Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

February i o , 1923 703 Pre-release Reviews of Features " Look Your Best " Goldwyn — Six Reels (Reviewed by Charles Larkin) TO EAT, to grow fat, to spoil one's career. To starve, to keep thin, to become a great artiste. That is the choice given Perla Quaranta, a little Italian girl portrayed by Colleen Moore, who is one day noticed dancing in the streets by Carlo Bruni, manager of a smafl theatrical troupe, and who is given the place of the chorus lady who has fallen to the temptation of too many sweets, with the result that the perfect 36 has developed into an imperfect 40 or so. Perla is a success in the act but as she goes from town to town, accepting invitations from Krug, a stage hand, to dine, she also begins to take on weight. Krug, maddened at her coldness, when he makes advances, weakens the wire that holds Perla aloft in a butterfly stunt and she falls to the stage. Krug thought he could tell the folks Perla's avoirdupois was to blame. Bruni, however, knocks Krug for a goal and gets thirty days for his gallantry. However, thirty days pass soon in some jails, and Bruni is soon out and starting a new ballet with Perla. And so it goes. It isn't much of a picture and there is a fight between Perla's mother and father which takes up much footage and could be eliminated much to the improvement of the story. In fact, the dropping of these two characters throughout would not be missed in the least. To see a boisterous hurdy gurdy grinder jump from jail into a theatre box in a dress suit is not being done these days. There is a very artistic ballet scene toward the end of this picture. This is not the best thing Rupert Hughes has written and adapted for the screen. Neither is it his best directed picture. Of course, one can't expect any company to continue releasing masterpieces all the time. We can't have a " Christian " every day. There have got to be some program pictures once in a while. This is one. It will serve its purpose and is suitable for second-class downtown houses, and there may be many who may find much humor in its fat and thin theme — especially those who are fighting either evil. The Cast Perla Quaranta Colleen Moore Carlo Bruni Antonio Moreno Pietro William Orlamond Nella Orpha Alba Krug Earl Metcalfe Mrs. Blitz Martha Mattox Alberto Cabotto Francis McDonald By Rupert Hughes. Directed by Rupert Hughes. Scenario by Rupert Hughes. Photographed by Norbert Brodin. The Story — Deals with the horror in which some folks hold plain good old fat. A chorus girl having attained this terrible state, is fired and Perla, a daughter of Little Italy, is given her place in Bruni's " Butterfly Act." Perla made good and went on the road with the show. She also went out to dine with one Krug and began to put on flesh. Krug, a disappointed suitor, filed one of the wires which held Perla aloft in the butterfly stuff. During the act she crashed to the stage. Bruni beats up Krug and gets 30 days. Emerging from jail he starts a new ballet, engages Perla and the two rise to , fame. Classification— One of Rupert Hughes' problem plays — the problem of keeping thin. Production Highlights — Colleen Moore's ( characterization of the role of the little Italian .girl. The crashing of Perla to the stage floor ►as a result of the villain weakening the wire which holds her. I Exploitation Angles— The title. The eat and [grow thin or fat as you will theme offers a chance to tie up with the health department, [Y. W. C. A. women's walking clubs, etc Louise Fazenda in a scene from " Pest of the Storm Country." An Edilcational-Mermaid comedy. " The Man Who Waited " Playgoers — Five Reels (Reviewed by Eugene Carlton) NO, YOU'RE wrong; it's not a love story, but a Western. There is a love story involved in the plot, as directors apparently have come to the unanimous conclusion that no Western is complete without a minor love plot. " The Man Who Waited " is one of those stereotyped productions to which no rural or neighborhood audience would object; yet, aside from a few new twists in detail, there, visually, is nothing in the picture that cannot be found along the well beaten paths of Western plots. For some unknown reason a story which opens with the son of a murdered man roaming the wilds in an effort to avenge his father always gains a fair hold on the interest of the average neighborhood audience, and this fact has not been overlooked by Edward I. Luddy, who wrote the story and directed the production. Of course, the girl with whom the revenge-seeking son falls in love is the daughter of his father's slayer. To be otherwise would not be Western. Then, just to prove that she is a good fellow and possesses none of the traits of her father, the girl files a location claim to a gold bearing lode, discovered by her lover, and saves it from the grasp of plotters. In physical thrills, good