Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

Glhpough the Dox-Office °Mndcrw J w Reviewers' Views On "feature tyilm Sdited bij C.S. Sewell “New York” Several Paramount Favorites Are Featured in A Colorful Melodrama of Real New York Life Adolph Zukor and Jesse Lasky present “Xew York*1 Directed by Luther Reed A Paramount Picture CAST: Michael Cassidy Ricardo Cortez Marjorie Church Lois Wilson Angie Miller Estelle Taylor Trent Regan William Powell Randolph Church Norman Trevor Buck Richard Gallagher Length — 6.S77 Feet Bowery musician becomes engaged to society heiress and is visited by old sweetheart whose jealous husband kills her. Musician is tried and found guilty of murder but eventually the truth comes out and he marries the heiress. Colorful melodrama of New York. PATENTLY FOUNDED on a recent news sensation, “New York” is rather a loosely constructed melodrama making its chief appeal through the locale of the major part of the story and saved from tiresomeness largely through good acting and even better direction. The suspense is arrived at through the simple process of disregarding of logical conditions and accepting only that which serves the author’s purpose, but there is suspense and interest in spite of that. Much of the action takes place in a dive on the lower East Side and later in the apartments of the successful song writer in the same locality. The man who knows his New York will wonder what the players are doing under the Queensboro bridge, four or five miles from the location of the other scenes but there are some authentic street shots in the section represented, and the general color is excellent. Outside of New York the bridge will be accepted without question, and this play will appeal particularly to the small town audiences. William Powell fares best in the matter of opportunity. He dominates the play and yet he never rants around, making his impression through sinister reserve rather than through threat and gesticulation. Ricardo Cortez is excellent as the trap drummer whose sense of rhythm brings him fortune as a song writer and the idea of letting him compose on the snare drum rather than the piano is not as far-fetched as might appear. He is natural and convincing in a none too colorful role. He is given able support by Richard Gallagher, who plays his collaborator and arranger, whose quick wit solves the supposed murder problem. Lois Wilson is very charming in the role of a rather forward society girl, but is blanketed by Estelle Taylor as the girl of the slums. This is the best drawn character in the play and a welcome relief from the “tough girl” who has been standard since the day of Ada Lewis. Miss Taylor is real. She does not chew gum audibly and visibly, she does not slouch or strut. She apes, as far as she is able, the airs and dress of society, never quite achieving the effect, but never a burlesque. It is a finely considered character,, and in her big scene she rises to every demand without overaction. There are a number of clever directorial touches, notably the shortening of the court room scene through the rapid imposition of one witness upon another, and in the scene where Angie and Trent are waiting the return of Mike to his apartment. Here the passage of time is cleverly suggested through slight changes in the poses of the two players, gaining tensity through the absence of time sub-titles. “New York” is not a notable production,, but it probably will fare better than much more able drama, since it possesses the elements of popular success. “The Auctioneer” George Sidney Gives Fine Performance in Title Role of Another Belasco-Warfield Stage Success OF THE SERIES OF PLAYS produced by David Belasco in which David Warfield scored phenomenal successes, and which are now being offered in screen form by William Fox, “The Auctioneer” is of especial interest as it Was Warfield’s first under Belasco’s management. Unlike “The Return of Peter Grimm” and “The Music Master” which have already reached the screen with David Francis in the title roles, “The Auctioneer” is being offered with George Sidney in the stellar role. Alfred E. Green made the screen version and Sidney has been surrounded by a wellselected and thoroughly competent cast including Marion Nixon, Gareth Hughes and Doris Lloyd, also Sammy Cohen who scored a hit in “What Price Glory.” As a play “The Auctioneer” preceded by a score of years the Hebrew-Gentile human interest comedy dramas of which there have been so many recently and it depended for its success to a great extent on the magnifi cent work of Warfield with its strong emotional appeal into which was injected excellent touches of natural comedy, for the story itself is slight. The same holds good for the screen production. So far as the plot interest is concerned it is considerably drawn out and moves forward rather slowly. More emphasis has been placed on the comedy but it is principally on the characterization of George Sidney that the audience appeal depends, and he certainly gives an excellent performance, although of a different type from Warfield, in this role. This simple little story is rich in human interest and emotional appeal and George Sidney gives a performance that alternately plays upon the emotions and keeps the spectator in smiles. It is thoroughly human and appealing and holds the interest. The scenes in the pawnbroker shop, the schemes of the auctioneer to make sales by using all sorts of tricks follow the lines of familiar Hebrew Comedy and are very effective as is also the showing of the other side of his character in his kindness and gentleness. The introduction of a battling kangaroo, brought in by a sailor to pawn, introduces hilarious comedy and this animal is again used for an effective comedy finish. Marion Nixon is excellent as the Gentile ward and Gareth Hughes capably handles the role of her sweetheart. Sammy Cohen, as the auctioneer’s rather dumb clerk is genuinely amusing and proves an excellent foil for Sidney in these scenes. Due to the excellent characterization of Sidney and the supporting cast and the strong human interest angle together with the good comedy, “The Auctioneer” holds the interest and provides pleasing entertainment. William Fox presents “The Auctioneer” With George Sidney Based on play by Charles Klein and Lee Arthur Directed by Alfred E. Green CAST: Simon Levi George Sidney Ruth Levi Marion Nixon Richard Eagan Gareth Hughes Esther Levi Doris Lloyd Paul Groode. . Ward Crane Mo Sammy Cohen Length — 5,500 Feet Simon, successful autioneer. puts money in investment company to help his gentile ward’s sweetheart and loses everything. Starting again as peddler, he catches the crooked broker, gets back his money and all ends happily. Amusing heart-interest drama.