Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1920)

November 2 7 , / g 2 o 4155 "WEST IS WEST" (Universal) Very Ordinary II estem for Carey THIS Western featuring Harry Carey hits balow the average in entertainment values, it being nothing else than a program vehicle. The Universal star looks his host when appearing in a character study, but when hs comes forward in hectic melodrama, the plot >hortiomings are visible. This picture depends for its appeal upon the idea that West and East cannot be merged in matters of love. But the love interest is subordinated for a deal of convenient melodrama which revolves around capital versus labor as these forces flourish in the gold regions. The action becomes real " in-trik-ut," for there is a lot of talk of stocks «nd strikes and conniving on the part of the capitalist's underlings. Carey makes his appearance when he signs up in El Paso to work in a mine. He doesn't know that he will be employed as a strike-breaker. While he is putting his "John Hancock" to the paper he picks up acquaintance with a girl whose father is one of the strikers in the gold town. Which is the reason that the love interest goes aglimmering. The director has introduced a crude touch which shows the miners going to work on the night shift at the time that the representatives of capital are giving a porch dance in the palace of the magnate. The workers have to pass this bouse on their way to work. It doesn't strike us as consistent, for the womsn have a Ritz-Carlton appearance about them, and the men are of the lounge lizard type. Then the story sags. One waits expectantly for the conflict between the strikers and the strike-breakers, but it never happens. There is a flash of an explosion and the workers picking up their dead. Carey has his opportunity when the crooked employers bribe him to blow up the mine. But he sees which side belongs to justice and the disciples of evil pay the penalty. The stupidity of the magnate and the underlings is colossal. Money is passed around, men are hired and no questions asked. There is really no meaning for the title since the Eastern girl is never given a moment when she would emphasize the barrier of East versus West. And when the action gives out, the romantic element is lugged in by the heels. The girl responds when she discovers that the adventurous cowboy is honorable. The mine scenes are the genuine thing, the only touch of reality in the picture. However, the director deserves credit for not stressing the strike stuff and showing meaningless mob scenes. Carey should return to the simple character study. — Leneth, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Dick Rainboldt Harry Carey Connors Chas. LeMoyne Spencer Joe Harris Kirby Ted Brooks Herman Mendenhall Ed Latell Sim Wigfall Otto Nelson Denjy Jack Dill Judith Elliot Sue Mason Katie Wigfall Mignonne Dilly Armstrong ;. Frank Braidwood J. C. Armstrong Arthur Millet Mrs. Armstrong Adelaide Halleck Black Beard Jim O'Neill Nagle Scot McKee By Eugene Manlove Rhodes. Scenario by George Hull. Directed by Val Paul. PRESS NOTICE— STORY Harry Carey, the popular Universal star, will make his appearance at the theatre on of week in West is West." This is a picture which brings out in admirable fashion that " East is East and West is West, and never the twain may meet." In other words, a girl raised in the East and cultured, will not give up her heart or wear it on her sleeve for a man of the West — a man who has little in common with her ideas of life. The picture carries this idea but Harry Carey doesn't mind it since he has found his ideal in a little Western girl. He has come to the gold-mining district to find a job. When he signed he didn't know that he was to be employed as a strike-breaker. So when he appears in the town at the head of a band of strike-breakers, the girl, whose father is one of the strikers, refuses to entertain his advances. So Harry is forced to abide his time and prove to the girl that her suspicions of him are not correct. A chance comes for him to redeem himself and he accepts a bribe to blow up the mine. But seeing on which side is justice he proves his manliness by exposing the crooks. The result is he is given steady employment at an advanced sa'ary and wins the girl in the bargain. The picture is well emphasized with dramatic moments and is capably acted and directed. PROGRAM READER Would you if out of work sign up as a strike-breaker? Harry Carey did. When he signed he didn't know that he would be employed as a strike-breakers He thought he was going to a gold mine to find steady employment. But when he reached the gold town, the girl, who had regenerated him, was chagrined to discover that he was a strike-breaker, opposed to her father who walked out with the strikers. What did Harry do to win back her friendship? " West is West " is the name of the picture which comes to the next . It is a rattling good Western — a Western filled with good thrills and incident and quite up to the Carey mark. Don't miss seeing the human star. SUGGESTIONS Well you can employ the slogans regarding Harry Carey which Universal have exploited. Bring out in teasers that "Harry Carey is coming: He's Human." Tel! that the star is on the crest of a wave of popularity due to his human attitudes. Tell that the picture carries out the idea of Kipling's that " East is East and West is West. etc. Tell that it is a melodrama of the gold mines with a cowboy who turns strike-breaker. Mention that Carey is supported by a large cast which composes such familiar names as Sue Mason and Arthur Millet. Play up Carey His name is your big bet. "THE PENALTY" (Goldwyn-Eminent Authors) Great Vehicle for Lon Chaney, But Falls Short