The Film Daily (1921)

Sunday, May 8, 1921 P aM3 DAILY — > 15 Metro's Latest Is Pleasing Light Comedy Offering "COINCIDENCE" Metro DIRECTOR Chet Withey AUTHOR Howard E. Morton SCENARIO BY Brian Hooker CAMERAMAN Louis C. Bitzer AS A WHOLE Satisfying program offering that moves along a good pace and is given adequate production STORY Keeps up good comedy tempo for the most part ; one or two cut-outs needed DIRECTION * All right PHOTOGRAPHY Satisfactory LIGHTINGS Fair CAMERA WORK Average PLAYERS. .... .All suit the parts and do what the roles require EXTERIORS Good INTERIORS Don't look real DETAIL Not important factor CHARACTER OF STORY Country youth is a continual victim of coincidence even to inheriting a fortune LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,500 feet "Coincidence" proves its title continually throughout the picture, and if you don't believe in it after watching so many instances of it, then Metro's latest offering fails in its mission. However, it's likely that folks will be entertained by this very light comedy offering that keeps up a good lively pace once it lands Mr. Hero in New York City. The. production is ordinary but all that the story requires, and the director has managed to hold the attention throughout. There are some effective comedy touches that register laughs of greater or lesser proportions. , The picture is mostly straight comedy with the exception of one trifling dramatic sequence, in which they might cut a few feet from the scene of a man attacking a girl. The story is inoffensive comedy romance with a rube hero. There is a certain amount of implausibility which can be readily overlooked in a story of this kind, inasmuch as it makes way for some good humor. "Coincidence" contains many scenes which will interest local picture goers. Many of them have been taken around the city, some on the Fifth Ave. buses. Robert Harron does good work as Billy Jenks. He makes the most of all the opportunities which the role affords. June Walker is a pleasing heroine, and others are Bradley Barker, William Frederic, Frank Belcher and June Terry. Billy Jenks is a "live young bank clerk in a dead town." Billy comes to New York to work. He liecomes a cashier in a department store. Billy's life becomes a series of coincidences, and through one instance he becomes acquainted with Phoebe Howard, a stenographer. Billy and Phoebe both "fall" so hard that they neglect their work and finally lose their jobs. Fortunately Billy has an aunt who dies and leaves him a large fortune. When he tells Phoebe about the inheritance, Harry Brent overhears the conversation and plans to relieve Billy of the money. He introduces himself and agrees to invest hero's money for him next day, but before the meeting Billy has the money stolen from him by a man who needs money to meet some notes. Billy recovers the fortune after a long chase, and in the meantime Phoebe has learned the real purpose of Brent's friendliness. Billy and Phoebe are married. Title And Catchlines Should Interest Them Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This isn't knockout comedy, but is lively enough and keeps moving fast enough to please a good majority, so if your folks like this sort of picture for a change, you might safely show them "Coincidence." Make the title your selling point and you should be able to get them in without a great deal or trouble. Tell them "Everyone recalls certain outstanding coincidences in their lives but Billy Jenks' was just one 'Coincidence' after another. But see the best one of all in Metro's latest comedy offering." The Metro press sheet bills the picture as having an all-star cast but probably Robert Harron 's is the only name which is familiar. Catchlines and promises along the lines explained previously should interest them and the title ought to have a good deal to do with getting them in.