The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 27, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 415 Newest Reviews and Comments FRIT7. TIDDEif GdLtor of fJ{_evLei\^s "I Am The Law" A Big Production zmth a Big Cast and a Positive Emotional Appeal — Released by Affiliated Distributors, Inc. Reviewed by Mary Kelly. "I Am the Law" is an Arctic thriller with an unquestionable box-office appeal. It has the bigness and freedom of action that is usually associated with the successful James Oliver Curwood production, only to a much more striking degree than is common. It has beauty. Wide, snowy expanses, the reflection of a dull sun or fir trees, the hot breath of the sleigh dogs — these are sights and sensations which have been made intensely vivid. Such scenes have more than pictorial value. They afford a cool relief from the strenuous emotional and physical combats which are almost inseparable from all the interior scenes. This is a picture where the conflict is continual. From the first shot in Chinatown to the confession at the hanging in the final scene, through all the intermediary struggles of man against man, woman against woman and woman against man, the action is tense, and at times powerful. The code of the iron law in not recognizing human ties, in this case the action of a mounted policeman who upon finding that his brother is a murderer, says, "I am not your brother. I am the Law" is the foundation for the drama. Not astonishingly new, but earnest enough to command interest. To some, the changed decision of the officer later on, when he confesses to his brother's crime to save his mother from suffering, may seem a moment of weak sentimentality. To many, however, the mother love angle will always dominate all others in importance, so that it would be unfair to condemn this part of the picture. The cast is one of the principal reasons why the picture is entertaining. Six distinguished performers, Alice Lake, Kenneth Harlan, Gaston Glass, Rosemary Theby, Noah Beery and Wallace Beery are seen in the important parts. Harlan, as the brother who is very strong, and Glass as the brother, who is very weak are impressive figures, and Alice Lake wins again because of her sincerity and womanliness. The Cast Joan Cameron Alice Lake Robert Fitzgerald Kenneth Harlan Mrs. Georges Mardeaux. .. .Rosemary Theby Tom Fitzgerald Gaston Glass Sergeant Georges Mardeaux Noah Beery Fu Chang Wallace Beery Adapted from the Story, "The Poetic Justice of Uko San," by James Oliver Curwood. Scenario by Raymond L. Schrock. Direction ot Edwin Carewe. Length, 6,800 Feet. The Story The sergeant of a post is killed by his wife's suitor, Tom Fitzgerald, a member of the Mounted Police. Tom's brother, Robert, a corporal, is forced to arrest his brother. Bob trails his brother to the cabin of his sweetheart, a school teacher. Bob is taken ill and signs a death-bed confession that he killed the sergeant. The selfish brother brings the news to headquarters and announces his brother's death. How Bob recovers, wins the love of the school teacher and Tom finally kills himself when it is discovered that he committed the murder, completes the story. Exploitntlon Aiiifles: This is the time of year when stress upon the Arctic locale will help to get business for you. Use the idea, and epitomize the story by sending out a man with an arsenal of guns and the title prominently displayed. IN THIS ISSUE "The Yellow Stain" {Fox) "The Referee" {Selznick) "Missing Husbands' {Metro) "The Primitive Lover" {First National) "The Spanish Jade" {Paramount) "I Am the Law" {Affiliated) "North of the Rio Grande" {Paramount) "Kissed" { Universal) "They're Off'" {Aywon) "Gay and Deinlisli" {R-C) "Silas Marncr" {Associated Exhibitors) "White Hell" {Bartlett) "The Referee" Selznick Presents Conway Tearle in Mild Love Story Which Has Convincing Episodes of the Prize Ring for a Baclcground. Reviewed by T. S. daPonte. Types that are remarkably true to life make this production out of the ordinary. The scene^ around the prize ring, the fighters' training quarters, their friends and relatives could not have been selected to better advantage. All the actors do their parts well, and while the story is not dramatic it is interesting enough to hold the interest of the majority of fans. A love story runs throughout. It serves its purpose in providing a theme for the presentation of the prize-ring scenes. The selection of Conway