Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1924)

I Brief Reviews of Current Pictures ABYSMAL BRUTE, THE — Universal. — A woman-shy young man with a wallop in his right fist and a corne-hither in his eye, played by Reginald Denny in a way both manly and appealing. Jack London characters faithfully reproduced. This is a picture for everybody. (July.) AFFAIRS OF LADY HAMILTON, THE— Hodkinson. — Lady Hamilton comes to a bad finish, but her road of life is not tedious by any means. Rather heavy German production. Not for children. (July.) ALIAS THE NIGHT WIND— Fox.— A man unjustly accused, vanishes. Pursued by detectives, he has many hairbreadth escapes, and is finally captured by the blonde girl detective. That's all. (October.) APRIL SHOWERS— Preferred.— Colleen Moore and Kenneth Harlan in a picture filled with old material. Not highly recommended. (November.) ASHES OF VENGEANCE— First National.— One of the first — and best — of the costume pictures. Norma Talmadge and Conway Tearle excellent. Should not be missed. (October.) BAD MAN, THE — First National.— Holbrook Blinn is as delightful in the picture as in the stage version. One of the most amusing films of the month. (December.) BAVU — Universal. — A gory tale of Bolshevic Russia, decidedly artificial. This doesn't apply to Wallace Beery, however, the double-dyed villain. Flappers may like the ultra-heroic Forrest Stanley. (July.) BILL — Paramount. — Not a story, but a wonderful study of a Paris pushcart peddler, done by Maurice Feraudy. Very much worth while. (November.) BLACK SHADOWS— Pathe.— A clever mixture of entertainment and instruction. Views of the strange people of the South Seas as they dance, swim and play. Colorful and interesting. (October.) BLINKY— Universal. — The best picture Hoot Gibson has had. The meek son of an army colonel enters the army and finds trouble. Lots of fun. (November.) BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE— Paramount — Highly sophisticated and good entertainment with Gloria Swanson wearing gorgeous clothes as only she can. Put it on the preferred list. (October.) BOSTON BLACKIE— Fox.— The inside of the world's most disagreeable prison, with a happy ending that arrives just in time. (August.) BRASS BOTTLE, THE— First National.— A fantastic picture, amusing and well done. Sort of Arabian Nights entertainment. The Oriental prologue is especially line. Barbara La Marrand Ernest Torrcnce in cast. (October.) BRIGHT SHAWL, THE— First National— A pretty play of distinct atmospheric charm, a tale of Havana intrigue with Cuban strugglers for liberty on one side and soldiers of Spanish oppression on the other. Well acted by Richard Barthelmess, Dorothy Gisli. Jctta Goudal and William Powell. (July.) BROADWAY GOLD— Truart.— A formula picture of the good little chorus girl, forced into marriage with a living rich man. He gels well, of course, causing complications. A jazz party is well done. Just fair. {October.) BROKEN WING, THE— Preferred.— A story of Mexico and an American aviator who crashes through a roof into the arms of a pretty girl. Moves rapidly and is interesting throughout. (September.) BURNING WORDS— Universal— The Canadian Mounted, and a trooper who gets his man. This time the man is a brother. (August.) CALL OF THE WILD, THE— Pathe.— A dog star. Buck, a beautiful St. Bernard, acts in a way that should shame a lot of humans. Fine for the family. (Pe.ember.) 8 CAMEO KIRBY — Fox.— A charming romance of the old Mississippi river boats, well told and well directed. John Gilbert excellent in title role. A delightful evening's entertainment. (December.) CHAPTER IN HER LIFE, A— Universal— A child heroine is always abused and misunderstood, but sweetly forgiving. Rather saccharine, although well acted. (November.) CHEAT, THE— Paramount.— Pola Negri in a tragic story that starts slowly, but gains in interest. Miss Negri's acting better than the direction. Good entertainment and just misses being a big picture. (November.) CHILDREN OF DUST— First National.— A pleasant little story of old Gramercy Square, but with too much childish love-making. And then, at the end, the war is dragged in. (August.) CHILDREN OF JAZZ — Paramount. — A fast story, unique plot, quaint costumes and delightful photography. Altogether, good entertainment. (September.) AS a special service to its readers, Photoplay Magazine inaugurated this department of tabloid reviews, presenting in brief form critical comments upon all photoplays of the preceding six months. Photoplay readers find this department of tremendous help — for it is an authoritative and accurate summary, told in a few words, of all current film dramas. Photoplay has always been first and foremost in its film reviews. However, the fact that most photoplays do not reach the great majority of the country's screen theaters until months later, has been a manifest drawback. This department overcomes this — and shows you accurately and concisely how to save your motion picture time and money. You can determine at a glance whether or not your promised evening's entertainment is worth while. The month at the end of each tabloid indicates the issue of Photoplay in which the original review appeared. CIRCUS DAYS— First National.