Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 139 lured her away, he starts cut on a trail of vengeance, and joining Carter’s bandit gang, he finally discovers the boy and later his wife, who has become the good angel of a small town in the southwest. Following an accident to the boy through the Carter gang, Dan gets the upper hand and he, his wife and child are reunited. PROGRAM COPY — “While Justice Waits” — Featuring Dustin Farnum A trail of vengeance led Dan Carter to a turn in the road where all good things met and where mercy, rather than vengeance, pointed the way. See Dustin Farnum in a fascinating western with plenty of suspense and thrills. “DRIVEN”— Class A-b (Adapted from “Flower of the Flock”) ® Story: — Mountain Mother Forced to Reveal Moonshine Secret VALUE CAST Photography — Superior — G. W. Lane. Mrs. Tolliver Emily Fitzroy TYPE OF PICTURE— Depressing. Tom Tolliver Charles E. Mack Moral Standard — Average. Essie Hardin Elinor Fair ■ — Lem Tolliver George Bancroft Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Mr. Tolliver Burr Macintosh Cast— Superior— All-Star. Other sons f Ernest Chandler Author — Very good — Jay Gelzer. ( Fred Koser Direction — Masterful — Charles J. Brabin. Adaptation — Superior — Alfred Raboch. Technique — Superior. ■ ■ ■ — — Spiritual Influence — Uncertain. January 1 to IS, 1923. Producer — Brabin Productions, Inc. Footage — 5,400 ft. Distributor — Not yet determined Our Opinion MORAL O'THE PICTURE— None. Last Word in Artistic — Moral Ease Lacking Theme — Strong Human Interest What a pity the author of “Flower of the Flock,” from which the picture “Driven,” is taken, had not based its story on some vigorous moral truth— which might have penetrated the gloom of the depressing theme. But for all it is a wonderful picture — a gripping drama, powerful character study. Judged only from the artistic angle, it would class as an AA; but failing to leave any impression other than that of brutality, relieved of its sombreness only by a romance in which the misery of the lovers under the persecution of a brute man blends continuously with the dark edges of tragedy, we admit unwillingly that the public may not like it as well as we do. In short, we are sure that it is a good audience picture. Perhaps) it is too baldly brutal. And perhaps the mother’s sacrificing of three sons and even her husband to a fate that she must know means death, to secure happiness and a chance in life for her youngest and best son, and to rescue the girl Essie from marriage with her brutal son, Lem, may not be understood or welcomed by the average person. To the thoughtful person the situation in which the woman beyond all endurance, in whom even mother love, except for the one humane member of her family is dead, commits what seems to be an act beyond reason, is interesting and not improbable. The tale is set in the mountains of the south, in a place removed from civilization, and the atmosphere presented in the film is little short of perfect. Those who love art for art’s sake will revel in the beautiful composition of individual scenes, which is further enhanced by the fine quality of photography and illumination. The picture has been most carefully edited. It is noticable that every effort of grouping, every pose, every little detail, has individual significance. These are some of the things, together with a powerful psychological development, that make “Driven” so nearly great. You may not like the picture, but you will be forced to admit that what the director set out to depict he accomplished with a tremendous effect. Emily Fitzroy gives a marvellous portrayal of Mrs. Tolliver, and Charles E. Mack, who will be remembered from D. W. Griffith’s “Dream Street,” gives the role of Tom Tolliver an idealistic outline. Burr Macintosh has given the screen an original character study in Mr. Tolliver, and Elinor Fair is delightful and unexpectedly emotional as Essie. George Bancroft, as Lem Tolliver, does an imitable piece of work in the creation of a brute character. STORY OF THE PLAY The story concerns the Tolliver family of father, mother and four sons living remote from civilization in the Southern mountains. Lem Tolliver, the most brutal of three, persecutes (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!