The Film Daily (1918)

Sunday, September IS, 1918 -isiijA DAILY 15 m Unique Story Centered Around Excellent Dual Characterization Alice Brady in "THE BETTER HALF" Select DIRECTOR J. S. Robertson AUTHOR Miriam Michelson SCENARIO BY Louis Sherwin CAMERAMAN H. L. Broening AS A WHOLE Effective dual characterization of star makes story with a few weak spots reg= ister. STORY Twin sister idea with one sister imper= sonating other who had committed suicide to keep up spirit of husband who had gone blind. DIRECTION Built up some situations very effec= tively and provided pleasing atmosphere but allowed several slips. Handling of dual role great until double exposure which jarred. PHOTOGRAPHY. . . .Very good except double exposure LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing; some very effec= tive bits. CAMERA WORK Showed mechanics of double; is very bad because they will look for it. STAR Sure can troupe; gave excellent contrast to dual characterization. SUPPORT Powell did excellent work and Kent effective heavy without overdoing it. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Looked substantial and were well appointed. DETAIL Several bad slips; some of them could be covered up by editing. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,073 feet ASIDE from one big' inconsistency and several detail slips which could still be covered up, this registered with me as a truly interesting offering, principally because of the excellent work of Miss Brady throughout the offering. The story was an interesting treatment of the twin sister idea, with Miss Brady appearing in the roles of the good and the bad sister. The bad sister marries David Powell, who had been a friend of both. Hero Dave is all business and Trixie, the bad sister, likes life, so we soon find her eloping with willun Crauford Kent. Before teaving, she visits her sister, Louise, who phones Dave to come at once to her address. On his way to the house he is knocked out by two thugs and in the meantime Trixie elopes with Kent. Dave has been stricken blind by the blow and his condition being serious, Louise poses as Trixie and tenderly cares for him, not daring to tell him the truth for fear the shock might prove fatal. Some time later Trixie's flighty romance has come to an end and reading a newspaper account of her husband's accident which states that his "wife" has' been with him constantly, she returns to Louise in a fit of mingled jealousy and rage. When she learns the particulars she realizes Louise's sacrifice and poison's herself. Later, when the bandages are removed from Dave's eyes, he recognizes the deception and when he demands to see Trixie, is told the truth. Realizing what Louise has sacrificed for him he asks her to forgive his harsh actions and we fade out on the two in a pretty garden shot, he being happy with the right girl after all. Up to the point where Trixie comes back and denounces Louise just before poisoning herself, Director Robertson handled the dual role business by the cut-andflash method with very well-handled substitution in the long shots. This was very effective and made you forget the doubles. Then they had to spoil the entire illusion by resorting to a crudely done doube exposure, which Avas unnecessary, showing Miss Brady on the screen in both characters. The mechanics of the double were glaringly apparent and dragged the offering down considerably as a result. This can and should be eliminated because folks will look for it. The idea of Dave being blinded by a blow on the head was inconsistent and the incident could have easily been made plausible by having the thugs throw acid or paprika in his eyes when they rolled him. In an exterior shot established as late at night we were shown several kids playing in the street which was bad detail and we also had some close-ups which didn't match with the long-shots preceding them. Miss Brady gave a truly remarkable performance in two roles which depended entirely upon expression for contrast and Dave Powell made his role effective and convincing all the way. Crauford Kent played with a quiet restraint that made his part real and others who appeared were W. T. Carleton, Isabelle O'Madigan and Richard Allen. Title and Star Should Pull and Production Will Please The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Ir is i" be regretted that they let a few flaws creep into a production that was otherwise exceptionally well handled, but this fact isn't going to keep your folks from considering this a very interesting and thoroughly entertaining offering. The really jarring note was the double exposure ; the other slips may pass with the average audience. These doubled scenes could be eliminated by careful editing and it would certainly be wise for Select to have this done, because whenever an audience sees a dual role picture they crane their necks to pick out the doubled scenes and their estimation of the production slumps if the producer hasn't succeeded in fooling them. Your folks are going to like Miss Brady in this very much and those who recognize merit when they see it will realize that this was a much more difficult dual role than one offering more contrast in dress and makeup and as a result Miss Brady's work will leave a deep impression in this that will build for her future productions. I think this is a very good title, although it isn't brought out in the generally accepted use of the term. For this reason I wouldn't tell them too much of the story. Play up Miss Brady strong. You might ask them: "What would you do if you loved two sisters and had married the wrong one? See 'The Better Half."