The Moving picture world (May 1922)

416 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 27, 192? Newest Reviews and .Comments "Missing Husbands" "L'Atlantidc," European Literary Sensation. Is Basis of Metro Picture. Reviewed by Fritz Tiddeii. "^Missing Husbands" is the apphcable title given to the picturization of Pierre Benoit's novel, "L'Atlantide," which was awarded the French Grand Prix some years ago. The book became one of the greatest literary successes of Europe, about 2,000.000 copies being sold. Over a year ago a French company produced the moving picture version of the novel, and when introduced it ran for a year in Paris and London under the original title. Metro obtained the picture for this country and is releasing it under the above name. It is not within the province of a reviewer to become a prophet, so a guess whether "Missing Husbands" will duplicate its European popularity would be quite out of place. However, it is safe to say that it will meet with success. Its pictorial advantages are numerous and have appeal, its fantasy will be appreciated by the many who respond to that sort of thing, and Stacia Xapierkowska, as Queen Antinea, has certain attraction, due to her peculiar physical beauty and method of costuming. Men will like her. The story, fantastic in the extreme, holds the interest for about three-quarters of the way through the film. It then relaxes its grip somewhat. But firm attention to the film is maintained by the picturesque qualities, which are striking. Antinea's court has a weird beauty of architecture and appointments that are dififercnt and sensational. The cast, which includes a group of noted French players, give adequate performances. The direction of the action in the individual scenes has been, done in a capable, but Continental manner, and the lihotography enhances the beauty of the settings. The Cast Antinea Stacia Napierkowska Tanit-Zerga Marie Louise Iribe Captain ilorhange Jean Angelo Lieutenant Saint-Avit Georges Melchior The Antiquary Francesclii Cegheir-Ben-Cheikh . . . Abd-El-Kader Ben-Ali Adapted from Pierre Benoit's Novel, "L'Atlantide." Scenario by Jacques Feyder. Director Not Credited. Length, 6,601 Feet. The Story The story concerns Antinea, queen of a magnificent land in the Sahara desert, supposed to be the lost continent of Atlantis. Travelers never return from her palace once they have seen her beauty and come under her spell. Two French officers. Morhange and Saint-Avit, enter a grotto near the queen s domain and see her name inscribed upon the rock. They follow the tracings and come to the gates of the wonderland and see twenty-four golden statues, mummies of men who have known the queen's favors. When Antinea sees Morhange she falls in love with him and places Saint-Avit in the care of her lady-in-waiting. But Morhange, who had taken holy vows, spurns the caresses of the queen and angers her to the point where she urges his jealous comrade, while under the influence ot a drug, to kill him. The murderer, recovering from the spell, turns upon the queen for the purpose of slaying her, but is prevented by the queen's guard, and through the help of the lady-in-waiting, who loves him, he escapes from the palace and flees across the desert. But the girl dies of thirst and Saint-Avit is later brought back to civilization. His one thought is of the queen — and the picture closes with the young officer tracing his steps back to the place where he knows love and death await him. ProgTam and Exploitation C.-itchline: What Was There About This Strange Siren of the Desert That Made Men Love Her More Than Love of Life? See "Missing Husbands." Kxploitation AAgles: Play up the locale. "The Spanish Jade" Picturesque Melodrama Is I Veil Produced— Paramount Release. Reviewed by C. Walter McCarty. "The Spanish Jade," featuring David Powell and Evelyn Brent in the two leading roles, is a dramatic romance of sunny Spain which, no doubt, will be well received by lovers of Spanish scenes and stories. It is the thrilling tale of a good and beautiful Spanish senorita, who is sold to a young dilettante by an unscrupulous and brutal stepfather. Evelyn Brent, as Manuela, the soft-eyed heroine, is excellent. She not only is good to look at, but she registers her emotions in the most realistic and artistic style. Her struggle with her purchaser, resulting in his death, form the basis for a -series of near murders, with "blood for blood" as the battle-cry for the relentless vendetta always following such a mysterious death in Spain. Mr. Powell, as the gallaiit, nonchalant Perez, lover of Manuela, does some very clever acting. With his impudent shrugs, his flashing smile and expressive face he carries off his role with easy grace. Without a doubt the setting for the play is one of its strongest attractions. Its mission style of architecture, the views of the quaint old Spanish city, and the burros and gardens are most realistically portraved. The Cast Gil Perez David Powell Don Luis Ramonez de Alavia, Marc MacDermott Esteban Charles de Rochefort Manuela Kvelyn Brent Manuela's Stepfather Lionel d'Aragon Tormillo. Don Luis' Servant .. Frank Stanmore Esteban's Spy and Confidant Roy Byford Oswald Manvers Harry Ham Adapted from the Novel by Maurice