The Film Daily (1921)

MP 14 tMA DAILY Sunday, January 9, 1921 Will Satisfy But Doesn't Match Up With RecentJFox Specials "BLIND WIVES" Fox DIRECTOR Charles J. Brabin AUTHOR Edward Knoblock SCENARIO BY Charles J. Brabin CAMERAMAN George Lane AS A WHOLE Done in five episodes with some much better than others STORY Adapted from Knoblock's stage play "My Lady's Dress;" elaborated extensively for screen play DIRECTION First episode not so good; Russian episode the best of the lot PHOTOGRAPHY Varies LIGHTINGS. . . .Poor in first episode; good in others CAMERA WORK Average PLAYERS Estelle Taylor and Marc McDer mott handle variety of roles satisfactorily EXTERIORS Those in Russian episode good; few in others INTERIORS All right DETAIL Fair CHARACTER OF STORY Various tragedies and misfortunes endured by those who labor to produce luxuries for "Blind Wives" LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 8,376 feet The Fox organization have arranged an adaptation of Edward Knoblock's stage play "My Lady's Dress" in the form of a series of episodes. There are five of these, some much better than others. The first episode is the weakest of the lot, the players overact noticeably and the photography is very poor. The next is an improvement and there is a Russian episode which is the best. In its present form the picture is altogether too long but careful cutting will remedy this. Marc McDermott and Estelle Taylor are seen in each of the different episodes and each time in a different character. This is quite a test of their versatility and generally speaking they do very well. Director Brabin has done very well in the making of the picture but the production as a whole would be much more effective if there was a more obvious connection between each of the episodes. With little warning other than a Hash of the woman who is dreaming these various things, there is little to indicate that a new episode is to begin. The connection between the hrst and second, however, is quite satisfactory. The lady's dress is lying on a chair and the fade-out focuses the last shot on the floAver which decorates her dress. The next fade-in shows the flowers being made by a little cripple girl and the episode of the slums is picked up here. Anne's passion is clothes but her husband closes her account at Jacquelin's and in a fit of pique she goes to sleep and dreams. The first episode shows Annie, the little cripple girl who makes flowers and finally sells her wonderful hair and goes away so that she will not stand in the way of her sister's happiness. Next comes the Russian episode which tells the unhappy story of the sable which decorates the gown. 1 low the trapper returning to his home with the skin finds his wife unfaithful tb him. Then there is the story of Annette and her husband Nicolas, a weaver Nicolas is dying and Anette works the loom but is unsuccessful. Her old sweetheart, Joanny, comes to her rescue. The last is the story of the mannequin who fights to maintain her reputation and finally kills the manager of the establishment when he tries to keep her away from her dying mother. The "blind wife" wakes from her dream cured of her passion for clothes and she is happy with her husband once more. Carefully Exploited It Should Show Good Results Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor There is enough variety in the different episodes which make up "Blind Wives" to satisfy the majority of audiences, and the fact that some are more interesting and better acted than others probably won't have a serious effect as long as the general appeal is not serious endangered by this uneven break. The Rusian episode will probably give the most satisfaction. A fashion show in connection with the showing would be thoroughly appropriate and most likely draw a good crowd. If you played "While New York Sleeps," you can say that the same players appear in "Blind Wives." Be sure to say that it is an adaptation of Edward Knoblock's stage play "My Lady's Dress." Catchlines should attract. Sa>r : "Do you ever realize what unhappiness or what tragedy may be connected with the dress you wear? See 'Blind Wives' for the story of the hardships endured by those who make these beautiful gowns possible."