Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 187 Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— Truth Will Prevail. Story Interesting — Direction Capable — Artistic Throughout With Glenn Hunter and Mary Astor heading the cast of “Second Fiddle,” a certain wholesomeness and human quality seems assured. And in this particular the spectator is not disappointed, for the story of the warm-hearted; youth who was forced to play second fiddle to his well-dressed, college-bred brother, is full to the brim with the things that hold and interest and tug at the heartstrings. The home atmosphere, the home-coming of the college man, and the persistent way in which fate helps him to push his brother into the background, lead to truly dramatic situations. A portion of the story which has to do with the gruesome incident encompassing the murder of a girl by her drunken father, does not obliterate entirely the lighter vein, in which Jim, the boy, has much to do. This incident creates a fine suspense, and dovetails into the story in a way that reveals the heroism of the one brother in comparison with the perfidy of the other. Townsend Martin does well as Herbert, the older brother, and William Nally gives an effective performance as Cragg, the murderer. This is a picture that can be billed as a strong human interest attraction without fear of a comeback. The cast is good throughout, the photography especially effective, and the direction capable. Glenn Hunter and Mary Astor, before mentioned, represent delightful types of youth. STORY OF THE PLAY Jim Bradley, a younger son of a blacksmith, discovers on the return of his brother, Herbert, from college, that he is of no account by the side of Herbert. Polly Crawford, who has a genuine affection for Jim, is monopolized by Herbert, although still retaining a secret regard for Jim. When everything is against Jim, a murder occurs in the neighborhood, and the murderer, Cragg, enters the Bradley home, while only Jim, with an empty rifle, is on guard, Herbert, having carelessly emptied the box of cartridges into his pocket on leaving the house. After holding Cragg at bay for some time with the empty gun, Jim falls in a faint from an injury acquired when he had stumbled and struck his head, and Cragg gets away. Later Herbert tries to cover his own carelessness by placing bullets in the rifle to make it appear that Jim lied in stating that his gun was empty. In a skirmish i#i the Cragg home, Jim handles the villain alone and proves himself a hero. The close of the story shows Herbert’s perfidy revealed and Jim and Polly happy. PROGRAM COPY — “Second Fiddle” — Featuring Glenn Hunter Jim Bradley’s manly qualities were revealed when he rescued the girl he loved from a murderer, and in spite of his brother’s double-crossing he mastered the situation and won love. Glenn Hunter and Mary Astor head the cast in this splendid human interest melodrama. “STRANGER’S BANQUET”— Class A (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Struggle of Shipyard Owner Against Evil Influences VALUE Photography — Very good — David Kesson. TYPE OF PICTURE— Sensational. Moral Standard — Good. Story — Very good — Drama— Family. Star — Very good — All-Star. Author — Very good — Donn Byrne. Direction — Very good — Marshall Neilan. Adaptation — Good — Not credited. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Average. Producer — Marshall Neilan Shane Keogh Derith Keogh... Angus Campbell . A1 Norton Jean McPherson Mrs. McPherson. John Trevelyan. . John Keogh Bond CAST Hobart Bosworth Claire Windsor Rockcliffe Fellowes Ford Sterling Eleanor Boardman Eugenia Besserer Thomas Holding Nigel Barrie Cyril Chadwick February 1 to 15, 1923. Footage — 8,153 ft. Distributor — Goldwyn Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURK«— Folly of Destructive Methods. Interesting Theme With Excellent Box Office Values If Director Marshall Neilan had held more firmly to the main theme of his story in making “The Stranger’s Banquet,” a production of more perfect construction would have been the result. But in spite of faults the picture, based on a vital theme, is one of the most entertaining of recent releases. One of the reasons for this is that a large and excellently chosen cast interprets the story, in which are presented a variety of interesting types. The fact that radicalism (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!