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16
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DA1L.V
Sunday, April 17, 1921
Youthful Star Will Be Liked In His First Picture
Reeves Eason, Jr., in
"THE BIG ADVENTURE"
Universal
DIRECTOR Reeves Eason
AUTHOR James Edward Hungerford
SCENARIO BY George Pyper
CAMERAMAN Virgil Miller
AS A WHOLE. . . .Offers pleasing vehicle for promising youngster who seems much at home on screen STORY Nothing unusual but that isn't important; it provides good role for juvenile star
DIRECTION Very good
PHOTOGRAPHY Good
LIGHTINGS Good
CAMERA WORK Up to standard
STAR Thoroughly pleasing little fellow; has likable personality
SUPPORT Lee Shumway, Fred Herzog, Mollie
Shafer and Gertrude Olmstead suitable
EXTERIORS Satisfactory
INTERIORS Adequate
DETAIL Nothing wrong
CHARACTER OF STORY Boy runs away from
cruel father and finds good home with lawyer's sister LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,589 feet
Reaves Eason, Jr., known as "Breezy" Eason, has been seen before in support of various Universal stars, but in "The Big Adventure" he is a star in his own right and deserves it. "Breezy" is a likable little chap with considerable personality for one so young, and he displays promise of becoming well known among juvenile players. Of course his father's direction is responsible perhaps for his good work, but even at
that he seems much at home, and shows no signs of being camera-shy.
The story of "The Big Adventure" is unimportant and so it isn't probable that its lack of originality or the fact that it contains little action is going to matter very much. It affords the youthful star the sort of part which gives him good prominence. The story is really narrative in form and there are no high lights except a rather effective climax. There doesn't seem any good excuse for the romantic twist, because of the obvious difference in the ages of the man and the little girl. Reeves Eason has made a thoroughly comprehensible picture, and it isn't dragged out to unnecessary length. It may strike some that he has injected the brutality business a trifle too strongly, but there are no really long shots of it.
Patches, a waif whose name is no exaggeration, decides to run away from his brutal father, so with his dog Mickey, he becomes a passenger of a box car. The brakeman is kindly and Patches is allowed to ride to a near-by town where the boy insists he has relatives. He hasn't, of course, and eventually he meets some tramps, and while with them, all are arrested. A young lawyer, John Wellborn, asks for custody of the boy, and Patches finds a comfortable home on the farm of Wellborn's sister and her adopted daughter Sally.
The boy's father in the meantime has become a tramp, and comes to the farm begging food. When he finds Patches alone in the house, he robs the place then takes his son away. Sally, who is in love with Wellborn, is running away because she thinks he loves someone else. She sees Patches being taken into a deserted hut. She follows and is held a prisoner. Patches escapes and brings help. Sally learns that Wellborn does love her, and Patches returns to the farm .
Play Up Boy Star And Appeal To Children Especially
Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor
This is an enjoyable offering inasmuch as it presents an agreeable youngster in a part that gives him the right sort of opportunities and he takes advantage of them. Little "Breezy" Eason will undoubtedly gain many admirers through his first stellar appearance, and in billing the picture you may recall pictures in which he has supported various Universal
Children especially will like the picture, and they will probably want to see more pictures with "Breezy" starring, so you might give his initial one a good boost to get them interested. Catchlines should attract and you might say: "If your father was cruel, your mother was dead and you had no friend but a dog,
stars. You might make an extra appeal for matinee
, , . i, ,i i . ,i, , «.ur.,i . r what would you do? See how Breezy' solved the
attendance, and tell them about the youtniul star of J J
"The Big Adventure." problem in 'The Big Adventure.' "