Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

2186 Motion Picture News "FROM THE GROUND UP" (Goldwyn) Good Incident and Clever Titles Big Aid to Slender Story TOM MOORE seems to be emulating John Drew. " Same show, same part, dififerent title." " From the Ground Up " is a near relative to " Hold Your Horses " and " Made in Heaven," telling a story in narrative of a young " Harp " who begins at the bottom rung of the ladder and in the course of time, reasonably short too, climbs to the top and incidentally wins a bride from tlie 400 list. Rupert Hughes wrote and adapted " From the Ground Up," and while he has neglected to provide a plot, he has furnished material for a reasonable amount of entertainment and in one sequence, a thrill. The entertainment is evolved from good incident of a comedy turn and from titles that explain the incident in clever fashion. The thrill comes in the middle of the picture when the near heavj* of the ftor>. supposedly carrying a large package of home brew ambles out on a girder of a 'steen story building in course of construction from which he threatens lo fall oflF and where he does push a would-be rescuer overboard for a drop of one flight. This sequence is used in the i-tory to make plausable the hero's sudden rise to prominence since the man rescued by the magic of Mr. Moore's smile and his wit, is a rich man's son, who later becomes his benefactor. The star is eminently fitted for his role and as a vehicle, providing the fan hasn't seen the two previously mentioned pictures too recently, the picture should be accepted as pleasing entertainment. As a production, however, it wanders along to a perfectly obvious finish and at no time will it interest from its story value. Helene Chadwick is the girl, pretty petite and well dressed. She and Mr. Moore have pretty close to all the scenes. Some very pretty scenery is used as backgrounds and the photography and lightings are exceptional. It is light entertainment suitable for houses where audiences do not take their pictures too seriously and where Tom Moore is popular as a star. — Length, 5 reels. — J. S. Dickerson. THE CAST Terrence Giluley Tom Moore Philena Mortimer Helene Chadwick Mr. Mortimer De Witt C. Jennings Mrs. Mortimer Grace Pike Carswell, Sr Hardee Kirkland Carswell, Jr Darrell Foss Story and adaptation by Rupert Hughes. Directed by E. Mason Hopper. PRESS NOTICE— STORY Tom Moore, popular film star, is to be presented in another of his inimitable " Irish " roles by Rupert Hughes in " From the Ground Up," scheduled as the feature photoplay attraction at the theatre for a days Jiowing beginning . In " From the Ground Up " Tom plays the part of a young " harp " employed is " valet to a steam shovel," who through a series of incidents and his own initiative rises to successs as a contractor and who finally wins the heart and hand of the lady fair, who when he first met her he was shoveling dirt at the bottom of the pit where her father was to build a sky scraper. The picture has been develooed with pleasing and in many places amusing incident and the titles which Mr. Hughes has furnished further add to the feature's comedy turn. In support of the star is pretty Helene Chadwick as the girl, De Witt C. Jennings, and Darrell Foss. Pretty scenic backgrounds, nice clothes, and exceptional sets add to the feature's attractiveness. A real thrill is nrovided in one sequence too. All in all it is a nleasing evening's entertainment and adds another success to the string which Mr. Hughes and Mr. Moore have contributed to the Goldwfyn program. PROGRAM READER Popular Tom Moore and Rupert Hughes, as star and author split honors in Mr. Moore's latest starring vehicle on the Goldwyn picture program, " From the Ground Up " which is the feature attraction at the theatre for a days showing beginning . Mr. Hughes, who not only wrote* the story for " From the Ground Up." hut also contributed the titles and the continuity, has furnished some excellent comedy scenes for Mr. Moore and the pictures registers as a high grade piece of light entertainment in which the star has a likeable role as the young Irishman who climbs the ladder of success and wins the girl of his heart. In the first part of the feature, Mr. Moore is " valet for a steam shovel," where he meets his prospective bride, daughter of his boss. Opportunities of his own making as well as of chance present themselves and when the picture ends Mr. Moore is a contractor with offices in the building he had helped to erect. He proposes to the girl and is accepted, everything ending happily. In support of the star is pretty Helene Chadwick, wearing some wonderful frocks and Mr. Moore does some dressing up himself. All in all it is a very pretty and pleasing show, one which will win Tom Moore more friends, if that is possible. SUGGESTIONS Play up the titles by Runert Hughes, calling attention to his previous successes, " Dangerous Curve Ahead " and " The Old Nest." Bill Moore as playing a likeable role for which he is well adapted, that of the young " Harp " who wins his way to success. _ Prologue numbers with a stage setting showing a sky scraper being erected will be suitable and a novelty. Use stills showing the " dress up " character of the picture. Some of Hughes' titles as captions on stills ought to get attention. CATCH LINES Tom Moore and his Irish smile in the story of a " Mick " who started to rise from forty feet below ground and finally proposed to the only girl on the top floor of the sky scraper he had helped build. A romance that began in the cellar and ended 'steen stories high with Tom Moore playing one of the parts that have made him famous, a young " Harp " who begins at the bottom