The Film Daily (1926)

IJ NIGHT PATROL I Production. Story and scchy Frank Hozvard Clark. d by Mason Noel. Length, ret. CAST AND SYNOPSIS Ins Richard Talmadge ollister Rose Blossom stei Mary Carr lleton Josef Swickard rguson Grace Darmond jlcott Victor Dillingham 1 Rat Arthur Conrad i om Collins, in love with Louise Lirests Louise' brother, Roy, on of murder. The latter is found ! sentenced to death. A slight Tom to the belief that Roy is _uilty man. Tracing it, he dis murderer, frustates the gang's ike a daring robbery and saves the electric chair. He wins back . had turned against him and is or his good work. Rating: Dl rluction Values: Daring I if the Richard Talmadge . alculated to delight that lajority who revel in the I of danger which is in in them. Story of the • orld in which melodrama, r and comedy play their live parts, a true sense of having been attached to I k-ment. The plot develop II furnish plenty of suspense !he thrills are generously li d through the entire five all working up to a corking V in which the hero rides 1| through a raging storm onerate the innocent man luin the minutes are a matlife or death. The sensafighting is another highExcellent direction and uiity. !iu(j: Richard Talmadge is \ igorous than ever. He than puts it over this time. -> list of admirers among ms will probably swell c&n ilily as a result of acrobaric >. His impersonation of rook gives him a chance to his versatility. Rose Blos is charming as the heroine. Carr handles the son liipping mother role in her capable manner. Arthur ad scores as that contempt haracter of the underworld ; squealer. idience Appeal: Sure-fire audiences where they want thrills and top-speed action. ory with a tang of the un orld has a definite appeal the lovers of melodrama. kling comedy and roman jre give its drawing power r scope. ow To Sell It: Get behind Talmadge. Tie up with police station. Have a wich man in policeman's orm. THE NUTCRACKER Associated Exhibitors Release. A Samuel S. Hutchinson Production. Directed by Lloyd Ingraham. CAST AND SYNOPSIS Horatio Slipaway . . Edward Everett Horton Martha Slipaway Mae Busch Oscar Briggs Harry Myers Isaac Totten Thomas Ricketts Juha Totten Martha Mattox Saki George Kuwa A hen-pecked broker makes the most of the opportunity provided by a street car accident to pretend amnesia and escape. Horatio appears at a prominent brokerage office as Pe'.er Peters of Peru, cleans up iu sulphur, and establishes himself in rich bachelor quarters. Meanwhile, his wife's diligent search discovers the "departed husband" in his new environment. When efforts to induce his return prove unsuccessful, the repentant wife has him brought home for an operation that will restore his memory. When he sees the surgeons and their instruments, the lost Horatio admits his identity. Rating: C2 Production Values: The brokerage office episode is one of the best. Director Lloyd Ingraham has used the same judgment and restraint here that distinguishes the whole picture, and gets excellent results. The over-dressed, erstwhile clerk, playing "bulls and bears" with a stock ranking lowest on the market will delight any business man, — and his wife. Another big scene is the uncertain and timid Slipaway compelled to dance an improvised Peruvian Tango for the guests at a reception. The small town wife, intoxicated by a single cocktail and puffing her first cigarette, is another highlight. The action also includes a rough and tumble chase, better than most, with "nightmare-y" swingings from a wire-pole on top of a skyscraper. Acting: This newly starred comedian has a brand of acting that is distinctly his own and a novelty in the light comedy field. Subtlety and restraint are the keynotes of his performance thruout, and all of his effects are achieved with the utmost economy of gesture and action. Mae Busch does some fine acting as the nagging wife, and Harry Myers is a satisfactory addition to the cast. Audience Appeal: Will provide smiles for the sophisticated, chuckles for some, and laughs for those who are not spoiled by frequent showings of "super" comedies with established stars. The hen-pecked husband situation and the turning worm theme are given a fresh treatment that lend the picture interest and appeal. How To Sell It : Saxophone and tango contests will draw crowds and stir up interest. The husband-wife angle should be used in newspaper announcements. WHITE MICE Associated Exhibitors Production. Adapted from Richard Harding Davis' novel by Randolph Bartlett. Directed by Edward H. Griffith. Length, 5,412 feet. CAST AND SYNOPSIS Inez Rojas JacqueHne Logan Rodidy Forrester William PoweU Colonel Vega Ernest Hilliard R. B. Forrester Bigelow Cooper