Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

January 21, 1922 645 “WINNING WITH WITS” (Fox) “FIVE DAYS TO LIVE” (R-C Pictures) Melodramatic Story Makes Good Program Picture HERE is a human interest story which always excites sympathy for the heroine because of the difficult task she set for herself in securing enough evidence to release her innocent father from prison. Written by H. H. Van Loan a writer who knows the value of situation and climax, it gives to Barbara Bedford a picture which fits her pleasing personality like the proverbial glove. With such a role it is certain she could do no wrong even though for the sake of argument she possessed little dramatic expression. But Miss Bedford has demonstrated that she will go far because of the sincerity and pleasing quality of her work. Mr. Van Loan has started her here with flying colors. Any heroine who is struggling for a living upon the stage always excites attention. Life behind the footlights is ever fascinating to the layman. The glow and color of such a life is sure in its appeal to the uninitiated. The little chorus girl learns that her father has been railroaded to prison, and obtaining a leave of absence she is determined to bring his oppressors to justice. She beards the lion in his den and through asserting her feminine qualities, leading the -magnate on through subtleties, innuendoes and flatteries, succeeds in her mission. It is a task. The author has seen to it that the lion does not jump into the fire too quickly. And though you suspect that she will triumph there is enough detail of action and suspense to keep you at attention. The magnate is a romancer as well as a crooked oil promoter. He would wi nthe girl by fair means or foul if possible. His young' business partner is suspected by the girl, too. And the conflict is well established when she finds herself falling in love and for a time doesn’t know what to do — whether to keep at her task or abide by the power of love. But the youth vindicates himself and works independently of her to get at the bottom of the missing funds. The action transpires mostly in the studio — with the scenes divided evenly between stage sets, the office interiors of the magnate and his home. It is told compactly and to the point without any noticeable reliance upon extraneous detail. One little flaw, intrudes which shows the culprit stealing the papers and bonds from his safe while his office window is open and the curtain unlowered. He is caught in the act. And the father is released. Harry Northrup has as much to do as Miss Bedford, but he is not a good type for the magnate. He is hesitant of manner and does not suggest big business. Wilson Hummell is the aggressive stage manager and Edwin B. Tilton the father. .Length 4455 ft. — Laurence Reid. Mary Sudan ( Mary Wyatt ) King Corday Sudan, Mary's Stage Manager THE CAST Barbara Bedford William Scott Harry S. Northrup Father Edwin B. Tilton Wilson Hummell By H. H. Van Loan. Scenario by Dorothy Yost and Jack Strumwasser. Directed by Howard M. Mitchell. Photographed by Max Dupont. PRESS NOTICE— STORY “ Winning With Wits,” a dramatic story of a girl’s fight to save her father from prison, is Barbara Bedford’s second picture since she rose to stardom. This feature written by H. H. Van Loan, one of the most prolific writers for the screen, will be shown at the theatre next . It is said to be brimful of thrills and action, with a novel twist and peculiarly tense climax. Miss Bedford plays a dual role. She is first seen as a young actress with a road show who, learning that her father has been railroaded to prison on a trumped-up charge, determines to free him by using her wits in punishing the guilty. Her persistence carries her through many dramatic adventures. The man higher-up has covered his tracks pretty well but he has neglected to provide for the danger of falling in love. When he attempts to intrigue the heroine — she uncovers her evidence and he is caught in the trap. She succeeds in winning freedom for her father and also a husband as well. The picture is always tense with good suspense, is capably acted and staged in a creditable manner. The leading man is William Scott. PROGRAM READER Do you believe it is a girl’s duty to stand by her father, no matter what the circumstances? If your father were accused of a crime of which he declared he was innocent, what would you do? Would you go into the mud and mire of business life and fight for him? If you would, you’ll want to see the way Mary Sudan plays the big game of wits in ” Winning With Wits,” the new Fox picture which comes to the theatre next with Barbara Bedford as the star. The story is filled with sympathetic situations, dealing with the efforts of a lovely girl to free this father from prison. H. H. Van Loan is the author. He will be remembered as the writer of “ The Virgin of Stamboul,” and “ The Great Redeemer.” Chinese Melodrama — Oriental Intrigue THIS is not one of those atmospherical marathons, starting in one country, darting to another, offering a glimpse of the Chinese quarter in San Francisco, thence to Limehouse, London, which in the end usually impresses one as a travelogue with trimmings. On the contrary, it begins in China, develops in an Oriental