The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

G^rough the Box-Office ^ndow* J SjivLewers' Views On feature ^Llm 6ditedL btj CS.SeujeLL "The Splendid Road" — First National Vigorous and Realistic Drama of Gold Rush of '49 in Splendid Frank Lloyd Production DIRECTOR FRANK LLOYD'S two Reviewed by C. S. Sewell holding are the incidents aboard the pictur latest pictures for First National have ^ . . t •„• u u ,• • , ^sque old sailing ship, and the scenes in one striking point of similarity. In Jtal.st s daughter L.lhan but behevnig she Sacramento, with hundreds of persons in the both, does mankmd's mad rush for gold 'o^'" Hall.day he persuades Sandra that she quaint costumes of that day that before you when a new field is discovered furnish the "^^st give him up or rum his career. Halli realize it the picture is in the sixth reel basis for the story, in "Winds of Chance" ^'^Y >s ordered to evict Sandra who is.a squat ^3 the events begin to shape to a climax' it was the Klondike stampede of '98, while f"""', V'^^"^ " ^"^ goes to her rescue and however, the action becomes less spontan in "The Splendid Road" the rush to Calif f shot by Chehollis a gambler who seeks to eous but allows for a satisfactory solution of ornia in the days of '49 opens the story. io^ce his attentions on Sandra. While con the tangled threads of the story and the Both pictures have been produced on a valescmg, he learns of Bidwells action and flood scenes, big scale with a large number of persons goes back to Sandra arriving in time to take This picture is portrayed by an unusually employed in many of the scenes, forcefully ''er and her family away to safety after a fi„e cast headed by Anna Q. Nilssen as reproducing the atmosphere of the respec "^^^ wagon ride, as floods have caused the Sandra, with Robert Frazer as Halliday tive periods, and are epic in their nature. 'evee to burst and the town is flooded. Lionel Barrymore in the heavy role of the The treatment of the story in the two differs Here is a vigorous, red-blooded story, fine gambler gives a fine performance Pauline considerably. "The Splendid Road" starts 'y produced. So real and true and attention Garon is good as the dance-hall girl in love off with the characters taking the land in • , , with the gambler and iealous of Sandra , . 1-1,1 Biului.lN iiiiiuii I iiniii uluii m I liN,ulMUI mill I mill , ^ b aiiu jtaiuus Ul Odliurd. Stead of water route to their goal, and hap ^^^^ Marceline Day is attractive and capable as pening on board ship serve to so change the V.....A.u.a q. Nii-sson banker's daughter and George Bancroft plans of the leading character that she never st.-mton H.-iiiiiiny Robert Fraz-cr who scored such a triumph as the villain in gets farther than Sacramento, the story be Dan ciehollis Linnol Ban-ymore "The Pflny Express" scores again here in a coming one of romance and adventure be Lisiiti«<>t Rii.s.seU Simpson rough comedy role as a drunken pioneer. tween squatters, pioneers and capitalists. sTtu.^T^Hinst^r//. / . . G^aa^^^^ Edward Earle is entirely satisfactory as the One of the passengers on the ship sailing v„„.ei .v„„i,. Pauline Garon doctor and Russell Simpson makes the best from Boston around Cape Horn is an ad i.iiiian firey Mareeiine Day of a minor role. Other well-known players venturous young woman, Sandra. A widow ^'^^^ Edwards Davis niake up the large cast dies, her little girl appeals to Sandra and eal't*al" .\' . DcWhT Jennh^^^^^ "Tl>e Splendid Road" with its vigorous rather than split the little family she adopts H^-ster Mary jane Irving story, finely directed and acted and its exall three children, and decides to remain Hilly Mickey Melian ceptioiially realistic atmosphere of the early in Sacramento and make a home for them. i><>i'«'« Bidwell Edward Earle pioneer days, combined with its punch climax Chance causes Halliday, agent for a capitalist Based on story l»y vingie E. Roe. should prove a thoroughly satisfactory at to come to her rescue and they are attracted Directed by Frank Moyd. traction for the majority of spectators, and to each other. Doctor Bidwell loves the cap Length — 7,e4« feet. a good box-ofiice bet. "The Desert's Price"— William Fox Abundan Make Bu A PARTICULARLY satisfying and effective Western is "The Desert's Price" the latest William Fox ofTering starring Buck Jones. It has all the elements which go to make a picture of this type popular and is backed up by an unusually good story. While McCann is away, Julia Starke's father is shot and many of their sheep killed and she blames the McCann outfit. Not knowing that Buck is McCann, Julia ac Ca8t Wils McCann Buck Jones Julia Florence Gilbert Peggy Edna Marion Phil Ernest Butterworth Sam Martin.... Arthur Housman Jim Martin Montague I,ove Gitner Carl Stoekdale Sheriff Harry Dunkinsoii .llased on novel by William MacLeod Raines. Scenario by Charles Dnrnton. Directed by \V. S. Van IJyRe. Length — .".,700 feet. ce of Stirring Action and Good Story ck Jones Film Unusually Fine Western Reviewed by C. S. Sewell cepts his help when an unruly ram chases her. Buck learning her suspicions, discovers that a shady bunch, the Martin Brothers are the real culprits. The Martin Brothers attempt to win the Starke sisters but are refused. Sam attempts to kiss Peggy and she falls and is badly hurt. Julia goes after Sam and shoots at him, her brother Phil later has a fight with Sam who is shot. On a tii) from Jim Martin, the sheriff comes to arrest Julia and makes Buck his deputy. He offers lier a chance to escape but she insists on giving herself up. Sam incites the mob to attack the sheriff's home. Buck inveigle^ him there while Julia rides for Buck's men who arrive in time to disperse the mob. Sam's henchman accuses him of killing father and luT sheep. Sam tries to make a getaway but Buck goes after him and subdues him. Phil is freed by the jury and Julia acknowledges her love for Buck. It will be seen that while the incidents are of a familiar type, there are plenty of opliortunities for action and enough situations to keep the story moving at a fast pace, they dovetail smoothly into each other and the result is a fast-moving and thoroughly enterlaining "Western," one of the best of its kind and one that admirers of this type of entertainment should "eat up." It should also prove a thoroughly enjoyable picture for spectators to whom westerns as a rule do not appeal, because of its forceful story, (Continued on page 695) Mr. Exhibitor: Ask at the Film Exchan^ea for the 7AaMiic Music Cue .SAecf' ■i It's little to ask for, but itU the only reliable aid you can give your musicianf to help put the picture over.