Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

55 in Review a critical eye on the latest films. Benson In other respects besides the color, ''The Black Pirate" is unlike any film Mr. Fairbanks has ever made. In spite of its forbidding title, Mr. Fairbanks is less like a swashbuckling little bov in it than I have ever seen him. It has been said that he is not really an actor, but if he doesn't act in ''The Black Pirate," and act remarkably well, then I haven't the faintest idea what he should do to be an actor. It is a lovely, bloodcurdling tale of cruel and reckless pirates, with treasure chests, parrots, sword play, and plenty of good old rum. It might have been theatrical and stagy, but it never is. It is as romantic and real and clean as the ocean on a sunn} day. There is a gorgeous scene where Mr. Fairbanks captures a ship single handed, swings to the top of the sails and slides down one holding himself by the hilt of his knife, and ripping the sail as he goes. I am afraid that isn't very clearly put — it may have been a sword, and it may not have been a hilt, but whatever it was, it was wonderful. And then there is beautiful Billie Dove, who should always be photographed in color, and Donald Crisp and Sam de Grasse and hundreds of others, who are not noted for their beauty ordinarily, but who lent themselves beautifully to the picture. I do not know who did the subtitles, but they are very good. Graduated Actresses. "Fascinating Youth" is the first picture made by graduates of the Paramount Pictures School. As you mar recall, some months ago sixteen young men and women were carefully chosen by experts, to attend this school and to learn just exactly how to become actors and actresses. There is little room for argument, of course, as to whether or not actresses and actors can be made in a few months. Nevertheless, everything was done for the young folk in an effort to teach them to be little Bernhardts and Mansfields. They were taught to Charleston, to fence, to ride horseback, to play golf, and to fall without hurting themselves— so we were told — and the result is this picture, "Fascinating Youth." The real star of the film, to me, was Chester Conklin, who had a small part. Assisting him were Lois Wilson, Adolphe Menjou, Richard Dix, Thomas Meighan, and Lila Lee. The pupils didn't really count. I don't want to be harsh, but they were exactly like so many little ' shadows running in and out of the picture. I have not been reviewing pictures long enough to be able to say definitelv that there was not a potential Mary Pickford or Harold Lloyd among them, but if any of these young people turn out to be stars, I shall return to my home and children. The picture itself isn't much. It's about some young artists in a studio on Macdougal Alley. They paint Doug Fairbanks and two pirates in a scene from "The Black Pirate," which was successfully filmed entirely in color. and Charleston and play the saxophone. Later, they go to the country and try to run a winter resort at a place formerly occupied by a great many nice old ladies and gentlemen. The young folk push them out of their wheeled chairs, and rejuvenate the place. There is an ice-boat race, and one of the young men, we are told, is the villain (I wonder how his people will like that when they see him, he was always such a good boy at home!), but everything ends happily. Truthfully, I could only distinguish the blondes from the brunettes, except for the leading man. I believe his name is Charles Rogers, but I have no program to remind me. Anyway, this young boy seemed to rise considerably above the others. Ivy Harris was the heroine. The others were Thelma Todd, Mona Palma, Dorothy Nourse, Jeanne Morgan, Ethelda Kenvin, Iris Gray, Robert Andrews, Greg Blackton, Charles Brokaw, Claud Buchanan, Walter Goss, Irving Hartley, Jack Luden, and Josephine Dunn, who, by the way, is a very pretty blonde. I saw most of these young people in person after the performance, and the girls were really lovely. I do not know why they did not screen so well. Perhaps there were too many of them, and when they have a chance to draw apart, they will show what their training has done for them. There is one thing I am sure of, and that is, that they can all Charleston. Comedy Relief. About the pleasantest thing that came to town recently was the film"Irene," starring Colleen Moore. Adapted from the famous and favorite musical comedy of the same name, it makes a sparkling, crisp, and ' delightful picture, and has in it the only star who could have made it as good as it is. Colleen Moore is a breath of fresh air, or rather, a whiff of laughing gas. I do not know who did the subtitles — it's never told — but they contribute almost as much to the film as Miss Moore, and that is saying a great deal. This is a Cinderella story of a poor little Irish girl