Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

October 22, 1921 2189 "LADYFINGERS (Metro) fie Sure to Find a Place for This One THIS picture is quite certain to appeal to llie spectator because of its original character studies and the fact that its various sequences spell a line of action that is sure-fire because of its human interest. Bert Lytell has another of his "Jimmy Valentine" parts here and the nature of the plot is similar to the reformed crook stories ^vhich have brought him into the limelight so successfully. However, the star must share honors with Edythe Chapman, who in lier portrayal of a wealthy, shrewd, but highly eccentric old lady, gives such a dominating performance that really the star is more or less in the background. This old lady, sharp of tongue and independent of will, is eager to locate a lost heir. The boy had been reared by a gentleman crook, and as the picture develops its opening scene, the action discloses a detective harassing him at every opportunity. The young man is unusually gifted in opening safes, but the police apparently have nothing on him. It is not clearly established how he is able to get on speaking terms with his aunt, but this minor slip will go by unnoticed^what with the wealth of incident and the bright humor flashed. The old lady stands out as a truly unique character. The title writer gives her dialogue of a most individual style and the captions are certain to be appreciated because of their quaintness. It is tlie ptirpose of the old lady to test the honesty of the youth, and her scheme is to place temptation in his reach. A wall safe and a small fortune are at his finger tips, but he hesitates. And when the moment arrives to catch him with the evidence, she frustrates the scheme of the detective and her scheming lawyer. The story is interestingly told up to the fourth reel, when it develops an anti-climax. It is as if the director had so much material to work with that he neglected to call a halt and be satisfied with his job. The suspense is allowed to stray here, which makes the picture seem finished ahead of time. Through all the character development and the melodramatic moments the romantic note is intruding to give it a balance. The youth falls in love with the ward of his grandmother. And she swears by him when she realizes his honesty. The final shot might be dispensed with since it places the eccentric woman in a ludicrous light. It's hardly imaginable that an elderly lady would execute a slide down a steep cliff and maintain her balance at the same time. However, it is good for a laugh. Ora Carew is the feminine lead and gives a charming performance. Bayard Veiller directed the feature. It certainly is one of Lytell's best bets. — Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Robert Ashe (Ladyfingers) Bert Lytell Enid Camden Ora Carew Justin Haddon Frank Elliot Rachel Stetherill Edythe Chapman Lieut. Ambrose De Witt Jennings Robert Ashe (at age of four) Stanley Goethals By Jackson Gregory. Scenario by Lenore J. Coffee. Directed by Bayard Veiller. Photographed by Arthur Martinelli. "DAWN OF THE EAST" (Realart) PRESS NOTICE— STORY This is a picture of a crook's redemption, brought about by discovering faith in himself through the kindly influence of a quaint, eccentric figure who in reality is his grandmother. The boy has grown to maturity without knowing anything about his family tree. But the lost heir is located and given a home with the old lady. She places temptation within his reach but he refuses to encourage it. And the law is ever hounding him. However, he goes straight and the old grandmother has occasion to feel highly pleased over the turn of events. The picture is marked for its rich characterization — and the humorous angle is well emphasized through the quaint speeches uttered by the old lady. The picture also teems with dramatic moments and its human interest is well brought forth. " Ladyfingers " will appear at the theatre next with Bert Lytell as the star. It is a pictiire certain to entertain even the most fastidious. Edythe Chapman and Ora Carew are in the cast. PROGRAM READER He had been reared in a school of crime. He had never known the influence of a mother. And the police were determined to get him breaking a safe. But Ladyfingers was too clever for them. One day he found good fortune by discovering himself an heir to his grandmother's wealth. Her plan was to test his honesty. How he comes through with flying colors — and how the old lady proved herself genuine in her eagerness to help him — is told in five reels of clever comedy-drama entitled " Ladyfingers " starring Bert Lytell. The Metro star has a role similar to his famous "Jimmy Valentine." It is a picture teeming with incident and humor and one cannot afford to miss it. At the next . SUGGESTIONS Tell them that Bert Lytell has another " Jimmy Valentine " type of story here and since he can do the character quite a little better than his rivals of the screen — well the patrons are assured of good entertainment. Tell that the story is really unusual — that it is highly original and affords plenty of incident and humor. Brin^ forth that it teaches a lesson in tolerance and sympathy. Bring forth that the picture carries a plentiful supply of snappy incident. For a prologue you can put oyer a burglar satire — with the orchestra playing creepy music. The title is a winner, too, and could come in for some snappy advertising. CATCH LINES They called him Ladyfingers — because his hands were delicately shaped. Another