Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March 3, 1923 1079 4 'Last Hour" Wins Critical Praise Reviewers Unanimously Commend Burr Offering at New York Cameo Showing CRITICS of the New York dailies were enthusiastic in their praise of " The Last Hour," the Edward Sloman production released by C. C. Burr of Mastodon Films, Inc. The feature, which has an all-star cast headed by Milton Sills and Carmel Myers, closed a very successful engagement at B. S. Moss' Cameo theatre last Saturday. In reviewing the picture, P. G. Gallico of the Daily News said: '"The Last Hour' has a great many things in its favor; it is interesting, it has a new idea, there are pleasant people in the cast and it is well directed. The last of ' The Last Hour ' will keep you on seat's edge. If you like suspense, you'll be surprised. This is a great picture to see for people who know how everything is going to come out. It leaves them so flat in the end." Grena Bennett in the N. Y. American had this to say : " ' The Last Hour ' holds the interest. That the wages of sin is death for some and that for others escape by a hair or a rusty spring was the real backbone of an absorbing play well acted." Hariette Underhill of the N. Y. Tribune wrote : " ' The Last Hour ' at the Cameo is the last word in screen melodramas " ; while Don Allen of the Evening World said: " The feature film offering for the week at the Cameo is ' The Last Hour,' picturized from the story, ' Blind Justice,' by Frank R. Adams. Milton Sills, to our way of thinking, a mighty clean-cut actor, aided and abetted by Carmel Myers, heads a rather good cast and the story lends itself admirably to the screen. An enjoyable film that contains enough suspense to satisfy even the most blase movie goer." The Evening Journal critic sums it up in this way : " Just how Edward Sloman could have packed more action into ' The Last Hour,' a photoplay adapted from Frank R. Adam's story, ' Blind Justice,' is not apparent. He used up all the action that he could lay hands upon and the consequence is a melodrama that should captivate every devotee of the crook picture." The critic of the Evening Sun had this to say : " In ' The Last Hour ' at the Cameo theatre this week, Edward Sloman has handled very competently the screen version of the story, ' Blind Justice,' by Frank R. Adams, originally published in Munsey's Magazine as a serial. It has an exceptional and pulse quickening climax, when everything seems to be solved in almost the last turn of the cog-wheel of the projection machine. The mere fact that Milton Sills and Carmel Myers have the leading roles is proof enough that they are competently handled." Novel Ideas For ' 'Temptation C. B. C. Title Readily Suggests Many Possibilities for Exploitation THAT there are tremendous possibilities in the title alone of "Temptation," third of the C.B.C. Box Office Winners, is being proved by that company in the form of a preliminary teaser exploitation campaign that is being carried out along novel lines. This is the feature which is being produced with a cast including Bryant Washburn, Eva Novak, June Elvidge, Vernon Steele, and Phillips Smalley. This company attracted wide attention and commendation among the territorial holders of the features by reason of the number and variety of novelties and ideas they offered on their feature, "Only a Shopgirl." This policy proved so successful that they are carrying it further in exploiting "Temptation" — to the extent of keeping buyers "pepped up" by shooting them a new teaser idea to work up several times a week, even though the feature itself is still in course of production. This week's ideas took two different forms. The first was a diamond ring (synthetic, of course, but with a genuine sparkle) sent out in a real plush ring box bearing the inscription "This is what starts the trouble in Temptation." This was sent broadcast throughout the country. This was immediately followed up by the sending of a telephone index pad, imprinted "We've got your number — watch out for Temptation." Many novelties are already in course of making, so that when the feature is ready territorial holders will not be held up, but will be ready to launch their campaigns at once. "As soon as you look at the word 'Temptation' ideas suggest themselves to you," says Joe Brandt of C.B.C. "The mental tie-up is immediate and if a title 'hits home' at once and suggests an immediate idea, it is bound to be a success and to have a drawing power." Ballin Preparing Next for Goldwyn Hugo Ballin, who has just finished editing "Vanity Fair," is making preparations to begin work on another big picture, which will be the second of a series he will make for Goldwyn. He had six different ' stories which he wants to do, but he can't make up his mind which to do first. Four of these stories are placed in another period of history and two are modern. However, Ballin is allowing himself to be swayed somewhat by the numerous letters he has received urging him to do something historical. 10EWS VALENTINE HAROLD LLOYD DR. JACK Five Reels Of Laughter Loetc's Valentine theatre, Toledo, prepared this "Dr. Jack" ad from prea» buok material Director Asks For Criticisms Franklin, in Statement, Urges Exhibitors to Express Opinions of "Brass" FOR the first time in the history of his association with the motion picture industry, Sidney Franklin, director of the Warner Brothers classic of the screen, "Brass," a Harry Rapf production adapted from the novel by Charles G. Norris, in a signed statement makes a direct appeal to the exhibitors regarding the merits or demerits of the feature. The statement was prompted following a preview presentation of the production before a large gathering of motion picture enthusiasts at Glendale, California. The feature is said to have met with a warm reception, and it imbued Mr. Franklin with the desire to seek a consensus of opinion from theatre owners throughout the country. His letter reads as follows : "After six months of hard and conscientious work on the part of each member of the staff, including Mr. Harry Rapf, the producer, we have finally completed the production of 'Brass.' I feel, in justice to the Warner Brothers organization, that I write you these few lines. Without hesitancy on my part, I will say that ' Brass ' will be one of the outstanding big pictures of the year. "It is a picture that I feel very proud of, in fact more so than any previous picture that I have had the pleasure of making. I always felt confident that we would have a successful picture, but this one has far surpassed my expectations. I would appreciate a line from the exhibitors after they have seen ' Brass.' I trust that they will pardon these few lines, but I feel that my enthusiasm permits the above frank statement." This latest Warner classic is scheduled for release in March, and it is expected that the Strand theatre, New York, which has contracted for the Warner series, will set an early date for the showing of the production. Prints of the feature are being shipped to the exchanges handling the Warner product. Among the large number of players in the cast are Monte Blue, Marie Prevost, Frank Keenan, Trene Rich, Harry Myers, Miss Du Pont, Pat O'Malley, Helen Ferguson, Vera Lewis, Harvey Clark, Margaret Seddon and Edward Jobson. The story was adapted for the screen by Julien Josephson. Special Editions Out on Fox Features The first copies of the motion picture editions of both "Truxton King," by George Barr McCutcheon, and "The Custard Cup" wilt be received this week by the leading book stores in all the key cities. Grossett & Dunlop, the publishers, arranged with the Fox Film Corporation for the special editions which carry special pages showing scenes from the two named productions and also give credit to the producer on the jackets of the bcoks. They called him woman-shy! Yet he carried off the woman he wanted! Why? JACK LONDON'S FAMOUS OBAMATIC STORY 7/msm MUTE' REGINALD DENNY A HOB ART HENLEV PRODUCTION UNIVERSALJEWEL