The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

Vol. 13, No. 19 The Moving Picture Weekly 11 Dramatic Story for Film Star s Special Attraction Picture AFTER a brilliant career on the dramatic stage, followed by a succession of triumphs on the screen, Harry Carey is now recognized as the foremost exponent of the Western photodrama. Universal, under whose banner he has starred for the past four years, owing to his tremendous popularity, decided to make him a Jewel star, which places him in the same category as the productions of Priscilla Dean, Erich von Stroheim, Tod Browning and the other super-attractions comprising the Universal special features. For his final program attraction Harry Carey appears in "Desperate Trails," a story of such remarkable strength, such sheer dramatic force and so wonderfully acted by an all-star cast, that it will serve as an introduction to the Jewel features in which he is to be seen from now on. Harry Carey came to the screen with a liberal education, a fine record as actor and playwright, and with a marvelous physique gained through years of hard work on a Montana ranch. He was born in New York, the son of a prominent judge, and until he was in his twenties had never ridden a horse except the saddle animals one sees in Central Park. Yet now he is recognized among the halfdozen most daring horsemen on the screen. His early screen training was received with the old Biograph Company under the direction of David Griffith, being one of that group of players which included the Gish Sisters, Henry Walthall, Blanche Sweet and others who rose to stardom. Haiiy Caxey m D£SPERATE TRA IL S " its a w^n/etiSAL Two beautiful women, radically different in type but equally capable, support the Western star in his most recent Universal photodrama, "Desperate Trails." Irene Rich, whose screen personality has endeared her to thousands, appears in the leading feminine role, while Barbara LaMar, the vivacious brunette, has a less heroic but nevertheless interesting characterization of an unfaithful girl. "Desperate Trails" was written as an original story for the Red Book Magazine by Courtney Ryley Cooper and was widely read by lovers of Western action. Purchased by Universal it was given to Elliott J. Clawson for screen adaptation and filmed under the direction of Jack Ford. With the amazing story of a man who goes to prison for arotlier and then finds that he has been made the pawn of an unfaithful woman, as the basic theme, Harry Carey does his most appealing screen work in the heroic role of Bart Carson. Wkat's at tke Playk ouse To-Nigkt ? Harry Carey in "Desperate Trails" T~'HERE is something romantic -■• about an overland train thundering through a rain-veiled night, with the headlight drilling a glowing hole in the darkness. Such a scene adds to the dramatic force and the artistic appeal of "Desperate Trails," Harry Carey's Universal feature, which is now showing at the 'The prison scenes in "Desperate 1 Trails," the Western photodrama in which Harry Carey is winning such great success at the Theatre, were taken in the penitentiary of a Western State and many real convicts appeared as characters in the play. The escape is a counterpart of one which actually occurred in that prison a few months ago. I T is doubtful if any photodrama of * recent months has contained a scene as heart-tugging in its effects and as beautiful in its execution as the final sequence in "Desperate Trails," in which Harry Carey is making more friends than ever at the Theatre. 'THERE is more action to the square inch crowded into every foot of film displayed at the Theatre than has been enjoyed by a local audience in a long time. The photodrama is called "Desperate Trails" and its star is none other than the ace of the Western drama, Harry Carey. The story was written by Courtney Ryley Cooper and was directed by Jack Ford.