The Film Daily (1921)

12 — aff<^ DAILY Sunday, February 20, 1921 A Good Starring Vehicle For Conway Tearle Conway Tearle in "THE ROAD OF AMBITION" Selznick — Select DIRECTOR Wm. P. S. Earle AUTHOR Elaine Sterne SCENARIO BY Lewis Allen Browne CAMERAMAN Wm. Whener AS A WHOLE Well made and quite elaborate production — good vehicle for the star STORY Often improbable, but on the whole satisfactory material DIRECTION Usually very good PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS Clear CAMERA WORK Up to standard STAR Handles his first starring part with his usual capability SUPPORT Florence Dixon and Gladden James do the best work EXTERIORS All good INTERIORS Steel mills fine, some quite elaborate sets DETAIL Satisfactory, for the most part CHARACTER OF STORY. . . .Rise of a steel worker to position of power LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,500 feet Selznick has started Conway Tearle on his starring career with a story and a part that suits him perfectly, and in which he establishes pretty good claim to a stellar position. He plays a man's size part in a heman fashion, and his work is by odds the biggest thing in the picture. Also, they have given him a very well made and sometimes elaborately staged production. The beginning, with its locale in the steel mills, has been particularly well done, all the scenes being made in real mills, while the work of steel making is actually going on. This furnishes a splendid atmosphere and provides a good location for the first thrilling scene when Tearle, as the boss roller, engages in a terrific fist fight with one of the workers. The first and the last parts are so good that it is a pity they have allowed some faults to appear in the middle. In the first place, Bill Andrews, the ignorant but ambitious boss roller, discovers a secret of making steel from waste material which makes him a millionaire over night. He has talked in the rough, ungrammatical manner that he should up to this time, when he suddenly assumes the suave speech and manners of a man of the world. Then, too, the transition from his lowly position to the most powerful position in the steel industry must have taken some time, yet the characters do not age a bit, or change in appearance at all. The whole rise of the man is done in two sub-titles. The way it starts off, the audience will be expectantly awaiting the story of his rise to power, and it will probably prove somewhat of a disappointment to have it jumped over in this way. The story strengthens again, however, and both the star and his support are equal to a dramatic climax. The direction in this latter part is very good. There is a lot of suspense from the moment that the sneaky Miss Larrabee causes Andrews to suspect his wife, until the climax in the fight between the two men. Talk About Tearle In Star Role, And Promise A Strong Performance Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor As this is Conway Tearle's first picture in which he appears as star, make the most of the fact. He has long been among the foremost leading men, and his popularity will make his advent to stardom about the biggest exploitation point for the picture*. Recall his work in past productions such as, "The Way of a Woman," "She Loves and Lies," " AVirtuous Vamp," etc. Talk about his part in this picture, as it will have an appeal to all those who know the star and admire his work. The steel mill stuff in the posters and stills, particularly the fight in the mill, offers good material for displays. It will be well to tell enough of the story to let them know what it's about, as it is of the type which always carries a punch. If you want a catch line use this, "If you had been raised a laborer, and suddenly made millions, what would you do in your new life? See what Bill Andrews did in 'The Road of Ambition.' "