The Film Daily (1927)

-. WW DAILV Sunday, May 15, 1927 "Convoy" First National Length: 7724 ft. STRONG PATRIOTIC INFLUENCE DESTINED TO STIR UP ENOUGH ENTHUSIASM TO MAKE THE PICTURE ENTERTAINING. Cast. .. .Dorothy Mackaill the allsacrificing heroine and Lowell Sherman the tailor-made spy, a gentleman to the last. Lawrence Gray, the loyal sweetheart and William Collier, Jr. the buddy who makes the supreme sacrifice. Others Ian Keith, Gail Kane, Eddie Grihbon, Jack Ackroyd. Story and Production. .. .Drama; from "The Song of the Dragon". Aided largely by the extensive use of excerpts from the news reel of the war period "Convoy" succeeds in presenting a graphic account of the American transport situation during the world war. The naval operations are exploited in a thoroughly realistic manner and woven into the conflict is the story of a girl who sacrificed her good name, and temporarily her lover, to do her country a service. There is a tragic note in the death of her brother and perhaps just a shade too much stark realism in the depiction of long lines of coffins — the returned dead. Uppermost throughout the picture is the patriotic influence, that element famous for putting a picture over. Direction Jos. 'C. Boyle; average. Author John Taintnor Foote. Scenario Willis Goldbeck Photography Ernest Haller; good, generally. Bebe Daniels in "Senorita" Paramount Length: 6634 ft. BEBE KNOCKS ANOTHER "HOMER" FOR THE BOX OFFICE. COMEDY AND ACTION IS FAST AND FURIOUS IN HER LATEST. Cast.... Bebe troupes admirably and maybe she doesn't work to put this one over. James Hall the hero and William Powell the villain. Josef Swickard suitable. Story and Production. . . .Romantic comedy. Douglas Fairbanks will have to look to his laurels. There is a female contender in the field and even though it isn't likely that Bebe Daniels does every one of the stunts in "Senorita" she obviously does enough of them to win no small amount of praise for her agility and daring. She acts like Fairbanks and looks like Adolphe Menjou and she's a riot from start to finish. Bebe masquerades as a young caballero in order not to disappoint her South American gradfather who anticipated the arrival of his nephew who would put an end to his enemies in a feud of long standing. Bebe falls in love with the leader but holds her heart intact until her grandfather is avenged. For comedy, for action, for downright good entertainment, give them "Senorita". Direction Clarence Badger; puts it over. Author John McDermott. Scenario Same. Photography ...H. Kinley Martin; first rate. "The Heart Thief" P. D. C. Length: 6035 ft. FAIR ENTERTAINMENT. GOOD CAST AND ATTRACTIVE MOUNTING COMPENSATE FOR ROMANTIC YARN THAT IS DECIDEDLY CONTINENTAL IN ATMOSPHERE AND APT TO BE UNCONVINCING. Cast Many good box-office names. Lya De Putti pretty heroine. Joseph Schildkraut, the handsome and energetic young lover who nearly loses her and Robert Edeson, the elderly suitor. Others Charles Gerrard, Eulalie Jensen, Geo. Reehm, Wm. Bakewell. Story and Production. .. .Dramatic romance; from the play, "The Highwayman." It may not be comprehensible to the folks at home, all this intrigue involving the love of a pretty peasant girl. The theme is decidedly continental in flavor and atmosphere. Yet there is the ever appealing romance to please those who prefer pictures of this type. There is a good assemblage of players, a pictorially attractive production. Director Nils Olaf Chrisander doesn't demand any undue recognition for his handling of the story, however. It is not always smooth in its development and there are many rather meaningless scenes enacted. Direction. .. .Nils Olaf Chrisander; fair. Author Lajos Biro Adaptation Gladys Unger Scenario Sonya Levien Photography. . . .Henry Cronjager; good. "Broadway Nights" First National Length: 6765 ft. JAZZ, NIGHT LIFE AND THEN SOME. SURE-FIRE FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT THRILLS AT THE WILD REVELS ALLEGED TO REPRESENT BROADWAY. Cast.... Lois Wilson a struggling little cabaret dancer and Sam Hardy her easy going but faithful partner. Others Louis John Bartels, Philip Strange, Barbara Stanwick, "Bunny" Welden. Story and Production .... Comedydrama. The Great White Way again supplies the dazzling background for one of those wine, women and song yarns. Broadway after dark, or as the titles put it "before and after the cover charge" is shown in all its glamor. According to the story it is one wild, wild place and for the fan crowds everywhere it assuredly packs a mean lot of thrills. There is even a take off on Texas Guinan and her night time revels. And just to show that the old street isn't entirely frivolous there is the touch of pathos — the little dancer plugging to get ahead, a gambling husband who proves a stone around her neck — a little child reared in back stage environment— tricky producers bargaining for her, etc. — until the big night of the new show, reunion, happy ending. Direction