The Moving picture world (June 1921)

June 11, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 64t Newest Reviews and,Comments "Scrap Iron " Charles Ray Spars His Way to Success in Nezu Picture for First National Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. The love interest in "Scrap Iron," Charles Ray's new picture, has for the heroine the invalid mother of the hero. Finding that the girl next door is a fickle jade, vyho backs the winner only when he wins, Charlie quietly shows her out and em- braces his mother at the finish. This radical departure from the usual ending has the merit of exhibiting the good sense of the chap who spars his way to success in Charles E. Van Loan's story, a simple and human tale which the star himself directed. Much of the business is natural and un- forced but adds redundant local color with- out advancing the action. As it stands the material could easily have been compressed into three reels. Mr. Ray's anxious air and hurried movements do not hide the scantiness of plot. But the knockout in the sparring match gives the picture its punch. The fight is well handled while the two lads are mixing it up. There is too much space devoted to the professional services of the seconds between rounds. It may interest a fight fan to see the con- testants rubbed and slapped and fanned during the brief breathing spells, but the general public is satisfied with less footage of this nature. "Scrap Iron" has real en- tertainment value, but there is room for improvement in the scenario writing and the directing. Charles Ray has all his old earnestness as John Steel, a young mill hand. Neither in his characterization nor in the surround- ings has he attempted to "doll-up" mat- ters. Steel battles for everything he gets and knows little of refining influences, save the deep love and devotion he lavishes upon his invalid mother. Lydia Knott is excellent as Mrs. Steel, and the other mem- bers of the support are competent. The Cast John Steel Charles Ray John's Mother Lydia Knott Midge Flannigan Vera Stedman Bill Dugan Tom Wilson Battling Burke Tom O'Brien Big Tim Riley Stanton Heck Matt Brady Charles Wheelock John's Chum Claude Berkeley Adapted from Charles E. Van Loan's Satur- day Evening Post Story. Directed by Charles Ray. Length, The Story Because his invalid mother asks John Steel not to take part in any more sparring matches and he grants her request, he is called "yellow" by the other hands in the mill where he works and given the name of "Scrap Iron." John is in love with the girl next door but she passes him up when he refuses to get into a fight with Battling Burke, when that celebrated person tries to cut out John, and walks off on the arm of the boxer. The mill hand is obliged to go home at noon and look after his mother, and loses his job by being late one day get- ting back. John has been saving so that he can send Mrs. Steel to Florida. His money is soon exhausted, and he sees but one way to earn any more. Bill Dugan, fight promoter, offers two hundred dollars to the loser in a fight with Battling Burke, provided the fortunate contestant is on hi.s feet at the end of the third round. John breaks his promise, and the match is ar- ranged. For the first three rounds Burke knocks John all over the ring, but he takes his punishment like a bull dog and man- ages to put the other fellow to sleep at the beginning of the fourth r»und. Sur- prised and delighted at being handed the winner's share, he rushes home to find his mother in a state of collapse at his long absence. His second follows him with the "Their Dizzy Finish " Another of the comedy thriller type is the second Hallroom two-reel comedy distrib- uted through Federated Exchanges. Sid Smith, the featured player, performs more of his exciting stunts. This time, while tinkering with an automobile, it starts moving slowly and stops right at the top of a clifT. Not knowing this, Sid gets out and does some clever and thrilling work, leaning over backwards and almost step- ping off the cliff several times. Finally his partner gets him out of this predica- ment. In addition to the thrills, there are a number of laughs, making it a good comedy for the average audience. An auto plays a prominent part in the production and in fact may be said to furnish the motive power for the plot. There is a good bit where the two boys pick up a lot of tin cans, take them to a factory where they are put in a hopper, and in a few minutes a fully equipped "car" comes out. The boys go into the taxi business and make so much money that they finally own a railroad in the West. The entire equipment of the line consists of a flivver disguised to represent a combination lo- comotive, coach and everything. After many exciting experiences which will pro- voke several laughs, the "train" gets be- yond control, dashes through the station at the end of the line and is changed back into its original state, ending its career as a pile of tin cans. The fact that the boys know nothing about running a machine, and less about a railroad, gives opportunities for the in- troduction of some amusing business. "Country Life in Bohemia" This interesting Burton