Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

February 25, 1922 1269 “THE BROADWAY PEACOCK” (Fox) “ALF’S BUTTON” (First National) Pearl White Has More Emotional Opportunities in Stage Story THIS is a companion piece to “ Any Wife ” in the sense that it gives Pearl White further opportunities to display an emotional talent. Time was when the erstwhile serial queen was putting over the circus stunts, and so strongly did she emphasize her personality in this direction that many of her followers are not yet reconciled to the fact that Miss White can “ troupe ” with the majority of her sisters of the profession. “ The Broadway Peacock ” is a stage story carrying very little physical action but relying upon shadings, subtleties and much romance and atmosphere for its interesting qualities. The title, incidentally, is a winner for this type of feature. The star plays a colorful role — that a stage star affectionately called “ The Broadway Peacock.” The story is an obvious one, but because of this obviousness one is pleasingly surprised when the ending arrives bringing with it an unconventional climax. The broken romance is not colored with sweet, sticky sentiment, but is allowed to culminate as it often happens in real life. And anyone who follows the stage knows that it isn’t a bed of roses. Tragedy and sorrow follow its devious paths more often than sunshine and light. Miss White is a fitting personality for the title role, giving the character a warmth and sympathy and color wholly in keeping with the incident and the idea conveyed by the author. The main theme is nothing but a broken romance inspired a great deal from jealousy. The heroine is hostess of a cabaret is engaged to a young aristocrat. He pays prompt attention to her until he falls in love with a young girl who has been befriended by the actress. The latter discovers them together and orders them to leave her house and, being heartbroken, goes to the youth’s mother with the intention of branded her youthful rival as disreputable. The heroine repents of her conduct and the youthful lovers are married. The picture builds well, it being directed with economy so that there is no waste of footage. The scenes are well conceived and executed and carry the action along appropriately. Being a stage story the glamour of the profession will interest the spectator. It is competently acted by Miss White and a supporting cast that includes Doris Eaton, Harry Southard, Joseph Stryker and Elizabeth Garrison. Charles J. Brabin wrote and directed the picture from a story by Julia Tolsva. Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Myrtle May Pearl White Harold Van Tassle Joseph Stryker Rose Doris Raton By Julia Tolsva. Scenario by Charles J. Brabin. Directed by Charles J. Brabin. Carries Novelty Although Entirely Too Long THIS First National release made in England contains a first rate comedy idea although to be judged solely as entertainment it is entirely too long for feature length. The story back of “ Alf’s Button ” is a fanciful thing — one bearing a strange resemblance to “Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp.” In fact it is a distant relative to that fantastic tale. By means of exploiting an English comedian who, seemingly knows his work, and using a deal of double exposure and other trick feats of the camera, there is constructed a picture which is often amusing despite the fact that much repetition is involved. The action opens on a cockney soldier in the trenches — a sort of lazy, good-natured fellow who, when he is given a new uniform, is reminded to keep the buttons of his coat highly polished. It is when he rubs the second button that a genie appears and instantly becomes his slave. All that Alf has to do is to express a wish and it is gratified. The cockney has a buddy who acts as a foil. The hero wishes for a stein of beer and presto! — the genie brings it to him. Alf and his pal are next discovered in high society and later in a harem, and so on until he marries. Then he grows tired of buttons, genies and other supernatural impulses and marries, and his wife returns the button to the slave. It may be said that time and place are completely annihilated in Alf’s fantastic journeys or pilgrimages and a number of them build humorous situations. However, after three reels have traveled through the machine, one becomes a trifle tired. It is all the same. Presented with a full-grown orchestra the picture certainly possesses its amusing possibilities. The emphasis of a drum or trombone or other musical or noisy effects can heighten a situation and make it truly mirthful. “ Alf’s Button ” through its fanciful plot is a novelty and should be accepted by the exhibitor as such. If he exploits it as something new in comedy ideas there is no question that he can make it pay at his theatre. As it usually happens in English products, the lighting and photography are consistently cloudy and “ pin-pointy.” But on the credit side of it presents a good comedian — a perfect type, incidentally, in Leslie Henson. The double exposure work is not especially meritorious. However, the titles are truly cockney and carry no little humor. Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Al£ ’iggins Liz Bill The Genie Dennis Allen Lady FitzPeter Isabel FitzPeter By W. A. Darlington. Directed by Cecil N. Hepworth. ..Leslie Henson . . . .Alma Taylor .John McAndrew . . .James Carewe . . . . Gerald Ames Gwynne Herbert ..Eileen Dennis PRESS NOTICE— STORY “ The Broadway Peacock,” a colorful story of the stage, will be the feature attraction at the theatre with Pearl White as the star. The offering will appear next . Miss White displays an emotional power which is as surprising as it is artistic in the role of Myrtle May, commonly called “ The Broadway Peacock.” The patrons who remember the star as an exponent of serials will admit that she is capable enough in expression to enact the roles found in dramatic subjects. The picture is based upon a broken romance with Myrtle May being worshipped by a rich youth, until he happens to find a girl nearer his own age. This girl has been a protege of Myrtle and it piques her to find Rose stealing the affections of the youth. She ejects the girl from her home and attempts to embarrass her former fiance. Eventually, however, she becomes conscience-stricken and makes amends for her attitude. “ The Broadway Peacock ” is surrounded by charming atmosphere and is well acted by a cast that includes Joseph Stryker, Harry Southard, Doris Eaton and others. It is a typical story of the stage and fascinates with its intimate touches. PROGRAM READER They called her the Broadway Peacock because of her ability to wear clothes and command attention through her bizarre personality. Her real name was Myrtle May, a gifted Broadway actress who suffered a broken romance. This picture is unlike the usual story of the stage. It offers a surprise climax which is as unusual as it is entertaining and interesting. The Broadway queen discovers that her fame is fleeting — that there are younger girls who are bidding for popularity. She attempts to embarrass her new friends. Then — But, come to the theatre next and see Pearl White in the picture. It is one that will arouse your interest. It is presented with charming atmosphere, carries a fine romance and enough intimate life back stage to please anyone. A notable cast assists the star. SUGGESTIONS This title and the popularity y>f the star will help a lot in putting this picture across. The title, in particular, is sufficiently attractive to intrigue the imagination. You can bill it as a stage story — of that life back stage which is ever fascinating to the spectator unacquainted with it. Make mention that Miss White will surprise the spectators with her finished emotional acting — that the former queen of the serials has qualified to play any and all emotional roles. Make use of the stills showing the star wearing a lavish wardrobe. For a prologue you can put over a tabloid sketch of life back stage with a central figure being well garbed and executing a dance or singing a song. CATCH LINES See Pearl White in her finest role. See the popular star in “ The Broadway Peacock.” A picture filled with sentiment, romance and pathos. A picture of life back stage. Don’t miss the opportunity to see Pearl White in “ The Broadway Peacock,” a picture of stage life. PRESS NOTICE— STORY The adventure of a cockney soldier in “ high society ” are amusingly shown in “ Alf’s Button,” which comes to the theatre next . The humor centers about the manner in which Alf, the central figure, is able to carry out his wishes and desires. Alf is a lovable chap, somewhat careless about his dress and mannners and unable to look at life seriously. Through chance he comes into possession of the means of summoning a genie, who has the power to carry out any and all commands. Alf cannot take care of his clothes. A new uniform is issued to him when the old one becomes disreputable. Then is when his troubles begin. For the second brass button on the coat had been made out of Aladdin’s lamp, of which fact Alf is not aware at the time. It did not take long for the button to tarnish, so when the cockney rubbed it to make it clean, the genie appeared, willing to obey his commands. The manner in which Alf makes use of this supernatural power furnishes some richly humorous situations. Time and place are annihilated . and Alf gets everything he wants. His wishes include a harem, a country estate, entry into high society, beer and a few other trifles. When he marries his wife gives the butttcn back to the genie, the reason being that Alf had tired of its use. PROGRAM READER Alf was a plain sort of guy. His tastes were simple. He just wanted a home. So he rubbed the magic button on the coat of his uniform, and oh — boy! — he got a harem. The story relates the adventures of Alf and his magic button made from Aladdin’s lamp. As master of the “ slave of the button ” Alf is not at all slow in issuing orders. Good things come to him. He rubs the button and pretty girls appear. He gets beer, an entry into high society and other things. Alf is the luckiest man in the world. But he marries after a time and tires of the button. Come to the theatre next and see “ Alf’s Button,” an amusing picture of fancy and imagination. It is similar to the story of “ Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp.” SUGGESTIONS , How would you like to rub a button on your coat and find yourself the possessor of a harem? That’s the experience that came to Alf, the cockney soldier. If you play up this line of argument with a snappy line of advertising, asking your customers a series of pertinent questions as outlined above, the picture will stimulate a deal of curiosity. Mention that the story is a fanciful, imaginative one — similar to the famous tale of “ Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp.” Tell them that it is a novelty likely to amuse them through its rich situations. You can present a prologue after the fashion of Aladdin. A soldier can be presented, rubbing the magic button and immediately be followed by the dancing girls. CATCH LINES Come and enjoy a good laugh from the novel comedy, “ Alf’s Button.” He rubbed the button of his coat and presto ! — great pleasures and rich gifts came to him. See “ Alf’s Button,” a picture of novel and delicious humor. Remember Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp? Well, Alf has a button made from the lamp, and he rubs it and it brings all sorts of gifts and pleasures. See it.