The Film Daily (1921)

14 DAILY Sunday, May 8, 1921 Original Story Makes Pleasing Entertainment in MacLean's Latest Douglas MacLean in "THE HOME STRETCH" Thos. H.. Ince Prod. — Paramount DIRECTOR Jack Nelson AUTHOR Charles Belmont Davis SCENARIO BY Louis Stevens CAMERAMAN Bert Cann AS A WHOLE Lively comedy-romance; has some good excitement and is generally pleasing entertainment STORY Somewhat different than star has had previously ; original idea for romance DIRECTION Very good; gets off to a good start and reaches a satisfying conclusion PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS All right CAMERA WORK Good STAR Entertaining as usual SUPPORT All adequate EXTERIORS Good INTERIORS All that's required DETAIL Apparantly correct CHARACTER OF STORY Young race track gambler loses big race and then nearly loses his girl LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,513 feet For his latest Paramount production, Ince has supplied Douglas MacLean with a lively story written by Charles Belmont Davis. It is original and provides the popular comedian with a part different from anything he has had. It starts off with a fine race track atmosphere and works up a good deal of excitement with a race that ends in a thrill, when a little girl runs out on the track in the way of the approaching horses. The race is fine as it is, but would have been even more exciting had the camera followed the horses around the track. "The Home Stretch" hasn't as much comedy as some previous MacLean pictures, but it makes up for the humor in other good bits of business. Besides the race track scenes there's a good rural sequence, and some comedy that gets over. Director Nelson has connected the various sequences carefully and the result is a story smoothly told and one that holds the interest to the end. He has handled the conclusion in a novel fashion and the ending is the kind that most audiences want. The feature makes a thoroughly satisfying hour's entertainment. MacLean is pleasing as usual, alert all the time. A capable company support the star. In the cast are Beatrice Burnham, Walt Whitman, Margaret Livingston, Wade Boetler, Charles Mailes, Molly McConnell, Jack Singleton, Joe Bennett and George Holmes. Johnny Hardwick's sole possession is "Honeyblossom," a thoroughbred left him by his father. Johnny puts all his money on Honeyblossom. Just as the horse pulls ahead, Gwen Duffy, a little girl, runs out on the track. Johnny rushes to the rescue, resulting in a fall for Honeyblossom and the loss of the race. That night at a party Johnny hits a man who strikes a girl. Believing he has killed him, Johnny leaves town and later works in a third class hotel. Gwen's father accidentally comes upon Johnny and tells him the man did not die. Johnny then goes to work in Duffy's resort hotel. In the same town he meets Margaret Warren, a store-keeper's daughter. Sometime later Honeyblossom "comes back," and Johnny makes a lot of money. He returns to the town to claim Margaret, and when he hears she loves someone else, sails for Europe. Margaret reaches the dock as the ship pulls out. Johnny jumps overboard and swims back to shore. You Can Satisfy Most Everyone With Comedian's "Home Stretch" Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Douglas MacLean's latest should satisfy most anyone, so exhibitors will do well in securing it. If you have shown the comedian's previous offerings and satisfied your patrols you may be sure they'll like this one, so exhibitors will do well in securing it. If you promise them some excitement. The musical accompaniment during the racing scenes will have a lot to do with putting it over. Be sure to tell them that the star has an original story in his latest and one that is different than anything he has done yet. Make the race track business the main idea in any catchlines. It will attract the most attention. You might make use of the line : "What is 'The Home Stretch.' Visit the race track in Douglas MacLean's latest picture and you'll find the answer."