Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

2288 Motion Picture News Pre-release Reviews of Features " Fools and Riches " Universal — 1904 Feet (Reviewed by Laurence Reid • SINCE this is a program picture and carries a weak, trite and obvious story one must not indict it as impossible. It will have its clientele in certain houses and despite its amateurish character there is doubtless some appeal in it for many picture patrons. But if one takes it seriously one is apt to be much disappointed since it is nothing but so much hokum put together to allow Herbert Rawlinson to walk or jog trot or ride from one scene to another. There are too many closeups given him — and he still acts that awkwardness which has characterized his work the past season or two. The star has a habit of sticking his elbows out which does not make him appear at ease. He gives the impression of striving too hard to please instead of taking things in a natural manner. The story thrusts him into a lively plot concerning a spendthrift son who is cured by his father in a novel way — the only novel note incidentally. He tosses twenty dollar gold pieces aside with careless abandon. His dad picks one up and buries it in the backyard and leaves a will which leaves him half his estate. When the boy's finances run short, he digs up the box, discovers the gold piece and a letter which informs him that the rest of his property had been earned since he has learned to appreciate the value of money. The old man also gives his compliments towards a little gold-digger who is in collusion with an oily villain to rid the youth of his gold. The letter says that probably he has given the pearl necklace to the girl, but it is only a cheap imitation of the original which may be found elsewhere. The plot is burdened with incident concerning the fatal papers — and much evil villainy is abroad before the plot reaches its orthodox conclusion. There is even a fight staged between the hero and the arch-conspirator— and it is presented in a room full of company. Why must directors ever show up men in evening clothes indulging in the fisticuffs of a bar-room? Tully Marshall, who gives the best performance, has a short time in the picture, and Kathryn Perry, as the heroine who plays the ward of the old man, has little opportunity to do anything else but look pretty. The Cast Jimmy Dorgan Herbert Rawlinson Nellie Blye Katherine Perry John Dorgan Tully Marshall Bernice Lorraine Doris Pawn Dick McCann Arthur S. Hull Frasconi Nickolai De Ruiz By Frederick Jackson. Scenario by Charles Kenyon and George C. Hull. Directed by Herbert Blache. The Story — Treats of the spendthrift son of a rich father who earned his fortune through steady application to hard work. The old man dies and leaves a legacy which does not prove to be as large as the son imagined. However, there is a string attached to the estate, for a letter advises him to dig in the soil of the back yard and get the box which contains the gold piece the youth threw away. He digs for it when he becomes broke and discovers that the other half of the fortune is awaiting him. Classification — Character study of youth who learns to appreciate the value of money. Romance and adventure. Production Highlights — The novel twist in the story when the old man hides the gold piece in the ground. The good staging. Exploitation Angles — The title might come in for a teaser campaign. Also emphasize the value of money. Drawing Power — Will possibly please in the cheaper program theatres. A scene from Universal's forthcoming Jewel production of the Russian revolution, "Bavu," being directed by Stuart Paton. " Spawn of the Desert " Arrow — 4500 Feet (Reviewed by Laurence Reid) THIS western is cut to a familiar pattern and is easily anticipated throughout the length of its action, but because it keeps moving at an adequate pace and furnishes a fair amount of suspense — and because the spectator must not demand too much from this type of story, it is certain to prove moderately interesting to the steady patron who must have picture entertainment at all costs. " Spawn of the Desert " tells a tale of a wanderer who comes across a mysterious hermit in the desert. The latter is searching for the man who destroyed his home years before. The plot then guides the hero into the town where he encounters the bad man who presides over its destinies. There he meets and falls in love with the rascal's daughter. This complicates matters since he learns that the villain is the enemy of the hermit. The action becomes rather hectic here and furnishes its suspensive moment when the bad man meets his death at the hands of the hermit. The girl proves to be the daughter of the old man and the young people are made happy. William Fairbanks, who plays the role of the wanderer, acts