Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1919)

3972 Motion Picture News VAGABOND LUCK*' (FOX) Heart Interest and Atmosphere Here i i \ TAGABOND LUCK" conquers because of its simplicity y and humanity. It is rich in heart interest and sympathetic appeal and it tells its story in a straightforward way. Particularly is sympathy expressed for the broken down horse, Vagabond, who is supposed to have outlived his usefulness on the track. Fortunately it rains and he breezes home a winner because he is the best " mudder " on the track. Thus his owners are made happy because the winnings have saved the home. The heart interest is emphasized in the jocky who brings him under the tape — the same jockey who has been dismissed from a rich stable for being overweight. It is he who unearths the plot to ruin the girl's brother who in a moment of weakness had mortgaged his share of the property in order to realize on his bet. The picture contains enough vitality to extend through five reels despite the simplicity of its theme. The atmosphere smacks of the track and the story is saturated with it to such an extent that you are thrilled. The romantic element 'balances the feature and gives it an expression which makes it a well-rounded entertainment. In our opinion it is quite the best offering that the Fox co-stars have had. Albert Ray enacts the part of the jockey with genuine naturalness, while Elinor Fair makes the heroine a sympathetic character indeed. The other players are splendid in the types they interpret. Length, 5 reels. — LAURENCE REID. THE CAST Jimmie Driscoll, ex-jockey Albert Ray Joy Bell Elinor Fair Harry Bell, her brother Jack Rollens Jim Richardson, race-horse owner John Cossar Tunk, the trainer William Ryno Jumbo, negro jockey George Milium Spike Bradley, bookmaker • ;A1 Fremont Buck, Bradley's partner Lloyd Bacon Johnny, the jockey , Johnny Ries By Frank Tinney Jackson. Scenario by Scott Dunlap and Anthony J. Roach. Directed by Scott Dunlap. Photographed by George Schneiderman. PRESS NOTICE-STORY William Fox's co-stars, Albert Ray and Elinor Fair, will appear together in their newest attraction, " Vagabond Luck," at the — theatre on of week. The picture treats of a race horse which is supposed to have outlived its usefulness, but which comes forward as very much in the running. Its name is Vagabond and it is owned by Joy Beil and her brother, Harry. In close proximity to their home is the stable of Jim Richardson, the owner of a string of fast horses. Jimmie Driscoll, who has been responsible for making him a winner, laments the fact that he is considerably over-weight. So much so that he is dismissed. He makes his way to the Bell stables where he becomes instrumental in saving the home. The racing event of the season is about to be run off, and Harrv Bell has mortgaged his share of the property in order to back Vagabond to the limit. The horse hasn't a ghost of a show on a dry track, but can distance the field when it is muddy. The horse is marked up at a lo to i shot on the short end. But when the rain comes the night before the bookmakers are fearful of losing their money. They succeed in frightening the Bell jockey into running a crooked race, but Jimmie learns of the plot and rides the horse_ himself. And he breezes home a winner, saves the family fortune and wins Joy for his wife. This is an interesting picture, filled with dramatic situations and climaxes and one that carries a strong human appeal and considerable local color. The stars give a good account of themselves and they are supported by a competent company. The picture was produced under the direction of Scott Dunlap from a story by Frank Tinney Jackson. PROGRAM READER A race-track story is " Vagabond Luck," and a good one. It comes to this theatre next with the co-stars, Albert Ray and Elinor Fair, in the principal roles. You all sympathize with man's best friend, the horse, but your sympathy is most acute if the noble steed happens to be through" as a winner. Poor old Vagabond! No one thought he could possibly win. Why he would be a joke! But they miscalculated on the weather. They forgot that he was a good " mudder " and could go by the other horses on a wet track as if they were standing still. How he breezes home a winner and saves a family fortune and brings a romance to a certain girl IS told in a series of interesting events. A picture full of action and atmosphere and one that is always human. It presents an array of interesting scenes. Don't miss it. Remember next . SUGGESTIONS Albert Ray and Elinor Fair have appeared often enough for you to judge upon their drawing power. Surely they are very sincere in their work and they have established a popularity. So it would be advisable to feature their names and photographs. But by all means bring out that this is a race-track story — a story of a broken down horse who, as luck would have it, breezes home a winner merely because he is a good " mudder." Use the angle that one can never be sure of a horse race and that it would be advisable not to bet until one has learned the condition of the track. It is an old axiom that a horse who