The Film Daily (1918)

Sunday, November 17, 1918 M3H DAILY 29 Familiar Theme Has Been Given Very Well Handled Production Catherine Calvert in "OUT OF THE NIGHT" Keeney Productions — Sherry Service DIRECTOR James Kirkwood AUTHOR E. Lloyd Sheldon SCENARIO BY Bennet Musson CAMERAMAN Lawrence Williams TECHNICAL DIRECTOR James Unader AS A WHOLE Interesting and well=played "woman=with=a=past" meller carries nicely until final sequence which slows it down at finish. STORY Has ancient basic idea but little touches, pleasing players and intelligent handling make it register. DIRECTION Kept characterizations human and made dramatic moments register with many good little touches registered throughout. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine LIGHTINGS Many effective bits; generally ar= tistic except some scenes too contrasty. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Very appealing and beautiful in this and carried emotional scenes nicely. SUPPORT Very good; all fitted roles and played convincingly. EXTERIORS Well selected and fitted atmosphere. Many beautiful shots and street set well handled. INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Many good touches CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,500 feet THIS is an old theme but I don't remember of ever having seen it as well handled as we get it here and the pleasing little touches throughout, the treatment of the individual incidents and the general classy atmosphere all through the offering have made it register as an unusually good production of its type. It is unnecessarily long, which tends to lessen the suspense and cause this to drag at the finish somewhat but that fact isn't going to keep this from getting over satisfactorily as entertainment. The story centers around the ruined "gel" who is given a chance to become a "loidy" by being broughl into the home of a wealthy man as a governess. She Carls in love with the young son, who has just arrived from the West, with the result that when the father sees the attachment between the two he considers it his duty to warn the son about the girl's past and prevent the marriage. It happens that Hero has previously met Shero in the tenement district and rescued her from the advances of a couple of thugs, however, and had loved her in spite of her past, so that when the father brings in the gang from the rescue mission to show him why he shouldn't marry Shero, he declares that he fully intends to do so and we fade out on the two planning to go out west where Shero's past can be buried forever. We had some very well handled scenes in an artist's studio, where Shero was posing for a painting, one particularly good touch being where they brought in a choir boy who played on the organ and sang in order to get the desired expression from Shero for the painting. I also want to thank Director Kirkwood for having the courage to show Harry Myers as the artist without having him wear a smock. The death scene of Shero's sister was about as well handled as anything I have seen recently and Miss Calvert's emotional work in this and the artist studio scenes was very fine and will win considerable appeal. We had some delightful human touches throughout the offering, the scenes with the Collie dog being especially good and the handling of the scene where they planted the note under the door where it was later pushed under the rug was certainly well done. The weakest part of the offering was the dragged out ending. We had a logical place for the ending about a reel before we really got it and this extra footage merely served to drag this out into six-reel length, since you knew how this was going to end from that time on. Herb Rawlinson, as the Hero, was decidedly pleasing and Harry Myers did capable work as the artist and made the role convincing. The cast was well balanced throughout. Others who appeared were: Frederick Esmeltoh, Emmett King, Ida Darling, Bessie Stinson, Eldean Stewart, Harry Lee, Dan Malloy, Barney Gilmore. William Jerald and Thomas Brooke. John Davidson CHARACTER JUVENILE LEADS Just completed engagement on speaking stage in the success "PENROD" Recent Screen Productions THE GROUCH with Montague Love. THE SPURS OF SYBIL with Alice Brady. THE WINNING OF BEATRICE with May Allison. THE BRAND OF COWARDICE with Lionel Barrymore. Ask "Wid" — He has said many nice things about my work. Address: 4 West 108th St., N. Y. C. Phone, Acad. 2552