The Film Daily (1924)

THE Sunday, August 17, 1924 i55^ DAILY 'How To Educate A Wife" Warner Bros. As a Whole.... COMEDY-DRAM A OF DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES THAT HAS SOME AMUSING COMPLICATIONS. ELINOR GLYN STORY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY PLEASE PICTURE AUDIENCES. Cast. .. .Marie Prevost and Monte Blue perfectly well suited as the couple of chief importance: Creighton Hale and Betty Francisco the pair with contrasting difficulties; Vera Lewis and Claude Gillingwater afJord the amusement with Gillingwater one of those complacent, henpecked spouses. Edward Earle has a role of little importance. Type of Story. .. .Comedy drama of married life, by Elinor Glyn. "How to Educate a Wife" affords a pleasing hour's entertainment without hitting any high spots. Its story isn't conspicuous for original situations but it has enough good angles and novel twists to give it an interest holding quality. The development is good and it steps along at a satisfying pace. The intermittent comedy bits help considerably to offset some absurdities of the piece such, as the stupidity of the husband, Monte Blue. He certainly couldn't have written up enough insurance policies to keep himself in shoestrings, much less support his well dressed wife, Marie Prevost. Nevertheless, with some typical Elinor Glyn treatment the domestic trials and tribulations of Ernest and Mabel Todd supply ample diversion. Ernest isn't a lousiness success so his friend suggests that he use his wife's beauty to attract clients, in the same way he does. Incidentally the friend doesn't know, and probably cares less, that his wife isn't true to him. Mabel decides to gather in a client for Ernest but he objects to her method. Also the client's wife makes strenuous opposition to the idea. After the Todds separate they realize they can't get along without each other and there's the regulation reunion. Jox Office Angle Good average entertainment. You'll find it will please the majority of your folks. There are some good names to offer as inducements. ■Exploitation. . . .Talk up the title and use catchlines such as: "Your education is not complete until you see the picture at the blank theater. Learn 'How to Educate Your Wife.' " Play up Elinor Glyn's name and mention her famous "Three "Weeks." Use the names of Monte Blue, Marie Prevost and Creighton Hale in your announcements. Stunt exploitation in connection with the title should get them interested. It's a good catchy one that will probably sell well. )irection Monte Bell;, .usually adequate. vuthor Elinor Glyn ■cenario Grant Carpenter Cameraman Charles Van Enger 'hotography Good .ocale Any city -ength 6,300 feet. "Strangling Threads" Hepworth — S. R. As a Whole MATRIMONIAL DRAMA THAT HAS SOME RATHER GOOD SITUATIONS IF THEY HAD ONLY BEEN USED TO BETTER ADVANTAGE. NOT WELL DIRECTED AND FILM HAS BEEN POORLY EDITED. Cast Cast of English players whose names will not attract American patrons. Alma Taylor gives a fair performance. Bad lighting causes her to photograph poorly. James Carew adequate and others Campbell Cullan, Gwynne Herbert, Eileen Dennes, Mary Dibley. Type of Story. . . .Drama, from a play called "The Cob Web." "Strangling Threads" is a product of the English studios, a drama of married life, with not a wholly bad plot and one that might, with a more careful direction, have made a much better film. It has first rate dramatic possibilities in several of its situations but they haven't been used to the best advantage. The continuity is choppy and there are obvious gaps in the development. There is too little preparation for the dramatic climaxes with no concentrated effort to build up a suspense. Incidents come and go witliout leaving much of an impression one waj or the other. The story deals with the marriage of a girl to a rich man, a match made by the girl's mother to save her from bankruptcy. Apparently the girl later loves her husband although her old lover remains on the scene. The husband refuses to believe reports that his wife is unfaithful. Later when he is suspected in connection with the death of a woman whose body is found upon his estate, the wife's testimony acquits him. They travel to forget the incident and are called home through the death of their child. The husband then confesses that the dead woman had once been his wife and had succumbed to a heart attack while he was talking to her. He is willing to give the wife her freedom but she still loves him. Box Office Angle Not particularly attractive and with no names of players to bring them in. May suffice for regular one time showing but even then the story is hardly big enough to hold. Exploitation A poor, sensational sort of title that doesn't fit the story very well. No prominent angles either in production, story or cast for you to use in advertising or by way of promises so you'll have to resort to straight announcements with a trailer and stills to get their attention. Might fit safely on double feature day program or with good accompanying short reels. Direction Cecil M. Hepworth ; might have made more of the story. Authors Leon M. Lion and E. Naughton Davies. Scenario Blake Macintosh and Cecil Hepworth. Cameraman Not credited Photography