The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

780 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 23, 1922 'Voice of the Land" (American Releasing — Biblical — One Reel Each) This is a series of fifty-two single-reel subjects made by Geographic Film Company and distributed by American Releasing Corporation. They are scenics dealing in a reverent manner with places of interest in Palestine which are mentioned in the Old or New Testament. A striking feature of the five shown for review is the fact that much of the land which is described in the Bible as "flowing with milk and honey" is now desolate. They are instructive and will appeal to spectators who are interested in the Bible and familiar with the places mentioned. These pictures have been nicely photographed and are embellished with scenes painted by Paleologue picturing certain Biblical events, and these scenes have been filmed in Prizma colors efTectively. "Jerusalem the Holy" Jerusalem, sacred alike to Jews, Christians and Mohammedans, is shown to be a walled city. Much of this reel consists in showing the eight gates in the city walls and the significance of each, such as St. Stephen's gate where the first Christian martyr was stoned, Herod's gate, Damascus gate, and others. There are also views of the interior of the city. "Down to Jericho" The dififerent points of Biblical interest on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho are pictured, including the Dead Sea. the Wilderness of Judea, the Brook of Cherith where Elijah was fed by the ravens, and the Plains of Jordan. "Hebron the Ancient" Hebron is said to be the oldest city in the world, being settled by the son of Abraham, the country being promised to his posterity forever. Of especial interest are the Pools of Solomon, which are wonderful examples of engineering and said to be the oldest water-supply system for a city. "Beersheba" Abraham once lived here, but jealousy between Isaac and Ishmael led to the putting out of Ishmael and his mother, Hagar, on the desert. On the nearby hills of Zyph David and Jonathan pledged eternal friendship. Nearby is the wilderness of Edon and other places mentioned in the Bible. "Valley of Dry Bones" As the name indicates, this was the ancient burial ground of Jerusalem and the location of the vision of Ezekial when he saw the flesh go back to the bones of the dead. Here are the tombs of the Kings of Judea and the cave in which Jeremiah wrote his Lamentations. Here is also a tomb which many believe to be the burial place of Christ, and the hill nearby to be Golgotha. -C. S. S. "Fruits of Faith" (Pathe— Drama— Three Reels) Will Rogers is the star of this story, v/hich is decidedly out of the ordinary and very entertaining. It is filled with Roger's characteristic humor, many of the sub-titles being unusually good and there is very strong human sympathy throughout. The star appears as a tramp who hears a street minister preach on the power of faith. The manner in which Roger's applies this lesson is alternately humorous and pathetic and these scenes have been handled so as not to give offense to anyone. Chance leads him to place in the desert where he finds a baby. He adopts it and then finds work is not so distasteful after all. He marries to get a "mother" for the baby, and then the child's father returns. Finding how much the couple love the child, who is now four years old, the real father departs and happiness again reigns. — C. S. S. "Via Radio" (Educational-Special — One Reel) Here is one reel of absorbing entertainment that will do credit to any program. A subject that is still an enigma to thousands receives careful and authentic attention, that cannot fail to leave the average spectator dazzled, and with a clearer understanding of the fascinating phenomena. Educational has produced this subject under the supervision of the Scientific .\merican. Minute diagrams of radio vibrations, and voice waves, comprehensive maps of this country and the world visualizing the radio routes, photographs of the technicians and their operations and glimpses of the artists entertaining countless listeners are included. One of the most interesting is the photographic illustration of the human voice. The vast potentialities of wireless as indicated most strikingly in the signalling of ships are a marvelous revelation. "Via Radio" is a rare and valuable attraction. — M. K. "Here's Your Men" (Pathe— Drama— Two Reels) This is another of the Range Rider series of two-reel Westerns, starring Leo Maloney. It is well up to the standard of the previous issues and is recommended for those who desire snappy Westerns with plenty of action and real "punch." There is hard riding and hard fighting and an absence of padding, the story being tersely told. The theme deals with a man with a violent temper who is accused of killing another man. Maloney, his friend, is also the