Tearle in the role of fighter and referee was a happy one. His physique fits him for the part, and he acts it capably. Prize fight devotees will recognize old friends in Joe Humphries, Patsy Haley, Gus Platz and Frank Ryan. The Cast John McArdle Conway Tearle Andres Randolf Steve Roberta Gladys Hulette Janie Roberts Fighters ^ Pl^t^ ) Frank Ryan Announcer Joe Humphries Referee Patsy Haley Story by Gerald Beaumont. Scenario by Lewis Allen Browne. Directed by Ralph Ince. Length, About 5,000 Feet. The Story John McArdle, world's middle-weight champion, injures his arm and has to give up fighting. He becomes a referee and is engaged to referee a fight which has been "fixed," but he has no knowledge of that fact. During the course of the battle, however, McArdle becomes suspicious that there has been a "frame-up" and has the courage to order both fighters from the ring despite the fact that the mill was for a world's title. The father of McArdle's sweetheart, gaining from this an idea of McArdle's character, gives his consent to his marriage with his daughter, which he had heretofore opposed. Exploitation Anf^leia: Get after the sport followers on this and sell on the prize fight angle instead of sliding it, though telling that this is merely incidental to a cracking love story. Make that very plain if you want to get the women in. Play up, in addition to the stars, Joe Humphries, one of the best known announcers in the country. "The Yellow Stain" John Gilbert Starred by Fox in a Picture That Has Character. Reviewed by Mary Kelly. Here there is a theme of the type that is never too old to inspire enthusiasm. For this reason and also because the theme has been handled in a strong way, "The Yellow Stain," concerning the courage of youth's convictions against great odds will have considerable appeal. It is one of those pictures which are said to have moral backbone. Because it has character and is, for the most part, free from any cheap touches, it is worthy of a less sensational title than "The Yellow Stain." In fact it seems that the plot has been stretched in one place just in include a scene that will dramatize the title. Unnecessarily the hero allows himself to be branded as yellow. The simplest way out, and perhaps the more noble, would have been for him to have deserted his friend and faced the mob which was clamoring for his leadership at that critical moment. However, this is not the most vital part of the story and any imperfection in the psychology here does not prevent the picture from being steadfast entertainment. John Gilbert is a lean-jawed son of conviction. His forceful character as Donald Keith, is more felt than demonstrated, a point which will count strongly with those who are tired of obvious heroism. Several in the cast are noteworthy : Robert Daly, John Lockney and Herschel Mayall. The Cast Donald Keith John Gilbert Thora Erickson Claire Anderson Quartus Hembly John Lockney Olaf Erickson Mark Fenton Dr. Brown Herschel Mayall Daniel Kersten Robert Daly Lyman Rochester Mace Robinson Story and Scenario by Jules Furthman. Directed by Jack Dillon. Length, 5,006 Feet. The Story Donald Keith, a young lawyer, learns that the greatest enemy to his progress in the small town where he has just established himself, is Quartus Hembly, lumber king, feared by the whole town. Keith decides to show his courage by taking up the old case of Daniel Kersten against Hembly, who had cheated him out of some property. In tracing the matter Keith discovers that Anderson, father to Claire, with whom he is in love, is involved in the crooked deal. Hembly frames Keith and has him wounded on the night before the trial, intending to prevent him from pleading Kersten's case. Keith comes, regardless of his weak condition, and stirs up the whole town in rebellion against Hembly. He wins out and with Claire for a nurse, soon recovers. Program and Exploitation Catchilnes: John Gilbert as a Courageous Young Lawyer Who Fights a Crooked Town — They Brand Him as Yellow Because He Stays by a Friend and Refuses to Face the Mob — Even the Girl Distrusts Him Until He Proves Himself a Hero at the Trial. Exploitation Angles: Hook in to the local "ring" if there is one and tell that this story shows how to handle such matters. If you think that might militate against you, work the same angle in a more general way and let your patrons draw their own conclusions. Moving Picture World Reviews Are the Best