The Film Daily (1918)

Sunday, November 17, 1918 l^ijA DAILY 11 Pictorial Diary Doesn't Garry Like Dramatic Plot But Should Satisfy Private Harold Peat (Himself) in "PRIVATE PEAT" Paramount=Artcraft Special DIRECTOR Edward Jose AUTHOR Private Harold Peat SCENARIO BY Charles Whittaker CAMERAMAN Hal Young AS A WHOLE. . .Interesting in spots and contains good spectacular battle stuff and punchy patri= otic titles. Is not big but should carry. STORY. . .Pictorial diary of author; contains no plot or romantic thread but has interesting moments. DIRECTION. . . .Made no attempt for artistry or effects except in night battle stuff which was very effective, although held too long. PHOTOGRAPHY Night shots very good but balance of scenes had muddy, off=focus effect which marred offering. LIGHTINGS Very effective night=battle stuff, but balance of offering too uniform and frequently harsh on faces. CAMERA WORK Varied; generally satisfactory STAR Sincere soldier that looked the part SUPPORT. . . .Miss Fouche pleasing, although has very little to do; Sorelle satisfactory; others figured as atmosphere only. EXTERIORS Battle stuff very effective; French atmosphere good; generally satisfactory. INTERIORS Acceptable. Church set good DETAIL A few slips; newspaper inserts careless CHARACTER OF STORY. . .Carries the proper patriotic spirit. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,827 feet JF folks come in on this expecting too much and make comparisons with other films of a similar nature which they have seen I am afraid they aren't going to be very "enthusiastive" about it. To begin with, this hasn't any semblance of a plot, in the accepted sense, being a pictorial diary of the author, beginning with his enlistment, going through his two years' experience at the front and ending where he did — in a hospital, from which he was later invalided home. One cannot help contrast this with the Emerson-Loos film, "Come On In," since it starts out in much the same manner, with the hero framing a scheme to pass the examining board where he was previously rejected, later showing us the various stages of training in the cantonments and finally the transporting of the troops to France. The Emerson-Loos film, however, had a plot and a persistent comedy element which this lacked and brought in a kick at the finish, where this offering slows up and leaves a rather unfinished and negative impression except for the cut-in flashes of the Statue of Liberty, President Wilson and a regiment receiving honors in France with the American flag for the fade-out. More comedy touches would have lifted this considerably. We had a few good comedy bits and the titles were generally very effective and carried a sincere, patriotic message but considering the fact that this was a series of incidents and had no real plot, more comedy was essential to make it hold interest and carry it along in absence of dramatic situations that lead to a definite climax. Except for the spectacular night battle stuff, which was very effective, although it was held on for considerably more footage than was necessary, much of this impressed as news-weekly material, although I have no doubt but what most of it was especially taken for this production. Aside from the night battle scenes previously mentioned, the photography all through this had a muddy, off-focus effect which marred the general effectiveness of the offering considerably. Unless I am very much mistaken, the Huns started wearing their "coal-scuttle" helmets before America entered the war and if such is the case, the showing of spiked helmets in all the battle scenes in this was all wrong. Slips in military detail don't get by the wellposted public these days. This was sincere all the way, which is the one strong point in its favor, but when you consider the fact that the public has been fed up on war films and that this really contains little that hasn't been done before — and recently, I don't figure that the final impression after seeing this is going to be lasting or create a bigger impression than similar material we have had, and are still getting, in news weeklies and other war films. AMERICAN FILM CO., Inc., Presents MARGARITA FISHER in THE MANTLE OF CHARITY By STEPHEN FOX Directed By EDWARD SLOMAN A whimsical comedy-drama breathing the spirit of youth and romance. Depicting the quaint method taken by a hoydenish society girl to reform a reformer. Theatres playing the Fisher subjects are always enjoying capacity business. Keep YOUR receipts above normal by showing all the Fisher American "Flying A" Pictures. Produced By AMERICAN FILM CO., Inc. Distributed By PATHE