The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

218 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 19, 1924 popular than she and that the man who urged her to come to Chicago la married. Meantime her small n!*';e who has be«n Interfering In all her affaire, publishes an announcement of ner engagement .In a paper published by the neighborhood children. Bat Julia return* humbly to Noble's arms. "The Song of Love" Roman'.* 'f Arabian Dancing Girl and French Officer in Newest Norma 7 »\rri»iiy Production li*«i*»*d br »;. *. ***t*n Vastly different from her "Ashes of Vengeance" it Norma Talmadge's latest First National production, "The Song of Lore." It it not in any seme at big a production, nor marked by the huge or spectacular; rather hat the emphasis been laid on the emotional and artittic tide. In this picture Miss Tallin If*1 returnt to desert themes and is teen as a beautiful dancer, a member of a tribe of warlike Arabt. Naturally there is a romance, a French officer wins her love and the enmity of an Arab chieftain, but it it in no tense a sheik picture. The entire action takes place in a French garrison town in the desert and the production hat been artistically mounted and finely photographed. Especially striking are the night tcenct of the hard-riding Arab toldicrt on the desert. The star hat a role which givet her good chancet for effective emotional tcenet and also the opportunity to appear in very scant raiment of an Oriental dancer. There are some out-of-thc-ordinary angles m the development of the ttory which are interesting, but it will probably not develop any especially strong hold on the average spectator. The romance it somewhat one-tided for it is not until the final scenes that the French officer rcali/.ct he loves her; even then it seems more like gratitude for her nobility and attempted telf-sacrifice. The final defeat of the detert throngs it brought about in a conventional manner and the recovering of the herom' appear, as a concession to the happy ending, weakening the dramatic force. There are also some comedy scenes with a flivver which teem a bit out of pLce in a Norma Talmadgc film. Altogether, while it provides entertainment above the average, it is by no means the best of her films and is somewhat of a disappointment bee an . c of what we have learned to expect in Miss Talmadge's productions. In a role which docs not aroute your full sympathy, Norma gives a good performance and doe, ,ome fine and characteristic work. Arthur Kdwin fan -we h w II < a-.t a, the fiery chieftain, but the excellent nla(/c actor, Joseph Schildkraut, does not show to especial advantage as the French officer; this it partly due to the rather unsympathetic nature of hit role. One of the weaknesses of the picture it lack of strong sympathy for any of the characters and the aloofness of the ttory. < bjM N i, or >ruiMill Normu I iilitiiidu* nullum v ii in rile Joseph lehUdkratM II ii tn I Ik ii Srlhur K. < nr*»»* 'ii. i Jonea I.snrenee Wlietil *fa«r»*a r>*«m»rd Maade Wayne ' ..■t.l..l«»rr llf.mar* Karl SrSnrk I k>nilra lal Heeler T. Itru i.Simta Albert Prise* i apiaia Kr*a</nn* Marie Carina DWCSaS* llurnlifrr Jann < rxtl*y lla.*tl t.n M»r*rar*» l**l*rw»n'» >orrl, "Dut mt Desire." I*lr**l*d br Chester Fraaklla aad Frsim Marios. I.eBtrth, S/*m feet. »t.,i-, In a desert town In a French colony Chandra-la] ran a gambling boose frequented by the fierce Arabs of the neighborhood. His -. • <; :.y r.er beauty and danc ing, drew them to the place and Ramllka, an tians. The co service man. 1 difference wlm learns the deu that the com sweetheart of the affair. Wl Hal goes to Va to marry Ram her own life, the arrival of ner sends for a secret . who by feigning lave of Noorrna-Hal and ie plot. Valverde finds r's wife Is a former ! she wishes to renew revolt occurs N'oormaind to sav* him, agrees hen then tries to take erolt Is crushed with .cements. Noorma-Hal recovers and Valverde realizes that he loves her. "The Love Master'' Thai Magnificent Dog Strongheart in First National Feature Again Civet a Wonderful Performance R*rl*rred by C. H. Hewrll Anyone who likes dogs will be immensely entertained by "The Love Matter," the newest of the Murfin-Trimble features released by Firit National, starring Stronghcart. This wonderful dog indulges in no tricks or thrilling stunts, nor does he do impossible things, but he gets you by the very real, sincere and intcntcly "human" quality of his work. It is not acting for him, it it real, and he makes you feel it. He it unquestionably entitled to the stellar role in thit film, relegating the human actort to tecond place, and holdt your attention every second he it on the screen, but thit time he shares his honors with another clever police dog, Lady Jule. Having witnesttd all of the Stronghcart pictures, and they are still vivid in his memory, the writer bclicvct that to far as Strongheart it concerned, he shows to even better advantage , 1 1 this picture than in the others. Etch though there may be weaknesses in the human story and the action appear nol always consistent, it serves as an excellent vehicle for this clever animal. The story is really in two sections and it is in the firit that Stronghcart appears to best advantage. The manner in which he goes out into the hills, sees Lady Jule with the limber wolves, brings her home, hides her and takes care of her, and his work .