reason was his ability to break into safes through his gifted fingers. See Bert Lytell in the humorous and human picture, " Ladyfingers." Story of Adventure and Intrigue Is Satisfactory IF there is one actress that lias her work cut out for her of late that actress is .Mice Brady. In her recent pictures the Realart star has run the overworked gamut of emotions in jjortraying a variety of characters. She scored elTectivel> as an Italian girl in " Little Italy," and now she conies forward in a picturescjue part that of a Russian countess, and scores with something to spare. The story itself is a familiar one and always obvious in its development. Yet it is saturated with so much Oriental intrigue and atmosphere and carries enough variety of scenes to hold one at attention. In fact the outstanding virtue of the picture is its artistic design — the settings being rich in color and quality. The direction is always coniniendable and it is a feather in E. H. Griffith's cap that he has been able to make so much from such orthodox material. He has established his climaxes at the end of his important sequences with no incidental interludes added for the sake of footage. The picture reveals some Chinese customs which may be said to ring with reality. Particularly is this noticeable as they pertain to the marriage laws. Again the picturesque types have been vividly presented, the several characters carrying the story along in places through sheer personality. The Chinese servant will win admiration because of his sympathetic attitude toward the heroine's frail sister. The plot, trimmed down to its skeleton, has to do with a Russian girl escaping to America and relieving herself of the obnoxious marital bonds which made her the wife of a wily Oriental. She accepts his dowry money under the idea that it will release her from the matrimonial yoke, although she is ignorant of the fact that acceptance of this money constitutes a ceremony. The revengeful Chinaman follows to America and endeavors to involve her in some diplomatic intrigue, but the blackmailing scheme is foiled when he realizes that she is a friend of China. The scenarioist has covered his tracks well and there are no real gaps in the story. There is even excuse for the journey to America because of the sister's frail health. But the Russian characterization doesn't reveal itself. She could just as well have been an English girl or a daughter of any country in Europe. If one is disappointed in the plot the atmosphere and settings offer full compensation. The fan-tan scene is truly colorful. Kenneth Harlan and Michia Itow render good assistance. — Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Countess Natalya Alice Brady Roger Strong Kenneth Harlan Sotan Michie Itow Mariya America Chedister Sonya Betty Carpenter Mrs. Strong Harriet Ross Wu Ting Sam Kim Liang Frank Honda Kwan H. Takemi Chang Patricia Reyes By E. Lloyd Sheldon. Scenario by E. Lloyd Sheldon. Directed by E. H. Griffith. Photographed by Gilbert Warrenton. PRESS NOTICE— STORY Alice Brady, who is rapidly making a name for herself as an exceptionally gifted character actress, has in " Dawn of the East," her newest Realart picture, a story which enables her to flash further evidence of her versatility. The star appears as Countess Natalya, a Russian girl, who with her frail sister, has fled the Revolution and is stranded in China. She becomes a dancing girl in a cafe and is induced by a Chinese antique dealer to accept the betrothal money from a rival merchant and use the money to escape to America. Not understanding Chinese customs, she doesn't realize that such an act on her part is involved with the marriage ceremony. In America she marries a diplomat, and in an attempt to extort from her the details of a secret treaty with China, she is confronted with her Oriental husband. The attempted blackmail is foiled and when the wily Chinaman appreciates that she is a friend of his country he allows her to have a divorce. The picture is well charged with atmosphere and is interestingly told /and acted. "Dawn of the East " will appear at the theatre next . PROGRAM READER A picture of adventure, international intrigue, romance and human interest is " Dawn of the East," Alice Brady's newest release which comes to the theatre next and . The popu'ar and talented Realart star has shown her histrionic capabilities on a score of occasions, her recent work in " Little Italy " calling for praise of the highest order. In " Dawn of the East " Miss Brady has another picturesque role — that of a Russian countess. And the figure is as distinctive as her Italian girl in " Little Italy." So come and see this clever star in a picture calculated to interest you from beginning to end. SUGGESTIONS Since Alice Brady has demonstrated her talent for characterization and her ability to interpret widely varied roles, it would be a good plan to announce that she appears here as a Russian countess. She has played several types of late and her portrayal here indicates that she knows character expression. Play up the title and describe the picture as carrying a story of international intrigue and Oriental cunning. You can nut over an effective prologue — a tab act vrith the figures correctly costumed. The Oriental atmosphere might be suggested in a color scheme. Also some Russian dancing might fill out your program in an entertaining manner. CATCH LINES She was followed to America by a wily Chinaman, who threatened her life. What happened? See Alice Brady in " Dawn of the East."