Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

October 22, 1^21 2187 "HIS NIBS" (Exceptional Pictures) Sure-Fire Rural Comedy Round to Score WITH each moment replete with re;il liiimor. reiiUy iirtistie characterization, and undisturbed continuity flow, a picture is i>oun(l to "get over." '"Hi* Nibs" is in that class. Charles "(".hie" Sale is the picture. From start to finish he puts over the hokum " of his rube characterizations, so well known to vaudeville audiences throughout the country, in rapid-fire fashion. We said Sale was the picture. Hut. equally, we must credit the cle\er sub-titles for a goodly share of the humor. Natural, unforced, bicndin): perfectly into the action of the moment, they rebut the oft advanced argument that the perfect picture must have no wordy flash interludes. Designed essentially to exploit the peculiar abilities as a mimic, possessed by "Chic" Sale, the plot if such it may be called, finds him in seven different characters. As " His Nibs," proprietor of the Slippery Elm Theatre Palace, he put into force his own ideas of ruiuiing a theatre. Being also the operator of the antique and balky projection machine, be takes it on himself to cut all sub-titles from the pictures he runs — also such scenes as he deems superfluous — and from the booth window announces his own explanation of the scenes as they are flashed. The bulk of the entertainment is found here, although as the Village Entertainer and Wit, the program Announcer, tlie lady Pianist, the Village Editor and Censor and the Local Weather Prophet, he lends to the general humor of the piece at such interludes as he is seen in these parts. Too, he is the dupe but finally triumphant. Rube, hero of the three-part drama, exhibited by "His Nibs" at the Slippery Elm Palace. Presenting myriad leads for striking and successful exploitation, exploitation which need not be accompanied by any but a modicum of expense, the exhibitor, small or big, country or city, is assured of a box office medium which may w ell be classed with " Down on the Farm and " The Country Fair." To the wise exhibitor no more need be said. And, in addition to equal exploitation advantages, it is better entertainment than the two mentioned. — Length, 5115 feet.George D. Gould. THE CAST Theo. Bender (•• His Nibs") Wally Craw Mr. Percifer Elmer Bender Peelee Gear Miss Dessie Teed The Boy Edited and Titled by Arthur Hoerl. Photography by William H. Tuers and A. J, Stout J Charles ("Chic") Sale PRESS NOTICE— STORY A picture heralded as being far from the beaten track in both conception and execution, " His Nibs," an Exceptional Pictures Corp. feature, with " Chic " Sale, the widely known vaudeville actor in seven distinct roles, comes to the theatre next for . The story concerns a country motion pic ture exhibitor who humorously explains the various situations arising in the films he shows, doing away at will with both sub-titles and scenes. Comedy moments are interspersed throughout by the other half dozen characters played by Mr. Sale. The production is said to offer enjoyable, clean comedy from start to finish, the country characters portrayed by the star each being a distinct creation. There is a story within a story, double exposure throughout depicting on the screen of the Slippery Elm Picture Palace, the adventures of Mr. Sale as " The Boy " who, lured into a fake oil transaction is stripped of his money, eventually coming out on top and jailing the promoters. PROGRAM READER For just an hour go back in memory to the old home town, with its straggling, shaded streets, its hum of neighborly gossip, its " little world of its own " routine. Go back with " Chic " Sale, " His Nibs," to the days when acquisition of five pennies by hard effort meant the delights of motion picture shows in the country store, or the church basement, or the Opera House once a week. See the old lovable village characters live again; the kindly old Picture Palace proprietor, the smart young fellow always "lite of the party" in his own home town; the selfconscious lady pianist and soloist; the super-critical, censorous gentleman who was the forerunner of the Blue Law advocate of today. Chic Sale will take you back to all this and more in his picture, " His Nibs," in which he enacts seven different roles in uproarious yet quiet comedy fashion. SUGGESTIONS Inexpensive yet striking lobby displays go naturally with this production. Its exploitation possibilities will suggest themselves on sight of the film. A " village store " front will be the first thought. Tie-ups with local merchants may be established, particularly clothing stores. A prologue with rural setting, and quartette in rural dress will be effective. Ushers may be similarly attired. " Chic " Sale's name is known all over the country to theatregoers. Play it up strong, together with the fact that he is one of the leading eccentric character artists of the stage. A brief resume of the parts he plays will excite interest. With proper advance work the production may play to standing room anywhere. Charles " Chic " Sale, vaudeville star, in life in which he enacts seven different parts. C.