The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

October 20, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 669 "The Courtship of Myles Standish" Charles Ray's Initial Production for Associated Exhibitors Is a Great Screen Epic Reviewed by W. E. Keefe Charles Ray in "The Courtship of Myles Standish" has filmed an epic drama that should prove to be a big box office winner, and which marks a milestone for the screen not only from a historical standpoint but from the view of the ordinary seeker after entertainment. The famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which is probably as widely read as any ever written and is well-known to practically every schoolboy and girl has been utilized as the basic plot for this picture, and around it has been built elaborate screen drama. The story opens with the historic Mayflower on the open sea en route from England to America, and there is introduced one of the greatest storm scenes ever enacted in films. The scenes showing the Mayflower caught in the trough of the sea with waves crashing over the dceks and the vessel almost capsizing are magnificiently staged and there is splendid direction throughout with many little human touches such as the contrasts between the rough illiterate crew and the sick wife and small child. The duel at sea after the fierce storm is also a big punch scene. The landing of the Pilgrims, their struggles for existence, the fights with Indians and the signing of the historical treaty are finely handled. The snow scenes are beautiful. There are also comedy elements simply and logically introduced such as the hasty retreat of the Indians when the soldiers fire a Thanksgiving salute. The arrival and departure of the boat in the dead of winter have been realistically depicted. The historic Mayflower has been finely reproduced and there is evidence of lavish expenditure on the production. As John Alden, Charles Ray does some of the finest acting of his career. The story gives him splendid opportunities in a role that will endear him to motion picture audiences. Enid Bennett makes an ideal Priscilla and her work is superb. E. Alyn Warren is fine as Captain Myles Standish, Joseph Dowling as Elder Brewster and Sam DeGrasse as John Carver, do exceptional work. In fact the acting of all of the principals is high class. Director Frederic Sullivan has handled his people and situations wonderfully showing a fine knowledge of picture composition and dramatic construction. The photography is excellent. "The Courtship of Myles Standish" will prove a monument to those connected with the production and is one that will ring the bell at the box office. Cast John Allien Charles Ray Priscilla Enid Bennett Myles Standish E. Alyn Warren Elder Brewster Joseph Dowling John Carver Sam DeGraase William Bradford Norval McGregor Edward Wlnslow Thomas Holding Isaac Allterton Frank Farrington John Howland William Sullivan Based Upon Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Scenario by Al Ray Direction by Frederic Sullivan. Length, nine reels. Story John Alden, Priscilla and Captain Myles Standish are all on board the Mayflower bound from England for America. After a very rough voyage in which the vessel Is almost capsized the Pilgrims land on American soil. Captain Standish has fallen In love with the beautiful Priscilla but feeling that he has too rough a manner to propose to the young woman he engages John Alden to tell Priscilla. Alden In the meantime has fallen in love with the maid and when he starts speaking for Standish the maid asks him the famous question "Why don't you speak for yourself John." Captain Standish then calls Alden a traitor and refuses to allow him to go with his command to repel an Indian attack. Word is received that Standish has been slain and Alden and Priscilla are married. Immediately following the ceremony 'Standish returns and gives his blessing. "The Bad Man" Carewe's First National Film, Starring Holbrook Blinn, Is Filled with Surprises, Thrills and Laughs Reviewed by C. S. SeweU Holbrook Blinn reaches stardom on the screen in "The Bad Man," a First National production of a stage play in which he achieved great success for several seasons, and it would seem that in this form it is due to be just as big a success. It is a cleverly constructed comedy drama built along lines entirely different from the average production and is marked by biting satire, snappy humor at points where you least expect it, which is intermingled with thrills and surprise situations. The whole picture is a mixture of laughter and thrills, of melodrama and comedy, that keeps you on your seat's edge following the action intently and wondering just what will happen next and how each situation will be worked out. It is a story of the Mexican border with the star as a bandit but of a type that is absolutely new to the screen. While he is "a bad man" and no apology is made for him, at least in the instance covered by this story he is a "good bad man" with a unique philosophy of life and a deep sense of gratitude which leads him in his own and decidedly novel way to straighten out a tangled romance. Mr. Blinn's characterization of this role is a delight and one of the finest and most fascinating characterizations that has