The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

January 19, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 217 These night fire scenes are well done and have a spectacular distinction that will impress. The picture is not as dramatic on the whole as some of the star's features but it has numerous incidents that will entertain and amuse. Mildred June satisfies the demand for a pretty leading lady and the others are well chosen. Cast Hoot Gibson Ace Cooper Mildred June Sally Drennan Frank Beal ... Captain "Smoky Joe" Drennan Edwards Davis "Big Tim" O'Rourke Philo XcCullough Gus Henshaw Story by Edward Sedgwick and Raymond I Schrock. Scenario by E. Ricbard Shayer. Direction by Edward Sedgwick. Length, 5,568 feet. Story Ace Cooper, a cowboy, mixes with cowboys and a stockyards cashier over their pay. He leaves suddenly with a policeman behind him, disguising himself with a fireman's helmet. He is forced into service by a truck captain who mistakes him for a fireman. He has a lot of thrilling experiences which give his fellow firemen many laughs. Falling in love with the daughter, he meets with tough opposition from Gus Henshaw, who lures Sally with a fake telephone message. The big punch in the production comes during the burning of a big mansion, where Sally is held. Rand, whose son John is too busy to receive the affection which she wants to give him. John gets involved in a crooked Wall Street deal and is framed by his partners. Molly robs his safe to get a paper that will save him and through his mother's influence becomes a new character who rouses the son to a greater appreciation of his mother. 'Gentle Julia" "The Heart Bandit" Viola Dana Gives Capable Perfromance in Metro Picture, a Sentimental Comedy Drama Reviewed by Mary Kelly Viola Dana's latest is a comedy drama of crooks and society, somewhat conventional in idea and treatment but fairly entertaining where the star draws. As a girl from the underworld transplanted to a society setting, she presents a popular type of heroine. She is well suited to the part and plays in her usual spirited and amusingly defiant manner. Some of the situations and most of the subtitles are saturated with a sentimentality that will not appeal to everyone. Character transformation in crook dramas is so familiar that it needs more touches of originality than here to make it very interesting or convincing. "Angel Face Molly" finds a perfect mother whose kindness changes her entire life. Viola Dana's acting helps out greatly in putting over this old situation. She keeps her old Bowery mannerisms in spite of a beautiful home and wardrobe, instead of becoming suddenly a creature of culture and refinement. The performance is distinguished from the ordinary in this respect. A few scenes of quick actidn are included — enough to give the picture adequate suspense. The climax, when the girl robs the safe of her benefactor for his own good, is well done. Milton Sills heads the supporting cast, which is fairly successful in helping to give the picture average audience appeal. Cast Molly O'Hara Viola Dana John Rand Milton Sills Mrs. Rand Gertrude Claire "Spike" Malone Wallace MacDonald Rninon Orestes Cordova .... Bertram Grassby Pat U'Connell De Witt Jennings Jenka Nelson McDowell Monk Hinman Matthew Betts Silas Wetherbee Edward Wade Story by Fred Kennedy Myton. Scenario by Thomas .1. Hopkins. Directed by Oscar Apfel. Length, 4.9O0 feet. Story Angel Face Molly escapes when the police overtake a gang of crooks about to hold up a liquor truck. She finds a home with Mrs. "Other Men's Daughters" Melodramatic Story Based on Social Problem in Ben Wilson's Latest Picture for GrandAsher Reviewed by C. S. Sewell Ben Wilson's third production for GrandAsher, titled "Other Men's Daughters," is a melodrama built around the somewhat sensational theme of a man who is unduly strict with his own daughter but who away from home apparently has no scruples regarding other men's daughters. He has an affair with a "gold digger" and enjoys parties where elderly men are entertained by "snappy" young ladies. The point of the story is brought out at one of these parties where he meets his own daughter, and when he starts to denounce her, she proclaims her innocence, blames him for being in such questionable surroundings and berates him for his double life. This main situation has considerable dramatic power but the theme has not been handled in such a manner as to carry any great degree of conviction or develop any particular strength. Coincidences figure largely in the story which does not at all times ring true, the