The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

T Here's the Chanceto Stack Up Big Profits/ It's Picked to Win by All the critic*!/ MoviKG Picture EXHIBITORS WORLD HERALD HARRISON S REPORTS September 22, 1923 "The Drivin' Fool"— with Wally Van and Patsy Ruth Miller (Hodk., Sept. 15; 5,700 ft.; 66 to 81 min.) This light romance-drama possesses all the elements that bid for audience appeal — fast action, spills, thrills, and a break-neck motor trip, state by state, from Oaklnnd, Cal., to New York. Wally Van plays the title role, the Drivin' Fool ; the part seems made for him : — The father of the hero and that of the heroine are business partners. A critical business exigency arises which makes necessary the delivery in New York by a certain date of a large check. A railroad strike, just called, makes mail delivery through the regular channels an impossibility. The hero offers to drive his roadster across the continent to deliver the check and save his father's firm from going to the wall. The company to whom the. check was payable arc a shyster outfit, hoping the check will be forfeited so that they may take over the company, their real objective. But the hero manages to buck at every turn the various efforts of their "dirty-worker" to block his trans-continenta! progress. He arrives on time, intact, and delivers the check. "The Drivin' Fool" should please well and all. a 100% Seat-Salesman that will go out and DRAG them in with it's lOOlof RgpMreBallyhooing Exploitation September 8, 1923 "The Drivin' Fool" September 8, 1923 HODKINSON PICTURE S Good, Snappy Entertainment in Hodkinson Picture Starring Wally Van Reviewed by Mary Kelly Auto racing fan? will be most pleased with this. Wally Van returns after a long absence from the screen in a speed picture of more than usual interest. The thrills, action and comedy should get any audience. From San Francisco to New York in six days is the hero's stunt. The cross-country race has moments of great suspense and many incidents that will keep one amused. A business rival who opposes the trip arranges all sorts of delays, all of which the hero smilingly surmounts — after a bit of lively action. Wally Van is an extremely likable actor and perfectly suited to this part. His is a live-wire performance that never allows your attention to lag. A good comedy angle is added when the colored garage boy joins forces with him for protection, and proves an adhesive companion for the rest of the journey. Patsy Ruth Miller is attractive as the girl who stays behind and proudly marks off her sweetheart's progress. Alec B. Francis and Ramsey Wallace are good in less important roles. The picture will please because no footage is wasted, and the general spirit of it is unusually congenial and entertaining. Story Hal Locke is rejected by his sweetheart's father-in-law, Moorehead, because he spend* all his time breaking speed records. Suddenly this fault becomes a talent whe.i Moorehead discovers that an Important check, safeguarding all his business Interests, has been delayed in mailing. The railroads are tied up by a strike, so Henry takes the long cross-country ride, promising to have the check In New York within six days. He succeeds — after no end of excitement and delay. SPECIAL CAST IN THE DRIVING FOOL (HODKINSON) Delightful entertainment is this breezy drama of a cross-country auto race. It is fast moving, contains a good comedy element, and g&nerally proves quite pleasing and interest absorbing. Adapted by H. H. Van Loan from a story by W. H. Sturm, and directed by Robert Thornby. Six reels. Here is a snappy Utile picture that will adorn any screen to satisfaction. A story of a cross-country drive by automobile, which might readily have proved tiresome under less capab'e direction, the entire journey here is most delightfully pictured. There isn't a dull moment (rom the start of the race to the exciting finish, a series of amusing incidents keeping interest at a high pitch. The story tells of Hal Locke, whose father Henry Locke and Howard Grayson operate the Golden Gate Packing Company. Young Locke is in love with Grayson's daughter but when he suggests that her father accept him for a son-inlaw he is emphatically turned down with the explanation that as long .as he continues to jeopardize his life and be arrested every other day for speeding he hasn't a chance. There comes a day when the packing company has a note due in New York which must be promptly cancelled. There is a big storm and transportation is tied up most of the way between San Francisco and New York. Young Locke volunteers to drive the distance, have the note cancelled and save the firm from ruin. Then starts a most interesting cross-country drive, with his father's enemies trying to keep him from reaching his destination on time. Hal picks up a negro garage keeper on the way who accompanies him and between the two they lead their pursuers a merry chase. There is a happy and humorous ending in the East when Hal reaches his goal after having driven for about a week without any sleep.