Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

November 2 8 . 19 25 2569 Stage Struck An Allan Dwan Production — Paramount — Seven Reels (Reviewed by Frank Elliott) GLORIA SWANSON is back in her element in this newest starring vehicle. Here she has the fun making' opportunities that made such box office hits of "Manhandled," and "The Humming Bird." Miss Swanson is seen in the role of a stage struck waitress in a cheap beanery who is in love with the head wheat cake artist in the hashery and who, when threatened with losing his love to the queen of the river boat, takes up a correspondence course in acting. After a series of hilarious sequences, many of which are filled with heart appeal as well as fun, she wins out. The opening scenes, showing in natural color, the heroine's dream of becoming another Sarah Bernhardt are quite the most elaborate as well as costly of the season. Then follows a sequence of highly amusing situations showing Gloria as the waitress and Lawrence Gray as the cake juggler in action at the busy noon hour. Gloria's efforts to imitate the clothes of the river boat queen will not soon be forgotten, nor will the fistic battle between the star and Gertrude Astor at the close. THEME. A comedy drama in which a brave little stage struck waitress makes real sacrifices to keep the love of her hero who is infatuated with a real actress ; winning out in the end. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. The technicolor sequence showing Gloria's dream of triumphs on the stage. The scenes in the restaurant. Gloria's imitating of the actress' makeup and costumes. The scenes on the river boat and the bout between the two girls, EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Play up the name of Gloria Swanson. Hold a Stage Struck Night offering prizes for the best amateurs. DRAWING POWER. Should fill the best houses in the country. The kind of picture everyone will like to see. SUMMARY. Paramount has struck just what the Swanson fans want in this picture, which is ioo per cent, entertainment. THE CAST Jenny Hagen Gloria Swanson Orme Lawrence Gray Waldo Buck Ford Sterling Lillian Lyons Gertrude Astor By Frank R. Adams. Screen Play by Forrest Halsey. Adapted by Svlvia La Varre. Directed by Allan Dwan. SYNOPSIS. Jenny Hagen, a stage struck waitress in a hashery, is in love with Orme, the chief wheat cake tosser. Orme's weakness is actresses. When the Water Queen, a boat theatre comes to town, Orme meets Lillian Lyons and falls for her, Jenny in an effort to keep Orme's interest in herself takes a correspondence course in acting and imitates the ways and costumes of Lillian. Buck, manager of the boat gives Jenny her "big chance" to go on the stage. He bills her as "The Masked Marvel." The fistic bout staged disgusts Orme. Jenny in despair at failing to keep her Orme leaps into the river. Orme rescues her and all ends well. Stage Struck (Paramount) PRESS NOTICE GLORIA SWANSON in her greatest picture to date, "Stage Struck," comes to the Theatre, commencing . Here again we have the rich comedy elements that helped so much to put over such pictures as "The Humming Bird," and "Manhandled," two of Miss Swanson's greatest shadow stage successes. Gloria appears as a stage struck waitress who in order to hold the love of a cook in a "beanery," takes a correspondence course in acting and imitates the ways and manners of the heroine of the river boat plays. There are some great fun moments in the opening scenes. CATCH LINES Glorious Gloria as a stage struck waitress in a quick lunch emporium, who makes herculean sacrifices to hold the love of her wheat cake throwing hero, rises to new heights of heart appeal and comedy advevement. Gloria Swanson, starred in "Stage Struck," a Paramount picture. The Wyoming Wildcat (F. B. O.— 5156 Feet) (Reviewed by George T. Pardy ) THIS is a regulation Western, with not much variety to its plot, but running at high speed all the way and registering as an excellent vehicle to exploit the athletic abilities of F. B. O.'s new star, Tom Tyler. The latter won the national weightlifting championship for 1925, a fact which may explain the ease with which he performs certain feats of strength in the picture, which the average man would be utterly incapable of duplicating. Tyler's horsemanship is also very much above par, as instanced in one highly sensational incident where he and his steed take a header off a high cliff into a swirling Avhirlpool and rescue the heroine from a watery grave. This is but one of many thrills that keep the audience gasping, and the director has wisely woven a bright thread of comedy into the plot which lightens the melodramatie stunts nicely. The romance is well developed and a satisfactory climax reached. Taken on the whole, "The Wyoming Wildcat" should prove a reliable program attraction. THEME. Western melo with comedy relief. Cowboy hero defeats attempts of conspirators to deprive girl ranchowner of her property, saves lady from kidnappers and weds her. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. Clever horsemanship feats and strength stunts performed by star. Fast action, melodramatic punches. Sensational rescue of heroine. EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Bill Tyler as heavyweight lifting champion. Stress his strength and riding stunts, the romantic interest and comedy bits. DRAWING POWER. A good card for any house where Westerns are in demand. Tyler, a new one, but they'll want to see him again. DRAWING POWER. Story not much out of ordinary, but picture more than holds its own as exciting Western melodrama and gets the laughs with timely comedy shots. Lists as satisfactory program attraction. THE CAST Phil Stone Tom Tyler Blendy Betts Billy Bennett Jeff Kopp G. Clayton Rudy Kopp E. Laidlaw Isabel Hastings Virginia Southern Dan Slade Al Hueston Cyclops Tom Delmar Author Not Credited. Director, Robert De Lacey. SYNOPSIS. Phil Stone, cowboy, gets work as foreman on a ranch owned by Isabel Hastings, and falls in love with his fair boss. Jeff Kopp, neighboring rancher, schemes to marry his son Rudy to Isabel, but she rejects the offer. The Kopps then hire a notorious bad man, Cyclops, to kidnap Isabel. Phil pursues and comes up with the bandit just as he hurls the girl over a cliff. Phil leaps his horse into space and a raging whirlpool and rescues her. Cyclops and the Kopps receive their just deserts and Phil and Isabel are wed. "TheWyoming Wildcat (F. B. O.) PRESS NOTICE /TAHERE are more sensational thrills and breathless suspense contained in "The Wyoming Wildcat" than are found in the average lengthy serial. This crackerjack Western is listed as the main sceen attraction at the Theatre on . It is the second picture in which the new Western star, Tom Tyler, national heavyweight lifting champion, demonstrates his amazing strength and agility as a fearless horseman. In the role of a dashing cowboy he defends a lonely girl ranch-owner from conspirators who try to seize her person and property, fights like a demon, makes love like a Valentino and wins all along the line. CATCH LINES Watch for Tom Tyler's death-defying stunt when he leaps his horse over a towering precipice into a whirlpool. This Tom Tyler, star of "The Wyoming Wild is but one thrill in a film packed with Cat," an F. B. O. release. sensational action and romance.