The Film Daily (1924)

f! THE l^SSmLm^ DAILY Sunday, November 30, 1924 ■ "The Fast Set"— F. P.-L. New, Baltimore _SUN' * * * Tlic sets are conimeiulable iiciiicvements and tverytliing looks very solid and comforlaMe. \Vi hardly tlinik the lelliiiK of tliis play in picture form sliould have consumed 'eight reels of gelatine. See if you do. Wisconsin, Milwaukee XKWS — * * * William Dc Mille's guidance, with his usual sumptuous settings, a set of the cleverest subtitles, if there ever were any, and some mighty good acting tlupicture is a pretty well dressed affair of the doings of modern society. * * * "The Fast Worker" — Universal Colonial, Indianapolis STAR — * * * l>enny stages thrills galore — from a hilarious but highly dangerous climb on the wall of a summer resort hotel to a breathtaking automoliile escape for a honey moon. There is also a sensational dash to a yacht when Miss T.aPlante and Denny, in the leading roles, believe that he is to be arrested as an impostor. * * » Rialto, Washington TIMES — * * * Denny plays his usual he-man. red-blooded American chap, surrounded by a cloudburst of difficulties that in tlie nnfold^n" would make a wooden Indian laugh. * • * "The Garden of Weeds"— F. P.-L. Fenway, Boston TRA\'ELER— * * * As a story it isn'l much. But Cruze has directed it so well, made it so swift -moving, constantly suiprising and entertaining, that you do not realize this until the picture is all ovei. The story may be distasteful to you, bul <t won't bore you. * • * "Gerald Cranston's Lady" — Fox Monroe, Chicago .JOURNAL — * * * a melodramatic spectacle of matrimony without love * * • with the somber-eyed Alma Rubens and the perenniallv youngish James -Kirkwood. * * * POST—* * * This picture has Alma Rubens, a good story, good direction and good acting. What more can you reasonably ask? * • * TRIBUNE — * * * There's nothing spiffy. unusual or especially well acted about this film. With no' comedy intended — Marguerite De La Motte is awfully funny in several of her scenes with .Tames Kirkwood. I inean the ones where with her ripht profile to you she makes love to the lonesome husband. "He Who Gets Slapped"— MetroGold. — Warfield, San Francisco rWeek Ending Nov. 22) BULLETIN—* * * It is a picture of a different sort, one that has far more to it than anything brought here f^r a loti { time. While the play is excellent, Chancv is ever better. It is Chaney that bving.s the film ll-e required finish for the big mom.ents. » * » CALL AND PO.ST— * * * Chaney gives a magnificent performance. * * * a synthesis of settings and direction and acting, and hence a net result that mean only one thing — the directing, unifying hand of a grea' artist. * ♦ » CHRONICLE—* * * is novel in theme and treatment and had skillful direction from Victor Seastrom. * * * DAILY NEWS—* * * To those unfamiliar with the play, the film is exceedingly effective, tightly knit story, acted in the name part with his expected skill by Lon Chaney. * * * EXAMINER — * * * It is powerful drama, this play. And it has been filmed in a becoming spirit of dignified artistry. * * ♦ TLLUS. DAILY HERALD—* * * From every standpoint — acting, direction, contini:ity. sheer human appeal — this picture is without question one of the few masterpieces of the screen. * * ♦ "His Hour"— Metro-Gold. Alhambra, Milwaukee NEWS—* * * This is by far the best of the Elinor Glyn products and for those hereafter we vote for the fascinating John, as lover Aileen Pringle never was more lovely and Bertram Grassby, Dale Fuller and Emilv Fitzroy are better known in the excellent cast. ♦ ♦ ♦ Fox, Philadelphia INQUIRER-* * * offers to John Gilbert, in his role of "Gritzko," one of the best opportunities he has veer had to portray the manner of a carefree hero to which he seems so easily able to adapt himself. * * * PUBLIC LEDGER—* * * Perhaps the production, if presented in its unexpurgated form, would be interesting if not elevating, but in the shape it is presented here, it is decidedly mediocre. * * » Piccadilly, Rochester DEMOCRAT — * * * If you like romance highly imaginative and drippingly sentimental, you will like "His Hour;" if you prefer romance that is more restrained, tnore like the expression of it in real life, "His Hour" will bore you — or. if you are gifted with the saving grace of humor, it will amuse you. * * * HERALD — * * * is a picture which is so well staged and so well acted that no movie fan should fail to attend this theater. * * * ■ JOURNAL—* * * The production is on the usual GIvn scale of lavishness. TIMES — * * * There is nothing new in "His Hour." It is simply a compressed form of the other Glyn plays. * » * "Hot Water"— Pathe Academy, Baltimore NEWS — * * * Imagine the inimitable film comedian married in the movies ! That done, you have a faint idea of Harold racing madly and with uproarious solemnity