The Film Daily (1926)

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THE / !'f 1 Corinne Griffith in ,~ "Infatuation" f" First National :annqt compare with "classified." story weak, conventional and slow moving. a great handiCAP TO STAR AND A GOOD SUPPORTING CAST. Star Labors with a dull and uninteresting role. Given too many close-ups that also go toward slowing the tempo. Personally attrac• tive, as usual, but this isn't enough. Cikst. ... Percy Marmont in a colorless sort of characterizational although his portrayal is adequately done. Malcolm MacGregor an ardent but unsuccessful suitor. Warner Oland in one of his typical wily riental roles. Others not impor,nt. of Story. . . .Dramatic romance; pted from W. Somerset Maughs play, "Caesar's Wife." Violet [organ calls her husband "Caesar" he replies that she must be esar's wife and quotes a text: (Caesar's wife must be above susicion." And all because of that notation the beautiful, but bored, iolet gives up a promising roance and remains faithful to her onotonous sort of husband. It ould have been a decided relief he had fled with her lover and '•;:-."" the too calm spouse a run for his money. It is a dull role tiat Corinne Griffith essays in her Mtest, a story that is far behind fte very fine one she had in "Clas*fied." The star and even a good /supporting cast is not sufficient to iget this one by. Corinne wears a frown through most of it and there isn't a single bright spot to cheer an atmosphere of over-indifference. _Btory: Sir Arthur Little, stationed in a Far Eastern port, is considered cruel by Violet Morgan, London belle. She marries him nevertheless but the monotony of the East and her husband's all consuming business sends Violet into the arms of Ronny. She is about to elope with him when Sir Arthur quotes the passage about Caesar's wife. Ronny is banished and Violet saves her husband's life as a prefix to a reunion. Box Office Angle. . . . Not good entercull' 1^"^ ^"'^ especially coming thi( |S"'^h a fine one as "Classiviliii I they are going to be disap E,'q)Ioitation. . . .The title sounds in■■.eresting and with Corinne Griffith's name attached to it, they'll probab i^ T ly come in. If the star has a IrH strong following it is possible -^ th-sy'll be willing to overlook some of the story's shortcomings. She wears some good looking clothes and has two good leading men to help oflFset the picture's weakness. Direction Irving Cummings; could not improve the poor story Author W. Somerset Maugham Scenario Albert Shelby Levino Cameraman Hal Rosson Photography Good . ''Locale London-Far East j^VengA 5,794 feet Pete Morrison in "Blue Blazes" Universal THE POPULAR TRIO AGAIN WITH THE CUSTOMARY PLOT DEVELOPMENT. CARRIES FAMILIAR BUT EFFECTIVE ACTION AND THRILLS. Star. . . .Likable hero who is bound to clear himself before the girl and bring her around to a clinch ending. Does some fine ridng. Cast Barbara Starr, pleasing heroine, one of those doubting females who places her trust in the villain, adequately portrayed by Lee Bates. Others include Jim Welsh, Jerome La Gasse, Milburn Morante, James Lowe, Lew Bennet, J. A. Wiley. Type of Story. .. .Western. A cloud burst is the outstanding thrill in "Blue Blazes," one of Universal's new series of Blue Streak Westerns. And it serves a good thrill if they fail to observe that it is done in miniature. Nevertheless the thrill is there and hero beats up villain and his band in a glorious finish that sends him into the girl's arms, just as you expected. The story runs true to formula and with the exception of some good bits of action, fast riding and the climax thrills there is little to recommend it. The crowd that wants action, however, probably will be willing to overlook the shortcomings of the story. You have the usual trio: hero-villain-girl. This time the girl is trying to locate a hidden cabin containing a treasure. Villain very gallantly offers to help her but secretly does some scouting himself. He also claims that hero had killed her uncle. The development brings about the usual line of complications with hero doing his best to prove true blue and villain working to find the treasure before hero can expose his scheme. Of course hero comes out the winner and villain meets a fitting death in "Death Wash" during a cloudburst. Box Office Angle. .Regulation western offering with the usual plotting, action, thrills and romance. Will fill the bill if your folks like an occasional western. Exploitation. .. .If Pete Morrison is gaining in popularity you might get them interested by announcing his name and the title of his latest. Talk about the battle in "Death Wash" and the cloudburst which serves as a climax. The usual trailer, stills and catchlines will take care of further announcements. Direction Joseph Franz; average Author Frank C. Robertson Scenario Frank Beresford Cameraman Jack Young Photography All right Locale West Length About 5,000 feet Larry Semon in "Stop, Look and Listen" Pathe SOME GOOD LAUGHS AND A COMEDY THRILL