The Moving picture world (May 1922)

342 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 20, 1922 Newest Reviews and .Comments "Beyond the Rocks" A Loir Story ivith an Assured BoxOffice Appeal by Paramount , Starring Gloria Szi'an<^on and Rodolph Valentino Reviewed by Mary Kelly. The names of Gloria Svvanson and Rodolph Valentino should be enough to steer any picture to financial safety, and "Beyond the Rocks" has something even more substantial to ofTer. It is first, last and always, entertainment. It teaches no mml. yt it has a moral standard, in fact it is this moral standard which gives the picture character, subconsciously. Dedicated to youth and to love, it is an expression of an unquestioned faith in romance. In almost every scene and sub-title, the author, Elinor Glyn, has conveyed the idea 'hat romance can never die. that it has been and always will be the supreme influence in the h'fe of every normal young person. This may sound like propaganda but it is not presented as such. It is a pure love story with a certain tang of hopelessness that increases the appeal. Pictorially. the scenes show detailed labor and very good taste. The English cottages at the opening ; the rescue on the Alps ; the pageant and the delightful costumes that go with it ; and finally the climax on the desert characterize the picture as one that has style. The directing by Sam Wood invests every scene with grace. Gloria Swanson. with a magnificent array of clothes, is always a delightful figure, and Rodolph Valentino not only acts, but is the Prince Charming, for which his feminine admirers have shown such a preference. The On»« Theodora Fitzgerald Gloria Swanson Lord Bracondale Rodolph Valentino Lady Bracondale Edythe Chapman Capt. Fitzgerald Alec B. Francis Josiah Brown Robert Bolder Morella WinmarlciRh Gert'-ude Astor Mrs. McBride Mabel Van Buren Lady Ada Fitzgerald.. Helen Dunbar Sir Patrick Fitzgerald. .Raymond Blathwayt Lord Wensleydon F. R. Butler Lady Anningford June Elvidge Adapted from the Novel, "Beyond the Rocks," by Elinor Glyn. Scenario by Jack Cunningham. Direction by Sam Wood. Length, 6,740 Feet. The Story Theodora Fitzgerald. ;in English girl, marries Jo.«iah Rrown, an elderly millionaire, to please her sisters. While on hT honevmoon in tile Alps she i.« rescued for the second time in her life by Lord Bracondnle. a handsome young member of London society. They fall in love, but resolve not to see each other. They tike part in a pageant and drive away in the coach, pretending that the horses have run away. Theodora, however, is strong enough to resist the temptation to go away with Lord Bracondale, and returns to her husband. He learns that she is in love with Bracondale, and goes on an expedition to Africa. She follows with her father and Brarondale, but Josiah allows himself to be l<ill"d by a band of savages and dies in his wife's arms. Proj^rnm and E}xploitntion Cnti'hiines: Elinor Glyn's Story of the Supremacy of the Love That is Youth's — What More Fitting Exponents of This Could There Be Than Gloria Swanson and Rodolph Valentino. Exploitation Angles: Between the two stars and the author, you have need only to give the three names prominence. But .lust bec" se it will be so easy to sell, sell it to the I mit with paper and newspaper work, as well as lobby display. "Mr. Barnes of New York" Entertaining feature, Starring Tom Moore. Goldzvyn Picture Reviewed by Marguerite Kemp. While Tom Moore is cast as the star of this pictrre, he has dilTiculty in retaining the center of the stage for the theme rather runs away with the honors and Moore is quite outside the plot itself until the final reel. The time is placed in the 80's and the basque dresses with the sweeping skirts and the odd suits of the men in the cast will doubtless be familiar to many who see the picture. They are a pleasing relief from the present styles and yet do not carry the drcssed-up air that goes with the styles of earlier periods. So far as we could see. the plot could liave been carried out in the present time, but sirce the director saw fit to time it so, we can only be grateful for his consistency in costuming. The plot hinges on a duel fought in Corsica and the entire action takes place in Europe. The idea might have been workd out with a little more suspense, but hnving two murders and a wild horseback ride, in which fences are hurdled, it succeeds in giving more thrills than the average costume play and has a pleasing little surprise it the end. The duel scene was cut out. where the picture was reviewed, only the preparations and the resultant death of one of the combatants being shown, thus displaying the heavy hand of the censor. Moore plays the role of a genial globe trotter, who shows un unexpectedly wherever the plot needs him. With his side-burns and his odd clothes, he looks like a leaf from the family album. Naorri Childers has a dignified poise, and faints easily, which goes nicely with her quaint costun-es. .Anna Lehr i« all tlaat could be desired in her role of the Corsican girl, the most dramatic part in the play. The other characters are well chosen. The Cant Mr. Barnes, of New York Tom Moore Marina Proli Anna Lehr Enid Anstruther Naomi Childers Gerard Anstruther Lewis Willoughby Antonio Ramon Samaniego Tomrsso otto Hoffman Danella Sidney Ainsworth Adapted from the Drama by Archibald Claverlng Gunter. Scenario by Gerald Duffy. Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Length, 4,804 Feet. The Story In a duel with an English naval officer, a noble Corsican youth is killed, and his sister, Marina, swears vengeance on his murderer. Mr. Barnes, of New York, a wHness of the duel, sees the name Gerard Anstruther on the pistols used in the combat. Two years later, he meets an English girl before a picture of the Vengeance Scene painted by Marina. Mr. Barnes follows her to Nice, where he finds Anstruther is her brother, and also that Anstruther wishes to marry Marina, who has nursed him in Egypt. Marina 'is allowed to marry him in Corsica and is then told by her guardian he Is the man whom she has been seeking as her brother's murderer. Mr. Barnes rides furiously across the country to save Anstruther, and the knife of Tomasso is plunged into the guardian instead. Then Anstruther convinces his bride he had loaned his pistols for the duel, and his sister becomes "Mrs. Barnes, of New York." Kxploltation Angrlen: Appeal to the old timers to tell the youngsters what a whale of a stage play the book made, and sell from this angle, plus the action. "Shackles of Gold" Well-Knoi^m Play of -'Samson," by Henri Bernstein, Elaborately Pictiiriced by Fox, Starring William Farnum Reviewed by Mary Kelly. Somewhat restricted in its scope, "Shackles of Gold" deserves praise for its style rather than the material. It is an ambitious treatment of a conventional story. The difficulty of attaching any great degree of interest to an undistinguished set of persons who go through experiences that have been frequently screened has been a handicap to the scenarist and director. A less compelling actor than William Farnum would have been somewhat eclipsed by this material. He. however, gives a performance, siiflicient and dominating as usual, and really gives body to the drama as a whole, just by the strength of his interest in his own part. The role of a man who works up from dock worker to millionaire broker has neither novelty nor thrill in itself, so any credit for making the part mteresting is due to the vision of the actor. The lack of originality is most evident at moments when important crises are pictured. The scene of the father announcing his financial rum, for instance, and the extravagant wife's reaction to it; then the hectic where-have-youbeen scene between husband and wife after her unexplamed venture; later, the ensemble m the stock market. These are suggestive of if not almost identical to what has often been done before in pictures. The leading feminine role is plavpd by Mytra Bonillas. whose statuesque perfection leaves an impression of coldness at times Her beautiful wardrobe is a point of decided appeal As mi:ch can be said of the elaborate sets. The Cant John Gibbs, a self-made man William Farnum Charles Van Dusen ai Loring Mrs. Van Dusen Marie Shotwell Marie, their daughter Mvrta Bonillas Harry, their son Wallace Ray Donald Valentine EUiott Griffin Elsie Chandler Ellen Casslty William Hoyt Henry CarvlU Adapted from Henri Bernstein's Play, "Samson." Scenario by Paul H. Sloane. Direction by Herbert Brenon. Length, 5,957 Feet. The Story John Gibbs begins as a dock laborer rises to great wealth by shrewd speculation In oil, and marries a girl who consents to become his wife merely because her parents need Farnum's wealth to maintain their social position. She scorns Farnum and his love. He bears his position patiently until he learns she has gone to a cabaret with another man. Then comes the deadly wrath and the big thrills. Farnum breaks the market to ruin the man who had tempted his wife. He breaks the man and— himself. But through the strange workings of the human mind he ■wins the very thing he thought impossible — the love of his wife. Program and Exploitation Catchlines: William Farnum in a Big Role. Taken from a Famous Play — the Rise from Labor Hand to Millionaire — the Tragedy of a Loveless Marriage — a Spectacular Feat in the Stock Market— These Are Some of the Great Sources of Interest. Exploitation Annrleii: Hook the stage play to the film title and sell as a combination, for Samson will appeal to many who will not care for the appeal of the release title. Work both sides to get them all.