The Film Daily (1924)

DAILY Sunday, August 3, 1924 "Big Timber" Universal As a Whole SOME FAIR ACTION AND PLENTY OF NICE TIMBERLAND LOCATIONS MAKE THIS SATISFYING AVERAGE ATTRACTION. STORY SLOW AT FIRST BUT WORKS INTO GOOD FOREST FIRE CLIMAX. Star. ... Is called upon for one or two good scraps that he handles in fine style. Not as well suited to the romantic business that is required of him. Cast Olive Hasbrouck a good type but overdoes the coquette stuff. Betty Francisco adequate as the girl reporter though her job is not very clearly defined. Albert J. Smith a typical "movie" villain. Others Lydia Yeamans Titus and Ivar McFadden. Type of Story Romantic drama, adapted from Vingie E. Roe's story "The Heart of the Night Wind." Out among the tall trees with the lumberjacks at work, huge trees falling here and there, with fights among the competitive operators furnishing the excitement, a plot doesn't have to be especially unusual to prove rather interesting. "Big Timber" hasn't any very original situations, still it manages to hold the interest through its physical features. The camera does register some fine things such as the felling of the giant trees, the runaway log train, and finally a forest fire that provides a first rate thrill in the climax. And it looks as though they struck a real fire. The love interest isn't strong. Hero's activi ties in battling the ruinous efforts of villain and his band are for more interesting than his romance with the little woodland nymph who flits about in overalls and bare feet. There's another girl on the lot, also in love with hero, and there promises to be a hair-pulling match but it doesn't develop. The little woodland girl wins hero's heart and after a thrilling forest fire they're ready for the clinch. Box Office Angle Average feature. Has several good points^ that can be played up effectively and should give moderate satisfaction. Exploitation. . . . A trailer of the more exciting moments will probably prove as good advertising as anything you can do. Show them some of the forest fire scenes with the players dashing around among the burning trees. If you think the star's name has a drawing power, you might use it to attract. Use plenty of stills and let them know there are fine, interesting locations. The title will be enough to give them an idea of the atmosphere to expect. Direction William Craft Author Vingie E. Roe Scenario Wyndham Gittens Cameraman Jackson Rose Photography Good Locale North Woods Length 4,650 feet "The Red Lily" Producer: Louis B. Mayer Distributor : Metro-Goldwyn As a Whole STRONG DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT; SPLENDIDLY DIRECTED AND WELL ACTED. APPEALING BUT PATHETIC LOVE STORY. Cast.... Enid Bennett does some of the best work of her career. Role a strenuous one but she proves equal to it at all times. Her emotional scenes shows unusually fine repression. Ramon Novarro also splendid throughout. Wallace Beery excellent in another of his typical characterizations. Several individually fine bits contributed by Mitchell Lewis, Emily Fitzroy, George Periolat, Rosemary Theby. Type of Story Dramatic love story; adapted by Bess Meredyth from Fred Niblo's own story. In some film (or it may have been a play) sometime in the past there was a situation in which two lovers were parted in a railroad station through a coincidence similar to the parting in "The Red Lily." The • name and the rest of the plot arc hazy but that doesn't mean that Fred Niblo's theme is unoriginal. There is a fine foundation upon which he builds to dramatic heights. It has pathos. It's heroine is a figure of sympathy from start to finish, and Eni^ Bennett has given the role real life. Probably there will be those who will want to criticise the atmosphere of the Parisian underworld. True, it isn't exactly for youthful patronage and Director Niblo may or may not have exaggerated his Apache episodes. It doesn't matter greatly if he has overdone it. It's his wealth of interesting detail, effective characterization and strong contrasts, plus a steady building toward a fine climax, and the fine playing of a talented cast that makes "The Red Lily" a picture. There's just one fault in the development and that is the obviousness of coincidence in the development. Several times the lovers are within a few feet of each other, either a pillar between them, or else their backs are turned to each other. Box Office Angle A fine entertainment and a really interesting picture. But unfortunately this may not mean that "The Red Lily" is a good box office picture. Depends on your clientele. Censors in some places will probably taboo parts of the Apache episode. Exploitation .... You can promise an excellent dramatic entertainment, a delightful, pathetic love story, beautifully told. The Parisian underworld atmosphere will attract many. Run a trailer showing hero's escape in the sewer. Promise fine performances and use Enid Bennett's name and Ramon Novarro's prominently. Play up Fred Niblo's name. Direction Fred Niblo; splendid Author Fred Niblo Scenario Bess Meredyth Cameraman Victor Milner Art Director Ben Carre Photography Excellent Locale France Length 6.975 feet "Single Wives" Producer : Coriiine Griffith Prod. Inc Distributor: