Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

November 24, 1 p 2 3 2479 Pre-release Reviews of Features Bag and Baggage (Finis Fox-Selznick — Six Reels) (Reviewed by Frank Elliott) THE innocent country girl, the son of wealth, the society climber seeking a scion of means for her daughter to save the family from financial embarrassment, the quiet, rural scenes, Broadway and its naughty cabarets, the jewels and the triumph of true love — all found on the beaten path of our screen fare for lo, these many moons, are in expression again. While the picture has several overdrawn situations and the outcome of the plot is obvious soon after the picture gets under way, still there are certain features of the production which should make it acceptable for houses changing programs several times a week. There are some attractive rural exteriors and when the action shifts to New York there are some elaborate cabaret views with a rather peppy battery of corphyees who disport for the amusement of the sophisticated populace. The picture picks up some speed along about the fourth reel when the usual jewel theft is injected and the villain shifts the evidence on the rural belle. New Yorkers of course will object to the idea of a country girl going in to one of the large hotels costumed in her mother's clothes of a generation ago and signing up for the bridal suite — and getting it without question. But the proletariat and the bourgeoise not being so particular in the provinces may swallow it. The cast is fair. Gloria Grey and Carmelita Geraghty, two youthful players, have the principal roles. John Roche is the hero, Adele Farrington the social climber, Arthur Stuart Hull, the hard boiled egg crook and Paul Weigel, the poor musician. The title is taken from the fact that the crook changes bags when he lifts the jewels. It does not seem to be an especially attractive title from a box office viewpoint. However it is original and there are not many new titles left for the sort of story which this feature unfolds. THEME. Romantic comedy drama dealing with the country girl who follows the city chap to the Gay White Way, becomes involved in a jewel theft and is about to be sent to the hoosegow when a bag and its contents saves the maiden. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. The scenes of the roof garden and the ballet numbers. The jewel robbery. The arrest of Hope for the " job." The arrival in the big hotel of the country girl in her colonial garb DIRECTION. Has permitted the characters to do too much posing and the star to use up too much footage in looking sweet in closeups. Has allowed several false situations to creep in. Has used up too much footage in getting the real action under way. EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Play up the dance ensemble scenes in the lavish set atop a New York hotel. The cast is not so well known so play up the title which is new. DRAWING POWER. O. Keh for program houses. SUMMARY. Will satisfy a lot of folks in the smaller theatres just as well as some of the so-called million dollar ones. There is a demand for program pictures. This is one of them. THE CAST Hope Anthony ■■ Gloria Grey Lola Cooper Carmelita Geraghty Hal Tracy Joh,n *oche Philip Anthony -P^1 WelSel Mrs Cooper Adele Farrington Jathrow Billings Arthur Stuart Hull Police Inspector . . . . Fred Kelsey Hotel Detective Ha"y^D^nklTnS°n Cyrus Irwin R D MacLean By Finis Fox and Lois Zellner. Directed by Finis Fox. Scenario by Lois Zellner. Photographed by Hal Mohr. SYNOPSIS. Deals with a poor country lassie who falls inJove with a young millionaire from the city and follows him to New York when he leaves following an embarrassing situation. There she becomes involved in a jewelry theft and is facing a prison sentence when the hero explains all by producing the girl's own bag, which the crook had also stolen to put the police off the trail. Half A Dollar Bill (Max Graf Production — 5860 Feet) (Reviewed by Frank Elliott) THIS is the best picture Max Graf has contributed to the motion picture industry. It is an ideal example of just what a successful picture should be. It has not cost a million dollars, it has not a formidable cast of stars, but it is produced correctly in every detail, the settings are such as one would find in real life and the cast has been chosen with the fitness of the players for the roles to be interpreted in view. The feature has an entertaining story to tell and goes ahead and tells it in a business like manner stands padding, bunk and excess footage. The plot is one of real human interest, the humor is wonderfully blended, the action is of the red-blooded sort and runs smoothly from first to last scene. The continuity is excellent, every situatnon being well defined and the subtitles are good. As for the cast, it is well balanced and talented, with little Frank Darro displaying a precocious talent. William T. Carleton does good work as Captain Duncan McTeague. Raymond Hatton has a hard role. He has to go around with one leg strapped up his back so that he can go around on a wooden leg. Mitchell Lewis and George MacQuarrie have the heavy roles and Anna Q. Nilsson is unusually appealing in the role of The Stranger. Then there are two dogs, Irish and Cameo with assignments of some very important " business " and they act like human beings. The title is a bit novel and comes from the idea that a boy is left on a doorstep. In the cradle is left half of a dollar bill. The mother keeps the other half but tells the finder that some day she will return to claim her own and exhibit her half of the bill as proof that she is the mother. The picture is filled with dramatic situations, there is a stirring fight between three of the men principals and a thrilling climax that is a knockout. We predict unusual success for this picture and recommend it unreservedly to exhibitors seeking something out of the beaten path. THEME. A drama of the bounding deep and seaport town in which an abandoned babe comes into the lives of some rough salt water characters, bringing romance and adventure aplenty. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. The acting of Frank Darro in the title role and William T. Carleton and Anna Q. Nilsson in their respective parts. The almost human " business " contributed by two dogs. DIRECTION. Has built heart pull, a wealth of pathos, lots of atmosphere and many other desirable qualities into a plot that abounds in real action. Keeps the story sweeping swiftly along to a fine climax. EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Have the banks put on Half a Dollar Bill week, permitting persons to open an account with fifty cents. Put on a contest for the best trained pet in town. Put on special parties for orphans. DRAWING POWER. Suitable for the best houses. SUMMARY. A good picture, finely acted and telling a story of absorbing interest. Has a new child actor who is a wonder and some dogs that will be the talk of the town. THE CAST The Stranger Anna Q. Nilsson Captain McTeague William T. Carleton " Noodles " Raymond Hatton Papeete Joe........ Mitchell Lewis Judge Norton Alex Francis Martin Webber George MacQuarrie Half-a-dollar Bill Frank Darro Irish and Cameo By Themselves By Curtis Benton. Adapted and personally supervised by Max Graf. Directed by W. Van Dyke. Scenario by Max Graf SYNOPSIS. Deserted by her husband, a ne'er-do-well, The Stranger is forced to abandon her newborn babe. Two seafaring men find the boy. They name him " Half-a-dollar Bill," because half of a bill is found pinned on him, the mother keeping the other half for identification when she hopes to later claim him. The boy becomes a sailor and is eventually reconciled to his mother.