Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

144 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 8, 1927 “Valencia” Color! ul and Spectacular Spanish Romance Produced by Buchowetzki Stars Mae Murray D EARING THE NAME of one of Spain’s most beautiful and picturesque cities, “Valencia,” the newest Metro-GoldwynMayer production starring Mae Murray, is a colorful romance that, appropriately, is entirely Spanish in story, atmosphere and settings, with every member of the cast portraying a Spanish role. Dimitri Buchowetzski, who directed the production, also collaborated on the story and probably because of the very slight plot thread, has gone in lavishly for the picturesque and given the picture a sumptuous production. In this angle lies the film’s greatest appeal, although a particularly ardent if rather unconvincing romance and considerable legitimate comedy relief add to the entertainment value. The idea of the plot is that the heroine, who also bears the same name as the Spanish city, is loved by a sailor and by the haughty and conceited governor. She is a vivacious and rather flirtatious dancer, but eventually realizes her real love for the sailor and after saving him from the governor’s wrath, shares his exile and poverty. Buchowetzki has used a novel device to save the heroine from the governor. When she goes to his apartment to “pay the price” for her lover’s freedom, she weeps so that he orders her thrown out. Miss Murray has a congenial role and Lloyd Hughes makes a picturesque but not entirely convincing hero. Roy D’Arcy gives one of his typical performances as the governor. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Mae Murray in “Valencia” A Dimitri Buchowetzki Production CAST: ' alencia .Mae Murray Felipe Lloyd Hughes Den Fernando Roy D’Arey Don Alvardo Max Barwyn Captain Michael Vavitch Length — 5,680 feet Felipe, a sailor falls madly in love with Valencia, a Spanish dancing girl, who is sought after by Don Fernando, the governor. When Felipe deserts his ship, the Don throws him in prison, but Valencia obtains his release and shares his disgrace and exile. Colorful Spanish romance. “Desert Valley” In Addition to Fast Action There Is a Lot of Peppy Comedy in New Buck Jones Western Adapted from a novel by jack son Gregory, Buck Jones’ newest starring vehicle for William Fox is a story William Fox presents Buck Jones in “Desert Valley” Based on novel by Jackson Gregory A Scott R. Dunlap production CAST: Fitzsmith Buck Jones Mildred Dean Virginia B. Faire Jeff Hoades Malcolm Waite Timothy Dean J. W. Johnston Sheriff Charles Brinley Deputy Eugene Pallette Length — 4,731 feet Fitzsmith, happy-go-lucky stranger, gets mixed up in feud between cattle raisers and villain who seeks to control the water holes. He finally licks the villain and wins the girl. Western with plenty of action and a lot of uproarious comedy. of the West built around the fight of the ranchers against an unscrupulous financier who seeks to drive them away by corralling the water supply necessary for their cattle. Buck has the role of a stranger who lands in jail as the result of trying to steal a pie. Learning that an innocent man is accused of having burst the water pipe he escapes jail, leads the deputies a merry chase, rescues the girl from the villain, saves her father and finally chastises the villain and brings him to terms and wins the girl. In addition to having a lot of typical western action, the first half of this story has been handled in an exceptionally peppy and laughable vein with Buck in a humorous role, doing stunts, pulling comedy gags which are semi-slapstick, eluding his pursuers in an amusing chase and generally having a hilarious time that should prove entertaining to the fans. In fact, he maintains this happygo-lucky attitude right through the serious part even in the climatic and well handled sandstorm scene where he plays dead and then licks the villain after frightening the girl. Virginia Brown Faire gives a good performance as the girl and Malcolm White is a thoroughly competent villain. Eugene Pallette handles the comedy role of the boob deputy with skill. “Desert Valley” is an entertaining western handled in a lighter vein than usual and should please the fans. “The Cyclone Cowboy” Pathe Offers Actionful Western Starring Wally Wales, Directed by Richard Thorpe TN HIS LATEST PRODUCTION, “The A Cyclone Cowboy,” which is being distributed by Pathe, Wally Wales has the opportunity not only of appearing as a typical western red-blooded hero, but also the less romantic role of being the butt of considerable comedy, because of his awkwardness in a society drawing room. When the story moves to the great open spaces, Wally is again in his element, and shows to advantage, while the handsome drawing room lounge lizard is not only ill at ease, but proves to be a coward and Wally, of course, wins the girl. Wally’s guilelessness and willingness to help the other fellow’s romance furnishes a novel note. The comedy is fairly amusing, although of a familiar type, and the action includes fighting, encounters with rustlers, hard riding and other action situations that have many times proved their hold on the western fans. Wally, who is a chap with a pleasing personality, creditably handles the leading role, while Violet Bird is attractive as a girl, and Richard Lee is satisfactory in the thankless role of the lounge lizard. The best performance is contributed by Raye Hampton as the girl’s mother, a vigorous he-woman role. George Magrill capably handles the role of a cattle rustler. “The Cyclone Cowboy” rates as a moderately entertaining program western, with a fair quota of action and comedy and a number of striking exteriors. Lester F. Scott, Jr., presents Wally Wales in “The Cyclone Cowboy” Directed by Richard Thorpe A Pathe picture. CAST : Wally Baxter Wally Wales Norma Violet Bird Ma Tuttle. Raye Hampton Gerald Weitli Richard Lee Laura Tuttle ..Ann Warrington Length — 4,447 feet Norma, a western girl, falls for a city chap and Wally helps along the romance but when the fellow' proves a coward and Wally saves Norma from bandits she realizes that Wally is really the man for her. Good western with action a plenty.