The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 13, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 197 Newest Reviews and. Comments '■Hate" Alice Lake Is Starred by Metro in Picture n^ith More Than Average Appeal. Reviewed by Mary Kelly. A picture about three men and a girl with a new crime angle stirs deep interest here, in this Alice Lake feature. The conventional plot twists have been avoided, and the result is an ingenious development of a quadrangular love affair with just enough uncertainty to make it fascinating. It affords a relief from the obviously moral picture with its sharp delineations of the good man and the bad man. Each one of the girl's suitors is a human composite of weakness and strength, and the shifting of sympathies is one of the several proofs of the picture's realism. The suicide is without melodramatic effect. Like each other incident, it is prepared for with careful details, so that there is no sudden burst of sensationalism. A crucial situation at the close is a fine example of suspense. Circimstantial evidence has convicted an innocent man of the murder of a man who committed suicide, but disguised his crime so that the blame would fall upon his rival. The third man in the case is the attorney, who is proud of his first achievement in sending up the man whom he believes to be guilty. It is difficult to tell which one the girl loves. There is a close conflict between loyalty and love that makes her dilemma intensely moving. The quick turn of events at the end is skillfully managed. Alice Lake, in a role with fine balance, gives an artistic performance. Two other splendid players are Conrad Nagel and Charles Clary. They show not only an insight into their parts and a technique, but a response to fine directing. The Cast "Babe" Lennox Alice Lake Dick Talbot Conrad Nagel Dave Hume Harry Northrup Edward Felton Charles Clary Inspector Garth John Ince Story by Wadsworth Camp. Scenario by June Mathis. Directed by Maxwell Karger. Length, 5,500 Feet. Th* Story Babe Lennox, a popular show girl, is dining with David Hume, who has made his money by gambling. That evening Dick Talbot, promising young attorney, stops at their table and warns Hume to keep out of sight, as Ed Felton. his rival for Babe Lennox, is out on bail. Hume scoffs at the warning, but later that night is met by Felton, who is about to shoot him when Babe takes the gun. Hume, who has been told by his doctors that he has only a few weeks to live, decides to take his own life, but to do it in such a way that the blame will fall upon Felton. He tells Babe to deliver a little statue to Felton just before Felton goes to the chair, as Hume is certain that Felton will be convicted. Hume is found dead, and Talbot pleads the case against Felton. Babe is loyal to Felton and expresses her scorn for Talbot for convicting an innocent man. Before Felton goes to the chair the statue is brought to him. which explains that Hume really killed himself, but wanted to show Felton that he could beat him. Babe admits that she loved Talbot all along. Program and Exploitation Catchllne: Two Gamblers, Deadly Enemies, and a Young Attorney, Friend to Neither, All in Love with the Same Girl — Complications Follow That Are Exciting, So Put It Mildly — Alice Lake in a Wonderful Role. Ekploltntion Ansriew: Feature Miss Lake, but there is a lot more in this story that will help you sell the picture. Play up the plot angles without giving away the climax. Do not tell that this is a suicide planned to look like a murder, but more on the lines of "This Is a story of a showgirl who loves three men, two gamblers and a prosecuting attorney, who sends one of the other men to the chair for killing the third. Which do you think she really loved? "Four Hearts" A Western Melodrama ivith Dick Hatton. IJ'estern Pictures Exploitation Release. Reviewed by M. A. Malaney. Here's another of the western thrillers which have appeared recently, featuring Dick Hatton. It has the same ideas as the others, hero, heroine, villains, a crime committed, hero suspected, hard riding and a breath-taking finish. The thing that saves these melodramas is the way they end, for Hatton is a dare-devil and puts punch after punch in the last few moments of the stories. This finish has some real thrills and ought to make the hairs of the heads of people who like this stuff stand up. "Four Hearts" gets its name from a double romance, which develops when two former buddies in France meet accidently and all settle down on the mining land owned by one of them. There are two girls concerned, and after a lot of plotting and a murder by enemies, seeking to get possession of the land, all enter the state of wedded bliss. A typical melodrama of the Dick Hatton type. The Oast Dick Reynolds Dick Hatton Mary Reynolds Nell Spaugh Marion Berkley Carmen Arselle Bob Berkley Bud Geary Betty Davis Lucille DuBois Gordon Ferris Barney Fury Jim Hawkins Ed Fitzharis Story and Scenario by Dick Hatton and Leonard Wheeler. Direction by Leonard Wheeler. Length, Five Reels. The Story Dick Reynolds, owner of some western land, which he has not entirely paid for, goes to New York with samples of dye deposit found on the land. There he has a test made, and Incidentally meets Bob Berkley, his buddy in the World War. Bob is