The Moving picture world (May 1922)

90 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 6, 1922 Newest Reviews and, Comments "The Crimson Cross" Faith Healing and Hypnotism Are Pitted Against Each Oilier in Pioneer Picture. Reviewed by Fritz Tidden. "The Crimson Cross" should prove acceptable where audiences are not particular as to the freshness of the stories in their pictures. While there are a few minor new innovations during the course of the picture, the basic theme is old stuff. However, the story has been developed to its full advantage and offers entertainment to those who enjoy a mixture of a male Pollyanna idea and the plot about the young man who does not know who are his parents and is told they are a couple of crooks only to find out it isn't so. The continuity is smooth and the drama has been developed with good construction work, both in the scenario and the direction. The mounting is simple, but worthy, and in good taste. It is announced that Vandyke Brooks is the star of the feature, but the action makes Edward Langford and Marion Swayne of more importance. This pair do good acting in parts that do not call for especially difficult work, and Mr. Brooks is convincing as the faith healer. Eulalie Jensen and William E. Hallman are excellent. The Cnst Richard Gormley Vandyke Brooks Bill Billings Augustus Phillips Buddy Billings Edward Langford Mary Wallace Marion Swayne Jem Hawkins Archie Clark Otto Fischer William E. Hallman Mrs. Fischer Eulalie Jensen Story and Scenario by N. Brewster Morse. Directed by George Everett. Length, 5 Reels. The Story Richard Gormley, a prison welfare worker and faith healer, believes that kindness is the only way in which to help criminals to reform and see the error of their ways. Buddy Billings, a rising young sleuth, adopted when abandoned by his parents as a baby by Bill Billings, chief of the detective bureau, mocks Gormley for his softness of heart. Buddy is known as one of the most relentless men in the service, gifted with a remarkable mental power that virtually instills fear into the hearts of the criminals who face him at cross examinations. Gormley tells him this power of his will some day spell his ruination because he is misusing it. Events prove Gormley right. Otto Fischer, a Federal offender, trapped by Buddy, reveals that he is his father and that he abandoned him years before. Astounded at the revelation. Buddy is ready to resign from the department when he falls into a melancholy state that borders on insanity. But Gormley saves Buddy through his power from a terrible fate, and a confession wrung from Fischer discloses that Gormley Is Buddy's father and that he had stolen him to revenge himself on the welfare worker for sending him to prison when he robbed him of jewels years before. A love story runs through the film. Exploitation Ang-Ies: With the clash between mental science and hypnotism, you should have no difHculty in selling this story to the adherents of both schools. Build up on this with the cast. A crimson cross splashed all over town just ahead of them, the first announcement will help not a little. "Told at Twilight" Like the other productions in which Baby Marie Osborne has been starred, this threereel Pathe Playlet, originally issued in five reels, will appeal particularly to children. It tells a pretty little story of an old man's loneliness and love for the diminutive daughter of a neighbor. The manner in which the child's father goes to rob the old man to make "Around the World with Burton Holmes" Short Travel Subjects Combined to Produce One Big Feature Offering Fine Entertainment. Reviewed by Mary Kelly. By skillful arrangement and titling, Burton Holmes' eleven-reel collection of travel subjects has avoided the effect of being a mere geography lesson. The exhibitor who regards the term '"educational" as a stigma when applied to a feature will find, after seeing this illustrated tour, that the educational effect is more or less sub-conscious, while the immediate impression is one of absorbing entertainment. This is largely due to the author's attitude toward his purpose. He starts upon the journey with an enthusiasm that is contagious, and without trying to camouflage the nature of the picture with facetious comments on the good time that will be had by all, he relies upon the scenes themselves to be a sufficient attraction — which they are. His personality, felt more or less throughout, is at no time obtrusive. Sailing from New York harbor, the circuit of eleven countries is made, the return trip being by way of the Pacific. As the run of the film takes about two and one-half hours, it will perhaps be considered too long by some. If any curtailment i.s made, the most legitimate place for this would be the latter part, where the description of the Holy Land, Egypt, Siam and the Philippines seems somewhat elongated. It would be difficult to select the most attractive parts. The composition shows a fine balance, with an appreciation of beauty and humor wherever