in his customary vigorous manner and his support is competent enough. The story has been fairly well adapted so that the interest is well sustained. The idea may be familiar, yet it carries sufficient kick to please most of the boys and a few of the girls. The production has been staged right out in the open country, and the atmosphere is a point in its favor. The Cast Duke Steel William Fairbanks "Luck" Sleed Florence Gilbert Silver Sleed Dempsey Tablor Sam Le Saint Al Hart By W. C. Tuttle. Directed by Lewis King. Released by Arrow. The Story — Treats of a wanderer of the desert who makes a friend of a mysterious hermit. Latter is searching for a man who had destroyed his home years before. The wanderer meets the town villain and falls in love with his daughter, then learns that he is an enemy of the hermit. The girl proves to be the real daughter of the old man and her foster father meets his death at the hermit's hands. Classification — Western melodrama. Production Highlights — The good atmosphere. The good action and suspense. The heart interest. Exploitation Angles — Play up author who has established quite a following with his interesting stories. Feature the star who is a good actor of western parts. Tell that the story is the better type of western. Drawing Power — Should prove popular in second and third-class downtown houses and in small-town houses. Good for any program theatre. " The Lonely Road " First National — 5102 Feet (Reviewed by Frank Shelton) IN spite of the fact that this is about the seenth time this plot has been put in screen form, Victor Schertzinger has directed this one into a fairly entertaining feature. It is unfortunate that Miss MacDonald has fallen victim to so many mediocre stories. This vehicle again discusses the subject taken up in "Money, Money, Money," a former film starring the beauty — only here it is from a trifle different angle. "The Lonely Road," takes a lively wallop at husbands who "salt" all the coin for their own use, or use it for the happiness of everyone but their better halves. If you book this one and you should if your patrons like Miss MacDonald, go after the women and tell them that here is one they should insist that their hubby take them to see. A new leading man is introduced here. There seems to have been a demand for new faces on the screen. Why? Well, be that as it may, here we have Orville Caldwell. As a screen player, he overdoes his work. Miss MacDonald is still given tq posings, but puts over a bit of real acting toward the end of the picture. Eugenie Besserer contributes an appealing characterization as a village gossip with a big heart. The production has been adequately mounted. There are moments dramatic now and then. Here we have a story starting out witt a wedding instead of ending with it, although, to tell the truth, there is a wedding at each end. Two of the old folks "get spliced" just before the faedout. The battle between the husband and the physician is well done and there is some real heart appeal in the scenes in which the husband sees his folly in "beating up" the man who has saved his son from being a cripple for life. The interiors throughout are attractive. There are some good Christmas scenes. A fair MacDonald picture. The Cast Betty Austin Katherine MacDonald Warren Wade Orville Caldwell Leila Mead Kathleen Kirkham Martha True Eugenie Besserer Dr. Devereaux William Conklin Uncle Billy James Neill Stewart Bartley Frank Leigh Hiram Wade Charles French By Charles Logue. Scenario by Lois Zellner. Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Photographed by Joseph Brotherton. The Story — Deals with lack of romance in rhe life of a woman for whom her husband never has any time — or money. An accident which threatens to cripple their son for life brings the husband to a realization of his shortcomings and in the end the wife takes charge of the exchequer. The son is cured by a noted specialist and all ends happily. Classification — Some more of the eternal triangle material with a sermon for tight-wad husbands thrown in for good measure. Production Highlights — The battle between '.he husband and the doctor when the former, jealous, rushes into the latter's home and finds his wife in the doctor's arms. The accident in which the child is injured. Exploitation Angles — The title. The star. The usual style window display tieup on Miss MacDonald's gowns. Plaster signs with the title along the roads leading into town with the name of your theatre underneath. Get the women of prominence in your city to start a newspaper discussion on the advisability of eliminating the "gimme" part of a wife's career and then invite some of the ladies' clubs to the theatre for a private screening. Drawing Power — Alight go for a last half of the week run in the downtown houses.