compson wears as little clothes as the law permits. Her following should be satisfied to dig down in their pockets and shell out to see this production, but it probably won't increase the number of her fan letters. She is supported by an excellent cast ♦ • • EXAMINER— Miss Compson is badly dressed, too, even the cheap garments which the story requires her to wear could have been fashioned with more beauty, while her blazing forth in a coat of ermine is one of tho.<:e screen miracles which upsets the logic of the story unpleasantly. HERALD — James Ciuze directed it, and while it may be true that his technique is at its best in such things as "The Covered Wagon" and "The Fighting Coward," the current picture is most certainly another tally in his favor. TIMES — Betty gives a clever ♦ *. * performance of the calculating young butterfly, young butterfly. "A Son of the Sahara"— 1st Nat'l Lyric Skydome, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT—* * * produced in Algiers, naturally has a wealth of atmosphere that makes it both effective and interesting POST-DISPATCH— The desert scenes are the real thing and so are many of the sheiks and their native retainers. "The realism of the setting is one of the production's chief distinctions. STAR— Probably the best of the sheik melodramas * * • TIMES — Lytell is a gentlemanly sheik, and Claire Windsor, as the heroine, is safe at all times. There is some good desert fighting and some effective thrills. "Those Who Dance"— 1st Nat'l State, Los Angeles (Week Ending July 5) DAILY NEWS— In this photoplay there are some unusual characterizations. Blanche Sweet * ♦ ♦ gives an excellent performance * * * Warner Baxter is exceptionally good * * * Both Bessie Love and Robert Agnew give good accounts of themselves. EXAMINER—* * * titles, dramatic sequence and suspense all evidence much care in the making of this film which will attract wide attention with its complexes of plot and characterization. EXPRESS— Packed to the last reel with intense drama, well acted by a cast of skillfull players, and directed with proficiency, "Those Who Dance," is one of the most enjoyable crook stories that has been unfolded on the local screen for a long time. HERALD—* * * Blanche Sweet, the featured player, and Bessie Love do some of the very best work of their distinguished screen careers in "Those Who Dance." TIMES— "Those Who Dance," is really nothing but hokum melodrama all the way through. That is probably why you will like it. CORPORATIONS ORGANIZED & FINANCED Capital Raised Through The Sale of Your Stock We Are Licensed Brokers PROGRESSIVE FINANCE CO. 112-118 West 44th St. New York Phone, Bryt. 023! New York Chicago Hollywood Rothacker Laboratories WILLIAM S. GILL, Eastern Sale$ Mgr. 542 Fifth Ave. Tel. Murray HiU 1831