Screen Opinions (1923-24)

142 SCREEN OPINIONS WEEKLY SERVICE Our Opinion MORAL O'THE PICTURE— None. Life in Hollywood Novel Subject — Marriage Provides Suspense and Thrills “The World’s a Stage” is interesting as a bit of a novelty. The life in Hollywood part is not particularly stressed, but the plot with the central figures as picture people, does give a few glimpses into studio life. A skillfully edited portion of the picture makes a sudden cut from an emotional scene enacted in the studio to the star in a dainty hoop skirted costume tripping gleefully to greet her latest beau. Dorothy Phillips is charming as Josephine Bishop, who took a flying leap to stardom and then chose the handsome young man for a husband in preference to the man of settled character. Kenneth Harlan has' the role of the husband and gives a convincing portrayal of the man led to drink and destruction through bad companions and a weak will. Bruce McRae is the hero of the situation, always on hand to console the unhappy wife, a thoroughly upright and admirable character. The comedy of the play is principally in the hands of Otis Harlan, as Mr. Bishop, not above brewing his own. Some welcome thrills are contained in scenes where an automobile skids about a slippery road and later plunges over a broken bridge. You can advertise this one as something different. It has a popular appeal. The picture is artistically staged and contains a number of dainty touches, with Miss Phillips as the center of attraction. STORY OF THE PLAY When Josephine Bishop came to Hollywood seeking a position in the movies her beauty caught the eye of the director and straightway she became a star. Shortly afterward she chose the wrong man of two for a husband, and lived to rue her choice when her husband became a drunkard and neglected her. In a drunken rage he drives with her through the storm and over a broken bridge, after which she discovered that the other man was a true man. PROGRAM COPY — “The World’s a Stage” — Featuring Dorothy Phillips Pretty Josephine Bishop found that the most thrilling of all dramas is the drama of life. See Dorothy Phillips as the girl who found everything O.K. in Hollywood but the husband she chose. “BELLS OF SAN JUAN”— Class C (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Sheriff’s Mind Deranged — Becomes Thief — Is Restored by Sweetheart VALUE CAST Photography — Good — Dev Jennings. Roderick Norton Charles Jones TYPE OF PICTURE — Ordinary. Dorothy Page Fritzi Brunette Moral Standard — Average. Jim Garson Claude Peyton ■■■ — ■ ■ 1 ■ — — Dr. Caleb Patton Harry Todd Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. John Engel Harry Kirkland Star — Average — Charles Jones. Florrie Engel Katherine Key Author — Average — Jackson Gregory. Kid Richards William Stelle Direction — Average — Scott Dunlap. Antone Otto Matieson Adaptation — Average. Tom Cutter Sid Jorden Technique — Average. ■ ■— ■ Spiritual Influence — Neutral. January 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Fox Footage — 4,587 ft. Distributor — Fox Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Average Western With One or Two Good Thrills “Bells of San Juan” has not a great deal to do with its title, and is fairly entertaining as westerns go. The plot is slightly different from the average Story of the kind, bringing into the situation a young woman doctor. The picture has been produced in strictly movie style, and is more or less of the machine-made type. A good thrill occurs where the hero, trying to round up a couple of gangsters and rescue the girl, is miraculously saved from injury when huge rocks are hurled over a precipice at him. Charles Jones is satisfactory as the hero. This will pass in the neighborhood house and in transient and second-rate theatres. Fritzi Brunette does well in the feminine lead, and the cast is consistently good. The bells are rung for births, weddings and to sound an alarm. STORY OF THE PLAY Roderick Norton, sheriff, is accused of not taking care of the numerous shootings in the vicinity, and in the opening of the story is in a quandary about how to get the goods on the man who shot his father. Dorothy Page, a young woman doctor, comes to town, and a (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!