The Film Daily (1921)

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Sunday, June 26, 1921 l&ii DAILY Fine Development and Clever Crook Story in O'Brien Picture Eugene O'Brien in "THE LAST DOOR" Selznick — Select DIRECTOR William P. S. Earle AUTHORS W. B. Foster and Ralph Ince SCENARIO BY Edward Montague CAMERAMAN Jules Cronjager AS A WHOLE A good bit of entertainment and a good vehicle for the star STORY Clever crook story with good surprise twist and unusual ending DIRECTION First rate; keeps the spectator ignorant of what is to come ; development good throughout PHOTOGRAPHY Satisfactory LIGHTINGS Usually all right CAMERA WORK Average STAR Has a good role and makes the most of it SUPPORT Martha Mansfield pleasing leading lady; others adequate EXTERIORS Few pretty snow scenes INTERIORS Correct DETAIL All right CHARACTER OF STORY Crook posing as notable falls in love with society girl but doesn't marry her LENGTH OF PRODUCTION -About 6,000 feet Stories dealing with society crooks have been popular with producers for the past few months, and now Selznick comes forth with one presenting Eugene O'Brien as "The Magnet," a notorious criminal. But "The Last Door" is different from any of its predecessors in that it has a really clever surprise twist, and you don't even know it is to deal with crooks until it is well under way, and then comes the disclosure that the hero is not a nobleman but a thief. The development of the story is what makes it unusual, and the audience is kept guessing continually as to what will happen next. The director never allows it to become obvious, and least of all do you expect the ending to be as it is, and after all it is well received if for no other reason than that it is out of the ordinary. The hero does not marry the heroine and there is no fade-out showing them wandering arm in arm down the primrose path. When the theme develops into a genuine crook story, they get in some good business in "The Magnet's" home where he makes use of various "disappearing" devices in eluding the police — a stairway that conceals an exit and pool with a trap door. There are too many guests in the society home of the heroine. Every time the host moves from one room or part of the room, the guests follow up like a lot of chickens after the mother hen. This isn't any serious fault but makes the "extras" conspicuous when they shouldn't be. Eugene O'Brien does good work in a thoroughly suitable part, and Martha Mansfield again appears opposite him. The other members of the cast are not given credit. Mrs. Hamilton Rogers entertains, among others, Somerset Carroll, noted for his chivalry. A convict has escaped from a nearby prison. The guests decide to join in the hunt but Carroll remains at home and is surprised* when the escaped girl comes into the house and begs him to hide her. He does to the extent of escorting her. After some mishaps he gets her safely to his home where the girl confesses she is Helen Rogers and that it was all a joke. Carroll then returns the surprise and discloses his true identity, that of "The Magnet." He keeps the girl a prisoner, and returns to the Rogers' to secure the ruby he went after.. Just as he decides not to take it, Helen appears but doesn't expose him. The girl later risks her reputation to warn "The Magnet" that the police are after him, and even though they love each other, they part. You Can Give Them This and They'll Like It Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Selznick is offering you a really worth while feature in Eugene O'Brien's latest. You can tell your folks it is a crook story full of surprises and unusual twists that hold the attention from beginning to end. You'll find it hard to please them at all if they don't like this one. In case you have played the recent O'Brien pictures, among them "Gilded Lies" and "Worlds Apart," you can tell them that "The Last Door" is even better. Play up the story with catchlines along the order of: "He might have gone free and married the girl he loved but at 'The Last Door' he turned back and faced the law." Or, "Does the heroine always marry the hero? 'The Last Door' is different. See Eugene O'Brien in a novel crook story, his latest Selznick release." The feature should prove worthy of exploitation and the receipts worth while any advertising expense.