city and comes to a satisfactory conclusion in the same place. Therefore, it is altogether a Chinese play, the principal characters representing Chinese in several different stations of life. It is delivered by a competent cast, well staged, miserably cut. In fact, the juggling of the material borders upon serious danger. Both the star and Tsuru Aoki, who plays opposite Sessue Hayakawa, are consistently good. The story tells of a romance between a poverty stricken dreamer, who carves idols and various images, always with the same face, that of the little slavey with whom he is secretly in love. With no funds with which to purchase the idol of his dreams, Tai Leung lives along, unhappily, until, one day, through an accident, he is brought in close contact with the girl. Soon after, a Mandarin, of wealth, sees and desires the youngster, although it is rumored two wives are already at rest, on account of his fatal brutalities. The rich Chinaman bargains with the master of the slavey, who represents himself as her father. The marriage is about to take place, when the young dreamer appears with sufficient evidence of suddenly accumulated great wealth, in time to stop pro-, ceedings and bribe the step-father to sell Ko Ai to him. In order to obtain this wealth, however, the youthful Oriental has solemnly promised to die, within five days, in the stead of a dangerous criminal known as “The Wolf,” under penalty of death. According to law a substitute may be provided. The terror of the district has directed his successor in death to a cave where great riches are hidden in jewels and currency. As the days pass and the time comes when the young husband must shatter the bride’s great happiness, yet leave her well provided for, there is a tearful sCene, of parting. The bride plans to inhale poisonous incense with a view to suicide at the moment when her husband is under the great knife, used to sever heads of disobedient Chinese, when, prayers to Buddha seem to have been heard, the real criminal dying just in time to save the substitute and after a frantic race to where the girl lies sleeping gradually into eternal sleep, the young husband arrives in time to revive her. A Chinese romance, Oriental atmosphere and settings above the average. Six reels. — Lillian R Gale. THE CAST Tai Leung Ko Ai . : Chong Wo (her father) Li Young Foo . . . Hop Sing Sessue Hayakawa Tsuru Aoki Goro Kino Misao Seki Toyo Fujita . . . George Kuawg Directed by Norman Dawn. Story by Dorothy Goodfellow. Adaptation by Eve Unsell and Garret Elsden Fort. PRESS NOTICE— STORY At the on the great Oriental melodrama, starring Sessue Hayakawa, will be the occasion of great satisfaction to the followers of the Japanese photoplay actor and his attractive wife, who enacts the leading feminine role. “ Five Days to Live ” is a romance, second only to the immortal “ Romeo and Juliet/’ In this case, to save his beloved from life as the wife of a cruel Mandarin, a Chinese poverty stricken sculptor, substitutes for a criminal under sentence of death, for money enough to make the slavey whom he loves, independently wealthy. At the last second fate intervenes. For thrills and romance, “ Five Days to Live ” is sure fire. PROGRAM READER Sessue Hayakawa, star of “ Five Days to Live,” which comes to this theatre on , has the happy faculty of introducing something new in practically every one of his offerings, distributed by R-C pictures. For instance, in the latest picture play above mentioned, he has surrounded himself with an all Oriental cast, and; those who are not Chinese, according to the story, are Japanese, identified with similar Oriental characteristics. In addition, to the star, Sessue Hayakawa, his wife, Tsuru Aoki, the cast includes Goro Kino, Misao Seki, Toyo Fujita and Georgy Kuawa. SUGGESTIONS This is Barbara Bedford’s second starring vehicle. You can exploit it as an interesting story of a girl who was determined to right the wrong done her father by his unscrupulous employers. Feature it as a story of a girl’s pluck — of a girl who entered the business world to see that justice was done. Feature the star and tell that she made a hit in her first picture — and that she is entitled to stardom through her excellent work with Tourneur in “ The Last of the Mohicans.” Play up the author too — he is the writer of many screen successes — including “ The Great Redeemer ” and “ The Virgin of Stamboul.” The usual scheme of press notices, a little play with lobby stills will help put it over. CATCH LINES What would you do if your father was convicted of a crime and you knew that he was innocent? Would you fight for him? See “ Winning With Wits.” The stirring story of a girl’s fight to vindicate her father’s honor. See Barbara Bedford in “ Winning With Wits.” CATCH LINES If you had only “ Five Days to Live,” what would you do the last day? Love that prefers five days’ companionship with the object of one’s affections,^ rather than life of indefinite length without that love, is the kind Romeo and Juliet experienced and the kind depicted in “ Five Days to Live.” Sessue Hayakawa’s latest production. A thrilling Chinese melodrama, presenting the star in one of his most interesting pictures. A screen masterpiece with a rich Oriental atmosphere.