The Moving picture world (September 1925-October 1925)

September 26. 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 333 Making allowance for the fact that Matt Moore is a different type and plays the hero as a much older fellow than the original, he gives a good performance, putting over the comedy in an amusing manner and certainly suggests the worm that lets himself be trodden on. Dorothy Devore is a breezy flapper. George Nichols portrays the author's idea of the rough and carelessly dressed millionaire who clings to detachable cuffs. Lucille Ward is effective as the buxom nurse who chases the millionaire around to take his temperature or force him to take medicine. As a farce comedy with touches of slapstick, "His Majesty Bunker Bean" should prove thoroughly amusing to the majority. Admirers of the novel may be disappointed by the absence of the convincing touches and fine and smooth development which made Bunker Bean such a delightful character study of youth. Cast Banker Bean Matt Moore Marie Breede Dorothy Devore "Bud" Matthews David Butler Jim Breede George Nichols Mrs. Breede Helen Dunbar Balthasar Frank Leigh Casanova Nora Cecil Lnrabee Henry Barrowes Grandma Gertrude Claire Nnrse Lucille Ward Bert Hollins Hayne Whitman Based on play by Lee Wilson Dodd founded on novel by Harry Leon Wilson. Directed by Harry Beaumont. Length, 7,201 feet. Story Bunker Bean, stenographer to a rough and ready millionaire Breede, is a highly imaginative chap and wishing to know about his past existence goes to Balthasar a claivoyant who finding he has some money, tells him he was an Egyptian King, and for $5,000 gets this king's money for him. Breede's daughter Marie, becomes fascinated with Bunker and taking matters in her own hand stampeded him into agreeing to marry her. Bunker's dog tears up the mummy proving it is a fake. Bunker is disheartened and calling himself a fake says he cannot marry Marie. His friend Bud, crack baseball pitcher, cheers him up but just before the preacher arrives, his rival Hollins starts a fight. Bunker and Hollins roll all over the lawn and finally land in a pond and keepfighting. Bunker wins and takes Marie in his arms, and they both fall into the water. Father has been won over as Bunker held some stock necessary to his control and made it cost the old man a big sum to get hold of it. "Qraustark" McCutcheon's Well-Known Romantic Novel Proves Thoroughly Enjoyable Vehicle for Norma Talmadge Reviewed by C. S. Sewell When George Barr McCutcheon wrote ■"Graustark" several years ago, so popular did it become that it established a vogue forstories of similar nature in which an adventurous American woos and wins the princess of a mythical kingdom. In fact so well known is this novel that stories of this kind are frequently referred to as being of the Graustark type. Transferred to the stage, Graustark made a fortune for its producers and proved a big popular success on the road for a number of years. Now, in film form, as a First National production, it serves as a starring vehicle for Norma Talmadge, and there seems to be no reason why it should not bring enjoyment to many and, duplicating the success of the novel and play, prove a fine boxoffice attraction. "Graustark" is out-and-out highly romantic melodrama, with a story which, while widely stretching probability, glorifies the spirit of romance, and playing upon the popular chord of the love between a commoner and a member of royalty, taking its characters through adventure and court intrigue, pitting romance against reasons "of state" certainly should provide enjoyment for lovers of romance. While in no way ostentatious, this picture has been given a high class production from every standpoint, and there are quite a few big sets and scenes representing the court and palaces of Graustark, showing the pomp of royalty. The direction by Dimitri Buchowetski is excellent. He has taken a straightforward story and produced it in a smooth, straightforward manner, without the subtlety and sophistication which usually marks the work of the continental director. In its stead he has injected a refreshing buoyancy that is particularly noticeable in the clever, amusing and thoroughly enjoyable opening scenes showing the meeting of the lovers on a pullman car while crossing Wyoming. He has also handled the conventional melodramatic intrigue well and made it seem more plausible than usual. Norma Talmadge is ideal as the fascinating and wistful Princess Yetive and makes this character seem very real. She seems the embodiment of the author's idea of the character, and her performance should thoroughly please her legion of followers. Eugene O'Brien makes a handsome lover and the subordinate roles are all well handled. All in all, "Graustark" is a distinctly pleasing production, one that you can just sit back and enjoy, and should prove thoroughly satisfactory for the great mass