The Film Daily (1918)

Wednesday, August 21, 1918 ife& DAILY Wonderfully Well-Produced Feud Story Convinces and Really Grips Elaine Hammerstein in "HER MAN" Advanced M. P. Corp. — Pathe, Dist'rs DIRECTOR Ralph W. Ince AUTHOR Charles Neville Buck SCENARIO BY John E. Ince CAMERAMAN William Black AS A WHOLE Wonderfully realistic feud story, staged amid impressive scenic backgrounds; builds slowly and consistently to a climax that really grips. STORY Made intensely interesting all the way by convincing characterizations, flawless de= tail and effective lightings. DIRECTION Excellent handling of situations, intelligent building of characterizations and many effective touches throughout make this really grip. PHOTOGRAPHY Superb throughout LIGHTINGS Truly exceptional and effective. Shadow effects and night shots wonderful. CAMERA WORK Very fine; obtained effective angles and very good composition. STAR Very appealing in this and made dramatic moments convincing. SUPPORT Excellent characterizations throughout; made parts seem real; Lawson Butt splendid. EXTERIORS Impressive and convincing; kept to atmosphere and were exceptionally well photographed. INTERIORS Very good; looked substantial and showed minute attention to detail. DETAIL Not a flaw; many excellent touches. Hanging incident may be objectionable, but can be cut. CHARACTER OF STORY Feud stuff with many shooting incidents but has been well handled and should not offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,000 feet WHEN they can take the old Kentucky feud stuff for a central theme around which to build a six-reel story that really gets under your shirt and holds your attention all the way, I give them credit for having accomplished something unusual. We've had these "shoot-' em-up" fend and moonshine plots so many times that I didn't think they could film one which still retained a kick, but this one's got that — and it really grips. The story concerns a girl who leaves a home of refinement and luxury in the North to go down to Kentucky and start a school for the illiterate mountaineers whose favorite out-door sport is picking off a member of a rival clan now and then from behind a clump of trees. The squareness of "Bad Anse". the leader of the Havey faction, gains Shero's admiration, although she denounces him for his brutal killings, not understanding the hatred of centuries that has prompted them. Her influence finally induces him to permit the courts to decide the fate of the man who has killed Jeb's father, with the result that the murderer is convicted and hanged. This action, and the dying confession of the leader of the rival clan, subdues the feud to an extent, but the friends of the murderer still hold a grudge and plan to kill Anse. In the meantime, Shero has confessed her love and when she and Hero "Bad Anse" are alone in the cabin, a noise warns them of the approach of the gang, arriving to carry out their threat. Anse leaves in the darkness and gives battle, while Sheroawaits in the cabin for the outcome. Hero is wounded and drags himself to the cabin. The call of the clan comes to Shero and she continues the fight, succeeding in killing or wounding all but one of the gang in a thrilling gun duel. Anse regains consciousness long enough to dispose of the leader just as he is leveling his gun at Shero. When, later that night, it is thought that Anse cannot recover, Shero asks to be married to him. The next morning, after an all-night vigil, he passes the crisis and the lovers clutch. The way this has been handled is truly exceptional. The intelligent development of the story by a slow, consistent tempo that gradually builds to a gripping, forceful climax; the splendid characterizations throughout, the impressive scenic backgrounds and wonderful lightings and the effeetrve handling of individual incidents makes this an offering that impresses forcibly. The exceptional cast included W. Lawson Butt, George Anderson, Carleton Macy, Erville Alderson, George Cooper. Violet Palmer. Josephine Morse and Cecil Chichester. The Large Majority Will Find It Real, Forceful Entertainment The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This, at the start-off, has the disadvantage of being a feud story. A disadvantage ,from a box-office standpoint, because we have had so many films built around this theme that were very mediocre that most folks are not going to believe that at last a producer has succeeded in whipping this much used material into a really grippins film. I don't believe that the mere fact that this contains considerable shooting will keep people from wanting to see it. Bill Hart has built a tremendous following with the gun stuff and Bill once did a successful feud picture, if you remember, "The Apostle of Vengeance." I believe this is going to make a tremendous hit with the folks who like exciting gun-stuff, with an interesting loveromance playing a conspicuous part in the story. On the other hand you'll find some folks, particularly the finnicky old women, who'll think some of the killings in this are awful. I would concentrate in my advertising upon the exceptional cast the impressive scenic backgrounds and the wonderful lightings, giving considerable prominence to Miss Hammerstein and the fact that she appeared in "The CoRespondent". You can promise them convincing, gripping entertainment and I think the production will impress in such a way that those who do like this kind of stuff will talk it up to their friends. The Kentucky feuds are still a mystery to many because we have not had productions in the past which really explained why these conditions existed, and still exist, in certain sections of Kentucky and vicinity. This production succeeds in explaining the reason for this existing rival hatred more clearly than any offering I can recall.