Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

2486 Motion Picture N e zv s Newspaper Opinions on New Pictures "The Light That Failed"— Paramount. Grauman's Metropolitan, Los Angeles Examiner: " Notably present are (1) sincerity, (2) forthright story telling, (3) utterly convincing drama. . . . Percy Marmont engraves well the coin of this role and gives it the ring of pure metal. " Jacqueline Logan has never been given as much genuine acting to do. David Torrence identifies himself perfectly with the character of Torpenhow, which is another way of saying that you'll love him." Express : " Of all the celluloid evocations, Percy Marmont's is the most startlingly real. When he delicately taps the back of a chair with the tips of his fingers one realizes the acutely sensitive touch of the blind man. As for his anguish of soul when he sees the daylight slowly fading, only one who has been through or near the brink of such a catastrophe can fully appreciate the exquisite veracity of his presentment." "Why Worry?"— Pathe. Grauman's Million Dollar. Los Angeles Daily News : " Don't pass this Lloyd picture if you want real entertainment. Employing the aid of a giant, Harold Lloyd is leading the patrons of Grauman's Million Dollar theatre this week in one continuous round of laughter. Harold, as always, is clever. He hardly needs recommendation. In ' Why Worry' he is a bit unlike his usual self and it is a relief. His work is fast and interesting. He holds you fascinated all the way through." Examiner: "'Why Worry-' has thrills to be sure ; but the thrills are incidental to the comedy. And what fast comedy it is! Harold is at his best." Evening Express: "If there seems to be a slight tremor of the walls of the Edison Electric building at Third and Broadway as you pass that way this week and a more or less distinct undertone as of an approaching storm you may put it down to the presence of Harold Lloyd and an irrepressible uprising of the peons of Paradiso somewhere in a mythical corner of Mexico at Grauman's Third Street theatre. ' Why Worry' the foolishment is called. Nobody does. Everyone laughs immoderately instead." "The Virginian" — Preferred. Broadway-Strand, Detroit Detroit Times: " 'The Virginian' as a story, plus Kenneth Harlan in the title role, plus a director who was not too egotistical to let Nature play her part, plus a supporting cast that would be hard to beat is a beautiful example of the beautiful art a motion picture can be made to represent. Burton Holmes in all his travels around the globe never ' shot ' the grandeur of Nature's gardens with a more discriminating eye than has Tom Forman in ' shooting ' exteriors for ' The Virginian.' " Detroit Journal : " Harlan's representation of this famous cowboy is everything that could be desired. There is an easy swagger and manner of the native westerner about him that makes the role convincing. The story of ' The Virginian ' is just that thrilling type of material made to order for the movies." Detroit Free Press : " One of the finest westerns the screen has ever given us. In his new role Harlan is splendidly satisfying, looking the part perfectly and riding his wild pony with all the ease and grace of a veteran. A picture that will delight through its splendid interpretation and its artistic photoggraphy." " The Acquittal " — Universal — Chicago Theatre Chicago Herald and Examiner : " What a perfect picture — of its type — is 'The Acquittal.' It is better than any of the stage mystery dramas, with a story as tight as the proverbial Scotchman." Evening American : " Writing of ' The Acquittal ' is fraught with danger, inasmuch as you may think no mystery photoplay could be as good as this production must be pronounced." " Norman Kerry, Claire Windsor and Richard Travers in the principal parts are a delight. Other members of the cast are capital. And Director Brown knows courtrooms — and people. " From first to last there is no let up in the interest. ' The Acquittal ' will please you immensely. ' " Scaramouche " — Metro — Tivoli, Toronto Daily Star : " Many of those who saw it pronounced it as the greatest screen drama they had ever witnessed. And among other things the Tivoli theatre management is being besieged by enthusiastic patrons who want to know if they will be able to keep up the high standard set by ' Scaramouche.' " Mail and Empire : " Ingram now stands head and shoulders above his rivals as the best of the American movie producers. An intensely dramatic and exciting silent drama. There are plenty of thrills. ' Scaramouche ' is easily the best of the costume pictures that has been shown here." Globe : " The Tivoli announces that it has a mission and an obligation to present only the best productions in the cinema art, and the thrilling ' Scaramouche ' well exemplifies that policy." " Pioneer Trails " — Vitagraph — London W. G. Faulkner's Film Reports : " One of the outstanding films of the year." Kinematograph Weekly : " There are many more thrilling incidents in this film than can be described. Uniformly excellent." The Bioscope : " Swift action and strong melodramatic situations." The Cinema : " A production of outstanding merit, technically sound, splendidly staged and abounding with interest to the last foot. An Indian attack and mas sacre are wonderfully well