Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1158 M o t i o n Picture N e w s “THE GOLDEN GALLOWS” (Universal) “ANY WIFE” ’ (Fox) Conventional and Uninspired THIS picture, featuring Miss Du Pont, started off like a house afire, depicting life back stage, with the idea conveyed that slices of this interesting life would be revealed in such intimate fashion that the offering could be classified as good entertainment. But the theatrical spark burns out and what is revealed is a conventional and uninspired tale of a girl who becomes the victim of evil ’gossip. The heroine is an understudy to a famous star and when the latter is incapacitated the girl steps into the character and creates a sensation. She is elevated to stardom, although there is the usual current of scandal connected with her life. It develops that a wealthy roue is interested in her. When his methods are ineffectual in a sordid way he adopts different tactics. In fact his character is regenerated. It is a purely platonic friendship, but a jealous woman kills him. Before he expires he writes a note leaving the bulk of his estate to the actress. This note is intrusted to an unscrupulous lawyer who automatically becomes the “ heavy ” of the drama The love interest finds a wealthy scion of an old established family registering romance in happy fashion until the winds of scandal reach his ears. Although he has qualified as a gentleman he stages a crude scene in which he severely punishes the attorney. The gossip makes him considerably of a cad. He enters and passes out of the actress’ life with the impulses of an impressionable collegian. Meanwhile his mother sponsors the girl and learns to appreciate her. When the youth comes home, the older woman does not know that her son is acquainted. Yet she fails to introduce the young people. The story does not give Jack Mower many chances to appear human or regular. His appearances are effected in rather crude manner. And he constantly registers anger because of his suspicions against the girl. Finally the lawyer, thinking he has the whip hand because of the secret note, attempts to compromise the actress. But she journeys to his home and frustrates his plan at the point of a revolver. The hero shows his manliness here by refusing to read the message, trusting in the girl’s sincerity. The story is interrupted in its sequences by a faulty continuity, there being places where a, title or two would aid the action. The backgrounds are effective, the exteriors being charming. If the central male figure had been treated in more human fashion and less as a character of convenience the story would ring more genuine as far as characterization is concerned. Miss Du Pont is supported by a company that includes Edwin Stevens. — Length, 4,808 feet. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Willow Winters Miss Du Pont Leander Sills Edwin Stevens Cleo Twayne Eve Southern Peter Galliner Jack Mower By Victoria Galland. Scenario by Harvey Gates. Directed by Paul Scardon. Photographed by Ben Reynolds. PRESS NOTICE— STORY “The Golden Gallows” is the title of the Universal picture which comes to the theatre next . This is a story of theatrical life depicting an understudy to a famous actress who because of the latter’s illness steps into her role and creates a sensation. It is a crowded house and seated in a stage box is a youth who is attracted by the girl’s personality. He secures an introduction and the way is paved for a romance when gossip reaches his ears that she is an old man’s darling. This evil rumor spreads a deal of unhappiness for the girl and also for the youth. An unscrupulous lawyer is entrusted with the old man’s will which is made out for the benefit of the girl. His friendship for her has only been a platonic one, but a jealous woman kills him because of his cooling advances. The lawyer is struck down by the hero and the scene proves to be so brutal to the sensitive imagination of the actress that she refuses to entertain her newfound admirer. It isn’t until he develops a faith and a loyalty that she consents to a reconciliation. Miss Du Pont, who created one of the vital roles of “ Foolish j Wives,” plays the leading role in spirited fashion, registering her scenes with adequate emotion. In the supporting cast are Edwin Stevens and Jack Mower. The picture is well staged. PROGRAM READER Have you ever longed to cultivate a romance with an actress? Hasn’t life back stage ever fascinated you? Suppose you had secured an introduction to a well known star and gossip reached your sensitive ears that she was the victim of a scandal, would you believe it? Would you have faith in the girl, or would you catalogue her as unfit for matrimony? Consider the dilema that came to Jack Mower when he found Miss Du Pont the victim of ugly gossip. He refused to have faith in her. He made himself considerably unhappy and brought sorrow to the girl. But in the end he conquered his evil suspicions and discovered the girl to be honorable and sincere. This is the outline of the clever picture, “ The Golden Gallows,” which comes to the theatre next . SUGGESTIONS Here you have a star who has created a good impression in Stroheim’s “ Foolish Wives ” to exploit. Make mention that she carries the central feminine role in that picture and that her work in other Stroheim pictures entitled her to stardom. Play up that she has an ideal vehicle for the display of her personality. Mention that she is one of the best dressed women identified with the stage. Use stills of her showing her in a lavish wardrobe. Play up that Edwin Stevens and Jack Mower are in the supporting company. Bill the picture as an interesting slice of theatrical life, showing the consequences of evil gossip as it concerns an innocent girl. Bill it as dramatically effective. A prologue can feature an ensemble of ballet dancers. CATCH LINES See Miss Du Pont, the actress who supported Stroheim in “ Foolish Wives,” in her newest picture, “ The Golden