CLIMAX THAT BRINGS IT TO FIRST RATE FINISH. NOT HILARIOUS BUT CONSISTENTLY AMUSING. Star. .. .Plays his usual role of boob who isn't so "dumb" after all. Gets the most out of the situations and will please his following. Cast. .. .Dorothy Dwan pleasing and pretty. Mary Carr rather snowed under as the comedian's mother. Others William Gillespie, Lionel Belmore, Bull Alontana, "Babe" Hardy. Type of Story. .. .Comedy; adapted from the musical comedy. Naturally the original has undergone considerable treatment in preparation for its picture debut. The basic plot remains and with it Larry Semon succeeds in making a rather amusing offering replete with his usual line of stunts and gags and with a comedy climax that brings it to quite an exciting and laughable finish. There are no specially riotous comedy situations but the laughs come evenly and consistently. The climax chase, though familiar, is the best of the stunts, with Larry pursuing the fleeing bank robbers in autos, trains and other conveyances until finally he overtakes his men, recovers the money and wins the usual reward — the girl. Story: Luther Meek, town goody good, loves the local school teacher but she craves a career on the stage. To please her Luther finances a traveling troupe that goes broke in the town and Dorothy is made leading lady. The staging of the show contains many good laughs and the mishaps that come during the performance are especially funny. While the show is in progress the manager is robbing the local bank and making a getaway. Luther's wild chase follows and after due complications and interferences he gets his man, retrieves the money, and Dorothy, cured of her theatrical ambitions, consents to become his wife. Box Office Angle. .Average comedy entertainment that will please the crowd that wants to be amused and unless they are very critical should satisfy most anywhere. Exploitation. .Where Larry Semon's pictures draw well boost his name in advance and tell them his latest is an adaptation of the musical comedy. The title will work well with the usual street ballyhoo of signs, etc. and can be tied up with safety signals, etc. A trailer including shots of the comedy climax will get them interested. Direction Larry Semon ; ample Author Harry B. Smith Scenario Larry Semon Cameraman .... H. F. Koenenkamp Photography All right Locale Small town Length 6 000 feet Sunday, January 10, 1926 "The Ancient Mariner" Fox CLASSIC POEM MADE INTO GORGEOUS SCENES OF FANTASY AND BEAUTY. VERY MUCH OUT OF THE ORDINARY. TIED UP WITH MODERN STORY. Cast.... Paul Panzer is the Ancient Mariner in the poetic sequence, and acquits himself with high honors. He catches the imaginative spirit of the fantasy with rare feeling. In the modern story, Leslie Fenton's work is outstanding in a rather weak theme. Clara Bow seems miscast in a part calling for finer em.otions than she is capable of expressing on the screen. Nigel De Brullier as the Modern Mariner ■vWio tells the tale, does a really impressive piece of work. Earle Williams effective. Type of Story. .. .Dramatic fantasy, based on famous poem by Samuel Taylor Colerid,ge. This classic story is amplified by a modern version which melts into the story of the Ancient Mariner in a very natural manner. In the modern story a wealthy rounder meets a schoolteacher and induces her to run away with him on a little jaunt around the world. The setting is a town on the southern California coast. Leslie Fenton is the rustic sweetheart of the schoolmarm, played by Clara Bow. In steps the Modern Mariner, induces the wealthy man to visit his cottage, where he relates to him the,, story of the Ancient Mariner, who slew the albatross, emblem of purity. The famous poem is presented practically as Coleridge wrote it. Henry Otto directed the poetic sequence, and has done as big a piece of work as he did with "Dante's Inferno." It is more like a series of panels or animated tableaus, but this form of expression serves perfectly to present the immortal story. Otto has created some really gorgeous effects of rare artistry and beauty. The lighting effects are novel and highly unusual. One of the highlights is the reproduction of the Phantom Ship. The spectral and unearthly effect that this ship produces is gripping. Here is a faithful adaptation that will win the praise of all those familiar with the original work. And who is not? It has been for years part of the English course in most public schools. At the end of the story of the Mariner, it reverts back to the modern yarn — with happiness for all. Box Office Angle. . . .Artistic production combined with famous poem and modern version will exert a wide appeal. Exploitation Dress man as Ancient Mariner for street ballyhoo — a real noveltj' at slight expense. Feature Coleridge's poem, known to almost everyone. Direction Henry Otto— Chester Bennet; fine. Author Samuel T. Coleridge Scenario Bradley King and pve Unsell. Cameraman Joseph August Photography Excellent Locale California Length 5,548 feet ^ i