Poor Locale England Length About 5,000 feet "Lend Me Your Husband" C. C. Burr— state Rights As a Whole. . . . CONVENTIONAL STORY, NOT WELL HANDLED, DOESN'T MAKE FOR SATISFYING ENTERTAINMENT. BETTER DIRECTION ON BOTH STORY AND PLAYERS WOULD HAVE IMPROVED PICTURE. Cast. .. .Fairly well suited but not used to best advantage. All more or less stilted in their playing. Doris Kenyon doesn't overcome the handicap of a not-over attractive role and Violet Mersereau gives too much attention to puckering her lips. Others J. Barney Sherry, Burr Mcintosh, Connie Keefe, David Powell, Dolores Cassinelli, Helen D'Algy, Coit Albertson. Type of Story. .. .Society drama, from a story by Marguerite Gove. Society, what sins are committed in thy name. "Lend Me Your Husband" is another of those false conceptions of high society, an over exaggerated plot of scandal, husband-swapping and reputation tarnishing. At best it isn't a particularly attractive theme but with a little more consideration and careful preparation it might have made a less tawdry film. A popular young belle is thrown into the society of a high stepper and immediately her name is smirched and the mother of the young man to whom she is engaged immediately asks her to call off the wedding. There follows a series of events, all more or less irrelevant and poorly directed, in which the girl is shunned by Long Island highest "society." At a supposedly fashionable country club the members sit around, stare at the girl and openly shun her. Incidentally, when she brings in thft gardener's pretty daughter they have further reason to air their disapproval. There's a lot of poor taste and a grossly misconceived idea of society, an oft repeated offense in film stories, however. Eventually the rich girl attempts to shield her childhood chum the gardener's daughter, even to further injuring her own reputation. Everything is smoothed over nicely for the ending and her sweetheart believes in her. Box Office Angle Not particularly strong. If your folks are at all critical they're bound to pick flaws both in the story, construction and direction. Exploitation A likely box-office title that may bring them in without much trouble. Whether or not you can use the picture in spite of its weakness is a matter for your own decision. There are several good names in the cast although no real box office drawing cards. You might mention J. Barney Sherry, David Powell and Doris Kenyon, also one or two names familiar in the past: Dolores Cassinelli and Violet Mersereau. Direction. .. .Wm. Christy Cabanne; poor. Author Marguerite Gove Scenario Raymond S. Harris Cameramen Jack Brown-Neil Sullivan Photography Fair Locale Long Island Length 5,389 feet. Rudolph Valentino in "Monsieur Beaucaire" Paramount As a Whole VALENTINO MAKES DAZZLING RETURN IN TARKINGTON'S HIGHLY COLORFUL ROMANCE. PARAMOUNT SUPPLIED THE MONEY BAGS AND SIDNEY OLCOTT DID THE REST. A SPLENDID PRODUCTION. Star. . . .Has an especially appropriate vehicle in Beaucaire, a role that brings him back as the great lover, the forte that made him famous. Retains his good looks and will likely capture a new lot of admii^i^ as the powdered courtier of Kirlg Louis' court. Cast. .. .Contains well known and capable players with Bebe Daniels handling the lead in good style. Lowell Sherman excellent as the rogue King, Louis XV. Paulette DuVal thoroughly well suited as Madame Pompadour. Doris Kenyon a pleasing Lady Mary. Lois Wilson not given much prominence as Queen Marie. Others John Davidson, Oswald Yorke, Ian MacLa'ren, Templer Powell, H. Cooper Cliffe. Type of Story. . . .Dramatic romance; from the storv by Booth Tarkington and the play by Booth Tarkington and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland. The long absented screen idol makes an auspicious return in Tarkington's spectacular and highly colorful romance, "Monsieur Beaucaire". Paramount couldn't have selected a more fitting vehicle nor has their judgment been unwise in putting the direction in the capable hands of Sidney Olcott. His efforts show results. The picture is indeed beautiful to look upon. The settings, the costumes, the characteristic atmosphere and etiquette of the famous French court, — all are faithfully presented. Besides a wealth of pictorial appeal there is a genuinely appealing love story, cleverly touched off with subtle humor, that cannot fail to satisfy the most fastidious critic. "Monsieur Beaucaire" is one of the few costume plays that really satisfies from all angles. Forrest Halsey has written some real sub-titles. Box Office Angle Hardly requires comment. You know what the announcement of Valentino's return will do. It's jamming the Strand. Get your order in early. Exploitation. .. .Won't require much effort on your part except to get your date set. Valentino's return under Paramount banner, and in such a lavish romance as "Monsieur Beaucaire", cannot but gain him a greater following than "The Four Horsemen". "The Sheik" and "Blood and Sand" brought him. Get your announcements going and have your box office cleared for action. Direction Sidney Olcott; superb in every detail. Author Booth Tarkmgton Scenario Forrest Halsey Cameraman Harry Fischbeck Photography Excellent Locale France Length 9,932 feet.