Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1924)

' Brief Reviews of Current Pictures ABRAHAM LINCOLN— Rockett-Lincoln.— One of the finest and most appealing pictures ever made, with Lincoln treated truthfully and reverently. Everyone should see it. (March.) ACQUITTAL, THE— Universal.— One of the best mystery photoplays of the year. (January.) AGE OF DESIRE— First National.— A woman, desiring riches, sacrifices better things. Interesting picture, well done. (March.) AMERICA— D. W. Griffith.— Almost another "Birth of a Nation." Not quite perhaps, but an epic film, nevertheless. Of absorbing interest to every American. (May.) ANNA CHRISTIE— First National.— A faithful adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's famous play, splendidly acted. A bit too strong for children. (January.) ALIMONY — F. B. O. — Just an ordinary program picture, neither better nor worse. (April.) ARABIA'S LAST ALARM— Fox.— A joyous comedy, with a clever child, a bull pup and a wonderful horse. Well worth while. (March.) ARIZONA EXPRESS, THE— Fox.— Whizzing melodrama. Thieves, gunplay, fast trains, 'n' everything. (June.) AROUND THE WORLD IN THE SPEEJACKS —Paramount. — A remarkably fine travel picture. (February.) AT DEVIL'S GORGE— Arrow.— Just another Western, that's all. (June.) AVERAGE WOMAN, THE— C. C. Burr.— A defense of the flapper, as typified by Pauline Garon. Melodrama, fairly well done. (June.) BAG AND BAGGAGE— Selznick.— A time-worn story of the country girl who gets her millionaire. Happens only on the screen. (May.) BAREFOOT BOY, THE— Commonwealth.— A touching and well done piece of work. Lots of good touches, and pathos well put over. (January.) BEAU BRUMMEL— Warner Brothers.— One of the most interesting of the costume pictures, with John Barrymore doing exceptionally fine work as the Beau. Don't miss it. (May.) BELOVED VAGABOND, THE— F. B. O— Made from W. J. Locke's story, but most of the charm and whimsicality are lost. (June.) BIG BROTHER— Paramount.— A really big, human picture, made by Allan Dwan. And with a new kid, Mickey Bennett, who is a find. (February.) BIG DAN — Fox. — A stereotyped story with a hero altogether too good to be true. (January.) BLACK OXEN— First National.— A good picturization of the popular novel on the rejuvenation of a woman, with Corinne Griffith doing fine acting. For adults. (March.) BLIZZARD, THE— Fox.— A Swedish picture and nothing to be aphamed of either. A stampede of reindeer is a novelty. Good audience picture. (May.) BLOW YOUR OWN HORN— F. B. O.— A machine-made story which turns into a picture of the same type (January.) BOY OF FLANDERS, A — Metro— Jackie Coogan's latest and one of the best he ever has done. The boy is developing and this picture proves it. (June.) BOY OF MINE— First National.— A Tarkington classic of childhood, extremely well done and with some splendid work by little Ben Alexander. (March.) BREAKING POINT, THE— Paramount.— Good cast, fair story, good direction and action galore. Fine entertainment. (June.) BREATHLESS MOMENT THE— Universal.— A commonplace story which the whole family may see. (April.) BROADWAY BROKE— Selznick.— An interesting picture of New York theatrical life forty years ago. Mary Carr excellent. (March.) CALL OF THE CANYON, THE— Paramount — A semi-Western, with fine acting, beautiful scenery and nearly flawless direction. Don't miss it. (Feb.) CAUSE FOR DIVORCE — Selznick. — A lot of troubles aboutwhich no one can possibly care. (April.) COMMON LAW, THE— Selznick.— The cast saves this one from utter mediocrity. (January.) 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. CONFIDENCE MAN, THE— Paramount.— The always likable Tom Meighan in a new version of the redemption theme. Amusing, well done and worth while. (June.) COUNTRY KID, THE— Warner Brothers.— An old-fashioned picture with Wesley Barry as the oldest of three orphans, being parents to the other two. (January.) COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH, THE— Asso. Exhibitors. — Charles Ray's latest and most ambitious effort, which doesn't quite register. (March.) CROOKED ALLEY— Universal.— Another Boston Blackie story, but not particularly well done. (January.) CUPID'S FIREMAN — Fox. — Charles Jones heroically dashes through flames, saving imperiled women. (February.) DADDIES — Warner Brothers. — A good version of the clever stage play, with Mae Marsh and Harry Myers heading the cast. (April.) DAMAGED HEARTS— F. B. O— Conventional story, with good acting by Mary Carr and others. The long arm of coincidence is stretched again. (May.) DANCING CHEAT, THE— Universal.— The love of a dancer for a gambler. Lots of romance — little interest. (June.) DANGEROUS HOUR, THE— Johnnie WalkerEddie Polo's fall from an airplane through a roof is the feature. (February.) DANGEROUS MAID, A— First National.— Good story and entertainment, but not worthy of Constance Talmadge's powers. (February.) DARING YEARS, THE— Equity.— A good little boy falls in love with a chorus girl. You know the rest. (April.) DARLING OF NEW YORK, THE— Universal.— Baby Peggy the delightful center of a plot with crooks, stolen jewels and a lost child. (January). DAUGHTERS OF TODAY— Selznick— Another preachment against the flapper, with a few digs about parents who are inclined to flap. (May). DAVID COPPERFIELD— Associated Exhibitors. — A Swedish production and a good one of the Dickens story. (January.) DAWN OF TOMORROW, THE— Paramount.— Clean, healthful entertainment for the whole family, well directed and acted. (June.) DAY OF FAITH, THE— Goldwyn.— Made of impossible situations; rather silly in spots. (Feb.) DEFYING DESTINY— Selznick.— Full of incidents, but just ordinarily good, except for Irene Rich. (March.) DISCONTENTED HUSBANDS— Apollo.— Formula of the man who gets rich while his wife gets old. He steps out, but is cured. (May.) DO IT NOW— Renown.— The troubles of young love with father. Fair entercainmenc. (May.) DON'T CALL IT LOVE— Paramount. — The screen version of "Rita Coventry," extremely well produced and acted. (March.) DRIVIN' FOOL, THE— Hodkinson — Wally Van in one of the auto-driving pictures that Wally Reid made famous. (January.) DRUMS OF JEOPARDY— Truart.— Someone steals a lot of emeralds and there is much excitement. But it doesn't amount to much. (May.) ENCHANTED COTTAGE, THE— First National. — A charming fantasy, beautifully handled, with a most appealing story, enacted by Richard Barthelmess and May McAvoy. (June.) ENEMIES OF CHILDREN— Mammoth.— Conventional story of a waif, tiresomely told. (Feb.) ETERNAL CITY, THE— First National.— One of the most beautiful and entertaining pictures in months. (January.) EXCITEMENT— Universal. — One of those wiveswho-can't-stay-home films. (June.) EXTRA GIRL, THE— Sennett.— Chiefly notable because Mabel Normand heads the cast and her pictures are always worth while. (February.) FASHIONABLE FAKERS— F. B. O.— You know all about this one after the first five minutes. (Feb.) FASHION ROW — Metro. — The best MaeMurray picture in a long time. She has a dual role. (Feb.) FAST EXPRESS, THE — Universal. — Oldfashioned melodrama, with wrecks, robberies and other sure-fire stuff. (April.) FIGHTING COWARD, THE— Paramount.— A satire on the fire-eating Southerner of the ante-bellum days, remarkably well done. (June.) FLAMING BARRIERS— Paramount.— An interesting comedy, with a tragic note in it. The forest fire is worth the admission. (April.) [ CONTINUED ON PAGE IO 1