Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

F ebruary 4, 1922 895 “TEN NIGHTS IN A BARROOM” (Blazed Trail Productions — Arrow Film Corp.) Old Time Favorite Makes Vivid Melodrama on Screen HERE is a picturization of the old-time melodrama that has been running neck and neck with ‘‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin in a popularity race during the past six decades. Ten Nights in a Barroom ” was first of all a short story, imported from England. Then it was a novel, and later a stage play that travelled through every hamlet in the United States, and now it is a screen melodrama, more colorful and more realistic than either book or play. All the elements that made the play so popular have been left intact. The curse of drink, that dread appetite which comes near to ruining a man’s life; the pathos of the death of his little daughter; the suffering of his family; his final reformation and the destruction of the villians and their saloon— all this passes across the screen vividly and impressively. Call it an old-time theme if you will, but you must also admit its certain appeal. It is a rural drama, differing from the stage play in its locale. The action takes place in the north, in a logging country. This allows, in the climax, a sequence showing a log jam, which, when it is broken, carries down towards the rapids both the chief villain and the hero. There is a thrilling rescue of the latter. Romance is not neglected in the screen version. An interesting love story is kept before the audience. Oscar Apfel, the director, has been careful not to overdo his scenes of drunken degradation, but at the same time he brings in every iota of pathos when he shows the opening of the saloon, and the clever scheming of the villains to bring patronage to their new enterprise. He shows them trick the hero of his mill, after they have got him under the influence of liquor. The man sinks lower and lower, becomes useless as a workman. As usual, it is his wife and child who suffer. The child comes to the saloon to urge her father to come home. When a thrown tumbler hits her, she is taken home, and later dies. The man begins to realize the evil of drink, and then sets about to seek revenge for his daughter’s death. This affords opportunity for the thrills. A huge, three-story frame building is burned to the ground. The log jam is the big punch, excellently photographed, the suspense of which is carefully worked up. The man abandons his idea of revenge. Without doubt. Arrow Film has a melodrama in “Ten Nights” which is the exact type of thriller which pleases a huge number of picturegoers. It is effectively acted throughout, with John Lowell and Baby Ivy Ward bearing most of the responsibility. The comedy relief is not neglected — Matthew A. Taylor. THE CAST Little Mary Morgan Joe Morgan Fanny Morgan Simon Slade Frank Slade Dora Slade Harvey Green Judge Hammond . Willie Hammond His Aunt Sample Switchel Mehitabile Hank Smith Mrs. Hank Smith Judge Lyman The Village Doctor Foreman of the Mill Directed by Oscar Apfel. ■ . . . Baby Ivy Ward John Lowell ■ Nell Clark Kellar . . . . Charles Mackay James Phillips Ethel Dwyer Charles Beyer John Woodford . . . Kempton Greene Mrs. Thomas Ward Harry Fisher Lillian Kemble . . .J. Norman Wells Leatta Miller Thomas Vill . . .Richard Carlysle Robert Hamilton PRESS NOTICE— STORY “ Ten Nights in a Barroom,” the big screen production which will be the feature attraction at the theatre on is a film version of the famous novel and play which swept the country some half century ago. Regarded as one of the classics of the American stage years ago, “ Ten Nights in a Barroom ” played in practically every town and city in the United States. It has been picturized for the first time, with the result that the worth of that story and play is proved conclusively. That such a masterpiece will never grow old is shown by the tremendous success which greeted this photoplay in every city in which it has been shown to date. In this cast of this picture are John Lowell, playing Joe Morgan, and Baby Ivy Ward, playing Little Mary Morgan. The production was directed by Oscar Apfel. The picture follows the novel closely, but in it have been incorporated some of the most realistic thrills and exciting action that has ever been seen on the screen. A huge three-story frame building is burned to the ground, and there is a log jam which is the last word in screen thrills. Those who remember the old play will be impressed by the much wider range of realism which is permitted by the screen. PROGRAM READERS The unusual offering of the. theatre for is “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” the picture version of the famous stage play which is known to practically every man, woman and child in the United States, and which has been witnessed by a great number of them. For probably no other stage play had such an extended run in every large city and received such a universal welcome in the smaller villages as “ Ten Nights in a Barroom,” when it was first produced sixty years ago. It ranks with “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” as one of the classics of the American stage. The screen version is naturally much more elaborate than the stage version. It is enacted by an all-star cast including John Lowell and Baby Ivy Ward. Some of the most, realistic thrills ever filmed are to be witnessed in this photodrama, and as a result it is one of the best rounded photoplays of the year. “RECKLESS CHANCES” ( Playgoers — Pathe) Snappy Railroad Story Should Please ’Em Everywhere TRUST a railroad story to carry the brand of action which interests the red-blooded reader or