and works his way to the top, all on account of a girl who was worth working for. "THE HUNCH" (S. L. Pictures-Metro) Some Moments Are Mildly Amusing GARETH HUGHES got off to such a good start in " The Garments of Truth " that it is to be regretted that his second stellar vehicle, " The Hunch," fails to give him the opportunities to exprese his peculiar style of comedy expression. The fault isn't so much with the star. We still maintain that his forte is satire of a polite character. But when he is compelled to play exaggerated farce which smacks of slapstick -well, the star seems to be out of his element. There are moments in this Percival Wilde story which are mildly amusing, and if the director had merely skimmed the surface or if he had used a rapier instead of a club, some of the telling points would have undoubtedly scored. However, the spectator is disarmed in viewing this feature. He cannot bring an\ censure to bear upon the development since the idea and execulion are burlesqued to a degree. In looking at it from this standpoint the picture would get over better had the director been consistent in applying the exaggerated humor. He is inclined to be easy in some of the early scenes but when the principal figures are incarcerated in the jail the burlesque element becomes unduly prominent. He has allowed Gail Henry and Harry Loraine unlimited opportunities to put over some slapstick and they certainly accomplish it with little restraint. It is as if the limitationi of the plot demanded extra footage to provide the regulation length. The plot itself concerns a young man who is anxious to make a " kilU ing " in Jerusalem Steel in order to win over the rich father of his sweetheart. The stock takes a tumble and the youth has an idea that if he could arrange to be murdered and reappear in the flesh at the appointed time he will be forgiven and the father granting his consent. It is rather funny to see him plan his own murder. However, he did not bank upon being kidnapped by some real thugs and robbed of his money and clothing. So he makes his way on foot to the country home of his fiancse — looking very much like a tramp. Here is the point where the plot becomes really exaggerated, and much of the action loses its spontaneity through a repetition of scenes in the village lock-up. The " constable " and his wife put over some rural comedy of the hokum brand. The conclusion introduces all the principals locked up in the jail, although they make a get-away in novel fashion. The story being of single-track character becomes episodic in several places. It manages to entertain mildly, however, without becoming boresome except for the jail incident. The figure interpreted by Hughes is hardly whimsical enough to permit him a chance to show the talent so conspicuous in "Garments of Truth." — Length, S reels. — Liturence Reid. THE CAST J. Preston (Jimmy) Humphrey Gareth Hughes ^^L^"^ Ethel Grandin John C. Thorndyke John C. SteppUng J*^'"""— • X Edward Flannagan Sheriff Henry Clay Greene Harry Loraine Mmn.e Stubbs Gale Henry Hodges William H. Brown By Percival Wilde. Directed by George D. Baker. Photographed by R. J. Bergquist. PRESS NOTICE— STORY A farce-comedy entitled " The Hunch " will be the feature attraction at the with Gareth Hughes as the star. Thi; theatre next picture presents the actor in a role which enables him to show his gift for farcial expression. As J. Preston Humphrey, the fiance of a wealthy girl, he puts plenty of spirit in the part. J. Preston is not warmly received by the girl's father so when his stocks fall (he has been dealing in Jerusalem Steel) he proceeds to efface himself from the earth by staging a fake murder. He will make it appear as if he has been murdered. But when he has planted the necessary evidence the youth is kidnapped and deprived of his money and clothing. He is locked up in the village jail and before long his partners in crime are also incarcerated. The picture sparkles with a deal of homespun humor and efferveses with plenty of action. Mr. Hughes is assisted by Ethel Grandin, John C. Steppling. Harry Loraine and Gale Henry. Percival Wilde wrote the story while George D. Baker directed. PROGRAM READER Did you ever have a hunch? Most everybody possesses some kind of a hunch. A man may have a hunch that he will win a lot of money: he may have a hunch that the RIGHT GIRL will come alone: he may have a hunch that he is going to take a long journey. Well, Gareth Hughes has a hunch — that he is going to win a big fortune. He a'so has a hunch that the girl is going to marry him against the consent of her father. But he didn't have a hunch that he was going to be locked up in the village jail, or that he was going to be kidnapped and deprived of his money and clothing. Come to the theatre next and and see Gareth Hughes in " The Hunch." a picture of rich humor and plenty of action. SUGGESTIONS Gareth Hughes is getting over with his pictures. His " Garments of Truth " is proving a winner. So you can tell that he is coming to your theatre in another sparkling picture. Bring forth that he has achieved fame in " Sentimental Tommy," that his style of acting is really distinctive. You can tell them that Hughes' peculiar gift lies in his ability to interpret the whimsicalities of youth. Play up the picture as a comedy-satire which carries plenty of laughs. Emphasize the title and use it in all your exploitation campaign. Tell that Gale Henry is in the cast. Some of your crowd shotild recognize her name since she has starred in slapstick comedies. CATCH LINES Did you ever have a hunch? Is a hunch to be obeyed? See Gareth Hughes in " The Hunch," as funny as " Garments of Truth " and just as entertaining.