The Film Daily (1921)

Sunday, January 9, 1921 i&M SASUV Pretty To Look At and Good Production Plus a Fine Cast Reginald Barker's production "BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS" Goldwyn DIRECTOR Reginald Barker AUTHOR Graham Moffat SCENARIO BY . Charles Kenyon CAMERAMAN Percy Hilburn AS A WHOLE Really pleasing entertainment; fine Scotch atmosphere and some good touches of humor STORY Adaptation of stage play affords splendid opportunities as screen vehicle DIRECTION Has made a thoroughly human picture; has made good use of the material at hand PHOTOGRAPHY Excellent LIGHTINGS Splendid CAMERA WORK Always well judged PLAYERS Leatrice Joy delightful; a capable and well suited cast all the way through EXTERIORS Some real pictures INTERIORS Correct DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY Incidents in the household of Tarn Biggar, stern Scotch parent whom Susie Simpson decides shall no longer remain a widower LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6,255 feet For those who like Scotch atmosphere — not liquid — "Bunty Pulls the String" will afford a real bit of pleasure. Reginald Barker's adaptation of Graham Moffat's play has retained all the humor, humaness and character of the original and through the augmented possibilities afforded by the camera there are many scenes and ideal locations, that are pictures in themselves. The exteriors are really picturesque. The dialogue of the original may be missed but the dialect has been maintained throughout the titles which are well written and contain humor in them selves. The direction is splendid. There are some comedy touches, typical of Scotch customs and manners that register effectively. Leatrice Joy's delightful personality dominates the "glad" theme of the picture while Raymond Hatton and Josephine Crowell contribute the comedy. Both the latter give unusually fine performances. Russell Simpson handles the role of the stern and righteous father of Bunty. Others who handle smaller parts well are Casson Ferguson, Rowland Rushton, Cullen Landis, Edythe Chapman, Otto Hoffman and Sadie Gordon. Bunty had kept house for her father since her mother's death. She had two brothers, the older boy inthe city while the younger is still at home taking his "threshin's." Susie Simpson, a designing widow, hoped to become the second wife of Bunty's father, Tarn Bigger, and so she placed some money in his care to gain his favor: Weelum, Susie's nephew is in love with Bunty but they haven't saved quite enough to get married. But the stern Tarn Bigger would have none of Susie and when he found it necessary to give his oldest son ' the money Susie has placed in his care because the boy had stolen and Tam would not have the name of Biggar disgraced, he feared the widow more than ever. Then Eelen Dunlop appeared at the Biggar home and when Susie learned that she was Tarn's childhood sweetheart, she decided to ask for her money, since she couldn't have Tam. But Tam refused to talk "business" on the Sabbath and so the matter was delayed a day. The next day Bunty pulled the strings. She gave Weelum's and her savings to her father to replace the debt and then made the startling announcement that the widow had cheated Wellum out of his inheritance. The widow was forced to make restitution and a' double wedding was arranged — Weelum and Bunty — Tam and Eelen. Tell Them You'll Give Them a Bit of 'Scotch' Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It isn't often that you get real "Scotch" noAvadays Use the producer's name and recall his "The so you ought to make a big bit with "Bunty Pulls the Branding Iron." You can talk about a splendid cast Strings." Scotch atmosphere in pictures is still a bit and can use names if you think well of it. Play up out of the ordinary, so you have something to talk the title extensively. Be sure to secure a press sheet about in that. Reginald Baker's production of Gra provided by Goldwyn. It contains many good exploi ham Moffat's stage play has a realistic and delight tation hints. Catchlines could read: "Want a taste fully pleasing old fashioned atmosphere and you can of real Scotch? Go to the blank theater and see promise them it's good to look at. 'Bunty Pulls the Strings.''