spectator. Here is J. P. McGowan with “ Reckless Chances,” which may be catalogued as snappy entertainment. This director believes in incident. He will go to any length to incorporate it. And here he has revealed an outdoor drama visualizing a deal of adventurous action. While several of the situations have been used before, yet it carries such a full quota of thrills that no one is able to complain. It is a Western, this “ Reckless Chances,” and concerns a group of thieves robbing the railroad. The hero is under suspicion and when it is shown that he is in love with the daughter of a superintendent, you can see that the element of conflict is well established. The actor-director, possessing a vigorous personality, is able to look the part of the section foreman. Whether he misses once in a while in measuring out logical detail does not matter just so long as there is added a hefty punch. The spectator may take a great deal for granted here, but he will admit he is seeing crisp action which contains enough incident to satisfy completely. The hero is arrested and escapes, to meet the heroine, and through her influence is given a job in the yards. A subsequent elopement occurs which is as thrilling as it is amusing. The sky pilot is thrown off a high bridge into the freight car containing the young couple. The fact that he bobs up none the worse for his experience sort of gives it a comedy angle of an exaggerated nature. However, it serves its purpose in adding one of the thrills. The section foreman is beset on several sides by the thieves, but he manages to vindicate himself and prove to the girl that her suspicions are wrong. It may be added that the robbers are caught. Mr. McGowan, playing the lead, has known just how to direct himself in bringing out the incident. He has collected proper atmosphere as well as a personable leading woman in Dorothy Wood. Others who give good account of themselves are Andrew Waldron and Robert Walker. It is an obvious story — easy to anticipate from the beginning, but the value of fast-moving action offers full compensation. There are no pauses visible. McGowan gingers it up so that it travels on regular through train schedule. — Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. Terry Nolan. . Nora Murphy Dan Murphy. Harry Allen. . THE CAST By Anthony W. Coldswey. Directed by J. P. McGowan. Photographed by C. Welty. . .J. P. McGowan . . Dorothy Wood Andrew Waldron . . Robert Walker PRESS NOTICE— STORY In “ Reckless Chances,” the feature which brings J. P. McGowan to the theatre as star and director next the spectator is afforded a chanoe to revel in a thrilling Western melodrama. It is shown here that the course of true love does not run smooth — even on steel rails. It is a railroad story having to do with the modem West and robberies. Carloads of gold ore are mysteriously and regularly stolen, and it looks as though someone “ on the inside ” were in league with the thieves. Circumstantial evidence against McGowan as Terry Nolan causes his arrest. While making an escape from the sheriff he encounters a pretty girl in distress. After that no chance is too reckless to be near her. The star is at his best as the romantic Irishman. He has added a full quota of thrills which include several picturesque fist fights; an automobile driven by a girl, smashing into a wagon; a unique and sensational elopement, in which McGowan sweeps the girl from the ground onto a moving train and other colorful incidents. The cast includes the charming Dorothy Wood as the heroine, Andrew Waldron and Robert Walker. The picture is said to entertain through every scene of its five reels. It contains adventure and humor. PROGRAM READER He was a fugitive from justice. But he forgot personal dangers to rescue a maiden in distress. After that he was Cupid’s captive. Adventure-loving and fearless, for her he risked every reckless chance. “ Reckless Chances ” which comes to the theatre next with J. P. McGowan, as the star is a fast-moving western melodrama. It comes at full speed, revealing the outdoor, modern West, rich Ore, daring, mysterious robberies, a blue-eyed damsel in distress, a fire-eating father, and an adventure-loving daredevil of fortune. The cast is well balanced, the leading woman being Dorothy Wood whose personal charm and zest for adventure enable her to acquit herself creditably in the feminine role of heroine. Mr. McGowan also directed. SUGGESTIONS As this is a rip-snorting western melodrama starring the rugged J. P. McGowan, it would be well to use picturesque adjectives in your campaign of advertising. Stress the fact that it is a fast-moving drama, revealing an array of sure-fire incidents which carry one thrill after another. Exploit the fact that there is a thrill in most every scene. Play up the heroine played by Dorothy Wood. State that this actress possesses considerable charm and talent. Use a snappy teaser campaign. Use stills and put over the picture with a bang. Cuts, mats and other details of exploitation can be obtained from your nearest Pathe exchange. Play up the star as a figure who is keen on adding a healthy and vigorous line of action to hjs pictures. The title can be used for snappy teaser ads. CATCH LINES He took reckless chances even when he was a fugitive from justice. See J. P. McGowan, the vigorous star in the vivid melodrama, “ Reckless Chances.” A picturization of America’s forever. CATCH LINES most famous melodrama. A story that will live Toot-tpot, ding-dong! Here she comes at full speed. See the vivid, throbbing railroad story. See “ Reckless Chances,” a picture of thrills and action. A story of adventure and romance. A vivid, realistic railroad story.