Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1056 Motion Picture News Henry Murdock in a scene from " A Hula Honeymoon," an Educational-Christie comedy. " The Shreik of Araby " Mack Sennett Production — Five Reels (Re viewed by Charles Larkin) ^AN you imagine Ben Turpin as a sheik? ^ The mere announcement that Ben is appearing in the role made famous by Valentino should bring fun lovers to your box office. One thing is sure, most folks will get a lot of laughs out of this burlesque of the son of the desert. Ben is a bill poster. The ballyhoo used by a theatre " goes dead " on the job and is fired. Ben is given the job, because the manager thinks that folks will get so sick of looking at his face that they will just naturally want to get inside to see the show. Then the story unfolds. Ben finds himself aboard ship. He gets in a fight with a " native " fortune teller and is cast into the sea with a canoe and paddle as his only means of conveyance. He finally lands in the Sahara desert on an ostrich nest. This bird gets sore and gives Ben a swift ride over the hot sands. He is captured by a gang of bandits and taken before the powers that be, charged with annoying the royal ostrich. He is about to be decapitated when he is saved by the timely arrival of the Sheik himself. The Sheik is the guy who was fired off the ballyhoo job in America. The Sheik puts Ben on his throne while he goes for a vacation in Bagdad. Then ensues in broad farce the story of the Sheik and his romance with an American girl. Ben, as a lover, is all to the mustard. Of course, there are some beautiful Sennett girls in the cast and also Charles Stevenson who will be remembered for his work as the bully in " Grandma's Boy." The action soon becomes fast and furious and there is a lot of laughs as Sheik Ben dashes to the rescue of his bride. Then he wakes up. A cop is tapping him on the shoulder with his club. Ben has been dreaming. He moves down the street astride a horse with his sheik costume and advertising sign held aloft. Kathryn McQuire is the girl. She is attractive and wears some striking costumes. The picture offers opportunity for some effective music accompaniment. The Cast A Bill Poster Ben Turpin The Girl Kathryn McGuire Presto George Cooper Luke Hassen Charles Stevenson Directed by F. Richard Jones. Allen McNeil, film editor. Photographed by Homer Scott and Bob Walters. The Story — A burlesque on " The Sheik," following the story fairly closely in an amusing manner. Classification — Pure farce comedy with fun as its only purpose. Production Highlights — Ben Turpin as the Sheik. His rides on ostriches, camels and Arabian steeds. His strong arm wooing of the American girl. Exploitation Angles— The title of this one is good for playing up in black face type. The title has been on everyone's tongue for many moons. Advertise it as a burlesque on the Valentino hit. Put a ballyhoo on the street dressed as a sheik carrying suitable advertising. Drawing Power — Good for a program house. " Lights of New York " Fox — Six Reels (Re viewed by Charles Larkin) TP HERE are two distinct stories in this picture, each taking up three reels. The first deals with the adoption of an infant into a pawnbroker's family, the growing up of the boy and his association with companions who lead him into evil ways. The tale ends with the robbery of his father's safe and the shooting of his foster parents — but it's all a dream. Through this dream the youth sees the light and the family troubles end. The next episode takes us into the home of a son of a wealthy family. He is celebrating his bachelor dinner, but there are 13 guests at the table. Being superstitious he decides to invite in the first man who passes in the street. A human derelict comes along, is invited in and persuaded to tell his life story. This tale is then unfolded on the screen. The man tells of the time when he, too, was celebrating his bachelor dinner, in the midst of which he received a note informing him that his sweetheart had eloped with another man. This shock started him plunging in Wall street. He lost a fortune and soon became a bit of driftwood in the human maelstrom of Gotham. His sweetheart prospered. But to give a happy ending, the boys at the club, who were being told of this tale, were informed that the day's papers announced the wedding of the sweetheart of other days and the human derelict. The episode mentioned, a subtitle then explains it having taken place two years previous. You are led to believe that the derelict prospered or started up in some way. It's far-fetched and unconvincing. The production has been staged in the exact locale of the story. There are some fine views of New York, some being shot from an airplane. The photography by