The Moving picture world (December 1920)

Sunday. October 31. 1920 % 1% pnirfticat^ fan in the au Jicnc Good Production and Plenty of Action to Story of Traffic in Drugs "THE MONEY-CHANGERS" Benj. B. Hampton Prod.Pathe DIRECTOR Jack Conway AUTHOR Upton Sinclair SCENARIO BY Wm. H. Clifford CAMERAMAN Harry Vallejc AS A WHOLE Oriental atmosphere and thrill ing light and plot sequences will attract those who seek excitement rather than logic STORY Not always plausible but serves as good material for picture of this type DIRECTION Usually very good; works up to fine climax PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS Good CAMERA WORK Adequate PLAYERS Those in Chinese roles especially do very well; others all fill requirements EXTERIORS Few street scenes not so good INTERIORS Splendid DETAIL Suffice for this production CHARACTER OF STORY Traffic in drugs LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,000 feet This latest Benjamin B. Hampton production written by Upton Sinclair contains the kind of action and general atmosphere of excitement that appeals to ;i pretty large majority of picture patrons despite the fact that its theme will not find favor among a more refined or genteel audience. Its oriental environment with its story of qpium. white slave traffic and the "men higher up/ , who know about it but are well paid for their silence all find their way into "The Money tCh angers." The^actual story material is not entirely new to the screen but it furnishes a new thrill and together with some very fine acting, the production measures up and eVen surpasses to a certain extent, previous | duction of this character. The main reason for this, outside of the fact that the production end of it has been well taken care of, is the fine acting by practically the entire cast. Edward Pcil as Ling Choo Fang gives a very creditable performance throughout the picture and especially in one sort of "Broken Blossoms" touch in which he idolizes a young white girl who i> a white slave victim. Robert McKim is areal vil lainous-creature and .Roy Stewart contributes a good ; as an enterprising young reporter (ATLANTA WEEKLY FILM REVIEW 10/30-20) ALL-STAR CAST IN * THE MONEY-CHANGERS (Pathe) AN INTENSELY INTERESTING DRAMATIC OFFERING Lucy Hegan Claire Ad»ms Allan Martin _ Roy Stewart Hngh Gordon _ Robert McKim Mary Holmes Audrey Chapman Ling Choo Fang Edward Peil r This is an offering that should strike the picture -going ians with a bang. It is intensely absorbing, swift with action, and lavishly produced. The scenes swing from a magnificent drawing .room in a Fifth Avenue home, to a Settlement House in the stums, from there to a Chinese opium den, and thence to an apartment furnished with almost garish luxury— yet in the heart of the worst slums of a big city. The cast is very large and every member of it is well-known to fans; and each acquits himself or herself with honors. The story is too long, and too complicated to outline in the brief space available; suffice -it to say that the story is convincing, logical, and that the interest never drops for a moment. It is melodramatic — but different from a number of melo* dramas in that it does not insult the intelligence of the adult theatre-goer. The main plot deals with the efforts of a newspaper reporter to bring to justice a gang of "dopepeddlers"— and who discovers th»t the leader of this gang is engaged to the girL the reporter loves; there is a sub-plot in which Ling Choo Fang, a Chinese hatchet-man, loves a white girl, the mistress of the leader of the dopepeddlers. Ultimately, the hatchet man avenges the shame^>f "Little White Plum Blossom." We'll let Mary Holm?! Hut Mullen ., Mini* O Bt1«d Urn Cboo Fang Cbaw Chin Caiab Murphj W«tl«7 Ml id 2456 EXHIBITOR'S; "The Money Changers" Is Intensely Realistic Benjamin B. Hampton Photoplay in Six Parts. Released by Pathe. Author, Upton Sinclair. Scenario by Wm. Clifford. Director, Jack Conway. Running Time, Seventy Minutes. THE CAST. Hag* Qerdorj Robert McKJm Lacy Hocmn Our* Adam. Allan Martin *«y Stewart Audi**? Chapmen George Webb Betty Drlce Edward PeU , . Hirrj T* on* brook Stanton Hook a ring Zaok William* James Hegan , Georfe Hernandoi Mr*. Mnllen Gertrude Claire Jimmy Mullen LaddJa-XarU 6YW0P8IS. Hugh OoTdon, proprietor of a drug corporation, engage* in Illicit "dope" telllog, bavin*; bit headquarter* in a Chinatown den. Hit fiancoo. Lucy Hegan, know* nothing of Gordon's illegitimate trade and spend* much of "her time Is settlement work. Allan Martm. reporter, la aeilgned to trace the dealer* in dope, meets and fall* in lor* with Luct Be become* acquainted with Monk Mullen, ea-conrict, who la in love with Maggie O'Brien, employed at the settlement home. Miggie wlahe* to find her lost (liter. Vary, who 1* in Gordon* Chinese den. Monk reveal* Gordon * identity to Martin. The latter lead* a raid an Gordon's lair, Lucy and Mary are rescued and Gordon killed by Ling Fang, a hatohetman. Admirers of strong melodrama with intensely realistic underworld settings will find "The Money Changers" much to their taste. It is a remarkably well-directed feature, brimful of thrills, and; its colorful Chinatown atmosphere, forceful action and numerous moments of breathless suspense combine to make it an exceptionally interesting production of its kind. The plot swings through a medley of bizarre happenings up to a crashing climax and there isn't a single let-up in its activity. Exhibitors should find this a welcome attraction.^ Points of Appeal — The free-for-all fight which brings" the story to a conclusion is admirably staged, the picture is rich in stirring incident from start to finish and its dramatic tension never slackens. Cast — An all-star aggregation of players is in evidence. Excellent characterizations are given by Claire Adams, Robert McKim, Roy Stewart, George Webb, .Betty Brice and the underworld types are wonderfully true to life. Photography and Lighting; — The picture is remarkable for its diversity of views, the Chinese dens, the crook's gathering quarters, the newspaper office, the society scenes are all beautifully filmed, artistic long shots abound and faultless lighting governs the entire production! Direction — The continuity is perfectly maintained throughout and smooth, rapid action prevails. them tell it! r 110 COWING PICTURE WORLD) 1 1/6 -'20 "The Money-Changers" Six-Part Melodramatic Productiqn of Colorful Appeal Released by Pathe R.vl.wed by Robert C afcBJravy Anyone who like! melodrama of the underworld, pictured in its most attractive form, will be certain to enjoy this six-rce' Pathe release, entitled "The Moneychangers." It is based on one of the stories of Upton Sinclair and produced by Benjamin B. Hampton, with Jack Conway directing. It moves with authority through many diverse phases of underworld life, ranging from garish Chinese dens to crooks' headquarters, settlement house and wine room scenes Views are also taken in a newspaper office, and some society scenes are thrown in by way of contrast. The settings at times border on the sumptuous, and though many of the situations have been used in previous dramas of a similar type, this is a production that holds the attention closely. The continuity is broken at times to admit enjoyable comedy touches, which include a few burlesque scenes taken from an amateur performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." All this is admissible and welcome in a production of this kind. A notable feature is the excellence of the characterizations, Roy Stewart olivine the hero. Robert McKim the villain George Webb an underworld type. Claire Adams the heroine, and Edward Peil doing a notable bit as Ling Choo Fang, the natcnetman. As a whole the production is colorful, moves with sufficiently good action, has some highly interesting moments, and winds up with a smash'