General Rojas Lucius Henderson Senora Rojas Marie Burke Peter de Peyster F. Vaux Wilson Roddy Forrester and Peter de Peyster, founders of the White Mice Club, organized for the purpose of aiding people in distress, arrive in a small republic in South America. Their attention is drawn to the sufferings of the former president who is held prisoner in an unhealthy prison cell. They call on the general's beautiful daughter, Inez, to help rescue her father and the three succeed notwithstanding the many obstacles and impending danger. Roddy regards he has been amply rewarded when he wins Inez. Rating: C2 Production Values: Rich in adventure and romance, Richard Harding Davis' tale of the mythical South American republic provides good material for the screen. Mounted in the beautiful natural backgrounds of old Havana, the spirit of the revolutionary days is reborn, while the atmosphere fairly breathes of romance. Director Griffith has been just a little too conscientious in that he has endeavored to transplant every pertinent action, and since there is such a deal of plotting and counterplotting, the continuity is the least bit jumbled at the outset. However, this is soon smoothed out, and the story goes on its merry way, with such embellishments as exciting revolutions, thrilling rescues thru underground passages, and romantic love scenes. The Prado and beautiful Morro Castle play prominent part. Acting: Jacqueline Logan is charming as the Spanish senorita. She is at once fiery and tender as a baby. William Powell as the American hero gives a most satisfactory performance. Ernest HiUiard does very well in the "heavy" role. The rest of the cast is consistently good. Audience Appeal: Being a romance melodrama, there are two distinct classes of movie-goers this should attract. Both elements were expertly handled, and therefore the production should provide good entertainment to the action-lovers as well as the romantically-inclined. How To Sell It : Tie up on the book by Davis. Advertise the fact that the production has authentic locale. A tie up with a pet store displaying white mice would be sure-fire. Title offers cut-out and throwaway opportunities. An inexpensive and ef fective lobby display would simulate a scene of the tropics. rage T» SECRET ORDERS F. B. O. Production. Story by Martin Justice. Directed by Chet W'ithcy. Length, 5,506 feet. CAST AND SYNOPSIS Janet Graham Evelyn Brent Eddie Delano Harold Goodwin Bruce Corbin Robert Frazer Spike Slavin John Gough Mary Marjorie Bonner Butler Brandon Hurst Cook Frank Leigh Janet Graham is led into an unfortunate marriage with Delano, a crook. During the war Janet works with Corbin in charge of transports for the Secret Service. Corbin falls in love with Janet, who encourages him, believing Delano dead. List of transports is sought after by unscrupulous Delano, who was engaged by "German Mike." Delano breaks in^ gets the list and forces Janet to leave with him. Instructions are radio-ed to German submarine, but Janet succeeds in radio-ing warning to transport. Submarine is sunk. Corbin and guards rescue Janet. Delano is killed. Corbin marries Janet. Rating: D2 Production Values: Plenty of thrills in this romantic melodrama which was deftly handled by Chet Withey with telling effect, for though the spy melodrama has been done countless times, the interest in this one never wanes. Double quick time is the tempo of the action, the turn of events providing plenty of excitement. The war is only a background for the skillful and thrilling maneuverings of the Secret Service men. There isn't a battlefield scene, and yet so well has the idea been conveyed that the roar of the cannon and the fear of impending danger is actually felt. The love theme is intricately woven, with the revelation of the groom's true identity giving a novel twist to the story. The continual matching of wits between the dauntless heroine and the Hun spies is fascinating. Acting: Evelyn Brent has hitherto done extremely well in roles where her ingenuity was taxed evading the law. Here, as the Secret Service agent, although working toward a different end, she works with the same abandon and agility. Robert Frazer deserves special mention as the hero. Harold Goodwin is a convincing villain; in fact, the entire supporting cast is excellent. Audience Appeal: Should go over very nicely with lovers of :olorful melodrama. The revealing of the network of in':rigue behind the scenes will furnish meat for the curious. How to Sell It: A truck bearing the sign, "We are delivering SECRET ORDERS— See it at the Blank Theatre," driven down your city streets should make imposing street flash. Play up Evelyn Brent. Tie up with Secret Service.