Hewlett and the Play by Louis Joseph Vance. Scenario by Josephine Lovett. Directed by John S. Robertson. Length, 5,111 Feet. The Story The story is one fashioned somewhat along the lines of adventures of the famous Don Quixote. A young girl having been sold by her dissolute father to a rich roue, flees and in her flight is aided by a young adventurer with a big heart but a slender purse. A young American also assists her and in a fight the rich roue is killed. The American is accused and the girl to save him offers to sacrifice her own life. How she is prevented from doing this and the manner in which the romance is brought to a happy ending makes up the rest of the story. E:.T|»loitation Angles: With the book and play successes back of this, you should experience very little difficulty in selling this play on straight advertising, playing up the leads and the excellent and picturesque Spanish atmosphere. "Daughter of the West" Baby Marie Osborne is the star of this three-reel Pathe Playlet originally issued in five reels. It tells a nice little story without any especial strength, but which serves to show this diminutive star to advantage. She is quite attractive in Western togs, and accidentally helps her father who is elected sherifj, to capture a desperado. An additional point of interest in this picture is the fact that it was one of the first in which Sunsh ine Sammy, who is now a featured member of the Hal Roach comedy company, appeared. This production shows this httle negro boy as a tiny little shaver, even younger than the diminutive star.— C. S. S "North of the Rio Grande" Dual Stars in Western Melodrama Released by Paramount. Reviewed by Fritz Tidden. Bebe Daniels and Jack Holt are co-stars in "North of the Rio Grande." which is a picturization of Vingie E. Roe's story of the same name. The combination of Miss Daniels and Holt brings together two players that are eminently suited to play the leading roles in a story concerning ranching in Arizona. It has been some time since Miss Daniels has appeared in a wild riding, galloping Western, so here enacting a ranch girl, outfitted in the customary habiliments of the pride of the range, crop, divided skirt, sombrero and all, may be considered somewhat of a novelty. The stars are supported by as fine a cast as has been seen in a Western melodrama in some time. Fans will be pleased to see such favorites as Charles Ogle, Alec B. Francis, Will R. Walling, Jack Carlyle. Fred Huntley, Shannon Day and Edythe Chapman. All of these players do the excellent work that might be expected of them. Two remarkably fine thoroughbred horses. Comet and Meteor, are prominent figures. Although there is nothing startlingly new to the story or the manner in which it is related, there is enough melodramatic excitement and typical Western stufT to satisfy the manv who have a penchant for Westerns. The fast riding, gunplay, beautiful scenery, bad men, heroics, intrigue and romance are combined in a plot that holds the interest. The picture has been well directed. The "shots" are striking. The Cast Bob Haddington, a rancher Jack Holt Val Hannon, his sweetheart Bebe Daniels Col. Haddington, Bob's father. .Charles Ogle Father Hillaire Alec B. Francis John Hannon, Val's father. .Will R. Walling Brideman, a gambler jack Carlvie ^'''Ston Fred Huntiey Lola Sanchez Shannon Day Belle Hannon Edythe Chapman Paul Perez George Field Glendenning w. B. Clarke Adapted from Vingie E. Roe's Story of the Same Name. Scenario by Will M. Ritchie. Directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon. Length, 4,770 Feet. The Story The story centers around twin racers. Comet and Meteor, owned by the proud rancher, Haddington. Masked riders have long cast envious eyes upon the two horses, and while the rancher's son. Bob, is leading a posse against marauders in a nearby settlement, one of the prize horses is stolen and Haddington is killed. The son swears vengeance and organizes a band to rout the bandits from the section. At a mission he meets the pretty daughter of Hannon, a wealthy rancher, and later discovers that Hannon is the feared "Black Rustler," the beginning of a Western romance in which Bob offers to sacrifice himself to save the girl's father and is nearly killed in attempting to carry it out. But circumstances interrupt his plans and his life is sparred, upon which he wii»s the girl's hand. Exploitation Angles: Play up Miss Daniels and the horses from different angles to get admirers of the star and the lovers of good horseflesh. The horses will have a drag, so don't overlook them. the beauty of the sets, the oddity of the story the Arabic actors, the queen who mummifies her husbands and the European success of the story. You must work all angles to get the most from this, and you have enough to sell a far less interesting story. "The Movies" This single-reel Hal Roach comedv, distributed by Pathe and featuring Snub Pollard with Marie Mosquini, is a broad burlesque on a small town moving picture house. Audiences in general will find it amusing, as there are several good comedy touches. No one ever saw a moving picture house like the one portrayed as everything has been over-exaggerated for comedy purposes, but it will get laughs nevertheless.— C. S. S.