— Jackie Coo gan's new one. This shows the lovable boy star at his best and funniest. It is all Jackie, of course, but none the worse for that. (September.) CLEAN-UP. THE — Universal.— What Acton Davies. once a fatuous dramatic reviewer, used to call another one of those things." That describes it. (November.) CORDELIA THE MAGNIFICENT— Metro.— High society with everybody blackmailing everybody, even the heroine, who does it unconsciously, of course. Badly adapted story. (July.) CRITICAL AGE. THE— Hodkinson.— Another Ralph Connor Glengarry story, well told. Lacking in the original force anil spiritual element. {July.) CROSSED WIRES— Universal.— And yet another little Cinderella. She prefers sassity to the switchboard, and she achieves her heart's desire, not without some heart-throbs and much laughter. (July.) CUCKOO'S SECRET, THE— Bray.— They sav it took ten years to get this picture of the world's laziest bird. It is remarkably interesting and instructive. (September.) DANCER OF THE NILE. THE— F. B. O.— One of William P. S. Earle's experiments with painted s^ts and interesting on that account. Story' and acting not much. (December.) DAUGHTERS OF THE RICH — Preferred. — High society, American heiress, decadent Russian duke and so on. Some novelty, hut not much punch. Some of the settings are beautif u.. (September.) DAYTIME WIVES— F. B. O— At amusing picture that glorifies the good little stenographer. Somewhat preachy, but you can stand that. (November.) DAYS OF DANIEL BOONE. THE— Universal.— A serial with much interesting and historical value. Plenty of adventure and with many surprisingly real characters. (September.) DEAD GAME— Universal.— Hoot Gibson does some hard riding and fast thinking. (July.) DESERT DRIVEN— F. B. O.— The best picture Harry Carey has made for a long time. It starts in prison and ends in the desert after many adventures and a good love story. (September.) DESIRE — Metro. — Emotional drama, stating that in love extremes may meet. Good cast quite thrown away. (November.) DESTROYING ANGEL. THE— Asso. Exhibitor*. — Leah Baird in a picture that is frankly "movie stuff." She plays a dancer whose suitors meet evil fates. Good if you've nothing better to see. (November.) DEVIL'S PARTNER. THE — Independent. — Absurd and artificial melodrama of the Great Northwest. LTnimportant. (December.) DIVORCE— F. B. O.— Jane Novak is so beautiful, in this, that nothing else matters. Not even the plot. (August.) DOES IT PAY?— Fox.— Hope Hampton as a vampire who grabs all the valuables in sight. It isn't very good and it won't do for cluldren. (November.) DON QUICKSHOT OF THE RIO GRANDE— Universal. — A western that should have been a comedy. The small boy's delight. {.August.) DON'T MARRY FOR MONEY— Apollo.— Still the formula — and this time an old one. This one used to work out, but picture patrons are wiser nowadays. Just a programme film, that's all. [.OcJober.) DOUBLE DEALING — Universal. — A stupid young man buys property of a confidence man. and of course the property assumes a great value. Otherwise how could it all end so happily? (July.) DRIFTING — Universal. — Lots of excitement in this thriller, with Priscilla Dean playing a vivid demiraondaine. Fine entertainment. (November.) DULCY — First National. — A stupid picture from a most amusing play. Showing the futility of trying to make a picture from conversation. (November.) EAGLE S FEATHER, THE— Metro.— An interesting Western, sonnwh.it marred by a straining for the "Happy ending." Mary Alden does beautifully. Worth seeing. (November.) ELEVENTH HOUR. THE— Fox.— Roaring melodrama for the youngsters, Shirley Mason sharing starring honors with Charles Jones. Everyone who likes adventure will enjoy it. (OcJober.) ETERNAL STRUGGLE. THE — Metro. — A Northwest picture with Renee Adoree featured and justly so. Excellent story, cast and direction. (November.) ETERNAL THREE. THE— Goldwyn.— Not a great picture, but worth while because of Marshall Ncilan's production. (December.) EXCITERS. THE— Paramount.— A jazzy little comedy-melodrama with plenty of action and speed. Tony Moreno and Hebe Daniels at their best. Good entertainment. (August.) FAIR CHEAT, THE— F. B. O.— Rather hackneyed story, with chorus girl as heroine. Stern father who relents and allows happy ending. Just so-so. (No:em!ier.) [ CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ]