The Film Daily (1920)

Sunday, December 12, 1920 DAILY u Satisfactory Offering of Society Crook Type Justine Johnstone in "BLACKBIRDS" Realart DIRECTOR Jack Dillon AUTHOR Harry James Smith SCENARIO BY Clara Beranger . CAMERAMAN Arthur Quinn AS A WHOLE Satisfactory society crook picture given adequate production without containing anything pretentious STORY Good of its type but has nothing particularly forceful except rather effective climax DIRECTION Quite all right PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS Some dark CAMERA WORK Average STAR Does well in the part; hasn't always b;en photographed to the best advantage SUPPORT Fulfil requirements EXTERIORS Satisfactory INTERIORS Correct DETAIL Fair CHARACTER OF STORY Girl society crook who wants to go straight after she falls in love LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,979 feet Justine Johnstone's first picture for Realart isn't a knockout but manages to make a satisfactory picture of the society crook type. The story is too familiar to be unusual. The same idea has been used many times before with various twists. Despite this handicap "Blackbirds" manages to hold the interest to the end and there is an effective climax which finishes it up in a thoroughly good way. The early reels are supposedly laid in France but the scenes contain nothing that indicate a French atmosphere. The only thing French about these reels is the title decorations which picture various familiar scenes. The remainder of the action takes place in America and is quite in keeping with the story. There are a few exterior shots of a pretty Long Island estate. Miss Johnstone has a pleasing personality and she handles the role of the girl society crook very well and acts with ease. She is attractive to look at but has not always been photographed to the best possible advantage. William Boyd is the leading man and Charles Garrard plays the "master mind" of the Blackbirds who, according to a title are the "aristocrats of crime" in Paris. In an effort to escape the police Leoni D'Orville, known as the "Countess" and one of the most prominent crooks of the Blackbird gang, meets Nevil Trask. Duval, the mastermind of 'The Blackbirds,' com mands Leonie to sail for America and "cultivate" the Crockers, a family who have made their money on pork and who are returning to America with a famous painting. Aboard the ship Leonie again encounters Trask and she soon finds herself in love with him. She also makes the acquaintance of the Crockers and the "Countess" is invited to visit the pork family at their Long Island home. Upon her arrival in New York Leonie goes to Duval to whom she delivers various jewels which she has smuggled in. Her next job is to substitute a good imitation for the famous painting in the Crocker home. The girl refuses to carry out Duval's orders but when he threatens to expose her real identity to her lover Trask, she consents. Trask is also a guest at the Crocker home and sees Leonie steal the painting. She does not turn it over to Duval, however, and when she doesn't "come through" he puts the police on her trail. Trask is a secret service man who has been trailing the crooks. He forgives Leonie and Duval is caught with the goods. Tell Them it's Justine Johnstone's First for Realart Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This will undoubtedly satisfy most audiences in its capacity as a society crook picture even though it has not been given an unusual production and never aims to be pretentious. It is well developed and easy to follow. If your folks like this sort of story they will accept "Blackbirds" as a satisfactory offering. You can announce is as Justine Johnstone's first production for Realart and if they like this one you can be sure of patronage when you show her next picture. Tell them it's the story of a band of famous French society crooks called "The Blackbirds." Use the line : "She was known as 'The Countess' a prominent member of 'The Blackbirds' but see how she reformed when she fell in love with the secret service man who was trailing her,"