The Film Daily (1928)

Exhibitors DAILY REVIEW, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1928 PICTURE REVIEWS "The Wedding March" Paramount Directed by Erich von Strohoim Featuring. Von Stroheim and Fay Wray A big special proiiuctiiin for first run and all iiouses. Viennese background, superb synchronization, strong love theme in which von Stroheim is the hero prince who loves the humble beauty. Fay Wray, but who marries the other girl to meet the family demands for money. George Fawcett, George Nichols, Zazu Pitts and Mathew Betz are conspicuous in a superb cast. The picture has great audience appeal and looks like a sure clean-up. "The Mating Call" United Artists Directed by James Cruze Story by Rex Beach Cast Thomas Meighan, Renee Adore, Evelyn Brent. Though the title is intriguing, there is nothing in "The Mating Call" to maintain any interest which the author or cast of the picture might arouse. Meighan "walks" through his part, which it must be said, called for nothing more than that, and the talents of Miss Adoree are entirely wasted in an insignificant and stupid role. Evelyn Brent does her best to make interesting the part of the village belle, who having married a bounder, seeks to vamp back her old sweetheart only to get him into trouble with the local Ku Klux. Then he dashes off in a hurry to Ellis Island for a bride, to get out of the mess he's in. Maybe the mating call was an S O S — but by that time nobody cared. If its true that James Cruze does more "shooting" in one day than any of the other boys, it's quite evident from this one, that he needs target practice. "The Battle of the Sexes" United Artists Directed by David Wark Griffith Fraliiriiig Jean Hersholt, Phyllis Haver, Belle Bennett The well-handled story of a successful business man married and with children, falling for a gold-digger, but eventually sees the light, when he finds his own daughter following his example in a quick affair with a lounge lizard. Belle Bennett walks away with everything that Hersholt doesn't capture, and Miss Haver is adequate. Sally O'Neil is the thin little daughter. The picture is suited for big and little theatres. "Tenth Avenue" Pathe Directed by William C. DeMille Featuring Joseph Shildkraut, Victor Varconi, Phyllis Haver, Robert Edeson. This one doesn't quite hit as the epitome of crook dramas, but it had the makings of one. DeMille has put enough suspense in it and enough good characterization to make an incredible story entertaining. The leads do good work although Shildkraut over-acts. A girl's love keeps a gangster away from his cronies, but he always theatens to go back if she deserts him for someone else. The girl's mother cannot pay the rooming-house rent and the girl's two lovers, the gangster and the gambler go out for the jack. The gangster murders an inmate of the house for his money — the gambler sacrifices himself to protect the girl and shoulders the blame. Everything ends well for hero and heroine, when the gangster confesses to the girl and is shot trying to escape. "Our Dancing Daughters" Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Directed by Harry Beaumont Story by Josephine Lovett Cast Joan Crawford, Dorothy Sebastian, Anita Page, Johnny Mack Brown, Nils Asther. This is the first "flaming youth" picture worthy of serious attention, and it is enlightening and great entertainment from beginning to end. "Our Dancing Daughters" is an excellent parallel of the lives of three girls belonging to the fast younger set. None of the characters are overdrawn, due to fine directions by Harry Beaumont, each one is real and not a movie type. The effect of understanding, greedy or overstrict parents is also well brought out, no doubt the result of a corking script. The picture maintains a fast pace right to the finish and the lavish sets and photography are a treat to the eye. The entire cast does fine work, especially Miss Anita Page, a newcomer. This one should stand them in the aisles at every performance. "The Night Watch" First National Directed by. . . Alexander Korda Featuring Billie Dove, Paui Lukas, Donald Reed, N. Soussanin. A murder-mystery picture that is different— in theme, treatment and acting. The leading characters are well chosen and the mystery element nicely handled until the final expose. Story opens with the ending and then proceeds to reveal how it came about. A captain of French warship is