ever reached the screen. His acting is repressed, never boisterous, his every look and movement speak volumes. He magnetizes your attention every moment he is on the screen The remainder of the cast is very competent; Enid Bennett is appealing and wistful as the heroine in distress, Jack Mulhall makes a good hero, Walter McGrail a particularly despicable cad and Charles A. Sellon, who had the same role in the stage production, is exceedingly fine in the role of a grouchy old man who is confined to a wheel chair throughout the entire picture. Because of its subtlety and satirical touches, this picture will particularly delight the discriminating and intelligent class, but even aside from this the novelty of the theme and characterization and the other many excellent entertainment angles should please any type of audience. Much of the humor is in. the subtitles and they are helped by the quaint MexicanEnglish dialect in which they are written. The border atmosphere is excellently handled and every situation developed to the utmost of humor, thrills and surprise. Director Edwin Carewe deserves great credit for the manner in which he has produced this picture. Cast Pancho Lopez Holbrook Blinn Gilbert Jones Jack Mulhall Morgan Pell Walter McGrail Mrs. Morgan Pell Enid Bennett Red Giddings Harry Myers Lucie Henry Charles A. Sellon Jasper Hardy Stanton Heck Angela Hardy Teddy Sampson Capt. Blake Thomas Delmar Indian Cook Frank Lannlng Pedro Peter Venzuella Based on stage play by Porter Emerson Browne. Directed by Edwin Carewe. Photographed by Sol Polito Length, 6,404 feet. Story Gilbert Jones, unable to pay his debts because of his cattle being stolen by a bandit, is about to lose his ranch when his former sweetheart, who married a rich man while Gil was "over there," arrives on the scene. Soon after this, the bandit. Lopez, comes to the ranch and is about to make a clean sweep of the place including taking Gil's former sweetheart, Mrs. Pell, away with him. Lopez discovers that Gil is the man who saved his life a year or two before and immediately he begins in a highly autocratic manner to take charge of the situation. He plays his game well and brings about a situation in which Pell, who turns out to be a cad, attacks Gil and is killed by Lopez. This leaves Gil and Mrs. Pell free to take up their broken love affair and Lopez brings back the cattle he has stolen and also lends Gil money with which to start all over. "Paddy-the-Next-BestThing" Mae Marsh Becomes a Comedienne in Allied Producers Comedy Drama Reviewed by Beatrice Barrett Mae Marsh, the wistful, appealing girl who has brought tears to the eyes of the audience so often, is forgotten in this production, and instead we have a new Mae Marsh, a vivacious, hoydenish girl who will be every bit as appealing to an audience and keep them laughing and intensely interested for fear they will miss one of the bright, quickly moving fun filled scenes she is creating for them on the screen. There are no idle moments in "Paddy-theNext-Best-Thing." It is good, clean fun, irresistibly funny, with one event coming so quickly on top of another that the audience will be carried along with the verve and rush and fun of the thing. And coupled with the splendid acting of Mae Marsh and the excellent support given by George K. Arthur, Darby Foster and Lillian Douglas, as well as the rest of the well picked cast, each of whom make their own bit worth while, is some of the most exquisite photography ever put on the screen. The picture was taken in London and Ireland and the scenic effects of the great rugged cliffs and dashing sea are most beautiful. They make the picture a keen pleasure from the artistic standpoint. Other very good and unusual photography effects have been accomplished in the rising of the fog, and later in the search in the fog with the red flare of the torches of the searchers marking their trail as they climb the mountains. Good, light entertainment — -which will really entertain — is this production. The story is a sketchy affair with just enough plot to carry the various interesting incidents, but it is the life and swing and fun of the action which will make the great appeal to the audience. To give a little more weight to the story they have introduced a melodramatic ending with Paddy wandering in the marsh and being caught in the deadly clutches of the quicksand. Here those who must have thrills with their pictures to be fully satisfied will find them in abundance, with a little glimpse of the more familiar Mae Marsh in the more tragic role. Cast Paddy Adair Mae Marsh Lawrence Blake Darby Foster Eileen Adair Lillian Douglaa Mrs. Blake Nina Boucicault Miss Jane O'Hara Haidee Wright Miss Mary O'Hara Marie Wright Jack O'Hara George K. Arthur General Adair Sir Simeon Stuart Mickey Doolan ..Tom Coventry Story by Gertrude Page. Directed by J. Graham Cutts. Length, six reels. Story Paddy and Eileen are left orphans, and Paddy, the torn boy of the family, takes It upon herself to be the man of the family. Jack O'Hara is in love with Eileen but she loves Lawrence Blake and is heartbroken when she finds that he only looks upon her as a good friend. Lawrence is in love with Paddy but she will have nothing to do with him. Jack goes to South America to make