The Film Daily (1921)

Sunday, January 2, 1921. tMA DAILY 23 Well Made Production Helps Plot Lacking Originality "THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE" Stoll Film— Pathe DIRECTOR Maurice Elvey AUTHOR Ethel M. Dell CAMERAMAN Sinclair Hill SCENARIO BY Paul Burger AS A WHOLE Carefully made production, splendid atmosphere in settings. Well acted, but a somewhat time worn theme STORY English novel adaptation providing good but not new screen material DIRECTION Especially good as regards settings and detail PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS . . .• All right CAMERA WORK Satisfactory PLAYERS Mary Glynne, Sidney Seaward, and Dennis Terry handle principal parts effectively EXTERIORS Good race scenes INTERIORS Carefully done DETAIL Nothing lacking CHARACTER OF STORY Struggle of English nobleman and his groom for the love of a girl nobly born This latest Stoll production is taken from the English novel of the same name by Ethel M. Dell. It is a typically English story, with a main theme very similar to numbers of stories of English life. In this lies the only big fault of the picture, for in the matter of direction, acting, and settings, particularly the latter, which have been done with a fine sense of correct atmosphere these points will be especially appreciated in houses catering to high class patronage. Mary Glynne, as the haughty patrician girl, gives a very intelligent portrayal, and keeps her audience in doubt as to whether she will hold out against the love protestations of the villianous Lord Saltash up to the very moment when one would expect her to decide for the right. Sidney Seaward, as her "common'.' husband has the full sympathy of the spectator, and makes of the part a strong and forceful character. Dennis Terry, who is a son of the famous Ellen Terry, is convincing as Lord Satash, but he is a trifle light for a plotting villain. However, he is a good actor. The fault that some audiences will probably find is that the picture reminds them of others they have seen, because the general idea is one that has been the subject of many stories. Jack Bolton is the genius of the racing stable of Lord Saltash. He falls in love with Maud Brian, daughter of Lady Bernard Brian, who is married to an inn keeper, Giles Sheppard. Maud realizes Bolton's love for her but she is half in love with Lord Saltash of Burchester Castle, and she does not love Bolton. The brutality of Giles Sheppard to Bunny, her little crippled brother, makes her hesitate. She contemplates marrying Bolton to protect her brother, and then Bolton takes "the hundredth chance," and asks her to marry him for Bunny's sake hoping love will come later. Maud marries him and then Saltash, desiring his trainer's wife, tries to entice her from her husband. He traps her in his castle and tries to compromise her. The same day Saltash's horse, "The Hundredth Chance" wins a big race, and Bolton a fortune. That day Bolton, too, wins his wife's love by his trust of her in the apparently damning circumstances created by Saltash. The villainous lord receives a beating from the husband, and Maud, who has been his wife in name only, becomes his wife in fact. Use Title and Horse Race Angle, Promise a Fine Production Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor "The Hundredth Chance" offers in its title an alluring and interest commanding phrase, and presents a number of possibilities for exploitation. Linked up with the horse racing feature of the picture it gives promise of excitement and a "long shot" which carries an appeal to nearly everybody. Play up these two points as the big features in your advertising. You can also safely promise a really fine production. Comment on the excellent atmosphere and the care with which the settings have been made. The fact that Ellen Terry's son plays one of the principal parts might prove an attraction to some. For a catch line you can use : "The battle of a nobleman and a groom for the love of a girl."