The Moving picture world (May 1922)

414 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 27, 1922 Consensus of Published Reviews Here are extracts from news available at press hour from publications of the industry boiled down to a sentence. They present the views of Moving Picture World (M.P.W.) ; Exhibitors' Herald (E.H.) ; Motion Picture News (N.) ; Exhibitors' Trade Review (T.R.) ; Film Daily (F.D.). Girl in the Taxi (Mr and Mrs. Carter De Haven — First Na^ «io«a/— 5,420 Feet) M. P. W. — Successful farce. E. H, Adapted stage farce makes very acceptable screen play. T. R. — Not reviewed. X. — Not reviewed. F. D. — Not reviewed. Wife Against Wife (Pauline Starke^First National— 6,0(X) Feet) M. P. W.— Cast shines. E. H.— It should give mild satisfaction under favorable circumstances. X.— Certainly as a creator of sympathetic sentiment among audiences, the picture is by far superior to the legitimate presentation. T. R.— It isn't a particularly pleasant sort of picture, although prolific in strong emotional situations. No Trespassing (Irene Castle— Hod kinsoii— 6,900 Feet) M. P. W. — Irene Castle in one of her best vehicles. F. D.— Might do pretty good business if you get star's name to draw. N.— The romantic element is the outstanding feature of this picture. T. R.— The plot travels along the same lines as many previous tales, but contains sufficient new material to be interesting. It abounds in thrills and creates sympathetic interest from time to time as the story progresses. The Lying Truth (Featured Cast — American Releasing Corp.— 5,338 feet) M. P. W. — Good cast and moments of real entertainment. N. — -Well directed, compelling melodrama, good story, capable cast, pleasing photography. F. D. — A new twist in this latest murder mystery story. . . . Not an unusual production, but capable of holding them until the end. T. R.— The plot of "The Lying Truth," contains a good deal of melodrama ; and love, pathos and humor come in fair sprinklings. Hills of Missing Men (Featured Cast— Playgoers— 5 reels) M. P. W. — Will be a hit wherever they like adventure and fast action. T. R. — Very satisfactory entertainment. E.H. — A strong element of mystery makes this Herald production particularly effective. N. — Although primarily a western picture, a pleasing mixture of mystery is woven into the plot of "Hills Of Missing Men," which adds to the quality of the production. Decision Delayed No decision will be forthcoming from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York State before the latter part of June, and possibly later, in connection with the action brought by Pathe against the New York State Mo tion Picture Commission relative to the latter's right to censor news reels, arguments on which were presented before the .\ppellate Division at Albany last week. .'Mready several states have written the attorney general's office at Albany, requesting copies of the briefs submitted by the contending parties. Southern Enterprise Managers in Meeting Twenty-four Southern Enterprise managers in Florida gathered in Orlando May 9 and 10 at the call of Supervisor Sparks of Jacksonville. Each made one or more suggestions for improved ef ficiency and reported on the relations existing between theatre managers, newspapers and the general public in his community. A resolution indorsed the work of the National Board of Review and condemned state and local censorship. An open meeting at the Beacham Theatre was attended by 450 prominent residents of Orlando, .^mong the speakers were Manager Tyson, of the non-theatrical department; Manager Jones, of the jaiblic relations department, and Manager Lem Stewart, of the exploitation department, all of Atlanta. C. D. Cooley, general manager of the Consolidated .Amusement Company, Tampa, made an interesting address. Ruthless War Over Sunday Shows Forces Northwestern Exhibitors to Line Up in Defense of Rights RUTHLESS war on Sunday pictures is developing throughout the Northwest, with exhibitors lining up for stubborn resistance against an invasion of their rights. Joseph Gerbracht, manager of the Star Theatre, Ames, la., now has a case pending in the district court which will determine whether he can continue operating on Sunday. Following the passage by the Ames city fathers of an ordinance forbidding the showing of pictures on Sunday, Gerbracht was haled into court and fined by municipal authorities for violation of the ordinance. He appealed the case and has stated that he will carry the fight to the supreme court if he loses his case in the district tribunal. The councilmen of Pelican Rapids, Minn., have passed an ordinance forbidding the showing of Sunday pictures except under the direction of a religious organization and without admission being charged. Fines of from $25 to $100 are provided for violation and jail sentences of from 20 to 90 days may be imposed. This is considered one of the most drastic of the many bits of legislation framed in the Northwest by the reform element. Austin, Minn., is reported to be the next city in which the Blue Sunday advocates are preparing to make a stand. An ordinance forbidding Sunday pictures is slated to be introduced in the city council there next week. W. J. Braun of the Park Theatre has aligned the M. P. T. O. of Minnesota in his fight against the ordinance. The reformers have their eyes on Mora, Minn., also. Petitions are now being circulated there by proponents of city Blue Law regulations. George W. Ryan, manager of the American Theatre, has called upon the exhibitor organization for aid. He is receiving the help of that body in his fight and a bitter struggle is anticipated. Embittered by Defeats Exhibitors point out that the recent defeats suffered by the reformers of the Northwest during the last few months have served to embitter them in their unjustified attacks upon the industry. Setbacks to their plans were received at Kenyon, Long Branch and Chatfield, Minn. It has been pointed out that at virtually every place that Sunday display of pictures has been left to a referendum vote of the public, the forces of "Sour Sunday" have been routed. They are now carefully avoiding this tack and are endeavoring to work upon city aldermanic bodies. Meanwhile, Minneapolis — long since established as the center of things cinematic in the Northwest — is experiencing its first real quietude from fears of censorship and Sunday closing in many years. This is largely attributed to Mayor George E. Leach, who has stated repeatedly in public that the theatregoers themselves are the best judges of what they want and that they are doing through the boxoffice the most effective form of censorship imaginable.