The Film Daily (1918)

Sunday, November 17, 1918 Is Unconvincing, But Jungle Stuff and Action Make It Interesting Elmo Lincoln and Enid Markey in "THE ROMANCE OF TARZAN" National Film Corp. — First National SUPERVISED Isadore Bernstein DIRECTOR Wilfred Lucas AUTHOR Edgar Rice Burroughs SCENARIO BY Wilfred Lucas and Bess Meredyth CAMERAMAN Not credited ART DIRECTOR Martin J. Doner ART TITLES BY Mon Randall EDITED BY C. R. Wallace AS A WHOLE Has good and bad spots but action and jungle atmosphere make it rather interest= ing and should be a moneymaker because of success of its predecessor. STORY Takes up story where original "Tarzan" film left off and brings ape man into civiliza= tion for concluding reels. DIRECTION Most of jungle stuff was very well handled but action was frequently unconvinc= ing in modern sequence with several incidents allowed to happen very obligingly. PHOTOGRAPHY. .. .Generally very pleasing. Some effective night shots and cloud effects. LIGHTINGS Generally very good although too contrasty at times, beautiful toning evened it up nicely. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Lincoln. Excellent type for purposes of story. Miss Markey acceptable; didn't impress particularly. SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; jungle stuff ex= cellent. INTERIORS Generally very good DETAIL A few slips; will get by CHARACTER OF STORY. . . Adventure meller; should hold special appeal for kids on account of animals and action. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6,481 feet THIS should please generally on account of the interesting jungle atmosphere the diversity of locations which figure and the wild meller action and it will undoubtedly prove a big box-office attraction because of the wide circulation of the Tarzan stories and the first Tarzan film which was released last February. This is presented as a sequel to "Tarzan of the Apes" and starts out with a pictorial synopsis of that film, which was very well handled and will make the story and the origin of the "Ape-man" clear to those who did not see the previous production. Tarzan, according to the story, is heir to a title in England which will revert to willun in the event that he is not found alive. After Tarzan has rescued willun from the natives, the searching party take to their boat, willun telling Shero Enid Markey who has fallen in love with the Ape-man, that he had seen Tarzan meet his death. The party returns to England, later coming to America, and we have Trazan very conveniently obtaining passage on a boat that brings him to America, where he and Shero are brought together again. After Tarzan is dressed up in civilized clothes and takes a fling at society, willun succeeds in bringing about the usual misunderstandings, with the aid of a dance hall dame who compromises him, and we have Tarzan returning to the jungles again. Shero learns the truth and follows to him to the island, where they are brought together for the clutch. The offering was very inconsistent in spots and frequently the wild action and convenient happenings will get laughs. One scene in particular, is bound to get a yell out of any gang and detracts considerably from the dramatic punch of the film. After the misunderstood situation in America, a title told us that he was returning to his former haunts and then we opened up on a beach shot which showed him coming away from the ocean with a suit-case. This made it appear as though he had walked the entire distance across the ocean as there was no boat in sight and the camera angle showed him coming straight from the water's edge. Much credit is due Mr. Doner, who is responsible for the technical detail in this. While some of the jungle stuff in the former film was taken in the South, I happen to know that all of the jungle atmosphere in this was constructed "Somewhere in Hollywood" by Mr. Doner and it has certainly been well done. Others in the cast were Cleo Madison, Colin Kenny, Nigel de Brullier, Phil Dunham, Thomas Jefferson, Clyde Benson and John Cook. NOT A WAR DRAMA