Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1922)

Pre-release Reviews of Features 44 The Toll of the Sea ” Technicolor-Metro — Six Reels ( Reviewed by Laurence Reid) IN reviewing this picture it calls to mind a predecessor in the color scheme, namely, “ The Glorious Adventure.” And we can safely state that it surpasses the earlier work in the harmony of its colors and the discrimination with which they have been employed. Indeed they blend much better without such a predominance of red. The picture is satisfying to the eye. Pictorially it is exquisitely beautiful with the colors clearly and brightly exposed. It doesn’t matter so much what the story contains, for the picture will succeed or fail with its color scheme. We for one cannot see how it can fail. Naturally “ The Toll of the Sea ” will be followed by other pictures embellished with colors. This one will be talked about and used as an argument for further experimentation along this line. The story lends itself admirably to the Technicolor process, since it is based upon an old Chinese legend. Some of these scenes are positively enchanting. Really one can travel the globe and fail to find color effects more beautiful than what the Chinese have to offer. The picture is not only a distinct achievement in colors, but its story is of a surpassing quality even though it bears a similarity to the “ Mme. Butterfly ” theme. The director and the scenarist have cooperated splendidly in giving the production a quality of genuineness. They have worked with sympathetic appreciation. The story tells of the sea which occasionally gives up wondrous gifts but demands a heavy price. The unconscious body of an American is washed up by the waves and Lotus Flower is happy. He deserts her eventually after he has won her love. The acting is fine, particularly the portrayal of the heroine by a real Chinese girl, Anna May Wong. Her pantomime is rich with tender emotion and feeling. She is just what she pretends to be — a trusting child of lost love — a broken blossom. “ The Toll of the Sea ” is a persuasive picture which is saturated with romance and beauty. The exhibitor who books it will be giving his patrons a real treat.” The Cast Lotus Flower Allen Carver Barbara Carver Little Allen Gossips Anna May Wong ..Kenneth Harlan .Beatrice Bentley Baby Moran J Etta Lee ‘ " ' l Ming Young By Frances Marion. Directed by Chester M. Franklin. Photographed by J. A. Ball. Produced by Technicolor. The Story — Is based on old Chinese legend which relates that the sea often gives up wondrous gifts but demands a heavy price. An American is washed up by the waves and rescued by a Chinese girl. They fall in love, but be eventually leaves her for a girl of his own race. Classification — Romance enhanced by color process. Production Highlights — The remarkable beautiful scenes showing rich colors. The backgrounds. The fine direction. The romantic quality. The acting of Anna May Wong. The pictorial quality. Exploitation Angles — Picture needs ballyhooing on its color scheme. Should cooperate with local papers who can inspire interest with proper display and ads. Calls for picturesque prologue with Chinese background. Drazving Power — Should appeal to audiences of discrimination everywhere. Best suited for high class houses. “ Cupid's Elephant,” Fox Sunshine Comedy 44 Dawn of Revenge ” Ay won — Five Reels (Reviewed by Laurence Reid) A CRUDE melodrama is this “ Dawn of Revenge ” — one dependent upon farfetched incident which is anything but wholesome in its appeal. Those spectators who demand something in the shape of sensational plotting regardless of the absence of the human note will likely gather some entertainment from it. But even these same spectators are apt to be disappointed that such a plot has to serve as screen material in this day when authors and directors are searching for the heart touch. The central figure is a half-crazed cripple, whose mind has become unbalanced through an injury he meets when shoved off a cliff by his successful rival. The girl has transferred her affection and this lonely miner threatens her life. The fortunate suitor comes to the rescue and the disappointed miner suffers his injury. What transpires subsequently is the product of his unbalanced mind. The cripple steals the son of his rival and brings him up as his own. Still vengeful, although years elapse, he plots to marry the boy off to his own sister. But, lo and behold, the girl is discovered to be the adopted daughter of the successful rival and his wife. There is considerable more plotting which is as unconvincing as it is unwholesome. Let it be said that