The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

576 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 12, 1925 "The Best Bad Man"— William Fox New Tom Alix Film Is Good Entertainment Witli Lively Action and Exciting Climax ALTHOUGH he appears as a wealthy tenderfoot idler in the opening scenes of his newest Fox production "The Best Bad Man" Tom Mix soon gets into his elements and gives a performance that will please his enormous circle of admirers. Tom is cast as a chap who has never taken life seriously until a westerner demands that he complete a dam on his property that was promised by his father and is necessary for a score of ranches. As Tom has already sent money for this project he determines to investigate for himself, and disguises as a peddler of musical instruments. He finds that his agent is a crook, steals his own money back and resists arrest until he is identified. In the meantime he has fallen in love with the girl leader of the ranchers. The villain dynamites the dam and Tom saves the girl There is plenty of snap and action and a lot of good comedy in this picture. Tom contributes his share of the latter, but big Tom Wilson as his negro valet is responsible for Reviewed by C. S. Sewell most of the laughs. His performance from start to finish is a scream, In escaping from the sheriff and the villains, Tom exhibits his wonderful horsemanship and Tony comes in for a share. The manner in which this pair take fence after fence is superb. There is plenty of gunplay in the sequence where Tom holds off his pursuers. Coat HiiKh Mohols Tom Mix Hank Smith Bu.«ter Gardner Frank Dunlap Cyril Chadnick Pejrsy Sivain Clara Botv Dan Rllis Tom Kennedy Mr. Swain Frank neal Molly Jonc.s Judy Kinj; Sam Tom Wllj^on Sheriir Paul Panxer Bused on novel by Max Brand. Directed by J. G. BIystone. I.cng-th — 4,803 feet. The blowing up of the dam provides a fine punch climax Director J. G. Blystone is to be credited for the thoroughly realistic manner in which he has staged these scenes, making them unusually effective. You see the principals engulfed by the wall of water while fleeing to safety and then swept along by the raging torrent. There is a real thrill when the girl is carried to the edge of the falls and is finally rescued by Tom with Tony's assistance just as she is about to be carried over. Tom Mix is his usually, pleasing wholesouled, likeable self in this picture and Clara Bow is excellent as the girl, giving a spirited and thoroughly pleasing performance. Cyril Chadwick is a capable villain and the others give thoroughly satisfactory performances. With its comedy, romance, western stuff and fine thrill climax, "The Best Bad Man" offers a variety of pleasing if rather improbable entertainment and it should prove a good attraction for the majority of patrons 'The Masked Bride" — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pleasing Story of a Dancer of the Paris Underworld Serves as Mae Murray Vehicle IT is a story of the Paris underworld that IS unfolded in "The Masked Bride" Mae Murray's newest starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and second only in interest to the star is the reappearance of the former screen favorite Francis X. Bushman after an absence of several years, in the role opposite Miss Murray. The star is seen in the role of a cabaret dancer in the Montmartre section of Paris whose dancing partner and friends are thieves. She meets an American millionaire who is a reformer and making a study of crime and kids him along, even falling in with her partners scheme to rob him of a valuable necklace. She plays the game to the extent of preparing for the ceremony but her better self comes to the fore when she realizes the depth of the American's love Reviewed by C. S. Sewell and the duplicity of her sweetheart who choses the necklace in preference to her, and finds happiness as the American's wife. \\'hile the story is highly improbable it is made entertaining by Miss Murray's excellent portrayal of the vivacious French girl and the wonderful . dancing for which she Onat Gnby Mae Murray (Jrover Fnineis X. iluHliman Prefect of Police Hoy D'.Vrcy Antoine Basil Itathbone Grovcr's Sinter Pauline NelV Vibont Fred Warren Story by Leon AbraniM. DIreited by Christy Cnbanne. I.enirlh — .VOIM) feet. is noted. Her Apache dance has a novel finish and is unusually fine. There is considerable sparkling comedy in the role, especially in the way she outwits the supposedly super-clever prefect of police. The picture is handsomely staged and Miss Murray wears some striking creations as the dancer. Mr. Bushman is as handsome as ever in the role of the millionaire and gives a good performance. Roy D'Arcy is excellent as the prefect of police and Basil Rathbone give a sterling performance as the dancing partner. At no time is the heroine masked and the only reference to the title occurs in a leader where the millionaire refers to the fact that as the hoydenish irresponsible woman she is really masking her real self. "The Masked Bride" is sprightly and pleasing entertainment. "One Man Ranch" — Universal Actio Fight PETE MORRISON is the star of the newest Universal Blue Streak Western which is based on a magazine story by George C. Jenks. He appears in the role of a western chap who after an absence at college returns to the ranch with effete eastern ways and dresses as a regular drug-store cowboy, earning the ridicule of the cow punchers. The story develops along the line of one of the familiar formulas for Westerns, the plot embracing a dispute between neighboring ranchers over water-rights which they hope to adjust through marriage. Hero and girl both resent this. The hero saves the girl from a villain and she in turn aids him n, Fine Horsemanship and Plenty of s in Western Starring Pete Morrison Reviewed by C. S. Sewell meet just as a big fight has started between , ^, •„ ■ 1 1 u . -ri. f 11 the opposing factions, when the villam knocks him out. They fall Morrison gives a satisfactory and likeable m love without knowing each other's names, performance as the hero, while Dolores and all is straightened out when they again Gardner appears as the girl. James P. " """"""""""" ' """ """" ■■■nmiinniir.i.iinn i , , ,..„ mm Lockncy, Lco Mcchan and other familiar Jim Wesley Pete Morrlaon "^mes appear in the supporting cast. Mil Marinierite Grayson Dolores Gardner burn Morris contrilnites several laughS Dy Mel Larrimer l,eo Meehan his eccentric clowning. Grirt Wesley .lamen Weiiib -pj^g action is punctuated by the usual Adams Grayson .1. P. Loekney , , , . • c i,*.. ..:i1.<;r,ir oo/l Montana MeGren AI Richmond '"Un of hand-to-n.ght fights, villainy, ami Bat Grayson ii-rre Austin pood horsemanship, and there are some Rciie Deans Virginia Wnrniok striking scenic shots. Altogether, "One ^''"'"J^ MiM.um Morante j^jan Ranch" is a picture of average enterBased <en nia^axine Mtor> b> <;ei>rtre C. Jenks. , , ^ i u '.jt^ Directed by Joseph Fran,.. tainment value that shou d provide en i.enu-th i.KMi feet. joyineiit for audiences that like Westerns.