The Film Daily (1921)

Sunday, January 2, 1921 ttfecf^ DAILY Very Weak Story and a Production That Can't Be Boasted Of Billie Burke in "THE FRISKY MRS. JOHNSON" Paramount DIRECTOR Edward Dillon AUTHOR Clyde Fitch SCENARIO BY Lawrence McClosky CAMERAMAN George Folsey AS A WHOLE Below the average of program offering; star pleasing but she has so little to do that her appearance can't help it much STORY Exceedingly weak material and very little of it and that little isn't new DIRECTION Very ordinary PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS All right CAMERA WORK Average STAR Greatly handicapped by lack of opportunity SUPPORT Go through their parts well enough but haven't anything very much to do ; no one given credit on the screen EXTERIORS None INTERIORS Satisfactory studio sets DETAIL Very little of anything else CHARACTER OF STORY .Young widow incurs her brother-in-law's malice in trying to protect her unhappy sister, his wife LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,536 feet Billie Burke's latest doesn't come up to the satisfaction mark of the productions being turned out by this company. In the first place the story is really worth about two reels for it certainly doesn't contain enough material for the footage accorded it. And so "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson" turns out to be a long series of scenes of which about half contain no action at all. The action is supposedly laid in France, but there is nothing to indicate it except that the art titles consist of various familiar French scenes. There are no exterior shots which makes it difficult at times to know just where the characters are and in whose home. There are two homes in which the story takes place but as the players are never seen going or coming, it's hard to tell just what's what. There is one set supposed to be a street scene but everyone will know it's studio stuff. Billie Burke is pleasing in herself, but she has so little opportunity in the role of Mrs. Johnson that even her appearance doesn't help this very poor story. There is some nonsense provided by the character of a French admirer of the widow who flies around getting her powder puffs, etc., but doesn't add any entertainment to the producton. Mrs. Johnson is credited with being a frisky widow although as far as the audience is concerned, she doesn't seem to have more than an ordinary amount of "frisk." Mrs. Johnson has a married sister who is unhappy and is carrying on a love affair with Sir Lionel Heathcote, while Mrs. Johnson does her best to keep the two apart because she fears for her sister's reputation. Frank Morley, a brother of the sister's husband returns and having loved Mrs. Johnson before her marriage, it doesn't take him long to fall for her again and they plan to elope. At the same time the sister is planning to run away with Heathcote and a note sent to her is found by her husband who follows his wife to Heathcote's apartment. But in the meantime, Mrs. Johnson has heard of her sister's intention and reaches Heathcote's apartment before her brotherin-law. Mrs. Johnson makes it appear that the note was intended for her and so she saves her sister, but when Frank hears of the affair he will have nothing to do with her. But eventually the sister decides that she cannot let the widow sacrifice her happiness for her so she tells her husband the truth, Frank goes back to Mrs. Johnson and the sister decides to divorce her husband and marry Heathcote. If the Star Is Well Liked It May Get By Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is a very weak one, but if Billie Burke is popular with your patrons perhaps her appearance will satisfy them, although she has been provided with a very weak story in "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson." It wouldn't be well to do any promising in connection with the picture so you might confine your announcement to catchlines such as : ^If you had a sister who was risking her reputation would you sacrifice your own happiness to save her?" Or, "She was called 'Frisky Mrs. Johnson' but see how she nearly lost her lover in an effort to save her sister's reputation." Perhaps the fact that Clyde Fitch is the author may interest them so you might mention it. The supportingcast doesn't contain any particularly well-known names so confine your names to the star's.