the disciple of evil is his own executioner in the end. And the others find a belated happiness. The picture has nothing to recommend it on the side of clean entertainment, and the players struggle hopelessly with their roles. Try as they might they cannot make the story and characterization seem real. The Cast “Ace” Hall Alice Blake Miles Nelson Miles Judson Hall Baba Sherry Miles Charles Graham ■ Florence Foster Louis Dean Richard Travers ...May Daggert Muriel Kingston (Released by Ay won. The Story — Man disappointed in love affair vows vengeance upon the bride and her husband. He kidnaps their infant son and rears him as his own. After a lapse of years the husband tries to buy the land occupied by the vengeful rival. The latter learns that the husband has a beautiful daughter. Still vengeful he is determined to marry the boy off to his own sister. The ceremony is performed but the mother declares that the girl is an adopted child. The man of hate is killed in an explosion. Classification — Melodrama based upon conflict of disappointed lover who schemes diabolical revenge. Production Highlights — The photography and capable work by the cast. Exploitation Angles — Would advise using soft pedal on plot since it is based upon hate and revenge. Feature the cast. Drawing Power — Would advise using this on double feature day. Not suitable for feminine audiences. 44 Wliat Fools Men Are ” Pyramid-American Releasing — Six Reels (Reviewed by Laurence Reid) EUGENE WALTER has indicted the flapper as a mercenary creature who takes everything and gives nothing in return until she is brought up sharp with realities in this story of a triangle which carries an additional plot of a conflict between a father and his “flipper” son. Patrons who see it will call it fair-to-middlin’ entertainment in that it offers a slice of modern life even though the climax may be anticipated from the opening reel. For one thing it has an even, progressive continuity as prepared by Peter Milne, and the director has done a good job of it despite the fact that he resorts to padding here and there and a slowing up of the tempo to carry it through to feature length. You know that the flapper will break up her sister’s home and that the youth she intrigues into matrimony will eventually make peace with his wealthy father when he is determined to make a man of himself by going to work. The episodes are stressed with pathos which seem exaggerated. The flapper is taken altogether too seriously by the rest of the household. She plays with men’s hearts as a cat would play with a mouse. The interludes present her having a gay little fling before she comes to her senses and restores the wife to her husband and develops some character herself.. The plot is really frail because the sequences which reveal the separation and the ultimate reunibn could be told in three reels. However, it is balanced with adequate local color and incident. It strikes us that the director has allowed Faire Binney as the flapper to face the camera too much, with the result that she appears to be posing most of the time, and the maid, played by Lucy Fox, has too much prominence in the plot. The most genuine figure is the boy’s father, as portrayed by Barney Sherry. Miss Binney is a good type for the part, even though she has scenes which tax her emotional capabilities. There is a little lesson attached to the story and it is genuine enough to score most everywhere. The settings, titles and photography are of a first rate quality. The Cast Peggy Kendricks Faire Binney Bartley Claybourne Huntley Gordon Kate Claybourne Florence Billings Ralph Demarest Joseph Striker Demarest, Senior. . Barney Sherry Lawyer Templar Saxe Ola, the maid Lucy Fox By Eugene Walter. Scenario by Peter Milne. Directed by George Terwilliger. Produced by Pyramid. The Story— Flapper wins husband’s love away from her sister and dabbles in men’s hearts on the side. After she has toyed with his affections, she encourages rich man’s son to marry her. Eventually the girl comes to her senses and patches up the quarrel between the husband and wife. She also learns to appreciate what true love means. Classification— Domestic drama carrying a triangle theme. Production Highlights — The moral attached to theme. The reality of story. The setting. The photography. The good continuity. Exploitation— This suggests a teaser campaign based upon theme and title. Play up fact that noted playwright wrote it. Use stills of Faire Binney who screens remarkably well. Drawing Power — Good for any neighborhood house and will please patrons in second class downtown houses. Younger set will enjoy it.