The Film Daily (1920)

Sunday, December 12, 1920 Bfcflt DAILY Good Story and Careful Production Make it Worth While William Faversham in "THE SIN THAT WAS HIS" Selznick DIRECTOR . . . .. Hobart Henley AUTHOR Frank L. Packard SCENARIO BY Edmund Goulding CAMERAMAN Edward Van Buren AS A WHOLE Careful production with story developed in logical and interest-holding fashion STORY Adapted from Frank L. Packard's story; well sustained theme and always plausible DIRECTION Excellent PHOTOGRAPHY . . . . Very good LIGHTINGS .. . . Very good CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Gives excellent performance SUPPORT All well suited EXTERIORS Not many INTERIORS Correct DETAIL , All right CHARACTER OF STORY Fugitive impersonates priest to avoid capture and later confesses and is forgiven LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,000 feet Producers seem to have come to realize that picture patrons are about "fed up" on sex theme productions and "The Sin That Was His" is among those to break away from it. Hobart Henley has taken Frank L. Packard's story and has made an interesting, entertaining picture. The story in the first place is a good one but Henley deserves credit for transferring it to the screen and maintaining the logic of the story and a well sustained interest. William Faversham's splendid performance goes a long way toward the picture's success and both as Raymond Chapelle, gambler-outlaw and in his impersonation of Father Aubert, his work is creditable. The supporting company is adequate and Lulu Warrenton as an old hag gives a fine characterization. The photography is good and some night scenes are very effective. There is nothing elaborate or unusual about the quality of production but it indicates good judgement and is always in keeping with the requirements of the story. One or two twists in the story are based on coincident but it isn't the sort of coincident that you usually find in pictures. In this case it is quite plausible and will probably not be looked upon as mere convenience. Raymond Chapelle, an outlaw and gambler vows his hatred of God when after performing the only good deed he had done in twenty years — returning the winings to a youthful gambler — he had been put out of the only place he could call a home. Then his pal dies and requests him to take a bag of gold to his mother in Montreal. The mother happens to be an old hag with a good-for-nothing son who is ready to accept the gold instead of his mother. A fight follows and the mother shoots intending to kill Chapelle. She kills her son and then swears Chapelle did the shooting. The gambler escapes and comes upon the prostrate form of a priest he had met in the train on the way to Montreal. Chapelle changes clothes with the clergyman and since the two men look very much alike the deception goes. Chapelle, now assuming Father Aubert's name, has the real priest — but in the clothes of the man who is supposed to have killed the old hag's son — taken to the rectory. Chapelle takes up the duties of Father Aubert and soon experiences a deep contrition for his sin. The real Father Aubert begins to recover and the gambler, who in his early years had actually studied for the priesthood, confesses his sin and is forgiven. In the cast are Lucy Cotton, Pedro de Cordoba, Miss Sherman, Robert Conville and John Burton. Use Names in Connection With this and Promise Them Entertainment Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor You can be assured of showing them an entertaining picture if you book "The Sin That Was His." You have plenty to talk about in the way of names. Tell them the story is by Frank L. Packard, author of "The Miracle Man" and that William Faversham plays the leading role. Use Hobart Henley's name in connection with the production and recall his successful "The Gay Old Dog." Promises will be in order and catchlines such as the following could be used : "He had long been a gambler and an outlaw but when he impersonated a priest to escape capture, see how the atmosphere of faith brought about his regeneration." Or, "A criminal will resort to anything to escape detection. See William Faversham in 'The Sin That Was His' •for the proof of this theory."