Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1276 Moti on Picture News “THE NIGHT ROSE (Goldwyn) “PENROD” (First National) Vivid Lnderivorld Melodrama Is Excellently Acted by Lon Chaney IN New York censorship circles this Goldwyn picture, entitled “ The Night Rose,” the work of a favorite author, has aroused much discussion. In fact, it is “ taboo ” in the Empire State, owing to the belief of the commission that crime and crookdom are held under the spotlight and might have a tendency to corrupt the young and old impressionables. Missouri has said “ Show me! ” And the state hasn’t gone to the bow-wows as yet. Frankly speaking, “ The Night Rose ” does not differ from dozens of other stories which have been screened and which have carried identical plots. It holds the light up to raw realities — not mincing matters in its approach to life, but telling its plot as it might be told in a crowded courtroom. It is said that the author has evolved his tale from facts. Crooked politics form the very naked background of the story, the central theme concerning San Francisco’s underworld. It is melodramatic and carries some tense action and a fair sample of suspense. The producers have assembled a well known cast, with Lon Chaney climbing to the histrionic heights, as usual, in his portrayal of aj crooked hotel proprietor. In some respects his work is the one redeeming factor in the picture, for the theme is lax in several spots and several of the cast do not always keep in character. The photography is exceptionally good, but the interior scenes cannot be considered anything out of the ordinary, with the exception, possibly, of the ball-room sequence. You are introduced to the heroine, played by Leatrice Joy, as she witnesses the shooting of a policeman while in an underworld cafe with her sweetheart, portrayed by Cullen Landis. The girl is driven from home by her mother and the youth takes her to O’Rourke’s hotel, where she becomes known as the “ Night Rose,” making her appearance after dark. One of the proprietor’s men shoots the young man and the heroine, believing him dead, attempts to slay O’Rourke (the part played by Chaney) in the ball-room, but the hotel man’s former sweetheart grabs the revolver and beats her to it. The heroine returns home, finds the youth recovering from his wound and receives her mother’s forgiveness. The fans who like melodramatic fare with a kick in it will be attracted to “ The Night Rose.” Catering to this type of patron, and he is the red-blooded individual eating three squares a day, the picture possesses a real box-office value. Length, 6 reels. — Eugene Carlton. Georgia Rodman O’Rourke Graham Jimmy Clancy Mary Rodman . . Mrs. Rodman . . Sally Pierson Courey Garrison THE CAST Leatrice Joy Lon Chaney John Bowers Cullen Landis Richard Tucker Mary Warren Edythe Chapman Betty Schade M. B. (Lefty) Flynn H. Milton Ross John Cossar By Leroy Scott. Scenario by Arthur Statter. Directed by Wallace Worsley. PRESS NOTICE— STORY The attraction at the theatre next is “ The Night Rose,” adapted by Arthur Statter from Leroy Scott’s story of the same name and directed by Wallace Worsley. This is a dramatic document of underworld life with a cast comprising Lon Chaney, Leatrice Joy, John Bowers, Cullen Landis, Richard Tucker, Mary Warren, Edythe Chapman, Betty Schade, Maurice Flynn, Milton Ross and John Cossar. The reader can see that this assembly of players is of all-star proportions. The company alone should insure an interesting picture. It is said that the author assisted Mr. Worsley in the direction, thus assuring a production which adheres strictly to the printed page. The heroine witnesses the shooting of a policeman while in an underworld cafe with her sweetheart, Jimmy. She is driven from home by her mother and the youth takes her to a shady hotel where she becomes known as the “ Night Rose,” appearing only after dark. Jimmy is shot and the girl believing him dead, attempts to slay the proprietor. His former sweetheart grabs the revolver and beats her to it. The heroine returns home, finds Jimmy recovering from his wound, and is forgiven by her mother. The picture unfolds a deal of tense drama and is excellently acted. PROGRAM READER A vivid tale of the underworld — a tense drama of life as it is found in the slums of San Francisco is “ The Night Rose,” which comes to the theatre next with an all-star cast comprising such well known and competent players as Lon Chaney, Leatrice Joy, Cullen Landis, John Bowers, Richard Tucker, Mary Warren, Edythe Chapman, Maurice (Lefty) Flynn, John Cossar and others. This vivid drama is adapted from Leroy Scott’s vital story and it is said that the author assisted the director in the production, thus assuring an authentic version of the screen play. We will not acquaint you with the contents of this graphic story. Suffice to say that it carries a full quota of exciting scenes and is rich melodrama in every particular. SUGGESTIONS This picture is a vivid melodrama of the underworld — a story of crooks-^— of a girl who defies her mother — of a girl who shoots to kill, to avenge the. wounding of her lover. Do not give away the plot, but acquaint your crowd with the fact that tense exciting, graphic, picturesque entertainment is assured them when they see “ The Night Rose.” Play up the author, Leroy Scott, and emphasize that he is one of the leading fictionists writing modern literature. Play up that he is truly an eminent author. The cast is a large and notable one and you should mention each member — particularly Leatrice Joy, Lon Chaney, John Bowers, Cullen Landis, Edythe Chapman, and Mary Warren. Play up that the picture is a tense drama filled with crisp scenes, offering action and suspense. A prologue can feature a tabloid sketch of the story. This will provide fitting atmosphere. Delightful Revel of Boyhood Life un ENROD ” is a humorous revel of boyhood life and one of the biggest laughs of the season. Everyone who ever had a JL happy childhood will like it, with its kid’s circus, battle of the rival gangs, bits of humor, and occasional thrill, like when the boys capture a pair of bandits. The Booth Tarkington “ Penrod ” stories, with Wesley Barry as the inventive and ingenious hero, all his pals and juvenile enemies have been brought to the screen with every bit of humor and naturalness of the original. There are a lot of famous child players and players who are famous for their portrayal of juvenile parts in the cast. Frederick Morrison (Sunshine Sammy) has forsaken the Hal Roach lot long enough to play a part. Then there is Claire McDowell, Marjorie Daw and Clara Horton. The young Mr. Barry, however, is the king of the gang. He it is who organizes and sees to it that he is elected president of the American Boys’ Protective Association, that has “ nishiashons,” secret meetings, “ symbols ” and grips, with lodge rooms and general headquarters in the cave the thirty members have dug in the ground and furnished to suit their fancy. Of course, the sedate grownups of the town, even as you and I, frown on the organization, but one day “ Penrod ” and his society capture two notorious bandits that have been terrorizing the neighborhood, for which they win the gratitude of the whole community, to say nothing of earning for themselves such glory as never a boy could hope for. There is a childhood love affair that adds interest to the story, but for the most part the picture is just great entertainment of the sort that Booth Tarkington can and Mark Twain could write, visualized as Marshall Neilan’s genius can do it. All America is going to laugh with “ Penrod.” Length, 8,037 feet. — John E. Kennebeck. THE CAST Freckles Barry Tully Marshall Claire McDowell Wheler Dryden Johnny Harron Frederick (Sunshine Sammy) Morrison Mayme Kelso Florence Morrison Baby Peggy Montgomery... Mrs. Grace Green Earl Crain Fred Thompson Theoodre Chapin Junior Alden Winston Radom Harry Griffith Adelaide Baxter Francis Plottner Charles Meakin Harry Todd Lena Baskett Julian Lenne Marjorie Daw Bernice Rodom Clara Horton Gordon Griffith George Dromgold Virginia True Bordman Charles Arling Newton Hall Noah Beery, Jr. Bennie Billings Jack Condon Peggy Cartwright Bradford Ralston Graham Griffith Stephen Welz Billie Bennett May Baxter Kenneth Green . . . Carrie Clarke Ward R. D. Saunders Blanche Light Eugenie Besserer Cecil Holland From the Booth Tarkington Stories. Scenario by Lucita Squier. Directed by Marshall Neilan. PRESS NOTICE— STORY “ Penrod ” and his gang, those honest-to-goodness boys of Booth Tarkington’s stories, are coming to the theatre for a days’ engagement next . in a wonderful juvenile pictutre made by Marshall Neilan and distributed by First National. Wesley Barry is “ Penrod,” that inventive and ingenious youngster who organized the American Boys’ Protective Society, got himself elected president and finally captured the notorious bandits who had been robbing the whole neighborhood, with the aid of his gang. “ Penrod’s ” supporting cast includes a big company of juvenile and grown-up players of renown. There is “ Sunshine Sammy,” the little colored boy with a host of friends; Claire McDowell, Clara Horton, Marjorie Daw and Tully Marshall, to say nothing of a half hundred of lesser lights. “ Penrod ” is for entertainment purposes only, but it is a king pin of its kind. Few people who remember their own childhood will want to miss it. PROGRAM READER Marshall Neilan’s “ Penrod,” a picturization of Booth Tarkington’s stories of the same name, with Wesley Barry in the title role and a cast of half a hundred, will be the feature photoplay attraction at the theatre for a days’ showing beginning . It is a humorous and entertaining story that the picturization of “ Penrod ” tells. Wesley (Penrod) has organized a society with “ grips,” “ nishiathions ” and “ symbols.” The soceity meets in a cave they have dug, much against the wishes of the grown-ups of the village, who look askance on the new fraternal order. Finally after the boys capture two notorious bandits parental objections turn into parental favor. There are few people who have so far forgotten their own childhood days as to want to miss this picture of real boys and girls playing away as only happy childhood can. SUGGESTIONS Bill this as entertainment, giving prospective patrons an idea of what they are going to see with particular attention to the cast, even to splitting the billing that ordinarily would go to the star. Let your advertising be light and snappy. Promise laughs. Mentoin Booth Tarkington, but don’t overdo it There is a great chance for hokum exploitation, window display tie-ups, lobby displays and juvenile actor prologue. CATCH LINES You cannot afford to miss seeing Freckles Barry, Sunshine Sammy, and the other juvenile stars in this humorous and at times exciting picture about a boy’s society that captured two bandits, licked the alley gang, put on a circus and did a lot of other things that will bring back your own happy childhood and send you home with a smile on your lips. It’s great entertainment.