-/hen he heheves his master is dying will get under almost anyone's skin. After this scene there is a temporary let-down in the interest, but it is revived in an unusual race between a number of dog teams. Of course you feel that despite almost in.uperahle handicaps Stronghcart and his two teammates will win, but the manner in which thit is brought about by crossing a glacier, showing the dogs and their human friendl in continual spills and dangerous ii nation', piovide-, a number of thrills. The entire action of the picture takes place in the far north, in thr midst of the deep, snow c lad mountain , and plain ., and there arc some strikingly beautiful photo graphic shots. There is plenty of action, inc hiding ,i fight between I wo of the aclors that is a good one except m one scene where it is almost burlesque. T his iniild be climinat i 'I io advantage. The dog Lady Jule is an excellent foil for Strongheart's wonderful work and we must not forget the strong appeal of her litter of puppies. Lillian Rich gives a fine performance as the sweetheart of Strongheart's owner, David, capably portrayed by Harold Austin, and the remainder of the cast is entirely satisfactory. "The Love Master" should duplicate the success of the other Strongheart pictures. Everyone who has seen this dog will wan: to see him again, and you need not be afraid of this one. Cast David Harold Aastla »all> I HI inn Rleh I n<-le Aady Walter Perry Sl*« sfei.t-ttii Hal WUaoa The Ghost Joseph BarreJI John I.eRoy Joha Klehardaon Mrnna-heart Hlntself Mr*, stronskran . I.adr Jul. Von Helsaetel -o.rv i, v Jane Murfln and l.anrenee Trlaable. *>enario by Donna RarrelL. l»l reeted by Laurence Trimble. I.enarta, 0,779 feet. Story David, believing he has murdered a man in a row over his dog Strongheart, takes the dog and flees to a small arctic settlementHe fails In love with the only girl there, ■Sally, an orphan, who is also loved by John Deltoy, a fur trader. Strongheart finds a dog. Lady Jule, consorting with the timber wolves and brings her home. David becomes ill from overwork and worry but Strongheart and Sally save him. To get money to return home, David enters the annual dog race and wins by taking chances in crossing a glacier. Sally, In an abandoned warehouse, finds Da/ly Jule with a family of puppies playing with furs which have been stolen from the trappers. LeKoy comes for them and attacks Sally. Strongheart goes and gets David, who finally thrashes U-Roy, and the trappers lead him away to meet his fate. David and Sally find happiness with • net, other and the arrival of David's father reveals the fact that the man David wounded did not die. "The Whispered Name" Ruth Clifford Has Leading Role in Universal Picture Based on Stage Success Revirvred by Mary Kelly With a divorce problem and a blackmailing news service as a nest of complications, "The Whispered Name" has various interesting twists and entertaining situations. Ruth Clifford is pretty and gets the sympathy as the innocent victim of the scandal. The plot is one that will appeal to the average audience and the treatment by King I'.aggot conforms to the style of the program success. The production is built upon a stage play, "The Co-respondent" by Kita Weinian and Alice Leal I'ollack. It proceeds with a typical situation showing a country girl being lured to the city by the promises of a seducer. She is saved by a man whose protective efforts arc used as evidence for a divorce by his wife. From this point on, the action becomes more spontaneous and interesting. The girl's experiences as a newspaper reporter arc romantic, lightly amusing and a bit tense at times. Muddy Messenger contributes a few bright touches as the office boy. Some of the characters show a lack of experience in the arts of make-up, and dressing as well at acting, Hut Miss Clifford is accomplished in every way and holds the attention well, Niles Welch is a strong upright type for the hero in an "all-star cast" and Haydcn Stevenson is a i olivine ing Ilea vy. ( ( in/ mill \lory puhlUhed on paye 217) ietiSotiWan $ut£teunber