The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

February 23, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 671 husband and one is apt to feel that more aggressive action on his part would have brought about the reconciliation earlier. Lon Chaney has very little to do in the role of a servant, but of course makes his work stand out; it is also a novelty to see him in a role with no opportunities for use of his wonderful facility for character makeup. On the whole, it is a picture that should prove a good box-office attraction in houses where themes of this type are liked. Cast Robert Manry Conway Tearle Serafin Lon Chancy Elsie Manry Dorothy Mackalll Don Artnro Ricardo Cortez Elsie's Mother Louise Dresser Conntess Remea Radzina Paula Dorothy Cummlngs Stranger .Rernard Selgle Based on novel by Kate Jordon, Scenario by Monte Katterjohn. Directed by Sam Wood. Length. 7,081 feet. Story Robert Maury, an American engineer, leaves his wife Elsie In Paris while he goes on a business trip to the Argentine. She gets in with a society set, dresses in the height of the most exaggerated fashion and fascinates Don Arturo, a Spaniard. Maury returns and is shocked to see the change in Elsie. She accepts an invitation to visit Arturo's estate and he makes such love to her she writes a letter to her husband stating she is giving him up for Arturo. A stranger kills Arturo for having wronged his daughter and Elsie, disillusioned, returns to Paris. She finds the letter has not arrived and, keeping her secret, goes with her husband to the Argentine. Serafin, Arturo's servant, shows up with the letter and tries to force his attentions, but failing, gives up the letter. Elsie confesses to her husband and Insists he read the letter, which is found to be only black paper, as Arturo has destroyed the original. Robert forgives her and they start life anew. "My Man" Vitagraph Offers Entertaining Version of George Randolph Chester Story of Love and Politics Reviewed by C. S. Sewell Under the title of "My Man," Vitagraph has screened George Randolph Chester's story, "A Tale of Red Roses," the romance ■of a political boss in a small city who wooed and won a girl who considered herself far above him in the social scale. Belonging to a somewhat familiar screen type, the story has been handled by Director David Smith in such a manner that it will afford pleasing entertainment in the average theatre. There is a breeziness to the action and even though you may feel that the lavishness of the hero is somewhat overdone, it is in accordance with the type -of man he portrays and one cannot but admire his ardent and impetuous wooing that brooks no interference and conquers in spite of difficulties. Dustin Farnum gives a good portrayal of the political boss who goes about his love affair with the same force which has made him a power in politics, and Patsy Ruth Miller is attractive and peppy as the girl. There are several other popular players in the cast who acquit themselves creditably, including Niles Welch, Margaret Landis, William Norris and Sydney DeGrey. The picture has been given a good production and there are several striking scenes including a lavish display of fireworks in natural colors. The settings are all in excellent taste and the photography is excellent. There is considerable suspense in some of the scenes and a zest to the situation where kis persuasive powers fail and the hero uses cave-man tactics and kidnaps the heroine as she is about to be married to his rival. It is one of the kind of stories where the heroine finds herself falling for the hero's masterful love-making against her will and fights to keep him from dominating her, and does not give in to her love until the last. There is a nice little touch right at the end in which the appropriateness of the title is brought out. Cast Molly Marley Patsy Ruth Miller Sledge Dustin Farnum Dicky Reynolds Niles Welch Pern Burbank Margaret Landis Bert Glider George Webb Henry Peters William Norris Mrs. Peters Edith Yorke Jessie Peters Violet Palmer Christopher Marley Sydney DeGrey Based on George Bnndolph Chester's novel, "A Tale of Red Roses." Directed by David Smith. Length, 6,800 feet. StorySledge, the political boss of a small city, combines with a promoter to establish a new street car line. In the meantime he sees and falls in love with Molly, the daughter of the president of the existing street car line, but is opposed by Bert Glider, a lounge lizard. Sledge starts his wooing of Molly and impresses her with his force and lavishness of his presents, but she thinks he is uncouth, resents his attempts to dominate h.St and prepares to marry Glider. Sledge kidnaps her but relents and sends her back home. She learns that Glider is a scoundrel and finally agrees to marry Sledge. "A Woman Who Sinned" Finis Fox Has Produced a Big Box Office Winner Rich in Human Interest, With a Great Appeal to Women Reviewed by W. E. Keefe In "A Woman Who Sinned," Finis Fox has filmed a big drama fairly saturated with little