exterior shots of mountain ranges and swift action there is enough merit to classify the picture as a good Western. The lighting is good, while the continuity is unwavering. The Cast Frank Magee Frank Braidwood June Ranee Inez MacDonald June as a baby Vonda Phelps Joe Ranee Jay Morley Sandy ...Dan Maines Black Pete Jack Pierce Manuel Sanchez Joe Bonner Mad re Sanchez Milly Davenport By Edward I. Luddy. Directed by Edward I. Luddy. Produced by Playgoers Pictures The Story — A son is seeking the slayer of his father, the slayer having blown up a mine. He discovers slayer, fighting with father's former partner, but slayer escapes. Son and father's former partner discover gold-bearing lode. Son falls in love with daughter of father's slayer, the daughter being foster daughter of people who also plotted blowing up of mine. Foster parents of girl discover location of gold-bearing lode of the son and seek to file location claim ahead of him, but the daughter beats them to it and saves the day for the son by filing a location claim. Classification — Western melodrama involving a love story. Production Highlights — Scene of Magee's ride down mountain slope to file claim and the rider's fall and scene when mine is blown up. Exploitation — Daring ability of Frank Braidwood as a rider and data on mine explosion should be played up. Drawing Power — Suitable for rural, neighborhood or smaller downtown houses. " A Million in Jewels " Brush-American Releasing— Five Reels (Reviewed by Laurence ReidJ RESEMBLING a serial in the adventurous action and an old-time melodrama concerning its theme, " A Million in Jewels " is the type of picture which has maae the program house popular. J. P. McGowan, who wrote, directed and played the leading role of this effort, has not struck off anything new. He merely gives the audiences who will see this picture what they want — which is plenty of fast-moving incident — a little suspense, here and there, a few physical thrills, tnough not as many as one might expect with Helen Holmes in the cast, and a first-rate production which offers some good background against Morro Castle and riavana harDor. The idea is the ancient and honorable battle of revenue officers and jewel smugglers. And to lend a romantic flavor and pep it up the ringleader of the crooks is played by the dashing Helen. The picture starts off showing the agent in the New York Custom House releasing a pair of hirelings in the employ of the smugglers. He knows that they will hasten to their employers. The next shot is in Havana waters, with the action presenting some mysterious goings on between the smugglers, signal waving, and what not. The hero allows himself to be imprisoned so as to throw the crooks off the track and bobs up on deck of a steamer where the villains are carrying on. The punch of the plot involves an innocent girl whose candy secretes the jewels. The " revenuer " discovers the trick, but is frustrated. After being tossed into the sea and making his way to his superiors, he is suspended. The box of candy is brought through O. K. But the villainess exchanges it for a box of real chocolates. The hero pets on the job again, steals the jewels, explains his actions to the innocent girl who loves him and captures the crooks. After which he learns that the fair smuggler has loved him all the while though she gives up her life to save him. The scenes are filled with first rate incident and manage to hold the attention even though one is familiar with the plot and how it will terminate. Perhaps some will notice that Elinor Faire hesitates in her scenes toward the climax as if waiting for the director to offer suggestions. She halts three or four times in making her escape. Fair entertainment. The Cast Helen Morgan Helen Holmes Burke J. p. McGowan Sylvia Ellis Elinor Faire Jane Angle Nellie Parker Spaulding George Beresford Charles Craig William Abbott Leslie J. Casey Morgan Herbert Pattee Written and directed by J. P. -McGowan. Produced by Brush. Released by American Releasing. 7 he Story — Burke, a revenue agent, is determined to capture the crafty smugglers of the crown jewels, who operate under Morgan, the " brains " behind the gang, although Helen Morgan is assigned to the task of outwitting the government. Burke has knowledge that the smugglers will enter through a southern port from Havana. After several difficulties in which he is frustrated time and again and suspended from the service he is successful. Classification — Melodrama concerned with conflict between revenue forces and a band of smugglers, tinctured with romance. Production Highlights — The good detail. The excellent staging. Exploitation Angles — Title suggests a teaser campaign. Might co-operate with local editor to feature stories of smuggled jewels, etc. Play up McGowan and Helen Holmes. Drawing Pozver — Best suited for second class downtown houses.