is a sure winner on a dry track rarely comes in ahead when the track is muddy. Bring out the human note of the picture and tell that It offers a deal of dramatic action and suspense and atmosphere Advertise the picture as presenting a thrilling horse race. "THE COUNTERFEIT'* (PARAMOUNT-ARTCRAFT) Picture Hardly Suffices for Star's Talent THE public has grown so accustomed to seeing Elsie Fergiison in strong dramatic subjects that it is liable to be surprised in finding her in an offering which many of her less talented sisters of the screen could interpret as successfully. Which is, by way of saying, that " Counterfeit " hardly measures up to her emotional capabilities. True it offers a different kind of role — but a role which the most ingenue of ingenues could carry. The picture is frankly a crook melodrama — but a polite one. The heroine, in order to recoup the family fortune, enters the Secret Service and obtains a handsome reward for capturing a band of counterfeiters who are playing in high society. The idea expends itself early — it being a frail thing at best. But the director has had the foresight to fortify it with romantic moments which are expressed against ideal backgrounds. The title is rather misleading since Miss Ferguson's following might be led to believe that she is involved in a marital tangle and herself the " counterfeiter." Certain skeptics may wonder how society accepts vultures disguised as gentlemen without looking them up in the bluest of blue books. The picture entertains after a fashion ; it couldn't do otherwise with Miss Fer^son as the star. While it affers no drama and very little characterization still the love interest and the charming settings together with the competent playing of David Powell and Charles Gerard will satisfy the average picturegoer. Length, ? rteh.— LAURENCE REID. THE CAST Virginia Griswold Elsie Ferguson Stuart Kent David Powell Colonel Harrington Charles Kent Vincent Cortez Charles Gerard Mrs. Griswold Ida Waterman Mr. Palmer Robert Lee Keeling Uncle Ben Fred Jenkins Aunt Jemima Mrs. Robertson Marinette, the maid Elizabeth Breen By Robert Baker. Scenario by Ouida Bergere. Directed by George Fitzmaurice. Photographed by Arthur Miller. PRESS NOTICE-STORY The latest Paramount-Artcraft picture starring Elsie Ferguson entitled " Counterfeit," will be the main attraction on the bill of the theatre beginning . This is based upon an original story by Robert Baker and is said to be one of the most dramatic of the manv pictures in which Miss Ferguson has appeared. It gives her the role of a Southern girl of a distinguished family, now in financial straits, who joins the Secret Service to try and win the reward offered for rounding up a band of counterfeiters. The clews lead her to the homes of the rich at Newport and she traces the forgers not to a sordid den in some secluded spot, but to a lavishly furnished yacht lying in the harbor. Mrs. Palmer, a member of the colony, is desperately in need of funds and Virginia overhears a conversation between her and a society hanger-on named Cortez. The latter offers to supply her with money and Virginia susoects that he is an agent of the counterfeiters. Later she is surprised bv Stuart Kent, who is in love with her, while she is taking the counterfeit bills from the Palmer safe. By a ruse she inveigles Cortez into supplying her with some of the bogus money. Summoning detectives she comes upon the counterfeiters and captures them. Thus she earns her reward and returns home. Kent follows her and their interrupted romance is resumed. The picture is of an unusually appealing character. Miss Ferguson appears to radiant advantage in the stellar role. The support is notable, the cast including such capable players as David Powell, Charles Gerrard, and others. SUGGESTIONS Your advertising on this picture should be based along its original angle. Tell that the star is seen in a new and dashing role — a role which brings out her versatility to splendid advantage. You should make the Elsie Ferguson pictures advertise themselves as soon as you flash her name on the screen. Your public ought to know what they contain. Emphasize the fact that the star is endowed with emotional canabilities and that her stories must measure up to her personality and talent. Treat the picture with plenty of mystery. Don't let your public know that the heroine is in the Government service and that she is employed to run a band of counterfeiters to earth. We would use the circular letter campaign on all of Miss Ferguson's pictures. .She appeals to a better class of patrons. Try and reach them. Tell that it is a picture of romance and adventure. CATCH LINES She was caught robbing a safe by the very man she loved. She couldn't explain because she was a member of the Secret Service. What happened' See Elsie Ferguson in " Counterfeit." A stirring romance of adventure and mystery, with the talented Elsie Ferguson in a new and dashing role. See " Counterfeit." She passed herself as a society woman in order to catch a band of counterfeiters Doesn't it sound interesting? See the emotional star Elsie Ferguson, m Counterfeit.