The Film Daily (1924)

DAILY Sunday, August 3, 1924 "The Call of the Mate" Phil Goldstone — State Rights As a Whole SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN PLEASING ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY FAVOR W E S T E R-N DRAMAS. STAR'S PERSON ALITY DOES MUCH IN PUT TING OVER STORY THAT IS NOT PARTICULARLY DIFFERENT. Cast William Fairbanks exceed ingly likeable in this. Puts over the fact that he is a virile he-man without resorting to stunts to prove it. Dorothy Reiver is quite attractive as the "girl, although her acting is not entirely natural at times. Nell Keller is a well-selected type. Little Margaret Neitz a sweet kiddie. Others include Earl Close, Milton Ross. Type of Story Western drama. It is the love interest between Fairbanks, as a whistling cowpuncher, and the daughter of the ranch-owner who tries to tame him but is tamed herself, that holds the spectator throughout the run of this him. Director Neitz has handled the sfory in such a way that, although there is nothing "different' in the story, it unfolds smoothly and logically, and does not drag. The photography is excellent, particularly in the exteriors. All the characters familiar to western-lov ing fans are incorporated. There is the crooked gambler with the big hat, the marked cards, the goodlooking cowpuncher hero who whis ties a tune when angry or happy and tames the wild-tempered girl he loves by means of the whistled tune Then there is the quick-sh noting sheriff who takes charge of things generally, the irate land-owner who wants his daughter to marry the man of his choice, and lastly "Frivolous Sal," the dance-hall girl who is a throw-back from pre-volstead days. The guilt of a murder is thrown on the innocent hero to add to the suspense toward the finish — but of course he is cleared, and quickly, too — when the little girl who witnessed the murder from under the bed tells who did it. The murder itself is not shown. Box Office Angle. . . .There is an absence of the usual "stunt" stufif in this western which depends upon situations and love interest together with the personality of the hero to put it over. However, there should be no difficulty in pleasing them with this, especially where Fairbanks is liked. Exploitation There isn't a great deal in this to make a fuss over. It's just a pleasing western. Catchlines about the whistling cowpuncher and the usual lobby display should be sufficient to bring them in. Play up Fairbanks' name, of course. Direction. .. .William J. Neitz; satisfactory. Author Jules Furthman Scenario Not credited Cameraman Roland Rice Photography Very good Locale The West Length About 5,000 feet Shirley Mason in "That French Lady" Fox As a Whole.. ..STAR PLEASING, AS USUAL. ATMOSPHERE OF STORY INTERESTING BUT PLOT LACKS CONVICTION. DENOUEMENT IS OBVIOUS ALMOST FROM THE START. SOME FIRST RATE DETAIL. Star.. Will hold her audience. Wears some new and attractive frocks that will easily catch the eyes of her feminine admirers. Has had better vehicles than this. Cast. .. .Theodore Von Eltz suitable leading man. Harold Goodwin, Charles Coleman and others make up the remainder of the cast. Type of Story. . . .Dramatic-romance; from William J. Hurlburt's novel "That French Lady." Shirley Mason is a free love enthusiast in her latest film but with all her ardor Shirley nor her director doesn't succeed in making you believe in the theories as set forth in the heroine's novel, "Justice and Marriage," or a title to that effect. Early in her life the little French girl, Inez, has been married to a brute. After his death she wrote her novel as a warning to other vf'omen. According to her, the union of man and woman should be independent of laws, either church or state. Naturally it is a blow to her conventional, American lover but he finally agrees to her wishes and proceeds to take her back home to mother. Here they introduce some contrast indicative of the hypocrisy of some marriages with the usual sma'l town atmosphere. There's some effective detail and amusing bits in this sequence. You expect all the time that the girl will eventually come down to earth and accept the conventional marriage contract. Hero's mother is the means of restoring the girl's faith and the last shot shows a pretty wedding. No particularly high lights to the story but production is good and star is pleasing, which will undoubtedly get it over. Box Office Angle. .. .Popularity of Shirley Mason and good production will help this along. Small town angle of story is well handled but remainder of theme isn't particularly strong. Exploitations. . . .Title is like!y to get a good deal of attention. They'll expect a peppy storj' with the customary French atmosphere. You can mention the free love angle of the story, or not, as you see fit. It may not interest your patrons, especially if you cater to strictly conventional small town trade. Use the star's name prominently and post plenty of stills in your lobby Direction. ... Edmund Mortimer; satisfactory, on the whole. Author William J. Hurlburt Scenario Charles Kenyon Cameraman G. O. Post