of motion picture patrons. Cast Princess Yetive Norma Talmadge Grenfall Lorry Eugene O'Brien Gabriel Marc McDermott Count Halfont Albert Gran Dangloss Roy D'Avey Dannox Michael Vaviteh King Frank Currier Countess Dagrmar Wanda Hawley Ambassador Winter Hall Based on novel by George Barr McCutcheon. Scenario by Frances Marion. Directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki. Length, 5,900 feet. Story Waiting in a dining car for the train to pull out. Lorry, a young American, travelling through the West, catches sight of . an attractive girl in another train and immediately rushes to board it. A stop at a station and the escape of the girl's dogs gives him a chance to rescue them and make her acquaintance. By the time New York is reached they are very much in love. The girl, who unknown to Lorry is the Princess Yetive of Graustark is called home to marry Gabriel, a neighboring prince. Lorry follows her and is chagrined to discover she is the Princess. Gabriel has his henchman Dangloss attack Lorry who wounds him and spiriting Dangloss out of the country Lorry. is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Yetive rescues him and sends him to the border where he finds Dangloss and brings him back as the wedding ceremony is in progress. Dangloss implicates Gabriel who is driven out in disgrace. Yetive going out on a balcony tells of her love for the American and appeals to them not to make her marry anyone else and they shout their approval of her love for Lorry. Cyril Chadwick in heavy roles. The story has to do with the efforts of a gambler and a scorned woman to prevent the entry of a horse in the English Derby and thus ruin the owner, a lord. The highlights are a prizefight in which the lord takes the place of his protege, who has been drugged, an escape from a roomful of thugs and the final scenes of the Derby. Maurice Tourneur directed. Lytell nearly succeeds in dominating every scene in the picture, but he works so hard at playing the gallant that he usually seems unreal. Miss Nixon is her usual charming and capable self. Miss Duval and Chadwick perform indifferently. The best work is done by Charles Delaney as a pugilist. He is very human. "Sporting Life" falls short of the Tourneur standard, which is a high one. The picture takes a long time to get under way and it does not develop real punch until the last three reels. These are very well done. Part of the early trouble, we think, may lie in the editing. In a couple of places the subtitles quote a serious conversation between characters and yet on the screen they are seen to be laughing heartily. It is old-fashioned melodrama of the familiar Drury Lane mold. Audiences with a distinct leaning toward melodrama will excuse the shortcomings but we do not think that they will fail to spot them. The prizefight and the race — especially the former — are effective. Cast Lord Woodstock Bert Lytell Norah Cavanaugh Marian Nixon Olive Carteret . Paulette Duval Phillips Cyril Chadwick Joe Lee Charles Delaney Dan Crip pen, George Seigmann Cavanaugh Oliver Eckhard Chorus Girl Edna Gregory Chorus Girl Kathleen Clifford Story by Cecil Raleigh and Seymour Hicks. Continuity and adaptation by Curtis Benton. Directed by Maurice Tourneur. Photographed by Arthur Todd. Length, 6,709 feet. Story Lord Woodstock loses money in a musical revue in London and plans to recoup by betting on Joe Lee, a pugilist and protege of his, and by winning the Derby with his horse, Lady Love. He incurs the enmity of Olive Carteret, actress, by falling in love with Norah Cavanaugh, daughter of his trainer. Phillips, a gambler, and Olive conspire against him. The pugilist is drugged on the night of the fight and Woodstock takes his place and wins the fight. Phillips kidnaps Norah and Woodstock and the pugilist are imprisoned when they go to her rescue. They escape an hour before the race and the pugilist is killed. Lady Love wins the race, Phillips is arrested for murder and Woodstock and Norah are free to marry. "Sporting Life" Tourneur Directs Drury Lane Type of Melodrama for Universal — Lytell in Lead Reviewed by Sumner Smith "Sporting Life" is a Universal-Jewel melodrama of London sporting and society circles. The leads are played by Bert Lytell and Marian Nixon, with Paulette Duval and "The Fighting Heart" Fox Offers George O'Brien in Entertaining Prizefight Story Adapted from Novel by Larry Evans Reviewed by C. S. Sewell As a John Ford Production, Fox is offering George O'Brien in "The Fighting Heart," an adaptation of Larry Evans' story of a boy who overcame the heritage of drink and won laurels in the prizefight arena. It is the fighting atmosphere, as capitalized in the title, that will make the greatest appeal to the fans, and certainly any one who likes a good scrap should be amply satisfied, for there are no less than four here, two rough and tumble grudge fights and two "inside the ropes."