The Film Daily (1925)

THE ■e^tl DAILY Friday, July 3, 1925 Newspaper Opinions "Any Woman"— F. P,-L. Metro — Los Angeles EXAMINER—* * * Many of the scenes have genuine beauty both from the viewpoint of drama and of photography, enough to stamp the deficiences the fault of the story rather than of the director. Henry Kolker is splendid as the playful roue and Aggie Herring's brief appearance creates a wish that her part had been made longer. She always plays her roles with genuine understanding. * * * EXPRESS—* * * Director King stages the production in realistic fashion. Office scenes, luxurious homes and country club grounds are shown with accurate fidelity. Types, such as a slangy office girl, philandering business men, suspicious wives and a distressed heroine, take on the semblance of life under his expert guidance. * ♦ * HERALD—* * *Although Miss Terry's work stands out like a beacon light in a storm, the story offers several diaracter bits that are really very well done. * * * Palace, Philadelphia INQUIRER— ♦ • * Splendid direction and a strong cast do much to make "Any Woman," * * * a fairly good entertainment. * « * RECORD— * * * The acting of most of the principals is unusually excellent ; somewhat better in fact than the arrangement of some of the incidents not a few of which are lacking in the thrill that might have been provided. * * * "Are Parents People?"— F. P.-L. Stanley, Philadelphia INQUIRER—* * * The film is a delicate comedy, and much credit is due to the producer for the fact that never once does the lightness sag into boredom. It's the little things that count in a moving picture, in the long run, and this play has enough charming by-play to cover up thin spots in the plot. * * * NEWS — * * *Adolphe Menjou, Florence Vidor and Lawrence Gray, a boy with a nice smile, help Betty make the show. Adolphe and Florence are amusing as sophisticated and separated parents. * ♦ * PUBLIC LEDGER—* * * Contains a frsehness of plot, a delightful whimsicality and a sparkling wit found all too seldom these days. The cast in its entitety is splendid. * * ♦ RECORD—* * * The photoplay is well staged, moves speedily and has many exciting dramatic moments. * * * "Chickie"— First Nat'l Metro — Washington HERALD— ♦ * * The almost tragic experiences of the girl in her first step into the social world form the basis of a truly human and interesting story. * ♦ » "Declasse"— First Nat'l LaSalle — Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * The skillful touch of Director Robert Vignola is evidenced throughout the production, and _ Lloyd Hughes, in a decidedly unsympathetic role, plays his part so well that he finally wins the goodwill of the audience. • * ♦ Earle — Washington HERALD—* * * The beauteous Griffith never shown to greater advantage than in her present vehicle. Her supporting cast is uniformly good. • * ♦ "The Desert Flower"— First Nat'l Circle, Indianapolis STAR — * * * "The Desert Flower" is an easy and enjoyable picture to watch. Miss Moore is an ingratiating Maggie, fairly bubbling over with the high spirit of youth. * * * " Eve's Lover" — Warners Adams, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * The plot is ingenious and abounds in thrilling and touching scenes. Miss Rich plays with success a rather difficult role, while Bert Lytell is convincing as the adventurous nobleman. * * * NEWS—* * * In fact, it is Miss Rich's performance that keeps the interest in "Eve's Lover" moving at all times. * • * TIMES — * * * "Eve's Lover," has been directed in a capable manner and there are many settings of the utmost loveliness. • * * "Fifth Avenue Models" — Universal Lyric, Cincinati POST—* * * The story has slightly fallen arches in respect to the conflict which seems to be the fact that Mary Philbin can't tell her boss where she goes Saturday nights, since she visits her father, who has gotten himself into jail. But there's a dandy fight between Mary, when she was a manikin in a modiste's shop, and another model. * * * "Grounds for Divorce" — F. P.-L. Park, Cleveland NEWS^* * * Florence Vidor, speaking strictly of reel life, makes a charming wife and Matt Moore looks like just the sort who would be silly enough to neglect her. There is nothing very edifying about Louise Fazenda's comedy relief. ♦ * * PLAIN DEALER— * * * The situations are unusually good. And the exaggerations furnished by the able Louise Fazenda happily take away the seriousness which the other players carry — and cany purposely. * * * Columbia, Washington POST — * * * Beautiful gowns, women and scenery and a fine assortment of players are contained in "Grounds for Divorce." * • * STAR — * * ♦ Matt Moore handles the role of the lawyer husband with his usual success, supplementing the excellent work of Miss Vidor, Louise Fazenda, as the vamp, proves a point she has been trying to make for some time, that she is worthy of