First National As a Whole A BOX OFFICE STAR AND A BOX OFFICE PRODUCTION. THE USUAL LAVISH DISPLAY OF GOWNS AND SETS BUT THE STORY IS WEAK IN ITS SITUATIONS AND NOT ORIGINAL. Cast Corinne Griffith lovely to look upon and handles the role nicely. Should be given an opportunity to do something other than the interminable "neglected wife." Not provided with any variety in the stories they give her. Milton Sills capable but not suitable for such a part. Jere Austin awkward as Dr. Lane. Others Kathlyn Williams, Phyllis Haver, Phillips Smalley, Lou Tellegen, Henry B. Walthall, John Patrick. Type of Story Domestic drama. "Single Wives," is a very close relation to "Flaming Youth." There's only about one character missing. That's the little flapper and the round of parties that her presence brings about. Otherwise the resemblance is noticeable. At least two situations are identical. That in which the woman's old lover returns and later was the incident of her sudden illness in the hotel where she had gone with him. .A.lso her concern over her daughter's apparently unhappy marriage is similar. "Single Wives" resolves itself, soon after the start, into a matter of marital misunderstandings. The young couple love each other but the husband's ardor cools with the honeymoon. It a repetitious theme and far too weak in its situations to warrant the seven and a half reels expended upon it. True, Corinne Griffith's presence, her good looks, and attractive wardrobe are redeeming features, as are the splendid, large sets and general lavish display. Such bits as that in which the heroine's younger sister learns that she is to become a mother, and later the hotel episode, aren't entirely in good judgment. Needless to say there's a reunion between the "misunderstanding" couple. Box Office Angle.... No doubt but what this will go solely on the strength of Corinne Griffith's name. Exploitation Admittedly a good catchy title. Should lend itself readily to novelty advertising. Boost the star's name extensively and promise your women folks she displays some more beautiful clothes in "Single Wives." The usual trailer will get their interest. Display plenty of stills in the lobby. Catchlines might call attention to the number of "Single Wives" in the country and inviting them to see how the situation can be overcome by proper understanding between husband and wife. Direction George Archainbaud; effort centered almost entirely on production values. Author Earle J. Hudson Scenario Mation Orth Cameraman ....James C. Van Trees Photography Excellent Locale New York and suburb Length 7,526 feet Gloria Swanson in "Manhandled" Paramount As a Whole. ONE OF THE BEST PICTURES GLORIA SWANSON HAS EVER MADE. FINE ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOULD PULL VERY BIG AT THE BOX OFFICE. Star By far the best of all her recent efforts. Sure to win back a lot of her admirers who may have begun to lose interest because of the stories they gave her. Really does a splendid bit of work. Cast Tom Moore ideal as the plumber-hero. Just the right type and the right personality. Cast nicely balanced. Includes Frank Morgan, Lilyan Tashman, Paul McAllister, Ian Keith, Arthur Housman and, in one scene, Ann Pennington and Brooke Johns. Type of Story Comedy love drama; adapted from Arthur Stringer's Saturday Evening Post story. Without a doubt this is one of the best Gloria Swanson pictures that has ever been released. The unusually large mid-summer matinee crowd that filled the Rivoli must have gone out thoroughly pleased in spite of the heat. "Manhandled," is good entertainment from the first shot to the last. It starts right off with a fine bunch of laughs, a sequence showing Gloria, as Tessie the shop girl, going through the tortures of the home trip in the subway. There's less lavish display than in most Swanson films, but there's enough included in the few parties that are staged, to satisfy those who still cling to this sort of visual appeal. But there's far more opportunities for the star to show what she really can do minus a magnificent wardrobe. And she certainly proves she can do it. Her Chaplin imitation is going to get a lot of laughs. Plus the comedy business there's some delightful romantic situations with compelling heart interest touches that are mighty effectively handled. All hands concerned deserve congratulations for this one. Box Office Angle Sure fi.re. Don' miss this latest and best Glori; Swanson feature directed by Allen Dwan. Should make your box office a very cheerful place. Exploitation. . . .Whatever means you select to get them interested in "Manhandled," give it your best efforts. Here's a first rate entertainment. A fine production, the star at her best, an interesting story containing all the elements of so called audience appeal. You can make promises safely. Don't let them get the impression there's an offensive or suggestive plot.. Some of Paramount's posters aren't especially "smart" since they tend to give the idea that the title can be taken literally. Make sure they understand it's good, pleasing entertainment. Direction. .. .Allan Dwan; excellent Author Arthur Stringer Scenario Frank W. Tuttle Cameraman Hal Rosson Photography Very good Locale New York City Length 6,998 feet ^