Motion Picture Magazine (Feb-Jul 1925)

s» A Guide to 150 Current Pictures Which are now being shown thruout the United States l Alaskan, The Not up to the caliber of story we expect from Tom Meighan. Too convenient and old-fashioned in plot and treatment. Carries wonderful backgrounds, however. {Famous Players) Air Mail, The A timely mtelodrama in that it uses an air-plane as its chief property. Records in thrilling fashion the exploits of a crook determined to rob the overhead mail. Wins redemption, recognition and a wife. {Paramount) As Man Desires Traces the adventures of English army surgeon in East India and the South Seas. Charged with murder, he becomes a pearl fisher and finds romance and tranquillity. Rather complicated but offering a satisfying hour. {First National) As No Man Has Loved An elaborate historical drama of the early days of America founded on E. E. Hale's famous story. The Man Without a Country. Strong patriotism propaganda, well handled and well done. {Fox) — E. V. B. Babbitt Too wordy in its treatment and never develops the story as it was contained in book. Characters somewhat indefinite. Interesting in spots. (Warner Brothers) Barbara Frietchie Presents flashes of conflict of North and South, founded on play of same name. Customary plot reveals Northern hero and Southern girl — with romance sweeping aside the song of hate. Has several dramatic scenes, fair action — and fine acting by Florence Vidor. (InceProducers Distributing Corp.) Beloved Brute, The An exciting melodrama, this — one built around regeneration of fighter who eventually meets his master. Characterization finely developed — and situations carry convincing note. Title-role colorfully played by Victor McLaglen. (Vilagraph) Boomerang, The Not so amusing as the stage version, chiefly because cast lacks light comedians. Well treated and manages to hold up fairly well. All about a doctor who prescribes for "Heart troubles." (Schulberg) Broadway Butterfly, A Sets forth the oft-told tale of the rustic maid who strikes Broadway — and after encountering the inevitable "men about town" teaches them a lesson in deportment and morals. Hackneyed of plot, but quite appetizing. Capable cast here — ■ headed by Dorothy Devore. {Warner Brothers) Capital Punishment Melodrama of the better kind. George Hackathorne and Clara Bow add to their laurels. Gripping and thrilling. (SchulbergPreferred) — E. V.B. Captain Blood Tells in vivid fashion a swashbuckling story of piracy on the high seas during the seventeenth century. Adapted from Sabatini's novel and is saturated with action and color. Highly entertaining. (Vitagraph) Charley's Aunt A side-splitting farce comedy of the old style, with Sydney Chaplin as the aunt. (Producers Distributing Corp.) — E. V. B. Charmer, The Pola Negri, Wallace MacDonald and Robert Frazer in rather a poor story, replete with improbable situations. Well produced but only a fair picture. (Paramount) — E. V. B. Cheaper to Marry Excellent society comedy with Lewis Stone, Conrad Nagel and Marguerite de la Motte. One couple marries and prospers: the other couple defies the conventions and suffers. Brilliant titles and clever direction make this play exceedingly interesting. (Melro-Goldwyn i Christine of the Hungry Heart The eternal triangle of an unhappy woman longing 6 Gi. for love after matrimonial tragedies with two husbands and one lover. Treated in sympathetic fashion, tho it serves nothing new in plot. Florence Vidor brings feeling to the character of the title. Fair enough. (Ince-Firsl National) Chu Chin Chow An alleged drama of foreign origin and setting. It should have stayed there. Betty Blythe is featured but she hasn't much to offer in this. Dont waste your evening on this tiresome picture. (Wilcox) Clean Heart, The A. S. M. Hutchinson's novel makes a most compelling photoplay as treated by J. Stuart Blackton and Percy Marmont. Is exceptionally human and perfectly intelligible. Tells of man conquering his worries. Appealing all the way. Worth your while. (Vitagraph) Code of the West Another from Zane Grey which gets away from the beaten track of Western heroics. Is treated with fine naturalness, there being no high-pressure melodrama used. The timid cow-puncher wins the flapper. (Paramount) Coming Through Tom Meighan appears again in a conventional melodrama — a triumph of courage against heavy obstacles. The star needs the bright human pieces, for there are several luminaries who could put this story over. Obvious and slow — tho convincing _ in atmosphere. A few good moments. (Paramount) Confessions of a Queen Even with Lewis Stone giving one of his inimitable portrayals of a royal ruler, picture doesn't rise to the heights. Certainly not another "Zenda." Best with its humorous side. Too much restraint from Alice Terry. (Melro-Goldwyn) Daddy's Gone a-Hunting — Doesn't convince because of the arbitrary manipulation of the characters. The father, tiring of domesticity, runs off to Paris — and returns without any amours. He comes to his senses after the death of his child. Fails