in Many Ways IN spite of a most unique and powerful characterization by Lon Chaney, one which will compare favorably with his never to be forgotten "The Frog" of "The Miracle Man," and a decidedly different basic plot, " The Penalty " fails to deliver much in the way of screen drama. The picture is episodic, jumping to various essential scenes with such rapidity and cutting back and forth to different sequences that have to be carried along in such a way that most of the suspense of the offering is killed. It would look when reduced to bare basic plot as if this would have made much better serial material. The whole idea is wildly improbable, the romance connected with it inconsequential, and its multitude of characters get lost in condensing the book into feature picture length. Only one thing stands out as worthy of any great amount of praise. Mr. Chaney has a role that even outside of its uniqueness in that he plays the part of a man without legs, the illusion being perfect, which gives him ample opportunity to demonstrate that he is a great actor. from a technical standpoint the picture is up to standard. All the sets, a rather unusual number of exacting interiors being required, are excellent, while lightings and photography are noteworthy. The supporting cast is good, but no single player succeeds in making his role amount to anything from an audience standpoint, except Mr. Chaney. The twist in the plot at the end of the picture saves the offering somewhat and perhaps this fact and Mr. Chaney's characterization will get it over. An occasional title is good, but most of them are commonplace necessaries to tell what is happening. The fame of the novel from which the picture is adapted and the considerable following which Lon Chaney has acquired ought to make the feature a very good box office attraction. — Length, 7 reels. — J. S. Dickerson. THE CAST Blizzard Lon Chaney Barbara Claire Adams Wilmot Kenneth Harlan Doctor .'.Charles Clary Rose Ethel Grey Terry Bubble '. Edouard Trebaol Lichtenstein Milton Ross Pete James Mason Directed by David Worsley. Adapted frcm the novel by Gouverneur Morris. PRESS NOTICE— STORY " The Penalty," the famous novel by Gouverneur Morris with its unique leading character " Blizzard " leader of San Francisco's underworld has been adapted to the screen and will be the attraction at the theatre for days engagement beginning . Lon Chaney who will never be forgotten for his wonderful characterization of " The Frog " in " The Miracle Man " even if his years of consistent playing in other parts had not brought him into prominence is cast as " Blizzard " and in the role Mr. Chaney presents a character most unusual and forceful. " Blizzard " has no legs, an operation in childhood having deprived him of them. Into his disordered but great brain come three great desires: To be revenged on the surgeon who crippled him, to be a Caesar of the under world and to have the limbs of some other man grafted on his own stumps. How he schemes and plans and why he falls short cf his desires in all three instances makes one of the most novel and entertaining pictures of the year. " The Penalty " is a picture for those who complain that the " movies " presents nothing new, who object to the sugar coated story of sweet sixteen and her handsome sweetheart. It is a powerful picture founded on a daring theme and should meet the approval of the most exacting. PROGRAM READER For the attraction beginning we will present " The Penalty ' an adaptation of the famous Gouverneur Morris novel dealing with " Blizzard " the underworld king of San Francisco and his revenge and plans to be the Caesar of his kind. The picture is a Rex Beach-Goldwyn production with Lon Chaney who will be most favorably remembered for his wonderful characterization of " T he Frog " of " The Miracle Man " in the part of the legless crook " Blizzard. The role provides Mr. Chaney a most wonderful acting opportunity and in its uniqueness a never to be forgotten demonstration of body manipulation. If Mr. Chaney really possessed no limbs he could not have done better than he has with them. The plot of Mr. Morris' story is also very different than that of many pictures. A twist at the end so unexpected that it startles will appeal to every lover of good photodramn. The cast which have been secured to support the star is exceptional and includes such well known players as Claire Adams, Kenneth Harlan and Ethel Grey Terry. The picture is a true super-special and one of the most interesting productions to be released under the title of Goldwyn's " Eminent Authors." SUGGESTIONS Concentrate your advertising on the fame of the novel and the characterization P.tu "•«»• aPey,\, rec,allln,g Jhe latter. to y°ur Patrons by mentioning his work in The Miracle Man. Book store tie-ups should be easy on this picture and corperation with public libraries will be worth while. In framing your newspaper displays use a still of Chaney with his " no legs outfit " and the title " Blizzard " with explanations. As a prologue suggestion we offer the plan of obtaining the Seuy ueS^2f a maJ1 Wlth nl leg? t0 be Pi;esented in a series of stunts similar to those winch Chaney does in the picture. Or better still an imitation of Chaney bv contortionist. ' uy a CATCH LINES Lon Chaney the never to be forgotten " Frog " of the " Miracle Man " in another quite as unique and powerful characterization. anotner of'the^ear n°V{' ty * famous author adapted into one of the most talked of pictures " Blizzard " the king of the underworld, with a body mangled through a sur geon s you hful error the brain o a genius the face of a devH and the soul of a poet. That is what Lon Chaney impersonates in "The Penalty."