through the merriest comedy since he gave "Girl Shy" to the silver sheet. ♦ * * Stillman, Cleveland NEWS — * * * is perhaps not as good in plot as either "Safety Last" or "Girl Shy," but for rollicking humor, I'll venture to say it equals either. And Harold, you know, is never skimpy with his laugh provoking incidents There is plenty of action. * ♦ • PLAIN DEALER — It's a genius who in these late days can make you laugh at a mother-in-law joke. Harold Llovd is the genius to make you do it. * * * PRESS—* * * Not so good as his last comic, but there's much to laugh at * * * TIMES — * * * The comedy is not the best, but it is one of the funniest Lloyd has been starred in. * * * "Janice Meredith" — Metro-Gold. Majestic Boston GLOBE — * * * to a capacity audience which showed discriminating appreciation for the fine bits in the film and unbounded enthusiasm for the snlendid acting of the remarkable cast. ♦ * * TRANSCRIPT—* * * A thread of romance to supnly the love interest and knit together the fragments of history, then the booming of the guns, the long marches and the swifter rides — it's enough to satisfy your avera.ge spectator that he has seen a great picture. * * * "K — the Unknown" — Universal Merrill, Milwaukee NEWS — .\ siran.gely assorted quartet of lovers furnish the unusual punch. » * » a simple, appealing inorsel. * * * "The Lover of Camille" — Warners Recent, Rochester DEMOCRAT— * * * the spectator will ^p deenly moved by the portra.yal of Monte BUie in the title role: there are moments when the screen actor rises to unprecented histrionic heights. * * * HER.AT D — Pather long, drawn out and tiresome. * * * "Manhattan"— F. P.-L. Strand, Cincinnati TRTBT.TNE — * * * is melodrama, nothing n^ore. Dix, who is starred for the first time, by Paramount in the picture, however, makes the best of the role in which he is cast. * * • Park Mall. Cleveland ^ NEWS—* * * is Ri-ha-d Dix's first starring vehicle for Paramount, but after watching him go through it you'd never believe be hadn't been playinp' stellar roles all his life. Dis has the stuff of which stars are made and he knows how to cut it across. * ♦ • PLAIN DEALER—* * * is one of those "sure-fire" pictures. * • • Metropolitan, Los Aneeles rWcek Ending Nov. 22) EXAMINER-* * * The story is pure melodrama and. once under wav, it moves with characteristic speed. Many subtle touches in characterization, a nice absence of routine and quite the best assortment of clever titles seen recently are no small elements to the eflFectiveness of "Manhattan." » • « TIMES — * * * Of all the unadulterated hokum, with a profusion of ancient, timeworn-out gags, "Manhattan," as a picture, wins the prize * * * EXPRESS—* * * The story is handled characteristically, rather more from a stage angle and therefore with a freshness that makes a trifling tale decidedly entertaining. "Married Flirts"— Metro-Gold. California, Los Angeles (Week Ending Nov. 22) EXAMINER—* * * The director Robert G. Vignola, deserves credit for producing a drama which travels so smoothly that one becomes oblivous of time. It is a triangle story, but this time the triangle starts out with a woman, a man and a career. * * * EXPRESS—* * * Social satires are always of interest to the sophisticated; indeed, this Robert G. Vignola opus savors more strongly of continental drama than usual American fare. * * * TIMES — * * * Many times during the course of the picture one looks for a tri*e situation and finds novelty. * * * "The Mine with the Iron Door" — Principal Madison, Detroit NEWS — * * * There is something of a rough and ready nature going on every minute and all the action is unfolded before some backgrounds that are about as pleasing to the eye as any we've ever seen in a movie. * ♦ • "Never Say Die"— Asso. Ex. Strand, Milwaukee NEW.*^* * * This is without a doubt one of the cleverest things MacLean has to his credit, and let it be said, it is the picture of the week for the whole family, being wholesome and minus any sex entanglements. "North of 36"— F. P.-L. McVickers, Chicago HERALD—* * * is one of the best adventure stories it has ever been my good fortune to witness. ♦ ♦ ♦ "Open All Night"— F. P.