done." Morning Post : " The photography of one thrilling incident, a runaway coach and six on a winding mountain road is an extraordinary effective piece of work." The Film Renter & Moving Picture News : " This picture is undoubtedly good entertainment." "Strangers of the Night "—Metro— Warfield, San Francisco Chronicle : " Fred Niblo has made a dandy picture out of ' Captain Applejack,' the Walter Hackett international stage success which is now known as ' Strangers of the Night.' It has great crowds laughing and applauding constantly." Daily News: "There is as much fun in seeing ' Strangers of the Night' at the Warfield as in hearing it on the stage when it was known as ' Captain Applejack.' It's a comedy way above the average . . . quite hilarious." Examiner : " Action so brisk, so exciting, and so realistic that audiences are irresistibly and involuntarily moved to applause — that is the type of entertainment provided by Fred Niblo's rollicking farcecomedy, 'Strangers of the Night.' " " David Copperfield " — Associated Exhibitors — Cameo, N. Y. Times : " On Forty-second street, just off Broadway, there's a place this week where one can wander in and forget the modern comforts of steam-heated radiators and the whisk of electric fans, the dazzling light signs and the traffic regulations of the vehicle-filled roadways. It is a film which brings this solace, this peace of mind, contentment and a wondering about the past. Just walk into the Cameo theatre and see ' David Copperfield.' " Evening Mail : " There came to the Cameo theatre yesterday a motion picture so simple and dramatic in its presentation, so perfect in characterization, and so beautifully pictorial that we do not hesitate to recommend it to those who scoff at the films and to screen patrons." Sun and Globe : " The film, to our way of thinking, captures the spirit, the atmosphere and the age of the story quite excellently. And those three qualities are peculiarly elusive. Buddy Martin, as David, the child, proves extremely wistful, and displays an intensity which is easily the best part of the photoplay. In our opinion this is a classic rendition of one of our favorite stories." Daily News : " They've got a dandy ' David Copperfield ' up at the Cameo this week. There's no need to say that the story is one to be enjoyed by youth and age alike, inasmuch as it follows closely Charles Dickens' widely loved novel." Evening Journal : " Quietly, with little advance notice, a picture was exhibited at the Cameo theatre yesterday that oUght to make every movie fan caper with joy. It is ' David Copperfield.' It is a revelation to find a group of players performing with such a uniformly high calibre of ability." New York American : " Dickens' immortal 'David Copperfield' opened yesterday with a splendidly chosen cast, beautiful settings, capable actors and understanding direction." World : " The producers have selected capable players. Particularly was Micawber like an old friend suddenly come to life. It is a simple, tasteful and faithful photograph of the author's intention." Studio and Player Brevities (Continued from page 2475) ture, has been changed to " Shadows of Paris." Jesse L. Lasky is now in New York on business. Friends of Wm. V. Mong, featured screen player, presented him with a handsome watch at a dinner party preceeding the Los Angeles premier of " In the Palace of the King," in which Mong plays the role of Perez. Inscribed on the watch is " We have all enjoyed the first one hundred, may there be many more." Mr. Mong is finishing the part of Pedro in the production titled "Thy Name Is Woman," his hundred and first production. At the Christie plant they have been busy for the past few days interviewing directors in view of adding additional comedy producing units. Bobbie Vernon has just completed a two reeler, and Dorothy De Vore has finished " Kidding Katie," also of two reel length ; while " Call the W agon " has been completed with Neal Burns as the principal player. Thomas Meighan has purchased a home in Great Neck, L. I. He expects to move into his new home, which is situated in the Grenwold park section, facing the Sound, in April. Nita Naldi has returned to New York after having been in Holly•wood since last July. Miss Naldi has just finished a featured role in Cecil B. DeMille's mammoth Paramount production, " The Ten Commandments," and another role in " Holiday Love," William de Mille's latest production for Paramount. Thomas Meighan's company and staff, consisting of fifty-nine members, left Monday for Georgetown, S. C, where exteriors for the Paramount picture, " Pied Piper Malone," will be filmed. Owing to the death of Mr. Meighan's father, John Meighan, in Pittsburgh Monday, the star was not expected to join the company in the South until late in the week. The principals in the company who made the trip were Lois Wilson, Emma Dunn, George Fawcett, Charles Stevenson, Joe Burke, Cyril Ring, Dorothy Walters, Jean Armour, Pearl Sindelar, Marie Schaefer, C. Brooke, L. Bones, D. Walls, George Henry, and Charles Mussett. Among the fourteen children who were taken were " Peaches " Jackson and Douglas and Marshall Green, sons of Alfred E. Green, the director of the picture. The mothers of the children and the technical staff made up the other members of the party.