Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

885 February 4 , 1922 Marion Davies, in center, and two scenes from “ Bride’s Play,” her latest Cosmopolitan production. A Paramount picture w w Brid e s D oes Tremen ous usiness IN offering “ The Bride’s Play,” starring Marion Davies-Cosmopolitan Productions announces that it wishes the exhibitors to know that this picture rolled up the magnificent total of $24,169.25 during its week’s presentation by Hugo Riesenfeld at the Rialto theatre, New York. The proof of the value of the production lies in those figures because they demonstrate that Mr. and Mrs. Public like “ The Bride’s Play,” and like it with enthusiasm, declares a statement from the Cosmopolitan headquarters. The statement continues : “ ‘ The Bride’s Play ’ is an appropriate successor to Miss Davies’ previous popular release ‘ Enchantment.’ It gives the star every opportunity to display her many talents and she never lets an opportunity escape. In ‘Enchantment Miss Davies appeared as the personification of the modern ‘ flapper,’ of gay, irresponsible anc heedless youthfulness. In the new picture she has a different role — a dual role, in fact. In the first part of ‘ The Bride’s Play ’ she plays a modern Irish maid, a winsome, kindly and generous girl. In this part Miss Davies wears a dark wig, re-establishing the fact, proved first in ‘ Buried Treasure,’ that she is beautiful either as a blonde or brunette. “ Newspaper and trade paper reviewers have stressed two points as the salient accomplishments of the producers of the picture. These two points are romance and beauty. The settings, the creations of Joseph Urban, have evoked the heartiest approval. “The original’ story of “The Bride’s Play ’ appeared in Hearst’s Magazine. The author, Donn Byrne, also wrote ‘ The Woman 1 God Changed.’ George W. Terwilliger, director of the picture, is a critic and scenario writer as well as a first class director. Mildred Considine, who has written more than one hundred successful pictures, prepared the scenario of ‘The Bride’s Play,’ bringing out with a deft touch the high romance and charm of Mr. Byrne’s story. “Without expert photography the loveliness and artistry of ‘The Bride’s Play,’ would have been lost. To Ira H. Morgan was enj trusted the task of recording upon the film the romance as interpreted and directed by Mr. Terwilliger. Mr. Morgan has been in motion pictures for many years and has photographed some of the best known feature pictures. His photography in Miss Davies’ picture has been universally praised. “ A cast of the first magnitude was selected by Cosmopolitan Productions to support the star. Wyndham Standing, with a background of several successful vears on the stage and screen, was engaged as leading man. Mr. Standing plays the part of an Irish baronet with the ease and poise tha one associates with real aristocracy. Carlton Miller, who has plaved in pictures with several stars, assumes the role of a faithless Irish poet, an interpretation capablv and convincingly done. Tack O’Brien, who has been the hero in manv screen romances, again has a virile part in this picture. He appears, in the mediaeval episode in the guise of a young nobleman who rides off with the girl of his heart despite the fact that she has just been married to another. Richard Cummings, a fine character actor, is seen as a jovial old Irishman. Frank Shannon, scoring a success in the stage production of Eugene O’Neill’s play “Anna Christie”; Eleanor Middleton, Thea Talbot, Julia Hurley, John P. Wade and George Spink complete the cast. “ The story of ‘ The Bride’s Play ’ is interwoven with some of the most picturesque and delightful legends and rites of ancient Ireland. “ Aileen Barrett, an Irish lass of education and refinement and versed in the folk-tales of her native land, is a sweet, kind-hearted mrl, helpful to the poor and instructive and gentle to the young. “ The loveliness of Aileen brings as an earnest wooer Sir Fergus Cassidy of Kenmare, last of the ancient Kenmare line, and owner of Kenmare Castle and its large estates. Also into the life of the orphaned girl comes Bulmer Meade, a young Dublin poet much in vogue. He, too, feels the spell of Aileen’s charm, and with his good looks and extravagant speeches, makes a deep impression on Aileen. Then he disappears. “ Fearing for the safety of the poet, Aileen goes to Dublin. There she discovers that he is a trifler and unworthy of her devotion. “ Sir Fergus resumes his persistent courtship, and their engagement follows. It is announced that at the marriage ceremony in the castle the ancient custom of the ‘ Bride’s Play,’ will be revived. “ Upon reading this, Meade realizes his mistake and recalling an ancient tradition in connection with the ‘Bride’s Play’ custom, he resolves that history shall repeat itself and that Aileen shall yet be his. “ According to the tradition, the Earl of Kenmare, living in the same castle that was now the home of his descendant, Sir Fergus, took for his wife, Lady Enid of Cashel, though Enid had given her heart to the Marquis of Muckross. Enid bravely begins the round of the spectators in accordance with the form of ‘ The Bride’s Play.’ Each man of the neighborhood she asks the question, whether he was the one she loved the best, and each in turn said, ‘No.’ “ Suddenly there appears before her the handsome and stalwart young Marquis of Muckross, the man she loves and has promised to marry. She asks : ‘ Are you the one T love the best? ’ “ Muckross seizes the girl in his arms — and the rest is an ancient Trish version of the Lochinvar story. “ And now, at the wedding of Aileen and Sir Fergus, history begins to repeat itself. Aileen starts her round of the guests exactly as Enid did asking each of the men if he is the one she loves the best. “ And now, again, there suddenly appears Bulmer Meade, where Muckross had stood. But here the repetition of history absurdly ends. Aileen takes one of her wedding slippers and strikes Meade a smarting blow across the face. The poet slinks away through the crowd, and Aileen rejoins her husband.” Selznick’s “ Conceit ” at Select Exchanges THE Select sales organization is now turning its attention to “ Conceit,” the second of the season’s Selznick specials, after having given “A Man’s Home ” an impetus that is sending it well on the way to success. Prints have been delivered to all Select exchanges and the sales forces are getting behind the new attraction with the same vigor that started “A Man’s Home ” upon its successful career. Spectacular Sensations! “THE ISLE OF ZORDA”