it is found. From a scene of sublime grandeur to a bit of human comedy or a touch of pathos, the interest shifts, without lingering too long in any one spot. The Alps, the Ziegfeld Follies of Bali and the Poppy Feld in Belgium might be cited as typical examples. The tremendous advantage for exploitation, which this type of feature affords, goes almost without saying. It offers a ready inducement to all schools, clubs and churches, and will surely meet with their co-operation in any locality. Footage, 11,500 Feet. "His Wife's Relations" Here is a two-reel Buster Keaton comedy, distributed by First National, that upholds this star's enviable record for making successful laughmakers. It should please any audience because of its ingenuity and the many comic situations it contains, as well as the unusual stunts this comedian pulls. What is believed to be a new, and certainly an amusing situation helps to start this comedy off with a bang, when Buster after being hauled into a court in the Polish district finds himself married to Kate Price. She takes him home to her family, consisting of her father and about six brothers, all six-footers, who begin to pick on him until a letter indicates that he is heir to a lot of money. The fun throughout this comedy is fast and furious, and it finally develops that the letter belongs to somebody else. Then the inevitable chase begins, with Buster as the goat and the way he eludes his pursuers is a scream, finally making his escape by climbing out on an awning which breaks with him, allowing him to reach the one on the floor below, this continues until he reaches the ground and he just succeeds in catching a train for Reno. — C. S. S. "Ridin Wild" Roy Stewart Is Star and Marjorie Daw Leading Woman in IV estern Pictures Exploitation Feature. Reviewed by Fritz Tidden. "Ridin' Wild" is an original story for the screen by H. H. Van Loan. While it offers nothing new in western entertainment, it is of the type that audiences have always liked, and makes a fairly good program picture. The leading role is assumed by Roy Stewart, and his followers will be pleased with his work. Marjorie Daw is attractive as his chief support and aids the film materially. Wallace Beery has not much to do, but even in his minor role he enhances the value of the dramatic material. Some excellent comedy relief is introduced in a number of clever titles, which come in the early reels of the picture. The scenario has been written with dramatic construction and this, with the aid of expert direction by Robert Thornby, has done much to freshen up the staleness of the story. The atmosphere is well maintained and furnishes a valuable asset to the feature. The scenery is magnificent and has been photographed beautifully. As a matter of fact, about everything possible has been well done to keep the spectator from realizing the familiarity of the story. The Caat Larry Reed Roy Stewart Mary Marjorie Daw Her Brother Johnny Walker Figaro Wallace Beery Story by H. H. Van Loan. Directed by Robert T. Thornby. Length, Five Reels. The Story Larry Reed is the young sheriff of th« county, and he is in love with Mary, the local school teacher. Circumstantial eTldence makes Mary's brother, recently from the East, look like the murderer of one of the villagers. The boy eludes the sheriff for the time being and is protected by his sister, who. when Larry traces the fugitive to her shack, does not tell him that the supposed murderer is her brother. Larry sees them in an embrace and is heartbroken. But in pursuing the brother over the desert after he escapes from Mary's home, he finds out the truth when he catches his prey, who did not dare stay in the town and face the consequences of the circumstantial evidence. He brings him back and thereupon it is learned that Figaro is the real murderer. Larry and Mary drive to the parson's. Exploitation Anerles: Play up the cast and the action rather than the story and It will please the followers of western atmosphere. "Kill the Nerve" This single-reel comedy, distributed by Pathe, starring Snub Pollard, assisted by Marie Mosquini, is a production of only average quality. It contains several humorous scenes and will doubtless satisfy this star's followers. As the title implies, the "fun" occurs in a dentists's office and is heightened by the row between rival dentists culminating in Snub's use of laughing gas on the police who seek to arrest him.— C. S. S. up for certain shortages in his accounts, and is caugfht and finally aided to overcome his difficulties, while strong in heart interest, is not altogether convincing.— C. S. S. "The Boy and His Dog" That "necessity is the mother of invention" is the moral of this Paul Terry Animated Cartoon Comedy distributed by Pathe. As usual with this cartoonist's work, it is cleverly handled and shows how a little boy, by means of big friends, a dog and a cat, together with a section of stove pipe, create a wonderful specimen of dog-flesh which wins first prize at the bench show. — C. S. S.