The Film Daily (1921)

Sunday, May 8, 1921 DAILY 11 Another Good One To Please Carey's Admirers Harry Carey in "THE WALLOP" Universal DIRECTOR Jack Ford AUTHOR Eugene Manlove Rhodes SCENARIO BY George C. Hull CAMERAMAN Harry Fowler AS A WHOLE Novel western that has much better interests than its love story STORY Pleasingly told and contains some good thrills ; western that's a bit different DIRECTION Very good; manages surprises splendidly PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS Good CAMERA WORK Excellent; long shots very good STAR Best when he's fighting SUPPORT All adequate EXTERIORS Many very pretty shots INTERIORS All right DETAIL Seems right CHARACTER OF STORY Westerner in love with young girl saves his rival's life LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,539 feet As said before, Harry Carey can usually be depended upon to turn out a pleasing hour's entertainment, and in "The Wallop," with a good story and the capable direction of Jack Ford, his latest production for Universal offers sufficient reason for booking this. It's as good, if not some better, than most program pictures. There's a rather novel western story, not original wholly, but it has some clever twists and a few thrills, with a little surprise added at the end. The love story part of "The Wallop" isn't over attractive, but it has enough other good points to make it interesting all the way. The star seems somewhat out of place making love to a young girl, but his stories usually call for the good looking leading man coming out the victor in the love match, with Carey the good Samaritan who admits defeat and rides slowly out of focus followed by "The End." The backgrounds in "The Wallop" will attract no little attention. There are a great many really beautiful shots, and some of long range are indeed fine. The photography thoroughout is first rate and there are several good night scenes, including some rain stuff that may not be the real thing but it looks it at any rate. Carey gives his usual satisfactory performance, with Charles Le Moyne once more the villain. Mignonne Golden is the heroine, who is suitable, but would be more so if she'd tie up the curls. John Wesley Pringle, adventurer, returns to Gadsden to claim the girl, Stella, only to find that she loves another, Chris, Foy. It happens that Foy is accused of a murder he did not commit. Matt Lisner, sheriff, searches Stella's home for Foy, but later learns he is hiding in the mountains. Lisner and his crowd set out to get Foy and claim the reward for his capture. Pringle reaches the mountain by a back route, and pretends to rescue Foy, but surprises both Lisner and Foy by claiming the reward for the capture. Then follows a second surprise when Pringle orders Lisner to release Foy, explaining that it was merely a ruse to get Foy safely from the mountain top. Pringle then discloses evidence which makes Lisner the real murderer, and Foy returns to Stella while Pringle goes quietly on his way without letting the girl know how much he loves her. You Ought To Be Able To Satisfy Them With This Western Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Exhibitors in the habit of playing Universal's regular line of program releases will be certain to satisfy their patrons with Carey's latest. There's some good action, a few thrills and a romantic twist besides. Surely enough of everything to please most anyone. You can talk about the story, and the real hero role of the star. You can make promises along the lines of a western atmosphere that's just a bit different, and a story that will hold their interest to the end. "The Wallop" has some good riding, and above all be sure to tell them it's a picture that is good to look at. Stills of some of the pretty scenes will attract attention in the lobby. Mignonne Golden has appeared in support of Carey previously, so if you think she made an impression, you might use her name also. Catchlines based on the idea of a westerner who loved a girl but saved the life of his rival, might interest them.