The Film Daily (1924)

— .%g»^ DAILY Friday, November 28, 1924, Newspaper Opinions "A Sainted DevD"— Paramount Strand AMERICAN—* • * is produced with such intelligence and care that I hesitate to say that I like "Monsieur Beaucaire' better. "Monsieur Beaucaire" is one of the best ten pictures of the year. "A Sainted Devil is one of the best twenty, so you see it is by no means a mediocre efltort. * * * filled with romance and love, and it has been made into a beautiful picture. The Argentine that we see is scenically perfect Mrs. Valentino, who passes on all the sets • * • and Joseph Henabery, the director, have matenially aided Valentino in presenting a most excellent piece of workmanship. * * * BULLETIN—* * * The story * * * is a romantic trifle. But it is at all times a delight to the eye. The scenes at the estancia * * * are picturesque and apparently, quite authentic. The costumes are little less than thrilling. * * * Helen D'Algy plays the part of the sweetheart acceptably • * * Nita Naldi * * * acts in such a way as to convince us of the truth of the old saying. The other members of the cast are entirely capable. * * * DAILY NEWS — Rudolph Valentino tangoing in a jasmine-scented patio with his Castillian bride. * * * * * * Has more to recommend _ it than just the presence of Valentino. It is thrilling, sometimes sordid tale, from "The Rope's End," by Rex Beach. It has been cunningly directed, knowingly staged and above all, well acted. Helen D'Algy does startling good work. # » * And then there are Nita Naldi, Dagrnar Godowsky and Louise La Grange who shine brightly in their particular corners. * * * EVENING JOURNAL—* * * Nita Naldi * ♦ * and Dagmar Godowsky » ♦ * are excellent vamps, and the others are very well cast. There is a great deal of action and high-powered romance in the photoplay, but after all, it's Valentino who's booked as the attraction. And he is. EVENING WORLD—* * "The picturt is a very good one, but we had expected a higher classification than very good. Of course, any picture which is enacted by Valentino, Nita Naldi, Helen D'Algy and Dagmar Godowsky and which is directed by Joseph Henabery could not possibly be an indifferent one. This one certainly is far from indifferent, but, in otir humble opinion, it fails to touch the heights that one would expect from this famed quintet. There isn't the faintest doubt, though, that "A Sainted Devil" will register all kinds of records in the Mark Strand. It is a great box-oiifice picture. * * * GRAPHIC—* * * Valentino ♦ * * does excellent work. He tangoes, he appears in the romantic costume that capitivated in "The Four Horsemen." ♦ * * Yes, Valentino, the sheik, has returned. The story * * ♦ moves rather slowly. ♦ ♦ * HERALD-TRIBUNE—* * * Rex Beach has laid his story in South America, and it is gorgeously picturesque. * * * * * * Probably Valentino gives the best performance he ever has given, but with that devasttating personality, it is difficult to tell whether he is a good actor or not. Helen D'Algy * * *is both beautiful and a good dancer. * * * Nita Naldi is just about as perfect as Carlotte, the hellcat, and to her falls the fattest part. Dagmar Godowsky is beautiful, exotic. ♦ * * MORNING TELEGRAPH—* * * gives the star his greatest acting opportunity, and he rises to it splendidly. * * * * * * falls short of the complete entertainment goal it aims at because of the treatment accorded it. The very first scenes are confusing. * * ♦ * * * this story of Rex Beach's » * * is pretty familiar material. ♦ * » Its pace is uneven, its moods mixed and interest is uncentered. The star carries the whole burden, and it is to his credit that the picture interesti in the manner it does. * ♦ * . xr i Joseph Henabery 's direction is good. Helen D'Algy makes a beautiful and convincingly French heroine. Nita Naldi carries her burden of villainy creditably, while George Seigmann gives a nice portrayal of the bandit. * * * POST — * * * There is much of mterest in the picture, and Rudy is more sheik-like than we ever saw him before. * ♦ * But in logic, thoughtful working out of plot, or intelligent interpretation, the film is sadly lacking. But then, who wants logic or anything else when Rudy is strutting through his part. * * ♦ SUN — * * * "A Sainted Devil" is somewhat cheap, but it's sex appeal is probably around 100 per cent. TELEGRAM — * * * It is a melodrama of the hacienda and the South American banditry, very blurry as to plot, but full of the click of castanets, the sizzle of liquor and