accused of murdering a fellow officer. At his trial, when all seems lost, his beautiful wife takes the stand in his defense. She then details the events which led up to the murder, and in which she, unkown to her husband, played a principal part. The captain is acquitted and is reconciled to his wife through her bravery in testifying to her own part. The real culprit, who killed in defense of a woman's honor* is unfortunately or fortunately killed in battle, so Justice is thus served. '4 Devils' Fox Directed by Mu Featuring Janet Gayn? Charles Morton, Mary Dunca Nancy Drexel, Farrell MacDo aid. Anders Randolf. Chalk this up as one film you mijjij play, distinguished for its humannQ smoothness of direction, excellence ! star performers and painstaking pi duction values. Has more box-ofn appeal that "Sunrise" although tllL story is not as strong and the hero ; heroine have to share honors with ijllii least two other great performers. Jai Gaynor is immense, as are Morton ai'"'' MacDonald. "4 Devils" has possib| ties of tremendous exploitation, whi should not be neglected. | Two boys, the offsprings of a trouj of famous acrobats, in bygone days, ajlffl left by a relative, with a hard and crc circus owner, to train and bring li ^ In this circus are two little girft, at,, orphans. The old clown who is tends hearted, cares for the two boys aijai girls and protects them from the fiei) and they finally escape. In time, tl boys and girls grown up, form tjij "4 Devils," noted acrobats, who a starred in the finest circus in Parib, Love develops between the two pail It runs smooth in one case and is almoin wrecked in the other, when a wealtL, widow lures the leader of the trou;*' away from his childhood sweetheart. I|j wastes his energies and splendid bo( on the vamp and a struggle finally d velops which brings him back to ti circus girl. "The Lost Expedition" Ufa Edited and Titled by Joseph R. Fliesl This unusual film drama of Pol exploration was made by an ice-break ij expedition, sent by Ufa to Greenlan It is dedicated to Dr. Finn Malmgrq t explorer who was left behind to die the Nobile expedition. Amid scenes ( primeval snow, ice and glacier, a paii . is felt for the men who starve an freeze to death in this picture. Viev of Eskimo life are especially delightfi )I Sound Featurettes "Marching On" Movietone-Fox (I hick Sale) Exhibitors of wired houses won't lose any time booking this fine short Ijroduction with that versatile comedian Chick Sale and his battered horn. This is the first satisfactory combination indoor-outdoor talkie yet produced. Skit involves pathetic case of old Civil War vet who knew Lincoln. He is unwanted by the family and leaves home with his old horn and his nephew. He is invited to join in the parade on Lincoln's birthday and after marching with them he reminisces of old days. Production values in this sketch are innnensc and painstaking. Play it by all means! :! "Sharp Tools" Vitaphone (Foy-Cirey Prod.) .\ two-reel all-dialogue dramatic sketch involving the trapping of a longwanted jewel-thief and his gang, by two Secret Service operatives, in the person of a brother and sister, who join the gang and their operations, to get the goods on them. The skit is very interesting as a sample of this new form of film-vandeville playlet, but Miss Terry wins no audience sympathy in either voice or personal attraction. Movie fans will feel her over-acting in the climax and in other portions where she refers to her i)eaut\. "Eddie Peabody" Vitaphone (Instrumental) Peabody, expert banjoist, puts over his odd personality in a pleasing showmanship manner. The latter half of the number includes duets with his partner Jimmy Maisel. The chief fault with I'eahody's renditions is the unattracliveness of the numbers. Eddie sings in his own manner, accompanying himself in several numbers. Sound houses will play this one for its novelty and IVabody's reputation will draw the musical fans. "Putting It On" Vitaphone (Claudia Coleman) Character actress well known to vai deville fans. She does two imitation which may click in the refined first-ru houses, but the critical will rate he work lower than the Elsie Janises, th Beatrice Li Mies and the Gertrude Law rences. One is an imitation of a woman wit newly acquired riches, trying to mov up in Society, but making all the baj |. breaks possible. The other is that of manicure who strings along her cu: t(;mers.