situations apparently being forced for effect. Because of its weaknesses it will probably not satisfy discriminating patrons; however, there are several points of appeal for the average theatregoer, such as considerable action, a climax with a race between a train and an auto, cabaret scenes, etc. One of the very strongest angles to the picture is the excellent cast headed by such players as Bryant Washburn, Kathleen Kirkham, Wheeler Oakman, Sidney DeGray and Mabel Forrest, who has done good work in other Ben Wilson pictures. All of them give good performances and add much to the entertaining power of the picture. Cast Alaska Kid Bryant Washburn Dorothy Kane Mabel. Forrest Lottie Bird Kathleen Kirkham Winnie Wheeler Oakman Mr. Kane ..Sidney DeGray Mrs. Kane Martha Franklin Hubert Roscoe Karns Page Ben Wilson, Jr. Story by Evelyn Campbell. Scenario by Frank Sullivan. Directed by Ben Wilson. Length, 5,936 feet. Story Dorothy Kane's father, although he will not allow her any of the ordinary pleasures of girlhood, and is himself a respected member of the community, on his trips to the city is very friendly with Lottie Bird, a woman with a questionable reputation. Dorothy finally rebels and goes to the city. Her money gives out and she confides in the Alaska Kid, who misunderstands her and gets her to share Lottie's apartment. At a big dinner, which will be attended by old men and young girls, Dorothy, who has been persuaded by Lottie to go, meets her own father. He starts to denounce her, but she turns the tables on him and berates him for his treatment of other men's daughters. Learning the true story, the Alaska Kid declares his love for Dorothy and together they race back to her home, arriving ahead of Kane. Dorothy decides, however, not to tell her mother about her father's shortcomings, as she has enough unhappiness already, and she forgives her repentant father. Highly Entertaining Picturization of Tarkington's Popular Novel Made by Fox Reviewed by Mary Kelly Delightful entertainment — wholesome in theme and finely directed — is in store for anyone who sees this Fox presentation of "Gentle Julia." Every foot of it is interesting. It is bound to appeal because it possesses the charm of youthfulness so unstintedly. Booth Tarkington's heroine, the girl with many suitors who gently encouraged them all is a screen type that is quite certain to interest all fans. Bessie Love plays this part adorably. She has remarkable sweetness and a satisfying dramatic ability. "Gentle Julia answers the cry for first class entertainment with excellent comedy value that will stand the severest of tests by the moralists. Any child could see this picture and find wholesome enjoyment. In fact the small girl angle is more stressed than any other. This part, played shrewdly by Mary Arthur, will bring countless chuckles as her interest and interference in her aunt's love affairs is delightfully amusing. Furthermore, the production has that homey, natural atmosphere prevalent in all Tarkington stories of Middlewestern life. The comedy is plentiful and unforced. The people are such as almost everyone meets and the situations are parallel to average experience, only that an unusually imaginative mind has handled them. A few scenes of speedy, melodramatic action have been cleverly introduced without inconsistency. These are used in picturing the hero's vision of the kidnapping and exciting rescue of gentle Julia, as effected by himself. Julia's various suitors, the poet, the fat boy, the man with the toupee, Mr. Crum from Chicago and lastly the most diffident but successful of all, Noble Dill, are splendidly portrayed. Harold Goodwin as the last mentioned gives an extremely clever performance. The directing, settings and photography are all that could be asked. "Gentle Julia," can be recommended and exhibited without doubts. Cast Julia Bessie Love Noble Dill Harold Goodwin Randolph Crum Frank Elliott John Atwater Charles K. French George Atwater Clyde Benson Uncle Joe Atwater Harry Dunkinson Newland Sanders Jack Rollins Mrs. Joe Atwater Frances Guant George Plum Bill Irving Mrs. George Atwater Agnes Aker Herbert Atwater William Lester Mrs. Herbert Atwater Gypsy Norman Florence Atwater Mary Arthur Herbert Atwater, Jr Richard Billings Based Upon Novel by Booth Tarkington. Scenario by Donald Lee. Direction by Rowland V. Lee. Length, 5.S37 feet. Story Julia Atwater encourages her various suitors without promising any one of them. Noble Dill, more devoted than any, fails somewhat in sweeping her off her feet. She goes to Chicago, finds that other girls are more $ut&a!unber