Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

December ; / Motion P ic l : 1921 re News EXHIBITORS { January /, her al^ 1922 f December 31, 1921 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW “THE LITTLE MINISTER’*!, aUce calhoun in (Vitagraph) David Sm'tb *" Excellent Production Made From Barrie's ClassicK n JAMES M. BARRIE'S celebrated story tnot the play) has beelt This IS ® _1C made into a feature production by Vitagraph, and it behoove# e§t hOlQin§ r every exhibitor to kook it because eg its excellent qualities * * c“ Some of those who have been showmen over a score of yeah will doubtless remember the three-reeler which Vitagraph made from the same story. With the advance in technical equipment— \ with an advance in the art of translating a story for the screen th*i producers have done extremely well by this charming document^ which is entitled to classical honors. The lovable figure of Lady \ Babbie, the quaint character of Gavin Dishart, the little minister, and / the picturesque natives of Thrums — these are all given life and color/ here. j Not even the stickler for truths will be able to find any flaw in this* production. From a technical viewpoint, the offering is richly deco-S rated. The thatched cottages, the simple interiors, the charming*, backgrounds — th^se are all caught You become an actual partici1 pant in this fragrant story of old-world sentiment and romance. You 7 follow the adventure of Gavin with the deepest interest, even thoughS you have been made familiar with the plot through the story or play. It carries the deepest sort of heart interest. There is sympathy for nearly every character. And when the soldiers surround the little village in order to compel the simple weavers to obey the laws of the country-, you are stimulated with desire to be with them and help them in some wav. The minister tells the natives to find a way to peace. But they rebel because of the insistent demands of the “gypsy girl." Babbie, who eventually proves to be the ward of a neighborly baron. There is rich incident offered when Gavin upbraids the wicked Rob Dow during church services. And you almost catch the spiritual inspiration as die young preacher finds a champion in his tormentor. The story revolves around this little circular town of Thrums. The walls are penetrated and you see a simple folk, deeply Teligious and eager to live their lives in their own way. It is a charming moment when Lady Babbie runs to the home of Nannie to discover whether her beloved is dead. She is betrothed to her guardian, but she willingly elopes with the minister, and tbsy are married according to gypsv being a gypsy camp nearby. The subs* |*amatic note, as Gavin disappointed baron. ' gure of Rob Gow THE LITTLE MINISTER noiding PlcturlZ* story 0£ the \ M Barrie’s wUh splen • _™£°Ve Directed by \ audience picture. 1 . • •‘The Utde AB-CJh— filS? produced _ „ Of the best Little Mm °ne . oh Studios IS The oi in VtUgrapb s Calhoun m the P U s ''-rWgST vith x rainstorm is elo V dicity and charm t Tnt with naivete "^picture. James V92V u VMM" ... patoh*. i.'J> , , U»'in ...otOUt \ \.or^ * Janes popular for y* . . . Alice Calhoun [ James Morrison t . . Henry Hebert , . . . . Alberta Lee V William McCall _v, — I rrothea Wolbert «" ' Ca)*‘<’“ „ \ M.ude E=rrr ,nrk«f AM* 1 George Stanley j V**l° rtete® . I'.lichard Darnels 1 . g\heH>0 V^les Wheelock cast Henry ■■ bcc C uotetn« . A. ' \ i, \ ypQnec" >' 'll It"'1 raotren pict* i oj0ny charming AIiYf •_ is irresistible. V ' Jr;v of the village \ l»r. \laH .j. \r Ttor« W *'^l»t«*'** 2 Jana *a hiraV \ ■ 1 Ste^ n I and dreams of t>* \ toed IT v-tj t v .L «, i ,.botogr3i 0*°r®C. \>aT»'c'9 \ the ' Miss Calhoun _ dependable Jame: c <y^iSt and pictere \ T>arid „t y well \ \*y l t weies ^ r of the . ,eTSt°° W 1 V ; h-^ Vll*Srt9L -Ttre LU',„ m»d \\ • *r tute T« K V of persuasion throsg t * c -t, ^ timent of Scottish , “ is a pictur '■ \ the simple a ‘ Vet. 5 c,,uo»» or c ”;;^ .wry . , , The most charming W \ 3W*'v>,en wC t>«‘oS . that t '• TJ««S\ %\^Vr>'9,ct nor J to tetl , — ■u"06 vet". .T'es Mf \ t r \ A"^ H*t>'''e; rot' . I t*? „ «>e he * , ,p’e»4“ ,utW I S ^'%dygBabhie'' ; nothing ^ math lor S sh^h3U experienced screen s.s^ wQrk \ and r U i9 und°Ubnu1ar yonng screen -j aim at. tkis popular > (uture. , yet done b. we« for her t pleas;ng. i star, and a |U . ture ,s in roost \ The entire v story ^as . . Q< the \ Barrie s in the ^nmg go S \ interest begins in the first two closely adhered to d Sm** ^The i \ hundred feet and i c script, and to ^ abk d.rect.