The Film Daily (1924)

Wednesday, August 27, 1924 THE -Sfii^ DAILY Newspaper Opinions , "Lily of the Dust"— F. P.-L. Rivoli AMERICAN — Dimitri Buchowetzki has made a production that leaves Httle room for unfavorable criticism. I have no hesitancy in recommending "Lily of the Dust" to anyone. • * » BULLETIN— The picture is one of unusual power and force. * * * It is a story which goes for climax to climax and is marked by vivid acting and tragic strength. DAILY NEWS— But Pola deserves better things to make faces about, though I doubt that regulation fans will devour, hook, line and sinker, the gaudy and quite slushy romance. The ejection is a thing of high lights, and some good character parts are *layed by Noah Beery, Raymond Griffith and Jeannette Daudet. EVENING WORLD— It is not, in our estimation. Miss Negri's greatest film, but ranks well up in the fore of those she has made in this country. The attractive star is given ample opportunity to run the whole gamut of emotions, and we must admit that she is one of the greatest emoters on the screen. MORNING TELEGRAPH— The picture failed to give her much opportunity to perform in the style to which she has been accustomed. ♦ * * Under the direction of Dimitri Buchoijwetzki it comes to the screen with a distinct ^continental flavor in its details, but the dramatic moments are inclined to resemble — just moments, doubtless due to the fact that Buchowetzki found himself working under restraint. POST — * * * gives her plenty of opportunity for the intense emotional expression characteristic of her acting. ♦ • * The start is a bit slow and uncertain. Some of those who see it will wonder for a few minutes what it is all about. But as soon as the play strikes the main current it proceeds without pause. *SUN — For a few shadowy minutes "Lily of the Dust," * * * is strange and thrilling drama, in which tragedy is enacted to a Ibackground of faces upon which all of the l^trange sufTerings of the race have engraved their marks. After that it is, for some reason not immediately clear, vaguely annoying. TELEGRAM— She acts it well. She looks the part. It is made up of scenes and conditions native to Miss Negri, and appealing to her heimweh, evidently, as much as to her tumultous personality. The manuscript, "The Song of Songs," which is Lily's soul, and which furnishes the ir.ner theme of the whole story, is never even mentioned. TIMES— Although * * * a gem from the viewpoint of direction and the sincere acting of the three principals, it is marred sornewhat by the implausibility df some of its sequences and its improbable ending. * ♦ ♦ Pola Negri will win many admirers by her sincere performance as Lily in this cleverly directed photoplay, which is for the most part a stirring entertainment. TRIBUNE— In fact, we think "Lily of the Dust" is a vastly interesting picture, beautiful to the eye and splendidly directed. « * The story is not unlike "The Song of Songs," * ♦ * WORLD — Most of the work which she does here is along the line of that which She has turned out in her preceding American picture plays. She is far more attractive and important than the things she is trying to express in pictures. She needs a good play, and the need is quite urgent. "Messalina"— F. B. O. Cameo AMERICAN — Just between you and me and the gatepost, the foreign productions may be all right, but give me the good old American brand every time. They have it til over these foreign importations when it omes to technique, mob grouping, photography and unity of story. Still, there are those who like these magnificent spectacles, and for those who do, a visit to the Cameo will help pass a few hours. BULLETIN— Not since "Cabiria" has Italy sent to America such an ambitious photoplay as "Messalina" • • • The film as a spectacle is remarkable, indeed. ♦ * ♦ The story moves rapidly, something which most historic films do not do. The captions are terse and to the point. DAILY MIRROR — "Messalina" is an interesting drama, * * * It steals much of the climax of "Ben Hur." for there's a thrilling chariot race in the big Roman arena. DAILY NEWS — The crowd scenes, in the Circus Maximus, are rather stupendous ; and the glimpses of the little gayeties, such as the gladiatorial combats, with which the gore-loving patricians and commoners amused themselves, are interesting. Otherwise "Messalina ' is amazingly like a number of other films set in the same period, with more gauche dancing girls than usual. EVENING JOURNAL— Beautiful settings, and a bewildering number of people drifting around the Appian Way, and the Imperial palace, besides a thrilling chariot race, and several interesting lions, are the impressions one retains of "Messalina" * * * story is at times absurd, and the personnel of the cast explains why foreign directors a:e commuting to Hollywood. EVENING WORLD— ♦ * * just exactly what it has been advertised " a gigantic Italian spectacle!" In fact, it is so big at times that the writer found himself wondering where all the extras came from ♦ ♦ * certainly looked like $2,000,000, and we have never seen a better chariot race scene in our picture-going career. Here, indeed, is a thrill that will send the cold shivers up and down one's spine. MORNING TELEGRAPH— The story is one of the most haphazard affairs. I have ever seen. It skips and jumps about in its frolicsome way ♦ ♦ » the settings are adequate, but not what you would wish