The Film Daily (1919)

Sunday, March tA'4A AIL.Y Star Gives Effective Impersonation of Sis Hopkins in Well Produced Film Mabel Normand in "SIS HOPKINS" Goldwyn DIRECTOR Clarence G. Badger ART DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin AUTHOR Rose Melville CAMERAMAN Percy Hilburn AS A WHOLE Mildly entertaining picture, capably produced and acted. STORY Enough like the play on which it is based to satisfy those who have become acquainted with the character of Sis Hopkins through the original medium. DIRECTION .., Gets the right sort of atmosphere for a picture of this stamp. PHOTOGRAPHY Good. LIGHTINGS Some attractive effects. CAMERA WORK First rate. STAR Will be liked in her interpretation of famous comedy character. SUPPORT Thomas Jefferson gives capital portrayal of Pa Hopkins; John Bower? appears to advantage; cast well balanced throughout. EXTERIORS The right thing for a story located in a country village. INTERIORS Up to requirements. DETAIL Contributes considerably to tone of the production. CHARACTER OF STORY Wholesome LENGTH OF PRODUCTION '. . . 4932 feet'. In view of the fact that the humor in "Sis Hopkins" depends largely upon the dialogue, it is much to the credit of Mabel Normand that the film version comes :hrough with an appreciable comedy force. This is not a remarkable picture, nor one that touches exceptional heights of humor, but all in all, it makes satisfactory intertainment. Miss Normand interprets the famous character in the Jroper spirit, using her gifts for comedy expression to :he full. Her make-up is true to the Sis Hopkins tradi;ion and she misses no opportunity to get a laugh through ncidental bits of by-play. Thomas Jefferson deserves special commendation for his altogether sympathetic and inely judged portrayal of Pa Hopkins, whereas John Bowers, in the role of Ridy, the village-store clerk, and Sam De Grasse, as the shrewd financier of the neighborhood, assist materially in a natural presentation of the story. The plot is necessarily secondary to the characterization of the folk in the little village of Harmony, which gives indication of becoming wealthy because of the discovery of valuable oil deposits. Sis and her "Paw" are a bit vague about what an oil gusher is, but on one point the old farmer is definite. Sis must go to school and get an education, even if it means placing a mortgage on the property This decision coincides with an incident that has a far reaching effect on the lives of the girl and her dad. On the way home from the village store, with the devoted Ridy as an escort, Sis spills a can of oil in a pool of water located on their land. De Grasse, who is looking over the property with a view to taking a mortgage, happens to drink from the pool, whereupon he decides that he has struck an oil well. Of course, he keeps the discovery to himself, devising a scheme whereby he may add it to his possessions. Sis is sent to a young women's seminary at De Grasse's expense, a condition which arouses ire in the heart of the jealous Ridy. Then the wiley promoter informs Pa Hopkins that he wants to marry his daughter as soon as she has acquired the reauisite educational finish. They get a good deal of comedv out of scenes at the school, where Sis declines to abide by any of the conventions and is always in hot water with the principal, played by Eugenie Ford. She overhears a conversation exposing the plan of the crafty De Grasse, which is reason enough for her to run away and seek help from her village swain. They, too, taste the water from the oil-flavored po^I aid realize the purpose of De Grasse's interest in Sis. In order to bring about something of a climax in the last reel, there is a race to the office of an attorney in a neighboring ttown where the papeos transferring the property are to be signed, unless the girl and her sweetheart arrive in time to interfere. The upshot of the matter is that Pa Hopkins is paid a big price for his farm before the buyer learns that it contains no oil at all, except that spilled from a can. These concluding scenes are presented in a spirited and entertaining fashion. No Question about Drawing Power If You Exploit it Properly Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor. The drawing power of "Sis Hopkins" is unquestionible. Probably Rose Melville's famous impersonation s known better to the past generation of theater goers :han to the present, but even so, the character has such i definite place among figures in American literature hat the screen interpretation will be welcomed by a rreat number of photoplay fans. This should be an easy film to exploit on account of he fame of the title, also because of the renown of the :tar, whose comedy attainments have been reealed sufficiently in the past to assure a wide interest in *r interpretation of this character. Providing you played Mickey," Miss Normand's most recent success in a broad omedy role, this would be a good film to foliow up with, assuring your patrons that the star is equally fortunate :n her appearance as "Sis." In exploiting the production, use plenty of stills of the star in her fantastic get-up, always bringing in the title of the picture. Refer to the film as an authentic version of Rose Melville's stage work and mention Thomas Jefferson and John Bowers as members of the cast. To attract attention, have some one dressed in a Sis Hopkins costume, with the characteristic pig-tails and carrying a slate, stationed in front of your theater. 1 would also make a special effort to circularize the family trade in your community, for this is a wholesome picture for women and children and should be a particularly strong matinee attraction.