Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 197 ing that Benton is misunderstood, she takes an interest in him, and finally persuades him that he loves her. After marriage Benton fails to come up to Alice’s ideas of the attentive husband, and trouble starts which ends in Alice taking the train for the east. The train is wrecked just as Duncan Phelps, an unscrupulous admirer, enters her compartment to annoy her. A fire at the oil wells occurs at the same time, and while fighting the fire Benton learns of the disaster and is on hand to meet his wife as she steps from the rescue train a wiser woman. PROGRAM COPY — “The Danger Point”— With an All-Star Cast, featuring Carmel Myers and W. P. Carleton Alice Torrance lived to rue a hasty decision when she found herself a victim of an unwelcome lover and a train wreck at the same time. Beautiful Carmel Myers is one of the attractions of this interesting picture, the cast of which includes W. P. Carleton, Vernon Steele and Joseph Dowling. “BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED”— Class A c (Adapted from novel of same name) Story: — Frivolous Wife Causes Youth to Lose Inheritance VALUE CAST Photography — Good — Frank Good and Gloria Marie Prevost Ed Dupar. Anthony Kenneth Harlan TYPE OF PICTURE — Interesting. Dick Harry Myers Moral Standard — Average. Adam Patch Tully Marshall ■ Muriel Louise Fazenda Story — Excellent — Drama — Adults. Dot Cleo Ridgeley Star — Excellent — Marie Prevost. Mr. Gilbert Emmett King Author — Excellent — F. Scott Fitzgerald. Hull Walter Long Direction — Excellent — William A. Seiter. Bloeckman Clarence Burton Adaptation — Excellent — Olga Printzlau. Maury Parker McConnell Technique — Excellent. ■■ 1 — . ■■ ■ Spiritual Influence — Average. February 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Warner Bros. Footage — 7,000 ft. Distributor — State Rights Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Extravagance Is Poverty’s Best Aid. Picture With Box Office Values — Pretty Star and Interesting Theme The widely read novel, “The Beautiful and Damned,” has screened well, and proves an excellent vehicle for Marie Prevost, who is surrounded by a cast of notable players, and settings worthy of the star’s beauty and talent, and the requirements of the story. The theme presenting a young man, who, waiting for his millionaire grandfather to drop off, marries a beautiful and extravagant girl while waiting, is thoroughly human in its treatment, for both adapter and director seem to have extracted all of the human qualities from the story. Tully Marshall is admirably suited to the role of Adam Patch, whose nearness to death often erroneously reported in the newspapers never failed to please the grandson who idly and extravagantly awaited his grandparent’s decease. Kenneth Harlan gives a faithful portrayal of the grandson, and Marie Prevost is exactly the type for the beautiful, but irresponsible wife. The settings of this picture are especially attractive, and some of the scenes have been staged with unusual skill. The wedding scene, for instance, is more beautiful and effective than usual, and the scene at the all-night party at the home of the young couple, although hilarious and even immoral in its earlier aspect, brings a dramatic sequence that is moving in its effect when the grandfather, entering at the height of the party, turns away in sorrow and shortly afterward dies, leaving his grandson but one dollar and his blessing. We question whether the moral effect of the picture would not have been stronger without the happy ending, which appears to be tacked on for the satisfaction of those who insist on this sort of thing. This should serve as a special program feature. STORY OF THE PLAY Anthony Patch, while waiting for his grandfather to die, marries a beautiful girl, Gloria Gilbert, who leads him a pace of extravagance and frivolity that results in his grandfather disinheriting him. He takes to drink as his bank roll slowly dwindles, but Gloria, trying to redeem her past, struggles to keep a brave front until the settlement of the lawsuit which they wage in an effort to break the grandfather’s will. The close of the story shows Anthony and Gloria reinstalled in luxury after the successful outcome of the lawsuit. PROGRAM COPY — “The Beautiful and the Damned” — with Marie Prevost Gloria Gilbert’s wild fling at life cost her and her husband an inheritances Come and see to what sorrowful ends extravagance and frivolity can lead its victims. Beautiful Marie Prevost and Kenneth Harlan are the central figures of the picture. No Advertising Support Accepted!