Picturegoer (1922)

56 THE PI CTU R E-GOE-R MAY 1922 Mae Murray (at table) lunchi ng " between sets." Bob Leonard, Mac'i director-husband, is seen in the righthand corner. Walter West Productions. '"pi-IE first item on the programme of -*■ films to be released under the auspices of the .recently formed British National Film League is a romance of the ateel industry, which has been made under the direction of the foremost of our British producers, Mr. Walter West. Starring in this film, which is adapted from Paul Trent's famous novel, " When Greek Meets Greek," are Violet Hopson and Stewart Rome, who are too well known to the British public to need any introduction. Mr. Walter West has recently launched out as an independent producer, and in future all films made under his direction will be known as Walter West Productions, and will be distributed through Butcher's Film Service. In them will feature the foremost British screen stars, and each story will be carefully selected or specially written for the screen. In his new studio, which is conveniently situated at Kew, Mr. Walter West has installed all the most up-to-date lighting and technical equipment, lie lias gathered round him a staff of workmen who. through long experience in and association with the industry, are expert craftsmen. It is Mr, West's ambition to give the British picturegoers the world over typically British films films which every Britisher, whether in the United Kingdom, in the Colonies, or abroad, wants to see. The pioneer of the racing film, Mr. West hiis recently completed a film of the Tun which will undoubtedly prove even more popular than Kissing Cup's Race. It is entitled Scarlet I. adv. was produced from a story specially written for Miss Violet Hopson, who stars in the production, and contains racecourse thrills which have been acknowledged as the licsl eve included in a motion picture. real boys, doing all those things every boy does, including building castles in the air and falling in love. Howard Ralston was " Jimmie Bean," in Pollvanna, which appeared this time last year. Clara Horton and Molly Malone play little girl roles very sweetly, and Ralph Bushman, son of Francis Bushman, makes the most of a small part. Mary Roberts Rinehart wrote the story, which is not very far behind her immortal Twenty-Three-and-Half Hours' Leave. Some of the " castle':in-the-air " visualisations are quite spectacular, and are finely produced. Sara McNaughton's novel, ' The Fortune of Christina M'Nab," has been very effectively filmed. Its characterisation is its best point, each character being convincingly and carefully depicted. Sub-titling, too, is good, most of it being in broad Scots, yet not too broad for the film lover's understanding. There are some fine society scenes, the ball, with its flashlight effects, being particularly charming. Nora Swinburne is a delightful " Christina." This somewhat unusual character she makes always lovable and real, even in the most farcical incidents. David Hawthorne plays her lover, and the supporting cast is thoroughly good. It is a British production, and the first in which David Hawthorne is seen in a leading role this year. Avery good cas*t support Ethel Clavton in The Price of Possession, which is a mild, though interesting, story, and should appeal specially to feminine picturegoers. Rockcliffe Fellowcs is the leading man ; Reginald Denny also has a good role. Two claims are entered for a big English estate, one by an Australian widow (played by Ethel Clayton), and one by her husband's cousin. It is not difficult to surmise what happens next ,ind that they finally agree to share the estate together. But the details, acting and technique are excellent, and Ethel Clayton is her usual sincere self. She always strives to put her best into whatever she does, which is one of the reasons for her large following amongst film lovers. The determined manner in which the two contestants carry out their claim is cleverly shown, the continuity is good throughout, and there is quite enough comedy relief to make an agreeable picture. There seems no end to the countryboy characterisations of Charles Ray, and these are always welcome, for Ray's style is inimitable. In The Village Sleuth, which is a picturisation of Agnes Christine Johnston's novel, he has a quite impossible story about one William Wells, whose sole aim in life is to become a detective. His idols are Nick Carter, Sherlock Holmes, etc., and he neglects his occupation of tending cows, horses and chickens to hunt up clues. Eventually, to his delight, he gets a chance to do a little " detecting," for his lady-love is suspected of murder. The action goes forward swiftly and ends in a big chase, after which the murdered victim turns up alive. Charles Ray is undeniably ' good as the farmer-boy sleuth, and the film is rich in local colour and natural homely touches. His newest film, The Barnstormer, is just finished. Serial lovers will eagerly flock to see the three new thrillers available this month. Eileen Sedgwick stars in The Diamond Queen, a feature in which the resources of this daring star are taxed to the uttermost and many wild and wonderful stunts are performed. Sick Carter is, as its name implies, a detective serial. In The Yellow Arm, Juanita Hansen and Margaret Courtdt are the heroines, and Warner Oland is once more a sinister Oriental villain, pursuing his evil practices through every episode, and being duly disposed of at the end. Warner Oland s plans of reformation do not seem to have materialised, so [Continued n page ho.