The Film Daily (1918)

Thursday, September 5, 1918 DAILY Old Situations Made Entertaining by Star and Treatment Mae Murray in "MODERN LOVE" Mae Murray Prod. — Universal DIRECTOR Robert Leonard AUTHOR F. McGrew Willis SCENARIO BY F. McGrew Willis CAMERAMAN Allan Seigler AS A WHOLE Sex meller involving old situations, made pleasing by atmosphere and appealing characterization of star. STORY The old stuff of the wronged gel being denounced by her lover when he learns her past and finding happiness with another when she proves her innocence. DIRECTION Developed characterizations effec= tively and hurdled delicate situations nicely. Handling and atmosphere in hotel sequence was excellent. Provided many good touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very pleasing LIGHTINGS Generally very good; kept to soft, even lightings throughout with rather pleas= ing effect. CAMERA WORK Very good with nice composi= tion on sets. STAR Is very pretty and characterization will win audience. SUPPORT Well balanced throughout; although Chesebro overplayed at times. EXTERIORS Kept to atmosphere. Not many INTERIORS Very good with excellent detail in hotel set. DETAIL Generally very good although would have been better not to show painting which didn't register as 'masterpiece'. CHARACTER OF STORY Gets nearly naughty in hotel sequence but shouldn't offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5640 feet CERTAINLY, they can't claim that this story has got anything new, for the Lord only knows how many times we've had these identical situations in the past, but because Director Bob Leonard has given us a classy production and one that enables Miss Murray to appear to excellent advantage and express a variety of emotions effectively, I think the average gang is going to figure this good entertainment. I want to give Director Bob Leonard credit for developing a very good bit of suspense in the way he handled the character of Philo McCullough, the quiet willun who did the doity woik in this. We had our suspicions at the start that Philo was going to turn out to be an old lover of Mae's who had started her on the road to ruin, and they slipped us quite a surprise in a later sequence showing that Mae wasn't really ruined after all, although everything pointed that way. Miss Murray is presented in this as a stranded show girl who is about to land a good part when she learns that willun Philo is to be her leading man and beats it before he sees her. Later, through an accidental meeting with an artist model, she meets George Chesebro, who likes Mae and gets her to pose for him. Arthur Shirley, a friend of George's, also becomes infatuated with Mae, but withdraws when he notes her love for "Chese." After George and Mae have announced their engagement, along comes willun Philo and slips "Chese" the dirt— that he and Mae had once "registered as man and wife." "Chese" gives Mae the air and she asks to be invited to Arthur Shirley's party, that she may forget her woe. When Arthur and Mae are alone she tells him of her broken engagement and her real experiences in the hotel with willun are described in a vision, it being established that willun had registered as man and wife when circumstances had made it necessary for them to remain at a country hotel for the night, although she did not know about it until Philo came in her room and started to do the rough act, which was thwarted by the proprietor who heard the noise. Of course, Arthur and Mae get married and they finish with a flash of the happy couple and their baby, a year later. They had the kid in a tub, and he was sure a cute little rascal. This ending is not new, but is nearly always sure-fire audience stuff and the little feller Bob picked out for this will get many chuckles. Aside from one incident in the bed-room sequence, which I would advise you to eliminate — the scene where willun Philo looks significantly at the bed just before he decides to get rough — this situation had been handled in such a way that I don't think it will offend. The incident mentioned can and should be cut as it is rather a bold and unnecessary stroke. Director Leonard gave us some excellent atmosphere in the vision explaining the hotel incident and kept the production generally classy throughout. The hotel proprietor was a good character and the three prominent male roles were very capably handled. Claire Du Brey was good as the artist model friend and Mrs. A. E. Wright completed the cast. Is Not Big But Should Satisfy Generally The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I think that Mae Murray is quite a favorite in most communities and you are safe in making quite a fuss about her in this for she is beautiful and appealing all the way and has been given many good moments. This fact, coupled with the effective way in which Director Bob Leonard has dressed up the old situations presented in this, should make it register as pleasing entertainment anywhere. Understand, this isn't to be classed as big and doesn't warrant any extravagant claims, but it will satisfy as a regular program attraction arid isn't so overburdened with sex stuff that you need have any fear of presenting it in a respectable community. I would concentrate on the presence of Miss Murray, connecting her name and photo with the titles of some of her recent productions you have played. You might use catch lines like these: "Would you marry a man who demanded proof other than your own statement that your past had been clean? See Mae Murray in 'Modern Love'." "If you were denounced by your future husband on the eve of your proposed marriage, would you want to be alone or would you seek consolation in the company of friends at a happy party? See Mae Murray, in 'Modern Love'."