in ill health and Dick takes him and his sister back to the West. The man who tested his dye deposit follows and intrigues with others to get possession of the land by trying to prevent Dick making his payments. He is even accused of a murder and thrown in jail. Dick, who had fallen in love with Marion, his buddy's sister, languishes in the jail while Marion sets out to prove his innocence. Bob also has a love affair, having met a little Western girl and gives his heart to her. All join in the search for the murderers, this being the only hope of saving Dick. A ranch foreman, suspected, is vamped by Marion, and he confesses before concealed witnesses, implicating the chemist and another man. This gains freedom for Bob, who sets out to "get" the villains. After several thrilling encounters and struggles, Bob settles his account with the chemist by giving him an unmerciful beating and landing him in the sheriff's office. Then, the crime cleared up, and the plot foiled, all four have the lovers' knot securely tied. Exploitation Snggrestlons: Go in for a flashy lobby display on this, using an abundance of big, red, cardboard hearts. The posters may have something you can use for cut-outs. It is also advisable to get the American Legion behind the picture, on the theory that friendships cultivated during the war by buddies are lasting and sincere. They might back you up with something, if approached on this angle. "A Penny Reward" In this two-reel comedy released by Educational, W. A. Campbell lias produced a vehicle that presents his clever animal and child actors greatly to advantage. Following along the lines of its predecessors, it is better than most of them, largely because it has a story and because it has cumulative effect. The little monkey and the dog do some of their best work in this, and everything they do is related to the story, not merely stunts introduced "Squire Phin" Maclyn Arhiickle Has Genial Role in Happiness Picture. Released by Producers' Security CorporationReviewed by Mary Kelly. "Squire Phin" is a picture that unwinds itself in a slow, easy style that marks it as different from the regular program attraction. It is more like a chapter picture than a drama. One incident after another, with no particular relationship, show the different changes that are brought about in a small town, through the efforts of one altruistic citizen. At no point intensely dramatic, the story has purposely been loosely constructed, and as an undramatic form of entertainment, it is successful. On the other hand, it is safe to say that wherever pictures with quick action or touches of melodrama are preferred, "Squire Phin" will not be popular. Considered as belonging to a distinct class, it has many points of appeal. It is a natural presentation of life on Main Street, where every woman puts the telescope to her eye in examining her neighbor's affairs and where a chat with another woman's husband is a mark of infidelity. On the whole it has a decidedly wholesome trend and expresses a boundless faith in humanity. The types are interesting, and are familiar to anyone who knows small town life. Maclyn Arbuckle has a genial role that gives personality to the whole picture, and although he does not have any great dramatic opportunities, his performance is quietly impressive. It is impossible to give the usual information exhibitors wish about the cast, as Producer's Security Corporation has refused to give credit to the performance of any but Maclyn Arbuckle, and withholds the data. Adapted from the Drama by Holman Day. Scenario by Lee Royal. Directed by Leopold Wharton. Length, 5,100 Feet. The Story Squire Phin settles all scandals and difficulties in the village of Palermo. His brother, Hiram, who used to be the town bully, returns after an absence of ten years, and finds no welcome in the hearts of the townsfolk. They hate the very circus wagon on which he rides. Hiram finds that Judge Willard, town treasurer, has used the money for his own ends, and plans to defeat him at the coming election. Squire Phin is in love with the Judge's sister, and unknown to his brother, stirs up public sentiment in favor of the Judge. Hiram is furious, but when he learns that the Judge has agreed to return the embezzled money, and this is but another of the Squire's masterful strokes in maintaining peace in the village, he is appeased. The Squire then gets the Judge's long-postponed consent to marry his sister. Progrram and Exploitation Catchlines: Whenever Trouble Came up in the Village of Palermo, "Squire Phin" Was the Doctor — He Brought Misunderstanding Husbands and Wives Together and Was a Panacea for Hard Luck Wherever He Went — Maclyn Arbuckle in Another Lovable Role. Exploitation Angles: Sell this to those who want quiet character work. Slide on it if the preference of your patrons is for melodrama, but even here you can make business by directing your campaign to those who will appreciate really artistic acting. to exhibit tlieir cleverness. The final scenes, where a bull makes a china shop out of a bank, breaking through the walls and chasing an army of comedy cops, are especially good. The story deals with a boy, his invalid grandmother, a penurious banker, a thieving cashier, a robbery and the subsequent recovery of the money. — S. S.