°u. \ great credit 1° the roost Pa r5 m / ,S Me We Of the P°fThrums 'S wnaint | tutnmg.oi and customs P his pictur< x mannertsms oJnjse t0 mahe^th^ n0thin^ the scree P , ^ill tne^t . ^-ho enjoy / ization o»e \tot ^ those thc 7 hut appro'al me drama, bee ) c'“n r?he eternal. toanfb ^ Barrle t taint of the simplicity o and v jjqx ‘ >*”“ it, »»• nd Ga^ 1. and 1 1 S' The Story is wy Henry n< Vitagraph has \ Dow isters sin'll y'n«"V.t,’ i sar&’^rJS’' stm”' lo *0rd • -note'5 • eters I belt rpnh“ Mi cab Dov;'h latter v .».• / a y°“ le»^s«3sdV.) c square in wearing. and b,g r \ thought o' several of t 1 actor. He is bis important v He i and P°r"^ce rare is d sSstt t|t lSo ).MM »t SZJ-g5* S ments^^the^sea^ce p.cture. Vitagraph Production. From the Story by James M. Barrie. Scenario by C. Graham Baker. Directed by David Smith. Cameraman, Steven Smith. Length, Approximately 5800 Feet. THE CAST Ixdjr Babbie Alice Calhoun <Javin Dishart James Morrison Lord Bintoul Heory Hebert Margaret Dishart Alberta Lee Bob Dow William McCall Nanny Webster Dorothy Wolbert Jean Maud Emery Dr. McQueen George Stanley jMlcah Dow Bichard Daniels ICaptain Halliwelt Cbarlea Wheelock SYNOPSIS To the little Scotch Tillage of Thrum? come* the newly ordained minister. •iaTin Dishart. Little Babbie, the gypsy girl, makes fun of him. but when the .soldiers attack the town she is protected by him. To shield her from the soldiers he pretends she Is his wife This constitutes marriage in their country. Babble Is in reality Lady Babbie, betrothed of Lord Kintoul. The latter sets the date for their marriage, but Babbie runs away. In a terrific rain stonn !>>rd Binton! breaks a leg and is beir.g carried away by the rasing river. The Little Minister . swims out to him and rescues him. He and Babbie confess their lore and *** / married in the church. Practically every essential of good photodrama is in The Little Minister. Vitagraph has selected a splendid cast, from the charming Alice Calhoun to tiny Richard Daniels. All of the quaintness and peculiar charm of the little Scotch town of Thrums pervade the picture. and not only is this manifest in the settings and costuming, but even to the extras, there is evidence of careful picking of types. Sir James M. Barrie's famous story has been screened with unwavering faith to the original theme and all the good fortunes that may befall an author’s work picturized, haye attended it. It . stands out as unique in that its the first two in this respect : I good direction and splendid editSing are combined to make a motion picture that should have wide popularity. There are thrills and there is heart interest. The love motive is delightful but never “gushy,” and its climax is swift and pleasant. The flight of “Lady Babbie" to her sweetheart, when the report comes to her that he has been killed is the beginning of a sequence in which one of the wetest rainstorms in motion picture history has been screened. There is nothing puny about this storm. are drenched in it, this deluge the dramatic action of the story is revealed. Miss Calhoun quite delightfully poinays tne hoydenish gypsy and her “Lady Babbie” is as charming as Barrie wruie Each new picture in which she is cast sees her in a new light * of stellar achievement. I James Morrison is the “Little Minister.” Few could so well \ characterize the very young dominie of the small Scotch hamlet J as has Morrison. Not merely is he d:mi-"tive. but he registers the minister's gentle kindliness and fT! '“■v^garlessness in comparably well. William McCall contributes a fin in his part as “Roh Dow,” and of said he owns a better understand^ screen player than many grown at sciousness whatever. And whatei he possesses already. It is a mighty good picture. PlCTUR£ R'ORld j*ricf 1\ T0°»*:\e w * ,o f ?! w ct0TY v\tp°5t » , ' 1* orMC* * * YWv V, O'e ot 5\ ^ (>1 ir'in (»us 'n.r, »»> ot n rotv~v^ rt;vd pXe Vj,oJ TSr r c <„!■ ' fqmev. UT»or'»n' rn" i ao«) HEOot filler r,.,OTy 9 tf. ****** I rej«ry -J*. ^ 1>T Jtar, U>iai*.^-aa 3a*A of ~ '>r < "fit? ^ I /. |£2i "•» eSSr^y. ttL **»oa ifc 9“ ! Grcat»>^TijPT IpraAu I A a* M Kr°r:C«r a*™ ty , .*** • r ALBERT E. SMITH president ! l. _ u * rrc. ^i£>