Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1923 - Feb 1924)

55 in Rev lew long promised are at last on frank evaluation of them. Sketches by Walter Kinstler Lubitsch and Mary flopped on the big dramatic scene, lifted from "Tosca" and, as Mr. Blinn had dropped out there was nothing for me to do but holler for Marie Jeritza, who makes the boys at the Metropolitan eat the gilt off the boxes when she sings the scene. But I am not trying to convince you that "Rosita" isn't worth seeing. You really will be sorry if you miss it because it contains the most charming light corned) ever put on the screen. It fairly fizzes with intelligence. Nor am I trying to prove that Mary Pickford can't act ; technically she is wonderful, but anything" approaching vampire roles is not for her. Pola Negri is to appear in what I believe is the same story — "The Spanish Dancer" — so a fina decision must be reserved until later. Moreover, it would be silly to send to Germany for Emil Tannings, with Holbrook Blinn in this country. And Irene Rich as the queen was so adorable that one wondered why the king bothered with Rosita. As for George Walsh, as the hero, he spends most of the picture in jail. And that's all right with me. Fox Walks the Straight and Narrow. "If Winter Comes" is just another one of those books which I never shall be able to read. But I saw the play when Cyril Maude appeared in it last spring and I thought it was a terrible bit of theatricalism. Therefore, I had no high hopes about the picture. But, of all things, I found the sincerity and the charm in William Fox's pro You can't keep a good man down, so here comes Samuel Goldwyn with his first picture made by his own company. "Give me." said Mr. Goldwyn, "a' sure-fire hit." And so he bought Montague Glass' play, engaged Carr and Bernard, the original Abe and Mawruss, hired Vera Gordon and a swell cast and told Clarence Badger to cut loose. W ell, Minnie, you will holler your head off at the funny jokes. And it is sad. too, about the young Jewish fella straight from Russia. Martha Mansfield and De Sacia Mooers, two )eautiful gov girls, wear some swell crowns. In whole picture is worth even Percy Marmont's dignified portrayal of "Mark Sabre" in "If Winter Comes" does much toward making great picture. cent you ' for it. Even the most obvious hokum of "Potash and Perlmutter" is true to life. Abe and Mawruss are more vigorous characters than the pallid society types or the conventional figures of out-of-date melodrama. The picture has the merit o I* being an honest-togoodness modern story. I am sure that if Abe and Mazvruss were to come to life they would be delighted to find themselves starred in such a classv and expensive production. Believe me. Julius, the picture is as good as a trip to New York on an expense account. One-hundred-per-cent Yankees. The New York Jews of Mr. Glass' story interest me much more than the New Enganders of Percy MacKay. They make better screen characters because you can work up more sympathy for them. Nevertheless, "Puritan Passions." starring Glenn Hunter, is a worthy production. The title is a wonderful laugh on Mr. MacKaye. who allowed the Film Guild to produce his play "The Scarecrow." In the end the box office triumphed emerged as "Puritan seeino the film I still picture After it a luction that the stage play so woefully lacked. Per haps the story, with its touch of Dickens' melodrama, was better suited to the screen. Perhaps the excellence of Percy Marmont's portrayal of Mark Sabre had something to do with it. Certainly Mr. Marmont succeeded just where Mr. Maude failed; that is to saw he invested the role of the modern Don Quixote with a real dignity. I imagine that Harry Millarde followed the bookalmost too faithfully. "If Winter Comes." with its many subtitles and its elaborate pictorial descriptions, is decidedly literary. But Mr. Fox. in choosing between telling a story well and turning it into trash, has wisely chosen to present it in the spirit of the original. It is the producer's best picture and I hope it makes a lot of money so that he won't become discouraged and relapse into his old ways. The standard of acting is very high mont. Sydney Herbert. Gladys Leslie re>t in the leading roles. picture The story of a comes to life. It proves that man without a soul is nothing but flavor something. It is a 2To and the Passion, don't know what a Puritan'spassionis nor do I care, is a "devi scarecrow with Mr. Marand Ann For One-hundred-per-cent New Yorkers. It will be a big night in the Bronx when "Potash and Perlmutter" hits the local theaters. Such a night as hasn't been seen since "Humoresque" came along. Even the most obvious hokum of "Potash and Perlmutter" is true to life.