sheriff. He suspects two men and in a dramatic manner succeeds in freeing the innocent just as he is about to be the victim of a "necktie" party, and in making the guilty pair confess. The manner in which he grabs both off their horses is somewhat overdone. — C. S. S. "The Educator" (Educational-Comedy — Two Reels) Lloyd Hamilton amusingly depicts the difficulties that face the poor school master in the town where ignorance is preferred. Most of his pupils have passed the halfcentury mark and are unwieldly subjects. They bring their guns to school. Hamilton's placid style of humor and attempts at physical grace are featured to a successful degree. The little traveler who accompanies the school teacher on his way toward the scene of action is an unusually charming child and Ruth Hiatt as the star pupil is a lovely, old-fashioned type. The picture is highly amusing in spots and on the whole is agreeable entertainment. — M. K. "Town Terrors (Fox-Comedy — Two Reels) The famous team of Lee Kids keep up a fast pace in this comedy, one of the series which Fox is preparing from the old fivereelers. They are cast as two small but efficient cyclones who set the whole town in an uproar. Finally to relieve their own boredom they get themselves kidnapped and prove too difficult even for kidnappers. There are some rollicking scenes in the dungeon where they are imprisoned and these will keep any spectator entertained. — M. K. "Fair Week" (Pathe— Comedy— One Reel) Rapid action seems to be the keynote of this one-reel Pathe comedy starring Paul Parrott, with Jobyna Ralston. Paul is a,< "loose as cement with his money," but a "shell game" reforms him. There are funny mix-ups with the competing live-stock at the fair. The subject is of ordinary value. "A Small Town Derby" (Universal-Comedy — Two Reels) Johnny Fox is the star in this Century comedy, but Maudie, the mule, comes oft with high honors, too. She takes an active part in many clever stunts. His master's sister has many beaux and Maudie is of great service in evicting the undesirable ones. Later she proves a reliable substitute for a motor engine in carrying the familj' to the circus. Johnny enters the pieeating contest but falls woefully behind because of the unprecedented speed of the black boy sitting next to him. With Maudie's assistance he is the final winner. The comedy ends with a horse race, an entertaining close to a comedy that will bring many laughs. — M. K. "Pop Tuttle's Grass Widow" (F. B. O.— Comedy— Two Reels) There is some good rural comedy in this most recent of the Dan Mason series. The barn dance is the big hit of the comedy, and due mainly to the enthusiasm of the performance it goes over with many laughs. Enlivened by the good old Virginia reel and Pop Tuttle's jigging it offers wholesome merriment of a sort that one does not tire of. Dan Mason is as usual, excellent. He becomes infatuated with a married woman who poses as a widow and behaves like one at the dance, but is painfully disillusioned when he discovers her jealous husband. — M. K. "Screen Snapshots No. 15" (Pathe — Magazine — One Reel) This pictures, in one reel, Hall Caine, English novelist, watching Director Maurice Tourneur, Mae Busch and Richard Dix make "The Christian," Nazimova and her husband at the beach, Will H. Hays greeting various stars, and some real antique "movies." — S. S. "Starland Revue No. 17" (F. B. O. Release— One Reel) .\mong the attractive contents of this number is a study of Muriel Stryker, Ned Wayburn's "Girl in Bronze" which proves unusually interesting as a screen subject Screens from popular Broadway cabarets, and rehearsals and close-ups of the artists in the "Greenwich Village Follies"; Ethelind Terry's unique style of making her own blouses. Herton Spurr and his vaudeville art are included. — M. K. "A Rip Snoreing Night" (Universal — Comedy — One Reel) A decidedly funny plot that runs along in smooth sequences, makes this comedy unusually good. There is hardly a moment in which something laughable fails to occur. Lew Sargent is featured, and the story shows how he takes his boss' place in bed, while said boss goes out to a poker game. Sargent is discovered by his employer's wife, and a series of comical complications develop.— T. S. daP. "Glad Rags" (Metro— Comedy— Two Reels) This is a Metro two-reel comedy, which is admirably suited to Bull Montana's distinctive personality. He appears as a tough prize-fighter who learns how to be refined in order to win a swell girl. He succeeds in getting a certain amount of polish, but loses his big fight thereby and the girl says "What an awful oil-can you turned out to be." There is considerable action, several laugh-provoking situations and it should prove satisfactory for spectators who liked Montana's previous comedies, though it is hardly as speedy. Tom Gallery, in an unusual role for him, contributes much to the merriment. — C. S. S.