human touches that tug at the heart strings. The big dramatic moments are well-timed and the human-interest touches are finely blended with the story moving forward without any drags. It tells the story of a wronged wife who leaves her husband and baby because of her disgrace when she is forced to remain aboard a Wall Street operator's yacht, and how she is revenged. Finis Fox has made this general theme merely a background for producing a great human picture. When Mae Busch stands outside her window, watching her baby cry for its mother, while a violent rain-storm is in progress, her acting is superb. The acting of Morgan Wallace, as the Wall Street operator, is excellent at all times and he never misses in his characterization. Rex Lease, a comparative new-comer, who plays the juvenile role of the boy evangelist, shows he is one of the big finds of the year. Irene Rich does not have much to do, but she plays with rare charm. The big revival scenes showing the huge tabernacle jammed with hundreds of people — when the boy and his mother first recognize each other — are splendidly executed. Finis Fox has handled his players well and his direction is perfect. The comedy touches are sure laugh-getters, with Snitz Edwards, Cissy Fitzgerald, Hank Mann, Ethel Teare and Hugh Fay furnishing the laughs. Finis has directed "A Woman Who Sinned" with an eye always to the box-office. It will be a big bet for the exhibitor in any part of the country, as its appeal is universal. It will go just as big in the rural communities as it will in the big cosmopolitan houses. It is surefire with any audience. The photography is beautiful, with some of the scenes looking like moving paintings. Cast A Wall Street operator Morgan Wallace His Wife Irene Rich A Minister,. Luclen Littlefield His Wife Mae Busch Their son J Dicky Beaudon ' ' { Rex Lease Written and directed by Finis Fox. Length. 6,500 feet. Photography, Hal Mohr and Jean Smith. Story Morgan "Wallace, a Wall Street operator, who likes the bright lights, has his wife placed in an insane asylum to give him greater opportunities for philandering. While enjoying a week-end trip on his palatial yacht with some boon companions, he forces the minister's wife to stay aboard the boat overnight, by pushing off from shore during a violent storm. The following day, feeling that she is disgraced, she plunges overboard in an attempt to commit suicide but decides to live. She decides to leave her home, husband and baby, permitting them to think she has died. Fifteen years later, she is again living in the same house with the man who had done her such a great wrong, but she now lives only for revenge. She succeeds in getting him arrested for defrauding the government, and sentenced to jail. When he is released, he is murdered by his wife, and the minister's wife, her husband and son are happily re-united. "Ladies to Board" Excellent Comedy and Pathos Makes Tom Mix Feature for Fox Look Like a Good Box-Office Bet Reviewed by C. S. Sewell There is an abundance of good audience material in "Ladies to Board," the newest Fox feature starring Tom Mix; it will appeal not only to Mix fans but to a broader clientele and looks like a good moneygetter. It is just the kind of picture that the majority of spectators will enjoy. "Ladies to Board" seems like an unusual title for a Tom Mix picture, but it fits the story, for as a reward, an irascible elderly woman makes him sole heir to her property, consisting of a home for old ladies. This is the background for a breezy comedy which is filled with laughs, romance, thrills, human interest and pathos, with a dash of "spice" in a scene where an artist gives a dinner with scantily clad girls dancing on the table, and of course a romance. The comedy element predominates and it is a refreshing and genuinely laughable type. While Tom is responsible for a big share, many of the laughs are due to the work of his "partner," portrayed by Pee Wee Holmes, who seems to be a newcomer. His continual trouble with tight boots gets one laugh after another and the scene where he tries to use cave-man stuff in eloping with a woman much larger than himself is a scream. There is a strong "mother" angle to this picture which will tug at the heartstrings and cause a wave of resentment against the unnatural son who neglects his mother who has stinted that he might achieve success. Much of the effect of these sequences is due to the particularly appealing work of Gertrude Claire as the mother. While the romance is somewhat subordinated, it serves to give a whirlwind finish to the picture and Gertrude Olmstead is excellently cast as the girl. The picture has been well directed by Jack Blystone, who has introduced some original and highly effective comedy touches and nicely maintained the balance in playing upon the different emotions of the spectators. Especially fine is the double elopement at the finish which will evoke roars of laughter. Tom Mix acts in his usual breezy, wholehearted manner, and whether your patrons