The Film Daily (1921)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

Sunday, June 26, 1921 1&M DAILY 15 Carey Has a Good Story in His Most Recent Universal Harry Carey in "DESPERATE TRAILS" Universal DIRECTOR Jack Ford AUTHOR Courtney Ryley Cooper SCENARIO BY E. J. Clawson CAMERAMAN Harry Fowler AS A WHOLE Well sustained interest and some good live action; has entertaining quality STORY From a magazine short story that made interesting reading DIRECTION Very good; tells the story smoothly and logically; builds to first rate climax PHOTOGRAPHY Good throughout LIGHTINGS Some night stuff good CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Has a fine part and makes the most of the opportunities it offers SUPPORT Irene Rich pleasing in a small part; Barbara La Mar not especially well suited; others adequate EXTERIORS Few pretty snow scenes INTERIORS Requisite DETAIL All that is necessary CHARACTER OF STORY Man goes to jail to save man he believes is brother of girl he loves LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,577 feet Universal has selected Courtney Ryley Cooper's story which appeared in the Red Book Magazine under the title of "Christmas Eve at Pilot Butte" for Harry Carey's latest vehicle. At the time the story appeared in magazine form it's more than likely that a good many readers realized in it suitable screen material for one of the portrayers of western, goodbad men parts and perhaps more than a few thought of it in connection with Bill Hart. But it was cornered by Universal and it remained for Jack Ford and Harry Carey to show what they could do with it. The result of their efforts is a picture with a well sustained interest, a smoothly and logically unfolded tale and enough good action to satisfy anyone, together with a first rate climax that is quite effective. The scenario writer has stuck closely to the original and provided an unbroken continuity. There is but one difference which is recalled and that is the fact that in the original Bart Carson did not meet the heroine until he sought refuge in her cabin on Christmas Eve. For the sake, ' perhaps, of rounding out the romance and permitting a happy ending, in the screen version Carson is in love with the woman at the outset and the conclusion finds him free to marry her. Production values are all excellent and the latter reels contain some pretty snow backgrounds that lend an atmosphere desirable, since it is Christmas Eve. The story contains a rather unusual twist in the surprise finish where the escaped prisoner makes the son of the woman he loves his captor in order that he may claim the reward for the sake of the money they need so badly. The action taking place aboard the train is just a bit confusing owing to most of it being night stuff which nevertheless is well done. Carey gives his usual satisfactory performance. Carson believes himself in love with Lou and even goes to jail to save Walker, a man she says is her brother but who, in reality, is the husband who deserted his wife and two children. Carson breaks jail when he learns the truth and trails Walker, who falls off a train trying to escape. Then Carson seeks refuge in the cabin of Mrs. Walker, where he is captured, but the officials have learned the truth and a pardon is promised. They Should Accept This Both for Story and Production Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor You can assure them they will be satisfied with Carey's most recent Universal offering, and by means of catchlines and a fair amount ol exploitation and advertising should have no trouble in convincing them they'll like it if they come in. Where the star is a favorite you should merely have to mention his name in your previous announcements, and tell them that "Desperate Trails" has been adapted from Courtney Ryley Cooper's story "Christmas Eve at Pilot Butte," for the benefit of those who may have read the story in the Red Book. In case you want lines to attract their attention you might try : "He went to jail to save a man his sweetheart claimed as her brother, but even a prison couldn't hold him when he learned the truth. It happens in Harry Carey's latest Universal feature. See 'Desperate Trails' at the blank theater."