to extract sympathy even with such clever acting as Percy Marmont and .Alice Joyce give it. (Melro-Goldwyn) Dangerous Innocence "Ann's an Idiot" shapes up pretty well in celluloid form. Features a young girl's awakening to the call of romance. She emerges into a woman during a cruise from Liverpool to Bombay, but discovers the man has had a love affair with her mother. Well handled considering the slight material. Pleasant diversion. ( Universal) Dante's Inferno Presents in vivid fashion a sermon on what befalls a worshiper of wealth. Modern story linked up with graphic scenes of the Inferno as Dante and Dore conceived them. A real novelty, pictorially satisfying. (Fox) Declasse The beautiful Corinne Griffith gives breadth, substance and charm to this Ethel Barrymore play. An effective drama which follows the original pretty faithfully. Cumbersome in spots. Neatly mounted. (First National) Denial, The The parental conflict theme, employing a domineering mother who brings tragedy into her daughter's life by compelling her to marry a man she doesn't like. The daughter appear? first as having a child of her own — and is confronted with the identical problem. By the flashback the modern mother appreciates the sin of too much interference. Interesting with its atmosphere, but lacking spontaneity and conviction. (Melro-Goldwyn) Devil's Cargo, The Treats of the California gold-rush days — and treats it in vivid melodramatic style. The central figures are a young editor and a girl who are driven out of Sacramento. They come back in style. Sustained action. (Paramount) Dick Turpin Tom Mix hangs up his chaps and bedecks himself in the raiment of a chivalrous knight of Merrie England. Plays celebrated highwayman in ttf Fairbanks manner. Stirring incident, enjoyabld humor — and romance makes this a likely picture* Check it off and see it. (Fox) Dressmaker from Paris, The If you like fashion shows, very well. Leatrice Joy in a poor part in a poor show. Ernest Torrence in new garb. Mildred Harris and Allan Forrest supporting. (Paramount) — E. V. B. Dynamite Smith Charles Ray returns to type of story that made him popular. Plays again the role of a timid youth who overcomes cowardice when goaded by vengeful brute and under spell of romance. Well done with plenty of physical and mental conflict. Rugged entertainment. (Incc-Pathe) Enticement A frank exposition adapted from an equally frank novel depicting the folly of fanning the love of an old affection after one has become married. Emphasizes the "new freedom." Not for the children. (First National) Excuse Me Rupert Hughes' story and stage success makes i capital light comedy — one which exploits the ad-^ venture of an eloping couple — who when thejj board a train encounter all kinds of trotlUM Plenty of high jinks — and plenty of laughs. Bert Roach as a drunk in an upper berth steals the acting honors. (Melro-Goldwyn) Feet of Clay This is a Cecil B. De Mille production — the story of which is overwhelmed by the backgrounds and appointments. Has a romance and a series of counterplots — and exploits a flapper wife in search of jazz. (Paramount) Female, The Betty Compson in South African surroundings. Unhappily married to a native of the veld, she does not discourage the attentions of an Englishman arriving on the scene, and we have the too familiar triangle situation again, with the Englishman triumphing. Noah Beery, as the Boer, does best acting. Picture only fair. (Paramount) Fifth Avenue Models The Cinderella pattern again — done with first-rats sentiment and heart appeal. Working girl discovers a Prince Charming who saves her from disgrace. The human touches make it fairly convincing. Enjoyable. ( Universal) Find Your Man A deceptively titled melodrama woven around, youth and his dog in a lumber camp: not a Xorthwest Mounted story, but the tale of a dog's loyally to his master thru thick and thin. Rin-Tin-TiM makes an otherwise tedious melodrama interesting by uncanny intelligence. (Warner Brothers) Folly of Vanity Picturizes a fantastic dream of a woman who be-l comes conscience-stricken when pursued by a wealthy bounder. She descends to Neptune's domains and takes us on a colorful cruise. ThH moral poorly brought out. Lavish without much meaning. Has photographic appeal. (Fox) Fool, The Does not score its points except at intervals. Lacks simplicity, the plot being complicated with capitafl versus labor conflict. Fails to generate the bS heart touch. Well-produced and acted with siitl cerity. (Fox) Fools in the Dark Here is a picture which pokes fun at old-fashioned, serious melodrama. The paid kidnappers, the mafl scientist, the oily Hindu, the young adventureseeker, his fiancee — they are all here, amid come^H settings. Matt Moore, Patsy Ruth Miller and Tom Wilson excellent. A good mixture of thrij and comedy. (F. B. 0.) Forbidden Paradise A sophisticated modern romance dealing with m fictional queen whose greatest weakness is men! Pola Negri as the alluring queen is the best she hgj yet been in an American-made film. Well sum J