George Lane is attractive and very artistic in the night shots. Charles J. Brabin has well directed the material at hand. There is just one thing that should be changed and that is the title. It should be " Shadows of New York." There is no gay life shown. Marc MacDermott and Estelle Taylor appear in the principal roles, but the former does most of the work. Frank Currier is good in the first episode. The rest of the cast is adequate. The Cast (First Episode) Robert Reid Clarence Nordstrom Mrs. Reid Marguerite Seddon Daniel Reid Frank Currier Mary Miggs Florence Short Jim Slade , Charles Gerard (Second Episode) Charles Redding Marc MacDermott Mrs. George Burton Estelle Taylor Directed by Charles J. Brabin. Photographed by George Lane The Story^ — Deals with two episodes of New York life. The first shows the rise of an East Side youth, after a dream has pictured to him the evil of his ways. The second story tells of the downfall of a financier when his bride-to-be jilts him as he is holding his bachelor dinner. He tells his life story at another bachelor dinner to which he is invited from the street, when the host finds there are 13 guests at the table. Classification— Semi-melodramatic story of two chapters from the pages of alleged Gotham life. Production Highlights—The work of Marc MacDermott in the second episode. The excellent photography, especially some of the night shots. The attractive interiors. Exploitation Angles — A sky line of New York built up and painted on beaver board through which lights can shine in windows, etc., might be used as a good background for various store window displays. These articles direct from New York could be slogan for style tieup in such a window setting. The title suggests many stunts. Drawing Power — Good for any downtown program theatre. Scene from the Fox Sunshine two reel comedy, " The Four Flusher." " Gun-Shy " Phil Goldstone — Five Reels ( Reviewed by Laurence Reid) 'T* HIS Franklyn Farnum feature may be catalogued as something different from the general run of offerings which have presented the star. In the tirst place it is treated from a humorous angle and does not bank so heavily upon the conventional western ingredients. One may call it a fair-tomiddlin' picture in so far as entertainment values are concerned. Farnum does not rely upon the customary heroics here. " Gun-Shy " is not a story of action so much as it is a story of the governing processes of the mind. The protagonist is a physical coward. Hence the title. We see a timid character who is afraid of his own shadow. He is an Easterner who bobs up in the deserted town of Los Palos. Since he is mistaken for the U. S. marshal it is up to him to stop the raids of the lawless gang operating in the vicinity. The hero has his work cut out for him, and one may appreciate the predicament in which he finds himself when confronted by the outlaws. The girl, who must be introduced for romantic purposes, inspires him to overcome his cowardice. Suffice to say that he discovers his courage, aids in capturing the outlaws, and carries on the love interest. " Gun-Shy " does not offer much suspense, consequently there isn't a great deal of action. The comedy element, however, is dominant throughout. The making over of a coward has been used several times on the screen, but it hasn't been done so often as to become shopworn. As the central idea of a western it takes the picture away from the conventional, even though the incident is of a familiar brand. The usual exteriors are shown; these are adequate enough. The offering, however, might have been edited in a better manner. There are times when the continuity becomes slightly uneven. The Cast James Brown Franklyn Farnum Betty Benson Florence Gilbeert Pop Benson • Andrew Waldron Buck Brady Robert Kortman The Undertaker George Marion Bill Williams William Dyer Directed by Alvin J. Neitz. The Story — Easterner comes to western town. He is a tenderfoot, mistaken for a U. S. marshal. The young man is extremely timid, so much so, that he is afraid of his own shadow. He falls in love with sheriff's daughter, who returns his affection. She inspires him to overcome his cowardice. The result is he aids the real marshal in capturing the outlaws. Classification — Western melodrama with a comedy twist. Production Highlights — The comedy values which keep this picture from the regulation pattern. The good exteriors. The climax. The competent work of cast. Exploitation Angles — This picture presents a good ballyhoo title which might be exploited in various ways. Also play up that it is different from the usual type of western. Play up theme. Drawing Power — Suitable for second class downtown houses. Also suitable for smalltown houses. An average program offering.