better parts than those offered in the field of slap-stick comedy. * * * "Heart of a Siren"— First Nat'l Fox, Philadelphia INQUIRER♦ * * In its whole-hearted extravagance with sets, people and amazing Costumes — on the part of Miss La Marr — one suspects the picture of poking a little satire at itself. * * * NEWS—* * * "The Heart of a Siren" 'gives Miss La Marr an opportunity to display her lithe figure. It is good entertainment, replete with gorgeous costumes. The comedy is furnished by Clifton Webb and William Ricciardari. * • * "His Supreme Moment" — First Nat'l Chicago, Chicago HERALD— ♦ * *The director, the fastidious George Fitzmaurice, may not himself have believed the play, but he seems to have persuaded his principal players that if not the work of Michael Arlen it was written by Cosmo Hamilton at least * • ♦ NEWS—* * * Blanche Sweet and Ronald Coleman, under the direction of George Fitzmaurice, carry their roles with a good deal of original work; they were thinking about what they were doing and we get a full registration. * * * POST—* * * The picture is one of those which we may call "lavishly produced." George Fitzmaurice, its director, specializes in that type. Miss Sweet is beautiful, especially in the color scene, and Ronald Colman is as the flappers like him. The rest of the cast is capable and the production as a whole quite gorgeous and moviesque. State, Los Angeles EXAMINER—* * * George Fitzmaurice, who directed the production, evidently decided to give all the girls a thrill and if they don't get it from this picture, there are no more thrills anywhere. * * * EXPRESS—'* • * It is a wise director who knows what to do with material from a mediocre story. George Fitzmaiu"ice takes the hectic episodes of the Edington yarn and makes them fairly entertaining, and with the aid of color photography he brings out several lovely scenic effects to enhance the film. "Just a Woman"— First Nat'l Criterion, Los Angeles EXAMINER—* * * Irving Cummings has directed the picture conscientiously. If the plot is stereotyped, it is, at least, presented coherently, with careful attention to detail. The action is free from exaggeration, and certain scenes have the sting of realism. * * « HERALD — * * * Cummings' ability to bring out the comedy relief against a background of drab reality asserts itself throughout the picture, affording a welcome change from the overworked society settings. • * • "The King of Wild Horses"— Pathe State, Boston TRAVELER—* * * It is extraordinarily interesting to see what has been done with horses and only a few humans for actors. "Kiss Me Again" — Warners Forum, Los Angeles EXAMINER—* * Ernest Lubitsch and Hans Kraely have e\olved in this new film one of the most delicious comedies of marriage which the screen has ever seen. ♦ * » EXPRESS — * * * Kraely 's story is so masterfully pictured by Lubitsch and, under his guidance, so well acted by four principals, that the authors unoljtrusive skill is in danger of being passed by in admiration for the director. But Kraely put into Lubitsch's hands one of the keenest and most sparkling of farce comedies, knit into a fine fabric of the quality of a tapestry. * * * "The Little French Girl"— F. P.-L Capitol, Detroit FREE PRESS — * * * The picture was pro (luced on a lavish scale, and there are many colorful views in France and England. The action at times is inclined to drag, but the clever acting of Mr. Hamilton, Miss Ralston and Miss Brian make of it a photoplay that is always entertaining. ♦ * ♦ NEWS — * * * That nice little Mary Brian, who played Wendy in "Peter Pan," has most of the acting responsibility of "The Little French Girl" (the week's feature film) on her shoulders and she does well enough considering she is a comparative newcomer. * * * Regent, Rochester DEMOCRAT—* * * Will find little to regret in Herbert Brenon's sympathetic appreciation of the very spirit of the novel evident ill this picture he has directed with character 1st 10 blvll] * * * JOURNAL—* * * Anne Douglas Sedgwick's "Little French Girl" makes an attractive film story and much of its appeal is becau.se the picture was directed by Herbert Brenon. * * * "Lost— A Wife"— F. P.-L State— Cleveland NEWS — * * * ilenjou is always interesting un the screen. He can generally be relied ujion to tide a narrative over the shallow places and is clever enough to carry along a nietliucre heroine. "Lost — A Wife" taxes his ability to the limit. In several chapters the going is pretty rough and it becomes necessary to inject bits of foolishness to keep the audience in a good humor. * * * PLAIN DEALER—* * * There is some dramatic weakness in the middle of the story, jjut the action picks up for a good and an amusing finish. * * * TIMES — * * * A moderately entertaining film in which the comedy potentialities have not been used to best advantage. Menjou is as good as usual. * ♦ * "Man and Maid" — Metro-Goldwyn Capitol, Montreal GAZETTE — * * * It was written and produced by Elinor Glyn, and shows the authoress at her best — or worst, according to one's ta-te. Sentiment runs riot and romance amok through a plot that offers little that is novel, and wliich is practically unrelieved by action. "The Manicure Girl"— F. P.