Gallows.” She was the victim of evil gossip and the ugly rumors destroyed the faith of a young admirer. What happened? See Miss Du Pont in “ The Golden Gallows.” Dream Situation Adds Surprise and Saves Triangle Theme THE dream situation is employed in this conventional pattern of the eternal triangle which gives Pearl White emotional opportunities as a discontented wife. That the picture carries a lesson cannot be denied, although the story contains several crude scenes which are saved through the surprising finish. Many will say that the wife inspires little sympathy since she gave up a devoted husband, a little son, and the comforts of home to contract a marriage with a charming interloper. The background is a familiar one. There is the worshipful husband who is not presented as neglectful toward his wife. Indeed he is a man of wealth and given to generous impulses in providing for his better half. Perhaps she has a perverse streak in her due to being showered with so much attention. As the scenes develop he seems to have lost his romantic ardor, giving most of his affection toward the youngster. The wife is attracted to the gay deceiver because he is seemingly gifted in romantic ways. The child is tucked into bed. You begin to see the ultimate conclusion that the juvenile appeal will reunite the parents even before the husband comes back unexpectedly from a trip and catches the guilty wife in the arms of her lover. He lectures the couple, but is too civilized to kill. So he takes the child and turns the wife from home. Her second marriage is one long series of tortures. She spoils a business project of her husband’s and learning that he is developing an affair with a celebrated actress goes to the theatre to claim her rights. The deceitful spouse ignores her. But the woman is not defeated. She remonstrates so successfully that the thespian champions her case. The climax arrives when she goes to the hospital to see her child who is dangerously ill. She is refused admittance but the pleading voice of the child wins against the cold and cruel attitude of the husband and father. The picture travels this familiar orbit but is saved from being utterly orthodox by the surprise finish. Her unfortunate experience has been nothing but a bad dream but it has furnished her with enough character to see things in their true light Some of the scenes with the philanderer are crudely developed And a chuckle might be aroused here and there where only deep thought was intended. However, one cannot take offense in view of the employment of the dream situation. “ Any Wife ” gives Miss White an occasion of revel in emotional feeling, and she brings out the" contrast of a discontented wife and one who becomes disillusioned in an effective manner. The picture carries a certain appeal because of its moral, but its dramatic qualities are mostly negligible — Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Mrs. John Hill (Myrtle) Philip Gray Mr. John Hill Cyril Hill Dr. Gaynor Louisa Farrata ’. Story and scenario by Julia Tolsva. Directed by Herbert Brenon. Photographed by Tom Molloy. Pearl White . .Holmes Herbert .... Gilbert Emery Lawrence Johnson Augustus Balfour Eulalie Jensen PRESS NOTICE— STORY The theme of the new Pearl White picture which comes to the theatre next and is based upon the discontented atmosphere of the home. The heroine has everything to make her happy — a loving husband who showers her with gifts and attentions, a little child and a splendid home. Yet she is discontented probably because there is no struggle to attain these pleasures. The other man comes into her life and steals her love. The husband, unwilling to stand in the way — ever (jesirous of making her happy, consents to a divorce, although he keeps the child. Once the wife is married to the interloper her life is far from happy. She is embarrassed and humiliated. Her new husband showers his attentions upon a celebrated actress, but the wife intercedes. The climax is a startling surprise. To reveal it would be robbing the patron of that suspense which keeps his interest at attention. Suffice to say that it is a picture carrying sufficient action and drama and plenty of heart appeal to please everywhere. Miss White makes the central figure a warmly sympathetic character. In the supporting company are Holmes Herbert, Gilbert Emery and Eulalie Jensen. Herbert Brenon directed. PROGRAM READERS You don’t know Mrs. Hill do you? Well, we are going to introduce you to her. She has a message for discontented women — wives especially. She had a fine home, servants, a devoted and loving husband and a darling little son. But she wasn’t satisfied. She was discontented. Then came the serpent into her life. He fostered her discontent and she listened to him — much to her sorrow. Her husband turned her away — but let her tell you the story herself on the screen next and . where she opens in “ Any Wife,” the Fox feature. Pearl White is the star. The offering isn’t a sermon. It is just a slice of life that any wife might have lived — if she were discontented. Remember next . SUGGESTIONS A line of argument having to do with discontented marriages would stimulate a deal of curiosity concerning this picture. Marital problems would help put this over. Play up the fact that most wives are discontented when they have no object in life. If their husbands shower them with too much pleasure — give them everything which will suggest happiness — it is natural that they will be overfed. The result is they become restless. This is an age-old theme with psycho-analysts. Play up the title. Mention that Pearl White is the star. Mention that it is a timely story — not the least bit a preachment, but telling a story that is really a slice of life. Bring forth that this drama could happen and is probably happening everywhere. CATCH LINES Are you discontented with married life? Do you feel penned up? Are you tired' of household duties? Come and see Pearl White in “ Any Wife.”