The Film Daily (1926)

THE Douglas Fairbanks in "The Black Pirate" United Artists PIRATES AND PIECES OF EIGHT ON THE SCREEN AT LAST. DOUG'S LATEST COLORFUL, THRILLING AND BOX-OFFICEY. WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED? Star. .. .Splendidly heroic and a riot in athletic ingenuity. All over the screen at one time. Cast Donald Crisp fine as a Scotch pirate. Sam De Grasse and Anders Randolf ting true as bloodthirsty villains. Billie Dove, helpless heroine. Extras unusual, realistic types. Tjrpe of Story.... The Spanish Main, skull and cross-bones, beautiful heroine, dashing hero, the sweep of the sea, glittering gold, hard fighting— they're all in Doug's latest. Here is a real pirate yarn, slightly too bloody in one .or two spots, but generally handled with a swing and a dash that one would expect in a story of this nature. It is episodic. Doug vows to avenge his father who is captured by pirates. Joining the pirate crew, he soon earns the self-imposed title of "The Black Pirate," and proceeds to carry out his vengeance. A large .nerchantman is captured. Aboard is a Spanish noblewoman and, of course, Doug must save her. The story then deals with how this is done. There is plenty of suspense and. as usual in Fairbanks' pictures, a surprise finish when his warriors swim under sea in aeroplane formation to the unsuspecting pirate ship and annihilate the dastardly crew. The highlights are the capture of the merchantman single-handed by Doug. It is unique and thrilling. He slits sails as he slides from rigging to rigging; holds the crew at bay by manipulating a cannon with each hand, etc. The other real thrill comes in the rescue of the heroine by the sea-going soldiers. The photography is superb. Technicolor was used throughout. Some of the shots are like the paintings of the old masters in the beauty and splendor of their composition. Box Office Angle. .. .This is in. It has Doug; its pirates are as terrible as anyone ever pictured and it is the finest specimen of the allcolor feature yet produced. Exploitation. . . .Shouldn't present the slightest sort of trouble. You have the star and the story, a colorful j^arn that lends itself splendidly to lobby displays and tie-ups with the children. The subject offers unusual opportunities to get a distinctive note into your advertising. Direction Albert Parker; very good. Author Elton Thomas Scenario Jack Cunningham Cameraman Henry Sharp Photography Gorgeous Locale The Spanish Main Length 8,388 feet ■^^ Gloria Swanson in "The Untamed Lady" Paramoiiyit GLORIA MORE HERSELF IN THIS THAN IN ANYTHING SHE HAS HAD RECENTLY. ENTERTAINING AND SURE TO PLEASE THE STAR'S FOLLOWING. Star. . . .Succeeds in being herself and doing it very well. Lovely in many shots and certain to prove her gameness in the boiler room episode. Cast. .. .Lawrence Gray a very good looking and entertaining young man who is going to get some first-rate attention for his work as Gloria's leading man. Destined to have a rush on autographed photographs after this one gets going. Joseph Smiley lines up for third place as the very likable Uncle Larry. Type of Story Comedy-drama; written by Fannie Hurst for the star. Imagine Gloria a wilful, beautiful, but very spoiled young lady and picture Larry Gray, a handsome, very determined young man and you have a good idea of what happens. With Uncle Joe Smiley's urging he sets out to "tame" the lady. It comes near ending in tragedy but this affords Gloria proper opportunity for emotion and shedding lovely tears for the lover who is injured through her fault. There is a real thrill in the hero's leap across the ravine and his fall even if the scenery is far from looking genuine. Frank Tattle's boat scenes do not bring in any great amount of atmospheric "realism" either, but that is about the only fault that can be found with his end of it. He has handled the story splendidly, steered Gloria through her part very correctly, and seemed to have picked up all the if'ughs that Fannie Hurst's story might have suggested. Of course. Gloria comes through a very much tamed young lady and after an ending that threatens — only threatens — to be tragic, you find Gloria and hero Larry all set for a clinch in a lovely fruit orchard with the trees all in blossom and Gloriri all togged out in organdie. Box Office Angle. . . .Better entertainment than the last one or two Swanson pictures. Will please most of your audience and sure to delight the staunch Swanson following. Exploitation. . . .Play up the fact that Gloria is a girl of the untamable variety who breaks a half dozen engagements and returns a half dozen rings before she meets the man who doesn't even give her a ring and manages to bring her around to his way of thinking at that. Shots of Gloria at work in a boiler room of a ship and other bits of comedj' will interest them. Direction. . . . Frank Tuttle; decidedly effective. Author Fannie Hurst Scenario. . .James Ashmore Creelman Cameraman George Webber Photography Good Locale N. Y.