\TCH LINES screaming comedy drama of rural He is proprietor and operator of the village picture theatre, also the lady entertainer, the announcer, the village cut-up, the censoring editor and the hero of the film he presents. Take ten years off your shoulders, and see Chic Sale, his ancient motion picture machine, his more ancient theatre, and his super-modern method of presenting pictures. "THE INNER CHAMBER" ( Vitagraph) Alice Joyce Picture Is Average Entertainment ALICE JOYCE undoubtably belongs in a modern, middle-class drama such as " The Inner Chamber " proves itself to be. The picture works out into an interesting, but hardly exceptional, bit of entertainment, which will give undoubted satisfaction to an audience which is, first of all, pleased by this star, and secondly, which prefers a story dealing with the trials and tribulations of an above-reproach heroine. As it tells the talc of a girl loved by three men, it presents drama which is neither powerful nor new, but it rloes offer some new incident, made more appealing by unusual sets. .Also there is one character, a jealous suitor of Latin descent, who differs from the average movie type of hero. By carefully jdanting bis volatile disposition, the director has made the climax appear sufficiently convincing. The heroine is a girl who needs must support her invalid mother. This she <loes by working as a secretary to a business man. Hut John Webb Dillon, experienced in screen villainy as he is, is not of innocent intent, and the girl's second admirer saves her from the attacks of the first. Thereupon she becomes an accompanist to a singer. She is unaware that her salary is being |>aid by admirer number two. When she discovers this fact she becomes highly indignant, and the more so when she learns that her employer already has a wife. For the second time she is out of a job. Her next venture is as a singer in an Italian table d'hote restaurant. This set is life-like and planned, but the restaurant-owner gives an illustration of overacting, which cannot escape notice. To this restaurant comes the third and last lover, the young Italian doctor, who cures the girl's mother and wins the daughter's heart. They are married. The ceremony is over and the wedding j)resents on the table when her husband learns that he is not the only one who has loved her. Without waiting to allow her a chance to vindicate hersslf, he rushes to her room and places a bullet through the eyes of her image in a mirror. Then he destroys all the perfectly good wedding presents, and shoots himself to finish off the evening's work. As his jealous disposition is emphasized throughout the picture this unreasonable rampage appears very reasonable. There is a happy ending. The picture is well directed by Edward Jose, and the cast includes Jane Jennings, Pedro de Cordoba. Holmes Herbert, John Webb Dillon and Josephone Whittell. The story is adapted from a novel by Charles Caldwell Dobie. Length, 5 reeU. Matthew A. Taylor. THE CAST Claire Robson ^lice Joyce Mrs. Robson^ . . Jennings gr °TPwT'° P'dro de Cordoba Edward J Wellman Holmes E. Herbert Sawyer Fl'nt..... John Webb Dillon M l?'^" Grace Barton w'lr ^inch-Brown jja Waterman Nellie McGu.re Josephine Whittell Mrs. Candor Mrs. DeWoIf Hopper Directed by Edward Jose. From the novel by Charles Caldwell Dobie. PRESS NOTICE— STORY Alice Joyce, the beautiful Vitagraph star, is the featured player in " The Inner Chamber, which is scheduled for presentation at the theatre on . Miss Joyce long ago endeared herself to the hearts of motion picture dom and continues to win followers in each succeeding release. " T'^.f J^^^Ji,,*^''?'^^'*'' " ^ screen adaptation of Charles Caldwell Dobie's famous novel The Blood Red Dawn." It furnishes Alice Joyce a vehicle with excellent opportunities for emotional acting and presents her in a role that will long be remembered It is in roles of this type that this favorite of the screen exceHs. Many beautiful scenes and elaborate interior settings are required by the s*ry No expense has been spared to make this production one of real merit and one that will stand out in bold relief against many productions of the present year The continuity was written by C. Graham Baker, who has prepared the continuities ot many of the greatest screen successes. The story is one of social life in which the heroine encounters both poverty and affluence. She is beset by unscrupulous social enemies, but rises above all obstacles and difficulties. Edward Jos^e, one of the best known motion picture directors, sunervised this production In the cast are such capable players as Holmes E. Herbert, lane Jennings, John Webb Dillon and Mrs. DeWolf Hopper. PR0(;RAM READER Three men sought her. One a jealous Latin, one an unscrupulous libertine, and the third a successful business man. Of the three she chooses the first, but the third was the " right man." " The Inner Chamber," which is the feature oicture at the theatre, stars the incomnarable Alice Joyce in a thoroughly enjoyable human interest drama' The story is founded on the popular novel by Charles Ca'dwell Dobie, entitled "The Blood Red Dawn." The production was directed bv Edward Jose, who has some of the screen's most notable successes to his credit. In support of Miss Joyce are such well known plavers as Pedro de Cordoba, who made such a hit with E. H. Sothem in "If I Were King." His screen career has been varied and he has appeared in some of the greatest screen productions in the past few years. Miss Joyce herself is afforded exactly the type of role in which she so pleases her admirers. She niays the poor girl, fiehtine acainst novertv. and the rich girl, surrounded by luxury. The picture is embellished with elaborate sets and no expense was spared to make the sets thoroughly realistic. CATCH LINES Surely vou wHll not want to miss the beautiful Alice Joyce in " The Inner Chamber," a society drama which gives her every opportunity to charm you as much as she has done in the past. A story of a girl who has to choose between three men. An elaborate prodjuction with beautiful Alice Joyce in the stellar role.