love, and rioting in some extraordinarily good photography. * * • The picture does not go tremendously high, however. The story is the trouble with it. It is exciting all the while, even hectic, but it clatters around in circles. • • * The earlier parts » * » are by far the finer. There is loveliness in the groupings of festivity at the hacienda and the wedding dances, seen through a shifting glare, spin up to real beauty. The acting is variable. IVCiss Naldi and George Seigman * * * do the Cleverest things. Yet there aie other n-cn'.ents when Valentino Ivimsclf tjses out of the glossy neutrality of his handsomeness and displays a stirring lot of facial tmocicn. TIMES—* * * Those who admire Valentino will enjoy this film, and they will be quite thrilled by the latter sequences. Nita Naldi is effective as Carlotta. Helen d'Algy is charming. » » » Dagmar Godowsky shows herself a clever screen actress. * * * El Tigre's obnoxious characteristics are well brought out by Mr. Seigmann, who is never at a loss for an expression or spontaneous action. * ♦ * WORLD— The play is stuffed with Spanish atmosphere. * * ♦ Two vampires are involved in the menacing persons of Nita Naldi and Dagmar Godowsky. Though co.nsiderably overlength and therefore somewhat slack in spots the play is an excellent example of the Valentino output. "The Price of a Party"— Asso. Ex. Cameo AMERICAN—* * * From name to plot, has all been designed with the box-ofifice in mind. • » ♦ * * * Hope Hampton * * * is positively dazzling. ♦ * ♦ Dagmar Godowsky give an excellent performance. Arthur E. Carewe and Harrison Ford are also more than adequate HERALD-TRIBUNE— Hope Hampton's latest * * * is a good picture — a melodrama without hokum. Charles Giblyn directed it and * * * we should like to see more of him. None of his people overact and none of his points are overstressed. In fact, he seems a director with good taste. Hope Hampton does the best work we ever have seen her do. * ♦ * A COMPLETE LABORATORY AND TITLE SERVICE The Standard of the Industry 723 7th Ave., N. Y. C. Bryant 5450-1 * * * isn't a pretentious production, but it is amusing. * * * MORNING TELEGRAPH— Howard Estabrook's first venture as a producer on his own * * * discloses elaborate production on the part of the producer .intelligent direcrion by Charles Giblyn and a very capable cast headed by Hope Hampton. * ♦ * Unfortunately, the basic ingredient of this story * * * is not up to the standard set by the other elements of the production. The yarn is one of those things undoubtedly picked by the distribution experts as "surefire box ofiice stuff." TELEGRAM—* * * A thrilling climax solves all complications. * * » TIMES — * * * This is a film which has just a little too much of the bright lights and not enough real atmosphere. The producers, however, have kept within certain bounds in telling the story. Miss Hampton is cheerful and attractive. » * * Aruth Edmund Carewe * * * is a little too much of the heavy and occasionally not sufficiently natural and spontaneous in his actions and expressions. Mr. Ford is rather a gloomy hero. * * * WORLD — * * * Miss Hampton was beautiful, and she acted the star part with grace and precision. Out where the geese go quackle-quackle, this picture * » * win be simply grand. Parker Rejoins Warners Watt Parker, having recovered from an illness that extended over a period of several weeks, has rejoined the Warners as director of publicity and advertising. Hoot Gibson has started work on "The Taming of the West." Arthur Rossan is directing. Frown on Fake Exploitation The A. M. P. A. on Wednesday passed resolutions denouncing the placing of a fake bomb and fake dynamite sticks in the plant of the San Diego (Cal.) Union as an exploitation stunt for a picture, booked at the Plaza in that city. Investigations revealed that no such suggested stunt appeared in any literature prepared by the distributor. Negro House for Macon, Ga. Macon, Ga. — Willis Braswell will open his new theater, the Wolverine, Dec. 10. It will seat 410 and will cater to negro patronage. GEVAERT RAW STOCK N«sative — Potitive As Qood As The BeH JOHN D. TIPPETT, Inc. GEVAERT FILM 1540 B'way 6040 Sunset Blvd. N. y. C. Hollywood ^A/hat is the question in every woman's heaif '9s Jfove An Associated Exhibitors Release COiVlING the funniest farce in[^forty years WITH SYD CHAPLIN TO BE RELEASED BY PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION IDEAL FILMS, LTD.— DISTRIBUTORS FOR UNITED KINGDOM PRODUCED BY CHRISTIE FILM COMPANY, Inc