Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

I September 2 S i p iS 2083 "PECK'S BAD GIRL" — GOLDWYN Mabel JSormand in Subject That Exhibitors Have Demanded EXHIBITORS who have been demanding that the Goldwyn company reintroduce Mabel Normand to her old comedy tricks will be partially satisfied in this her latest production with that company. "Peck's Bad Girl" gives her a number of opportunities to play havoc with the entire cast. She causes a run on the town bank and demoralizes the village fire department in true old Kentucky style. The film also possesses a slight thread of romance and a share of melodrama by which the climax is brought about. While it can not be said that Miss Normand has completely returned to her once popular sphere (a sphere which is still popular from all reports), " Peck's Bad Girl " is the nearest thing to it she has done since becoming a Goldwyn star. The production, which includes a complete set of a village main street, is adequate. — Released Sept. 9. — Length, 5 reels. — Peter Milne. THE CAST Mabel Penelope Peck Mabel Normand Dick Earle Foxe Hortense Martinot Corinne Barker Miss Olivia Blanche Davenport Adam Raskell Ryley Hatch Willie Raskell Leslie Hunt Peck E. M. Favor Pearson Edwin Sturgis Walker Joseph Granby By Tex Charwate. Directed by Charles Giblyn. Photographed by Louis Physioc. AD TALK Mabel Normand, the idol of many fans, comes to the theatre on of week in her latest Goldwyn picture, entitled " Peck's Bad Girl." written specially to exploit her talents, by Tex Charwate. This film is notable, in that it marks Miss Normand's return to the type of picture which made her famous under Mack Sennett's management. She is to be seen as the harum-scarem tom-boy-girl of the town, who thinks nothing of arguing with the bank president and putting the village fire department out of order. Nor does she stop at capturing a trio of crooks who arrive in the village to purloin gold from the vaults of the bank. However, we proceed too fast. That is the end of the picture. In the beginning, Peck's bad girl drags her father to town in a futile effort to secure nine dollars due him from the president of the bank. Their pleadings all for naught, our tom-boy-girl takes revenge on the president by pasting a sign up over the bank door to the effect that the noble institution is, in plain language. " busted." A run starts, and to quiet it, or rather, to make matters considerably worse, the village fire department is called out. However, instead of dispersing the mob the fire department succeeds in dispersing itself, owing to interference from one party or another. The hose breaks loose and havoc reigns. But it is futile to elaborate on the many comical points of " Peck's Bad Girl." Suffice it to say that Miss Normand has never had a feature comedy that could compare with this Goldwyn picture. It is the type that her admirers have been asking for for quite a while. That the Goldwyn Company has produced it is a great credit to the concern itself as well as a compliment to the choice of the fans. Earle Foxe is the leading man and the supporting cast is fine from beginning to end. THE STORY Penelope Peck is the village scamp of Yaptank. Her father is a no-account and lets his daughter run wild. On a certain day he goes to the town bank with his daughter to demand the nine dollars due him for services rendered as night watchman. Penelope helps her father out in his demands. But it is useless. For revenge, the girl paints a sign telling of the fact that the bank has gone on the rocks. A run on the old pile is soon started and pandemonium reigns. The fire department is called out and becomes completely demoralized, owing to mob interference. Yaptank never saw such a day. There comes to the town one, Hortense, who Dpens a modiste's shop and there also comes to the town one, Dick, who opens a jewelry store. Dick and Peck's bad girl meet and there is something resembling love at first sight as a result. Penelope is made perfectly happy when she secures the position of model to Hortense. Penelope is made happy, yes. But Hortense and the customers have rather a strenuous time of it. The model appears in a low cut evening gown, showing a broad expanse of woolen undershirt beneath, which :s hardly the correct thing for models to do. Then there come others to town. Two gentlemen of smooth tongue but rough exterior who proceed to find out from the bank president when his largest shipment of money is due. This done, they enter Hortense's shop and proceed to dig through into the bank. It might have come off well for the gentlemen of the underworld had not Peck's bad girl interfered. She happened to be in the store and by using her wits and her strength, succeeds in making the two gentlemen captives and also, incidentally. Hortense, who, it develops, was in on the little game. As for Dick, he is a detective, and seeing that Peck's girl, who is not bad at all, is so clever, he decides to go into partnership. CATCH LINES Mabel Normand returns to the type of picture in which she first gained popularity and fame. Mabel Normand in her latest and best Goldwyn picture. It's a Goldwyn which is, generally speaking, enough said. This one, however, has Mabel Normand as its star. Which is a plenty. The town bank and the town fire department wrecked by the prank of a tom-boy-girl. The judge of the Yaptank court was dignified enough until Peck's bad girl came along. After her case he felt like resigning and going to the old gentlemen's home. Mabel Normand, the shining light of many an old Keystone comedy, in a picture that transports one back to those hilarious days. Goldwyn's best production featuring Mabel Normand. If it is comedy you want, and most people do want it these days, don't miss Mabel Normand in Peck's Bad Girl." A comedy-melodrama, the best tonic in the world for tired nerves. Written by Tex Charwate, author of " The Turn of the Wheel," with Geraldine Farrar. ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER: — One, three, six and twenty-four sheets and rotogravures in one-sheet size include scenes of production and photographs of star. Stock twenty-four sheet procurable. Also twenty-four sheet advertising this special production. PHOTOS:— Sets of stills are provided in three sizes: 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 23 x 28, all attractively colored. CUTS AND MATS FOR NEWSPAPER PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING:— Ad cuts include two one-column and two two-column of different sizes. The small one-column contains display lettering. The others have Mabel Normand in poses characteristic of the production. Publicity cuts include two one-column star cuts, one two-column star cut (pose), one twocolumn cut of Miss Normand in comical scene and one two-column of Miss Normand and Earle Foxe. SLIDES AND MUSIC CUE. SUGGESTIONS Feature Mabel Normand and dwell on the fact that in " Peck's Bad Girl " she returns to the type of picture in which she gained her fame and popularity. Chicago critics on seeing the production acclaimed it great, and added that " Goldwyn had ' found ' Mabel Normand." It went well during a week's run at one of the largest of the Chicago houses. With this in mind the exhibitor may well consider the feature one which may be boosted as Mabel Normand's best Goldwyn. If " The Turn of the Wheel," with Geraldine Farrar, has been played it would be well to mention the fact that this is by the same author, Tex Charwate. The subjects are of a totally different nature. For advertisements the exhibitors will find some clever ones in the Goldwyn press sheet. Many of the first run exhibitors' have taken to the practice of clipping the Goldwyn ads in the trade papers and using them in their own dailies. Foreseeing this Goldwyn has electros and mats on hand, in regular newspaper screen, for distribution to exhibitors who wish to use them in this way. It is a good idea, as these advertisements are attractively worded and gotten up. MANUFACTURER'S ADS Manufacturer's advertisements from which exhibitors can glean interesting information and advertising suggestions on this picture appeared in MOTION PICTURE NEWS September 21 issue, page 1778. "it's A Goldwyn Picture" MABEL NORMAND M < by TEX CHARWATE \ "111* I duecied by M-M, A CHARLES CIBLYW r I ' f J f J ' £ In which the lou/n cut-up foils the city hold-ups. Cuts Similar to the Above Furnished in One and Two-Column Sizes. The Two-Column Are Display Ads Illustrated, and Are Gotten Up in Attractive Style — Mabel Normand's name and Picture Always Prominent