-New Haven Length 6,132 feet DAILY "The Love Toy" Warner Bros. BURLESQUE OF THE MYTHICAL KINGDOM REVOLUTIONARY FORMULA THAT FURNISHES PLENTY OF COMEDY IN THE WAY OF WISE-CRACKING TITLES. Cast. . . .Lowell Sherman good as the Yankee who forgets an unfortunate love affair by getting mixed up in the revolutionary business of Belgradia. Willard Louis the comedy king who makes Lowell his valet and decorates him with a medal for each service. Others Gayne Whitman, Ethel Grey Terry, Helene Costello and Maude George. Type of Story. . . .Comedy burlesque. "The Love Toy" starts off as a straight romantic yarn with Lowell Sherman all set to marry the girl of his dreams. He arrives too early for the ceremony and finds his fiancee in the arms of the "other man." Lowell walks out on the party and without further ado you find him forgetting his troubles in a mythical kingdom where the chief difficulty exists in that they have more wars scheduled than\ they have days in the year. From this point on the burlesque runs rife and sub-titles of the wise-cracking variety put over most of the laughs. They run something like this: "Revolutions meant nothing to the King; he was born on a ferris wheel," and "Long live the Queen, long may her marcel wave." Most of these "cracks" seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by a Broadway audience. Willard Louis, as the king, and Lowell Sherman, as his valet, have the comedy in their hands and make good use of opportunities that come their way. Erie Kenton maintains a fairly live pace in his development and the production contains some extensive sets, many of which, however, are not very real looking. He stages a thrilling chase for a climax. It contains some great riding and some fancy auto driving. Of course, there is the king's daughter, loved by the Yankee, and after his mad dash he saves her from marrying the villainous Prime Minister, and wins her for himself. Box Office Angle Good for laughs if you figure your folks like burlesque. Not a very high class comedy, but will get over first rate if your audience is right. Exploitation Lowell Sherman's name should be somewhat of an asset although they may expect a very much different story, especially from the title, "The Love Toy." Promise some good comedy, particularly in the character of the king, played by Willard Louis. Run a trailer including some of the comedy titles and shots of the chase. Direction Erie C. Kenton; adequate. Author Anonymous Scenario Sonya Hovey Cameraman John J. Mescall Photography All right Locale Mythical kingdom Length 5,161 feet Tom Mix in "My Own Pal' Fox MIX FORSAKES THE \ AND TAKES A FLYER "COP," CONTINUING HEROICS IN A NEW F] BUT WITH THE TION AND THRILLS. [ILLS NET! IGHL' ITIRE IRE ITPIi USUAIi iIFLE i la, Star. ... .Substitutes the polic uniform for his cowboy su: then gets things humming i round-up of a band of croo Cast Olive Borden suitable Others little Virginia Maijely. Helen Lynch, Bardson Bard ques Rollens, Tom Santschi. Type of Story Comedy, stun action story; adapted from ( Beaumont's story, "The G| Guardsman." "My Own Pal' little out of the ordinary for Mix. While it provides him the usual opportunities for sffl"™. rescues, escapes and the HI { ^^^'■ takes him out of the custo fj"? ?! western atmosphere and lands on the police force of an Ea ; ^^ ' city. Of course, as the offic "sj?! the law, he has plenty of ' ss. " chances to "do his stuff" aiJits™i inichi ai does it up brown. No bail criminals will get away from and no matter how many oppo i "S^ ! he has against him, hero is a' ■oy ii lady tious t ; KCa: st'st a SI and inv wil all spick and span for the < f?', C finish while his adversaries are ing themselves out of rivers, s and other handy deposits w: hero's prowess had sent Tony serves his master in mail" tk*; his stunts and little Virginia ^'^^( shall, who is' the "pal," is UK a lit biggest booster, outside off|"ott( chief's daughter. e, ISO the irtiou Bati, J: ,y-soii raieni bi lilbg. tm-cl 5 the The plot concerns the rouri ™'is! of a band of crooks. Tom is' 'kjtki on their trail not knowing thai fyU ai rival for the affections of the cl "" Ifa daughter is secretly the leade the band. There is plenty of , action afforded in the round-upi fetol the eventual capture of the ! («• The work of hero in bringin? Wes the desperadoes wins for him' "ti^ chief's admiration and his dauj ;OSct as well. iiiTieiit Box Office Angle Good fotp'™ crowd that likes plenty of and for the Tom Mix rooters i| prove a good variation fror usual western. Exploitation. .. .Run a trailer si ing some of the trick methods uses to trap the members of crook band. The one when lassoes them as they step of elevator and attaches the rop an auto which starts off and d iv, them into the river, is a good t Use Mix's name and be sur !it;;'r, tell them he plays the role ■ Jh mounted cop in "My Own Pa Direction J. G. Blystone; all i Author Gerald Beaur Scenario Lillie Hayi Cameraman Daniel C "farji Photography ( %?) Locale Eastern ''t Length 6,038 f^