Paramount and Artcraft Press Books (1918)

Press Reviews of ‘‘Too Many Millions” To be Sent to the Newspapers Immediately After the First Display of Wallace Reid’s Latest Photoplaj^ A Paramount Picture Wallace Reid Scores Personal and Artistic Triumph in Nelp Paramount Photoplay "‘Too Many Millions^' Old Question “What Would You do With Fortij Million Dollars?” is the Tough Problem that Faces Hero and Heroine in a Highly Delightful Picture. ally skillful fashion, keeping the comedy pitch just right throughout. Ora Carewe is the heroine, Desiree Lane, the girl who was robbed of two millions by Van Dorn’s skinflint uncles. Visually Miss Carewe is a delight and she also contributes some acting of a high order. Tully Marshall is seen in an important character part, that of Wilkins, the confidential agent of Van Dorn, who suddenly disappears with the money and leaves his employer penniless. Charles Ogle contributes an important character interpretation in the person of a garage keeper, who risks his life to save Van Dorn from a fire because Van owes him a garage bill. Others who appear to advantage are James Neill, Winifred Greenwood, Noah Beery, Percy Williams, E. Pasque and Richard Wayne. Vy/HAT would you do if you had forty million dollars ? Walsingham Van Dorn, the hero of “Too Many Millions,” Wallace Reid’s new Paramount picture which was presented most successfully at the Theatre yesterday, faced that problem and found it a tough one. In a delightful romantic comedy Wallace Reid shows how Walsingham staggered along for a while under the weight of the forty millions, how they were suddenly taken from him, how a beautiful girl demanded two millions that had been stolen from her father, how he and the girl were suddenly .stranded without any money and how they lost most hf their clothes in a fire. They suddenly married. they live happily on the money the young man earns until the time w'hen the forty millions are again returned to them. Do they take them? For the answer we refer you to the picture. It is one of the most unusual and amusing vehicles that Mr. Reid has had in some time. He is splendid in the character of Van Dorn. In the first part of the story. Van Dorn, is shown trying to earn a living as a book agent. Suddenly two rich uncles of his are killed in an automobile accident and he finds himself their heir. But life is anything but smooth and happy when he first gets the forty millions and amusing complications pile up thick and fast. The picture was directed by James Cruze, who handled it in an unusu WALLACE REID’S NEW PHOTOPLAY “TOO MANY MILLIONS” BIG SUCCESS VV/ ALLACE REID, the popular ^ * Paramount star, scored a big success in his latest photoplay, “Too Many Millions,” on its presentation at the Theatre yesterday. The picture is one of the most enjoyable seen here this season. Walsingham A'an Dorn, a book agent, falls heir to forty millions of dollars by the death of his two uncles. Wall Street brokers who among many other victims, have robbed the father of Desiree Lane of two millions. The newly made millionaire enters upon his new life with gusto, but he tires of this existence and appeals to Wilkins, his confidential manager, for a remedy to drive away the blues. Wilkins installs Van Dorn in the former home of Desiree Lane who is now working as cashier in a restaurant. When she reads of Van Dorn’s good fortune, she convinces herself that he is responsible for her misfortunes and goes to his house, her former home, to extort her two millions from him. Hence it is that when Van Dorn awakes in the morning, he finds Desiree watching by his bedside. He laughs at her demand for the restoration of her inheritance, but is promising to comply when he learns that Wilkins has decamped with his money and that the house he is in has been attached by creditors. He flees with Desiree in an automobile, but when his gasoline runs out, the machine is taken from him by detectives. The two are obliged to spend the night in an inn and it is burned to the ground, the two escaping in their robes de nuit. In attempting to save his personal effects Van Dorn is almost suffocated l)ut saved by a garage keeper to whom he owes the price of ten gallons of gasoline. Deprived of their clothing, they accept garments from a minister and his wife and the two are married. Two years later while they are still honeymooning in their cottage, Wilkins returns with their forty millions, saying he has tired of the responsibility of its custodianship, and Van Dorn doesn’t know whether to accept it or not. He finally leaves it to the audience to decide. What would you do? Mr. Reid was excellent in his portrayal, while Ora Carewe, a beautiful actress who is new to Paramount audiences, instantly established herself as a favorite by her characterization of Desiree Lane. The support was in every way excellent, the principals Tully Marshall, Charles Ogle, James Neill and Norah Beery, being most artistic. 7