for. The moments where the thrills are supposed to come fall pretty flat. The mob scenes are handled very well, and some of the views in the Circus Maximus are commendable. POST — As a spectacle it is brilliant in spots, but the story suffers from poor and injudicious cutting. The photography is adequate, but not to be compared with American films. * ♦ * The picture evidently was a great length and poor cutting has made the story vague m spots. * * ♦ The cast is entirely foreign and entirely lacking in variety of expression. Great emotion was indicated by strenuous heaving of breasts and rolling of the eyes ; * * ♦ SUN — * * * is rather a gorgeous bit of the spectacular, raised now and then by the excellent acting and commanding presence of Rina de Liguore to soinething rather more important — a moving recreation of a vanished civilization, more colorful and barbaric than our own. ♦ * » TELEGRAM — Italian producers still put their trust in numbers. When plots grow mealy and heroines gape beneath the burden of sheer inanition they bring on ten thousand supers. * * * However, there's the arena, and the chariots and the populus Romanus. If you like crowds you will see a vast one and be caught in another one. TIMES — Great throngs of people, stupendous settings and valient exteriors are to be * * * The narrative is not particularly smooth, and the work of some of the players often makes it obvious that they belong to these modern days. * • * The crowd scenes in this production are directed with wonderful skill. * * * In fact those who find entertaimnent in motion picture spectacles will do well to view this one. TRIBUNE — However, we enjoyed the big Italian spectacle ♦ * ♦ not only because it is full of interesting and madeon-the-spot pictures, but because it possesses a humble naivete never found in any save foreign productions. You will enjoy it, too, the way you used to enjoy the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, and it is told in the .same simple style. In fact, "Messalina," in its American revision, has become a series of beautiful pictures illustrating some very bad titles. WORLD — As drama the fabric wore thin in spots, but as a pictorial memory of ancient Rome it seemed exceedingly worth while. Ball toJ31ose "Movie Season" (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — A ball at the Ambassador will close "Greater Movies Season" tonight. "The Triflers," Oct. Release The second Preferred release will be "The Triflers." This story is now in production with Gasnicr directing. Release date Oct. IS. Universal Changes Titles Universal will release "The Husbands of Edith" as "The Lightning Lover." "Here's How," now in production will be released as "Jazz Parents." Craver Plans Charlotte House (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Charlotte, N. C— R. D. Craver, in association with W. M. (Bud) Moore, Felix Hayman and R. D. Craver, will build a modern theater here early m October, completion of which is expected by Christmas. Three in Leonard Series The main title of the Benny Leonard series which are being handled by Ginsberg and Wilk is "Flying Fists," and each two-reel subject, will be known as a bout. Bout number one is "Breaking In." Bout number two, "Hitting Hard," and bout number three, "Soft Muscles." Canadian M'g'rs Transferred (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Edmonton, Alta. — Walter P. Wilson, former manager of the Winnipeg Lyceum, has been appointed manager of the Capitol, succeeding J. Buchanan. Wilson is succeeded by C. A. Meade who has leased the house. Bert Crowe, former manager of the Metropolitan. Winnipeg, has been appointed manager of the .Strand, at Calgary. Conklin Not in "Lab" Deal Frank G. Conklin who has been in charge of the New York office of Standard Laboratories which have been taken over by Consolidated is not included in the merger. He intends handling distribution for independent producers. Conklin is receiver for Preferred Pictures Corp. Blumenstock Succeeds Palmer Morton B. Bulmenstock has relinquished duties as editor of "The Close-up," the Famous' theater department house organ to handle trade paper publicity. He succeeds Sam D. Palmer, who has resigned after a number of years' service with Paramount. Jack Barry takes over Blumenstock's old duties. Marmont in "Broken Laws" Los Aneeles — Percy Marmont has replaced Ramsey Wallace in "Broken Laws." The cast now includes Mrs. Wallace Reid, Jacqueline Sanders, Virginia Lee Corbin, Arthur Rankin and Joan Standing in support. R. William Neill will direct. Shooting starts in a few davs. Jane Jennings will have a part in "The Lost Chord," a new Whitman Bennett Prod. Dagmar Godowsky is also in the cast. New York Chicago Hollywood Rothacker Laboratories WILLIAM S. GILL, Eastern Sales Mgr. 542 Fifth Ave. Tel. Marray HUI 1831 ELMER PEARSON! Pathe News— "Sees All— Knows All" But a partner in this moving picture vampire business "Sees Everything— Knows Nothing." From Cloaks and Suits to Filming "Beauts." IN HOLLYWOOD COMING SOON PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION ^„V.JU^V...V.^.^^l VELCOME stranger: "^ROAf Wf CRMf BROmVAV PUY SV MRON HOFFMAN AOAPreo By MMIS VOUHCr AMD MACK. .A BELASCO PROOucriON FU3RENCE VlDOU, DOR£ DAVIDSON, VIRGINIA KROWN FAIRE, NOAH BEERy LLOVD HUGHES, RODtRT EDESON, WILLIAM V MONO-, 4itf OTIS HAR.LAN pialcrtD tr JAMES UOUHQ SEASON 1924-192S THIRTY FIRST-RUN PICTURES