Motion Picture Magazine (Aug 1928-Jan 1929)

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CWRReNT TIQTUTitJ THE BELLAMY TRIAL A MURDER story, which takes place in the courtroom where SI Leatrice Joy as Sue Ives and Kenneth Thomson as Stephen Bellamy are being tried for the murder of Bellamy's wife. The testimony of the witnesses, done in flash-backs, reveals the events leading up to the crime. This is a distinct novelty for movies, but much of it is shamelessly copied from "The Trial of Mary Dugan." Things are looking bad for Leatrice and Kenneth when a schoolteacher, who says nothing till the last moment just to keep everyone on edge, steps forth with evidence that leads to their acquittal. Then we have the revelation of who really committed the murder, which comes as a complete surprise to everyone who hasn't guessed it in the third or fourth reel. There are so many different couples and romances involved that it's hard to know just whom your interest is supposed to be centered on. Mine wandered to Betty Bronson and Eddie Nugent, who play a couple of reporters at the trial, and supply all the humor and most of the charm. This is novel and interesting and will probably give you some thrills. THREE RING MARRIAGE OTILL another little drama of circus life has for its stars Lloyd O Hughes and Mary Astor. Lloyd comes riding out of the West and takes a job as sharpshooter in a circus, to prove that he's worthy of the girl he left behind him. She gets tired of waiting and joins him in a rough-riding act. Meanwhile a hard-boiled bareback rider in the person of Alice White has come into his life, and Mary's head is being turned by the manager of the show. This is a muddled romance and doesn't gain much glamour from its circus atmosphere, genuine though it may be. The big punch is furnished by the well-known midget, Harry Earles, who hides himself in a suitcase. When the villain has Mary locked in his room and is just about to bite her, in the last reel, Harry steps out of the bag and holds everything until our hero gallops up on his white steed. Unless you have some particular craving for Mary Astor or Lloyd Hughes, I can't think of any reason for seeing this. Except for the acting of the miniature Mr. Earles and the personality of Alice White, it has no more freshness or savor than cold roast beef warmed up. It's considerably less fun than a circus. 62 THE FIRST KISS rHIS is the most romantic picture I've seen for many months. It was taken on the Maryland shore, and has a lovely lazy atmosphere of boats and trees and gently decaying homesteads. Furthermore, it is the best part Gary Cooper has ever had, and he brings to it an unexpected ability. He seems to have a real feeling for the character of the boy who gathers up the last remnants of family pride and forces his shiftless brothers back into respectability. AH because the girl he loves has called him "poor white trash," in a moment of anger. There's something tremendously appealing in this lonely desperate figure, who risks his personal honor and safety to make his family one he can be proud of. Fay Wray is the girl who is the cause of it all, and Lane Chandler and Leslie Fenton are two of the brothers. The third brother and the drunken father are excellent, too. Maybe this is an improbable story, but it's so beautifully done that you'll never notice that. And above all, it's romantic. Or am I just getting fatuous? Anyway, I know you'll like Cary Cooper. And this in spite of whether you have liked him before or not. SHOW PEOPLE 71 yTARION DAVIES gives her impression of how breaking into J-VJL the movies is accomplished. But I imagine very few actors would recognize her experiences as the real thing. Marion is a fluffy belle from Georgia who chugs into Hollywood with her daddy — an old Southern Colonel — prepared to sweep the film people off their feet. Only one story has ever been written about Hollywood, and this is it — the girl who lets fame go to her head, and is brought to her senses only after learning a terrible lesson. All the lessons in Marion's picture are taught by means of slapstick. Almost everyone gets a custard pie in the face before it is over. A lot of good-natured fun is poked at movies and stars, and a lot of good chances are allowed to slip by. Marion is clever and zestful, but I prefer her when she has to spend less time looking like Mae Murray. She does a lightning transformation from Mae to Gloria Swanson that is miraculous. You had better see this. Dozens of stars wander through the scenes. There are glimpses of the inside workings of the studios. And William Haines is the leading man, so what more could you want?