Jos. C. Boyle; hands out thrills galore. Author Norman Houlston Scenario Forrest Halsey Photography Ernest Haller; erood. "Rich But Honest" Fox Length: 5480 ft. TRIALS OF A CHORUS GIRL SUPPLY THE PEP AND COMEDY THAT PULL EFFECTIVELY. DIRECTOR DID PRETTY WELL CONSIDERING HE HAD LITTLE OR NO STORY TO WORK WITH. Cast. .. .Nancy Nash not quite as attractive in a blonde wig. Charles Morton is the "rich but honest" hero. Marjorie Beebe puts considerable energy into her role. Others Clifford Holland, J. Farrell MacDonald, Tyler Brooke, and Ted McNamara, the comedian. Story and Production. .. .Comedy romance. Two girls from the ribbon counter become chorus girls and their subsequent troubles include the difficulty they have in keeping their jobs and of course they are pursued by stage door Johnnies. There is a mighty frail story here but director Albert Ray has succeeded in making of it the kind of entertainment that pulls well enough with a good majority. The stage atmosphere and the love affairs of the two girls afford the sort of incident that goes over nicely. Nancy Nash, the heroine of the tale, is beset with many trials such as being forced to play Lady Godiva and then losing her sweetie on the head of it. Up steps the "rich but honest" young backer of the show and Nancy is made. Direction Albert Ray; good. Author ....Arthur Somers Roche. Scenario Randall H. Faye. Photography ....Sidney Wagner; good. "Pirates of the Sky" Pathe Length: 4826 ft. UNCLE SAM'S MAIL PLANES IN JEOPARDY AGAIN. WEAKLY CONSTRUCTED STORY BUT IT SUPPLIES A FAIR AMOUNT O F EXCITEMENT FOR A CROWD THAT ISN'T CRITICAL. Cast. . Charles Hutchison the secret service hero who uncovers the mail bandits and Wanda Hawley the little standby who works with him. Crau. ford Kent the ringleader of the pirates and Jimmy Aubrey the comedy relief. Story and Production. .. .Melodrama. Comedy, thrills and action all of a fairly mediocre variety are to be found in "Pirates of the Sky." The picture wilts under any critical analysis of either story or direction but where the crowd is non-critical these failings will undoubtedly be insignificant. As long as things keep moving they are satisfied and that much can be said for the picture, — ■ it keeps going from the time hero sets out on the trail of the air pirates until he corners his man, turns him over to the police and folds his lady accomplice in his arms. The airplane sequence contains some stunts that the average audience enjoys, that of pilots changing planes in mid air and the like. Direction Charles . Andrews; ordinary. Author Not credited Scenario Elaine Wilmont Photography Leon Shamroy ; fair. Jack Perrin in "The Code of the Range" Rayart Length: 4747 ft. WESTERN WITH FINE COMEDY VEIN THAT PUT IT OVER IN GREAT SHAPE. PERRIN A GUN TOTIN' HERO WHO KNOWS THE ROPES. Cast.... Jack Perrin the fearless hero and Billy Lamar his comical little pal. Nelson McDowell amusing with his animal cracker complex. Lew Meehan the devilish cafe owner. Chick Austen his chief gun man. Story and Production. .. .Western. Hero Jack Perrin certainly wields a wicked weapon. He goes gunning for his man in a strictly methodical fashion, plays with his victim until he feels that the time is ripe to bump him off and then all is serene once more. Here's a good little western that gave obvious evidence of thoroughly satisfying the audience. In the theater where it was viewed the crowd howled at the comedy bits. The laughs landed every time. Young Billy Lamar's horse cleaning activities won him the instant approval of the spectators and Jack Perrin's easy going, sure footed man hunt apparently thrilled them. The exhibitor will find this a good bet. Direction Bennett Cohn; fine. Author Clive Meyers. Scenario Bennett Cohn. Photography. .. .Wm. Hyer; good Laura La Plante in "The Love Thrill" Universal-Jewel Length: 6038 ft. AMUSING AND GENERALLY GOOD ENTERTAINMENT ALTHOUGH THE STORY IS FAIRLY LIGHT. COMEDY COMPLICATIONS PILE UP SOME GOOD LAUGHS. Cast. . . .Laura La Plante a designing young woman insurance agent who fails to sign her man up to a policy but lands him as a husband. Tom Moore is the man in the case. Others Bryant Washburn, Jocelyn Lee, Arthur Hoyt, Nat Carr. Story and Production. ... Comedy romance. Laura La Plante takes a long chance and posing as the widow of a man reported as having died in the tropics, decides to sell insurance to any man susceptible to sympathy after hearing her sad experience of how her husband left no insurance. Laura almost makes a killing when the supposed "late husband" appears on the scene and keeping his identity secret, learns of his own demise from his "widow." The complications are amusing and the romantic element makes for added interest. Eventually Laura discovers that her plan has gone wrong and she attempts to make a getaway after leaving a note of explanation. Direction Millard Webb ; good. Authors Millard WebbJoe Mitchell Scenario Tas. T. O'Donohoe Photography G. Warrenton ; good.