-L. Orpheum, Detroit FREE PRES.S— * * * There is an abundance of comedy in the picture, and some thrilling scenes of bicycle racing, with colorful views of Paris and some naughty scenes in Parisian cabarets ♦ * * "Roarins: Rails"— Prod. Dist. Corp. Forum, Los Angeles (Week Ending Nov. 22) EXAMINER—* * * Frankie (Darro) wo'ks with Harry Carey and the two of them make an appeal to the heart which is hard to withstand, even though the picture is overloaded with such things as explode' bridges, forest fires, murder and — dreams. * HERALD—* * * The picture is intensely dramatic, containing a "spectacular train wreck, the dynamiting of a trestle, a jail break and ending with one of the most remarkable forest fii"es ever screened. Tom Forman's capable direction lifts it out of the rut of ordinary nrogram pictures. * * * TIMES* * * There is nothing unusual, no odd twists of plot or treatment, about the nictu-c mitil the last reel and a half. Then, events begin to transpire and increase in fury until the close. * * * EXPRESS — * * * it is sheer melodrama. Tt makes no p''etense at being anything else. The action is hectic fro mthe start. The tim■ng of the ^vhole thing is regulated, seemingly, bv the stupendous fichting scenes in the openmg reel and the collision which follow^s quickly. ILLS. DAILY NEW.S— * * * If you like melodrpma dished out in laree doses, it woii'f^n't be advisable to miss it. * * * RECORD— As a knight of the rnafing road he ''Care-'-) is highly pleasing and there is a quality of sincereity in his work which gives to a melodramatic story the semblance of reality * * * Cameo, San Francisco rWeek Ending Nov. 22) BULLETIN—* * * It is a romance of railroad life in the West, and as the dishonorably diseha'"eed engineer who overcomes the stigma of an early accident to prove himself the red-blooded hero that the audience knew him to be all alone. Carey gives a performance that can be classed with his finest characterizations * * * "The Rose of Paris"— Universal Broadway-Strand, Detroit , NEWS— * * * while it is light and ilufif.vl Cinderella stuff the acting, direction and i settings are good enough to hold your attention all the way. ♦ ♦ ♦ . Cameo, Los Angeles I (Week Ending Nov. 22) I EXPRESS—*** Cinderella fare generally^ pleases the vast public; therefore, a tale commands widespread interest that treats of the fortunes of a convent girl, ignorant of her social status, who is abducled by schem ing villains and is in grave danger of los ^ ing her life. * * * TIMES—* * * Mary Philbin is the star, doing some of the best work she has offerc 1 since "Merry Go Round." * * * "The Sainted Devil"— F. P.-L. Roosevelt, Chicago HERALD—* * * Valentino does everyj thing he can to please his public. * The title role fits him — or fits his personality! if you want to be minutely accurate — likfl the paper on the wall. NEWS—* * * story fits the beau ideal" of young America. Tt exhibits him tangoing as only Valentino can tango, toying with feminine hearts as \'alentino does in his best film way. fighting and killing as no one c.\ pects Valentino to do. ♦ * * Capitol, Cincinnati ENQUIRER—* * * endeavors to be pic1 turesque and to produce striking dramatic] effects rather than examine, closely the hidden springs of action in the human heart ] and lay them bare to the scrutiny of all. In other words, emphasis is placed on action and settings rather than on motivation and character. ■* * * TRIBUNE—* * * Say what you will. Valentino is better as a fiery, temperamental young Spaniard than in any other type of part. * * * Ohio, Indianapolis STAR—* * * Those who claim he (Valentino. is a poseur, a pretty boy who cannot act, will probably change their minds after they see this picture, for .in it he does some of the best work of his career. * * * Capitol, Montreal GAZETTE—* * * The photography includes some charming and novel effects, andl the film throughout holds the interest of thej beholder. * » * I "The Silent Accuser"— Metro-Gold. Palace, Washington ST.\K — * * * Peter the Great shows his remarkable training all through the picture. He leaps cfiasms. scales almost vertical ch'ffs, iumps out of second story windows, foils prison guards, plays dead and finally makes a realistic attack upon the man he had seen commit murder. * * * "Sinners in Silk"— Metro-Gold. Karlton, Philadelphia INQUIRER—* * * Were it not for tli. well-written, directed, enacted sequence, tin story would be mediocre. There is a nlenti ful array of hirh life doings, with the flapper much in evidence. * * * PUBLIC LEDGER—* * * The idea of the N picture is fine. It is perhaps used here for the first time and fu'nishes an amazing climax to a picture. * * * "The Snob"— Metro-Gold. Cameo, Los Angeles (Week Ending Nov. 22) • EXAMINER—* * * The picture as a whole is entertaining, the comedy touches are well done. You will not be moved to hieh emotion nor plunged into abyss of despair or gloom, but you will laugh and finri the miniature characterizations well taken, and all amusing. * * * EXPRESS—* * * For the most part. Monta Bell, who directed, tells the story convincingly and brings the best out of the actors. The severest criticism of his work may be directed against the inclusion of too many details. The comedic touches are a bit overdrawn and broad, too. * * * TIMES-* * ■* What there is of plot centers around the title role played by Gilbert, and whether you like the type he portrays as a type or not, he manages to make it sufficiently irresponsible to be appealing. * * *