The Film Daily (1921)

wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Sunday, January 23, 1920 tMA DAILY IS Fist Fights And Gun Play The Feature Of This. Frank Mayo in "TIGER TRUE" Universal DIRECTOR J. P. McGowan AUTHOR Max Brand SCENARIO BY George C. Hull CAMERAMAN John Brown AS A WHOLE Average production, well enough acted, but with no outstanding features of merit STORY Clearly told, but highly improbable in subject DIRECTION Has handled thrills well in fight scenes and kept interest as high as possible PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS All right CAMERA WORK Average STAR Looks the part and puts up some excellent fights SUPPORT Fritzi Brunette adequate in female lead. Walter Long gives good performance as villain in dual role EXTERIORS Some good night shots INTERIORS Correct DETAIL Adequate CHARACTER OF STORY Wealthy aristocrat falls in love with girl of the lower East Side LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,689 feet Universal offers an average piece of entertainment of the thrill and adventure type in "Tiger True," with the main objection being the highly improbable nature of the theme. It keeps the interest through a great part of its length by means of some corking fist fights which Mayo puts on with fast and furious realism. When there isn't a fight going on there is every prospect of another in a minute, so that the audience that enjoys a good fight will be kept in anticipation by this one until their wish is gratified. The theme is improbable. The idea of a wealthy Fifth Avenue "blue blood" falling in love with a girl from the lowest part of the city, a girl who is the friend and confidante of all the city's worst criminals will be considered too fantastical to be enjoyable by a lot of picture patrons. It is hardly to be supposed, either, that there is in the present day a cafe like the one pictured, in New York, and run by a girl. Jack Lodge about to leave for his favorite haunt, the jungles of Africa, sees a girl in that part of the underworld known as "The Tangle," who appeals to him by a display of fiery courage in defying a gang or rough necks. He determines to meet her. Identifying her as the owner of the "Midway," the cafe hangout of the underworld, Jack enters the place and endeavors to make friends. Mary Dover is suspicious of his soft, manicured hands, and orders him "bounced." The "result is that Jack beats up the bouncer, and clears out the cafe and is hired by Mary as the new bouncer. She christens him "The Tiger." Word comes that "The Baboon," a criminal of marvelous powers, is in his old haunts and has ordered the "Tiger" to leave the Tangle. Jack meets the Baboon who tells him that he must leave and that Mary doesn't want him. Jack determines to stay and learn the truth when he sees Mary with her arms around the Baboon's neck. Meantime the Tiger has arranged through Old Whitey, the dumb paralytic who guides the district's fortunes from his cot, to meet the Baboon. Whitey himself is the Baboon and he ambushes the Tiger in a dark alley. Then the fight. The Baboon is beaten and departs, after confessing that he is Mary's stepbrother. A year of marriage and life abroad effaces the Tangle from Mary's life. Use The Star's Name And Promise Some Real Fist Fights. Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor There are several points of appeal for use in advertising "Tiger True," but probably the two best are the name of Frank Mayo, whose name you can link with "The Brute Breaker," "Lasca," and "Hitchin' Posts," in which pictures he scored successes. Tell them that it is a fytory of a virile, red blooded man, and make clear how well suited the star is to the part. Then talk about the fist fights and the attendant thrills. There are two big fights in which Mayo cleans up an entire gang and afterward beats the toughest of them all. Let them know that this is a real fight, and that Mayo's opponent is Al Kaufman, one-time contender for the championship. Count on the promise of thrills to get them in, rather than on the story. Use the line: "It's a long jump from Fifth Avenue to the Bowery, but Jack Lodge made it — and brought back a wife."