Photography Good Locale IowaParis Length 5,470 feet Franklyn Farnum in "Western Vengeance" Independent Pictures — State Rights As a Whole AVERAGE FEA TURE WITH A FEW THRILLS FURNISHING FAIR ACTION. PLOT IS OF A FORMULA BRAND AND COULD HAVE BEEN SPEEDED UP CONSIDERABLY IN PLACES. Star Offers several first rate fights that will appeal to the lovers of pugilism. Cast.... Jim Corey and Mack V. Wright those popular gentleman, — the villains. Marie Walcamp suitable heroine and little Doreen Turner a pleasing youngster. Type of Story Western drama. "Western Vengeance" is one of those average features that you can use for the regulation one time showing without fear of causing much of a sensation one way or the other. It offers passing satisfaction for those who are just seeking pastime. The story isn't a winner for originality, containing, as it does, that fairly hoary idea about claim jumping. To finish it off a little there is a heart interest touch and some pathos in the love of hero for his little sister. Incidentally it was poor judgment to class the child as hero's baby sister because of the apparent vast difference in ages. It would have been far more appropriate to have called her his motherless little daughter. Among the picture's action bits are several good scraps between hero and the crooks who are trying to steal his mine, the falling of the little girl into the secret entrance to the crooks' tunnel, the explosion in the tunnel and the eventual capture and punishment of the guilty ones. The interest could be much better sustained. There are several spots where unessential details are overstressed. Long drawn out closeups of unimportant characters help to make these slow spots more noticeable Of course there is the customary happy ending with hero marrying the girl he loves. Box Office Angle. , . .Fair; will do for a daily change program and might be built up nicely with varied selection of short reel subjects. Exploitation .... Not very much to talk about. You might get them interested, however, with a trailer showing some of the bits of action such as the child's falling into the tunnel, or the explosion. The title may bring them in if you give it prominence and mention the star's name although he isn't likely to have much influence. Marie Walcamp may be remembered for her work in serials. Direction .. J. P. McGowan; average. Author James Ormont Scenario J. P. McGowan Cameraman Walter Griffin Photography All right Locale The West Length About 5,000 feet N William Farnum in "The Man Who Fights "Alone" Paramount As a Whole. . . .NOT THE VIGOROUS, OUT DOORS VEHICLE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT THEM TO GIVE FARNUM. PARAMOUNT'S USUAL FINE PRODUCTION BUT THE STORY DRAGS BADLY. Star Has checked his desire to overact considerably but still needs \ to let up on his overstressed facial expressions. Cast ....Lois Wilson, as Farnum's wife, not provided with a role thai allows her much variation. Ed-li ward Horton suitable. Little Dawn O'Day a pleasing youngster. Type of Story. . . .Drama; an adaptation of the story, "The Miracle of Hate," by William Blacke and James Sheeley Hamilton. William Farnum has long been associated with stories of the out doors, stories that provided him with vigorous he-man roles. "The Man Who Fights' .'Mone'' promises such atmosphere in the early reels by introducing the star as an engineer and showing some beautiful shots of country. But this is short lived and soon the theme resolves itself intoi a slow-moving, tedious affair wit Farnum wheeling around in an in-j valid chair, the victim of a paraly-' tic stroke, who gradually mis trusts his wife, suspects his friend . and then decides to end it all byjr| committing suicide. His first at-, tempt is frustrated by his little/ daughter who enters the room as he is about to reach for a gun. Tb second time he plans to wheel o upon a weakened bridge. Ono again the little girl appears and he own danger upon the bridge leads-■! the crippled father to attempt to save her. Right here is an age old situation that long since has outlived its originality. Later the man learns that this incident was tb means of bringing about the miracle which again gives him the use of his limbs. All suspicion regarding his wife's unfaithfulness is swept away in time for the regulation ending. Box Office Angle Outside of some pretty exteriors in the opening reels, one or two fair dramatic.' climaxes and occasional heart interest touches, there's' little to recommend "The Man Who Fights Alone." And yet they claim William Farnum pictures make money. You know best whether they do for you. Exploitation Not very much f you to base promises on so you have to resort to routine advertising to get them interested. If you know that the star will bring them in. get their attention by saying this is his first picture in over a* year. Paramount's press sheet willj give you all the suggestions, that you may require. Direction. .. .Wallace Worsley; fair. Authors William Blacke-James Shelley Hamilton. i Cameraman L. Guy Wilky Photography Good Locale The West Length 6,337 fei