Holmes' trave- logue graphically illustrates, for one thing, the difference between "Bohemia" and Bo- hemia. The prevalent notion of Bohemians is that they are a set of people who shy at work, are as wild as the proverbial prairie flower and whose awe inspiring amount of leisure time is consumed with cutting up didoes in some such communities as Greenwich \'illage. Some people knew that the real Bohemian was entirely differ- ent, but for those who have never realized the name was a misnomer, "Country Life in Bohemia" is recommended. It shows the Bohemian ruralite as an indefatigable far- mer, working from dawn to dusk, women as well as men. This is done in natural set- tings of real beauty. A section of the film is devoted to showing the raising of the sugar beet, one of the Bohemians' leading products. And not one long-haired man nor short-haired woman is seen. (Para- mount.)—F. T. news that Burke is dying from the effect.s of the "knockout." John is stunned, until another of his seconds rushes in with the information that Burke is out of danger. Having shown his fickle sweetheart the door, John hurries into his mother's room and tells her the trip to Florida is assured. Program and Exploitation Catchlinex: Charles Ray Ruts Up One of the Best Glove Fights Ever Seen in "Scrap Iron," His New First National Release. Charles Ray Is at His Natural Best in "Scrap Iron," and Spars Like a Profes- sional in a Hot Match with a Skilful Opponent. Exploitation Angles: Tell them this is one of the old time Ray stories and that he is back in his best form. Play up the fight and try and get the local sporting clubs and gyms interested. Get windows from sporting goods dealers and if you want something novel, stage some amateur scraps. "The Beautiful Gambler" IVestern Melodrama Produced by Uni- versal Has Grace Darntond as Star Reviewed by Fritz Tidden. "The Beautiful Gambler" tells its story via a series of tried and true and familiar in- cidents that, however hackne3'ed, produce thrills. They are conventionally sure fire and will undoubtedly prove popular with certain types of audiences. The action will run along smoothly for some time and then for no apparent reason become episodic, leaving large, staring gaps in the narra- tive. Peter B. Kyne, who wrote the story from which the scenario was adapted, has cjften done more original work. Grace Darmond, the featured player, who essays the title role, is called upon to con- vey hyper-emotional stress several times. .She does it very well. In repose Miss Dar- mond is very easy to look at. .She easily fills the adjective part of the title, and she gambles nearly long enough to warrant the latter half of the name. The outstanding performance of the picture is that given by Charles Brinley in the role of the villain's lieutenant. The rest of the cast is compe- tent. The photography is peculiarly varied in light and shade of scenes. Either that or the projection was at fault, which was hardly possible in this case. The Cast .Molly Hanlon Grace Darmond Miles Rand Jack Mower Lee Kirk Harry Von Meter Jim Devlin Charles Brinley Judge Rand Hershall Mayall Mark Hanlon Willis Marks Story by Peter B. Kyne. Scenario by Hope I^oring. Directed by William Worthington. Length, 4,45S Feet. The Story Old Mark Hanlon worshipped at'the shrine of chance. He has gambled away his fortune in the crooked dive of a Western town. His home was included in his losses. Molly, Han- lon'.s daughter, marries Kirk, the gambling- liousekeeper. to save their home, which was offered as collateral for a lo.in. Kirk makes her tlie mi.stress of the gaming tables, and while .she is acting as croupier at the roulette table there arrives in the place one Miles Rand, the rejuvenated dissolute son of a wealthy father, who had turned him from home to make a man of himself in the West. It is love at first sight. The young fellow decides to take the girl away from her sur- roundings, forgetting for the moment to count on the objections of the husband. Cir- cumstances, however, make it seem a.? though the husband was dead a little later, and the pair are married and come to New York. It is in their apartment two years later that the husband shows up, and in the fight that ensues he is shot. Miles is accused of the murder and brought to trial, whereupon, just as the jury had about de- cided he was guilty, the real murderer con- fesses. He had been one of Kirk's lieuten- ants and was out to get him for a dirty deal played upon him. He shot him from the window of the apartment and then threw the revolver into the room, i'rogram and Exploitation Catchlines: Black for Death, Red for Blood, the Double O for Hope and Faith. Those Are the Markings on the Roulette Wheel of Life as Told in "The Beautiful Gambler." If the Usual Seventy-two Thumps of Tour Heart are Enough for Tou, Don't See Grace Darmond in "The Beautiful Gam- bler," for This Thriller Will Speed It Up. "The Beautiful Gambler" Wagered Her Life and Happiness and Won. Exploitation Angles: Peter Kyne's name will sell to the literary crowd and Miss Dar- mond's to those who recall her good looks. Jointly star them. If you can borrow some confiscated gambling apparatus, use that.