The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

When They All Sou its a Great Attraction It Must Be So -Grab \t~Qu/C/t// Sunday, September 2, 1923 "The Drivin' Fool" Producer: Regent Pictures Corp. Distributor: Hodkinson As a Whole A LIVELY ENTERTAINMENT THAT GOES ALONG AT A GREAT PACE IN CROSS COUNTRY AUTO TRIP; A SURE-FIRE NUMBER THAT HAS PEP AND GOOD HUMOR. Players Wally Van, featured in role of speed maniac. Van gives fine performance and will be well liked for his thoroughly good natured manner. Jesse J. Aldriche, the colored Cupid, helps along the comedy business. Patsy Ruth Miller, a pretty heroine. Alec B. Francis and Wilton Taylor, two typical "Governors." Type of Story Not a lot to it but it's there several different ways. Everyone will like it. It has action, thrills, comedy, romance — in fact everything that makes for sure-fire entertainment. There is considerable novelty in the idea of picturing the course of the cross country trip and it has been splendidly done. Hero with speed mania agrees to deliver check in New York with seven days to get there from San Francisco, by automobile. His success in the venture offers laughs and thrills. Box Office Angle Looks very promising. V our folks will like this one very well. It's just a right good entertainment, well worth your consideration and exploitation. The receipts should prove completely satisfying. Exploitation Get your hands on this one and then go after the business. If vour folks appreciate a snappy, bright, clean and amusing picture, here it is. "The Drivin' Fool'' is one of the best automobile pictures that has yet been made* There is genuine excitement in the cross country race and the idea of following the course, both on a map, and by indication in the subtitles, makes it the more interesting and real. Vou can make promises for the action and thrills. Tell them hero makes New York in seven days, from the time he goes across San Francisco Bay on the ferry until he crosses the Jersey ferry to New York and lands in Wall St., Motion Picture News NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 8, 1923 The Drivin' Fool (RegentHodkinson — Six Reels) (Reviewed by Laurence Reid) THIS one will recall to mind Wally Reid's anto stories — most of which were fashioned by Byron Morgan. The main situations are marly identical, though the characters are cut from a different mould. For one thing the heroine's father is not a croehety old man though he does object to the speed fiend becoming his sonin-law until he settles down and gives up stepping on the gas. Wally Van, who plays the title role, does not take his work as easy as the late lamented star. He is as quick and nervous in his walk and gestures as when he played in "Love, Luck and Gasoline" many years ago. Yet he is admirably suited for the role once he hops into the ear and makes his wild (light across the continent to deliver a certified cheek to the Wall Street sharks. There is a reason for the mad dasl> — the trains are not running. It's an easy story to follow, obvious always, nevertheless, it quickens the pulse as the car hits off for Carson, Reno, Cheyenne, Omaha and points East. One may wonder that the villain — a henchman of the oily financiers— is able to throw obstacles in his path. Certainly he seems to have a large clientele among highwaymen and crooked garage keepers. The fore part of the picture reveals Wally having an easy time avoiding work and receiving summons to appear in court. But the ride saves the feature and gives it the necessary punch. The flight is shown agninst good backgrounds — and one shot showing the speed fiend and his colored mechanician stalled in the snowdrifts of the Kockies is punctuated with thrills. As is natural with Ibis type of story tlic hero reaches his destination barely in the nick of time. But he saves his dad and the latter's partner — the girl's father — from financial ruin. And, of course, is accepted as a good prospect for a son-in-law. The plot is well put together and kicks up plenty of dust and should prove enjoyable everywhere. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. The pep and ginger of the mad ride across country. The thrills attendant upon the obstacles placed in path of speed fiend. The suspense. The effective backgrounds. The lively incident. Good scenario and titles. DIRECTION. Keeps it ever moving with good suspense. Lightens the monotony of mad dash with good incident and thrills — and by flashing to "straight" scenes. Never slackens the speed. Makes the wild .flight look genuine. Furnishes some adequate comedy. • SUMMARY. A moving story of a speed fiend cut after a familiar pattern, but which is pepped up with breezy incident. Implausible in its villainy. Should draw well most everywhere. THE CAST John Moorehead ■ • AIec„B-,FI?"!:is Sylvia Moorehead •• Patsy Ruth Miller Henry Locke Wilton Taylor Hal Locke ••••Wally Van Richard Brownlee Ra™??? W„ c5 Howard Grayson Wilfred North Horatio Jackson Lee St. Albans Jesse J. Aldriche John Lawson Kenneth R. Bush . By W F. Sturm. Scenario by H. H. Van Loan. Directed by Robert Thornby. \(\f\% -/THRILLS -'ACTION Get a PRESS BOOK and a copy of The BOX OFFICE NEWS from your HODKINSON Exchange and SEE the Great Seat-Selling EXPLOITATION Angles