-L McVicker's, Chicago AMERICAN—* * * Although the story is no great shakes, Ijeing attentuated, unconvincing and hackneyed, it nevertheless was pre'ented with considerable wit and adroitness, in consetiuence of which, along with Bebe's jouiity impersonation of the title character, it l)ecomes passably interesting. • ♦ * "The Monster" — Metro-Goldwyn Capitol, Cincinnati POST—* * * Lon Chancy, the monster, makes your teeth .sound like a crap game hut he doe>^I^'t ap]>ear enough. "The Necessary Evil"— First Nat'l Piccadilly, Rochester DEMOCRAT—* * * All the convential hokum has been introduced in order to win public approval for this "meller"; but, as we have stated, the pojnilar and talented cast will compensate with the majority of patrons for tlie defects of story direction. * • ♦ .TOURNAL— * * * Aside from the fact that "The Necessary Evil" presents Ben Lyon in his best screen characterization, not a great deal can be said in favor of this picture; that is when one considers the plot, and if one disregards the plot, the acting does not line up to standard. * * * "Old Home Week"— F. P.-L Madison, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * Back in this familiar role Meighan is seen in a characterization that will please his admirers. The plot may not provide enough action to please all fans, and some may sneer over its simplicity, but it is clean and wholesome, cleverly directed and capably acted. ♦ * » NEWS—* * * "Old Home Week" is r touched with many human slants and is mo tivated by a series of situations imbued with ; suspense. The titles too, are excellent. ♦ * • TIMES—* * * A live and entertaining feature. It is especially ingenious in the incredible amount of suspense that has been woven into the clever and plausible climax. "Raffles"— Universal Strand — Detroit FREE PRESS — * * * Love has an important place in this baffling mystery play, and" the romance pictured is one of the sweetest ever filmed. * * * NEWS—* * * House Peters, who has been given the big part, is not the book's Raffles. It is a role more suited to a Barryraore or a Menjou. * * * TIMES—* * * A delightful blend of mystery and love, capably played by an attractive cast headed by House Peters. * * * "The Shock Punch"— F. P.-L Ohio, Indianapolis STAR — Once again Richard Dix has been cast in a picture with a story that is much too weak for him. * ♦ * "Soul Fire"— First Nat'l f Palace, Montreal GAZETTE—* * * The most outstanding : feature about "Soul Fire" * * * is that it provides Richard Barthelmess with a play different in type to those in which he is us I iially seen, and the role he plays is more ma I tore and decidedly more dramatic. "The Spaniard"— F. P.-L Palace, Washington POST—* * * Let it be said for the picture that it is well produced. In fact, speaking for one who has never seen a bull fight, it may be added that this film offers the truest kind of a conception of what a bull fight is like. * * * STAR— * * * Is notable for the debut of .Tetta Goudal as a leading lady, who seems to be in her element opposite Valentino's rival on the screen. She is of a distinct type, and once seen will not be forgotten. Posing .seems to be her forte. » * • "The Sporting Venus" — Metro-Gold. '| Apollo, Indianapolis If STAR—* * * Director Marshall Neilan has i' (lone everything possible with a rather weak ' story and authentic shots of European locali-j ties sandwiched in among the "interiors" makes the background convincing. ♦ * * ; "The Talker"— First Nat'l Olympia, Boston TRAVELER—* * Would be quite impossible were it not «o extremely well done. The cast is excellent. Anna Q. Nilsson shakes oft' her accustomed air of boredom and, iloes some real acting. Lewis Stone is fine.' as always, as one of those husbands who arei rocks of common sense and integrity. He is so human you don't mind his being alway^ right. * * * "Too Many Kisses"— F. P.-L Eastman, Rochester DEMOCRAT--If you like a clean-cut, wholesome type of hero on the screen, you can find none who expresses this type as does Richard Dix. * ♦ ♦ ^^ JOURNAL—* • ♦ Not that the plot of "Too Many Kisses" is surprisingly new ot that there are any particularly original twists given to it hut it is all done so naturally that it turns out to be a very good movie. ♦ » ' "This Woman"— Warners Walnut — Cincinnati POST— ♦ * * Irene Rich is the girl am gives a performance of merit. Marc McDer niott, as the impressario; Ricardo Cortez, as the lover, and Clara Bow and Creighton Hale in a counter-love theme, do well with thi material offered. • ♦ ♦ ihi Sta