Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 199 Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— Power of Faith (Not Strongly Marked) Human Interest Production Has Audience Appeal “The Kingdom Within” is apt to be popular because of the excellent character drawing done through the combined efforts of cast and director, and also because of the rather unusual character of the theme. The opening of the story is tensely dramatic, for Caleb Deming, blacksmith, gains the sympathy of the spectator from the start, when, as he eagerly awaits the birth of a strong and sturdy boy, he is brought face to face with sorrow and death, and the fur£ ther affliction of realizing that his son is born a cripple. From here on the story ^ has to do with incidents in connection with the life of Amos spent for the greater part in his toy shop, and with Emily Preston, a girl next door who lives under the shadow of her brother’s prison sentence. The change wrought in the girl’s life through the spirituality of Amos is a pleasing feature of the picture. But the big moment of the story arrives when, in struggling with the brutal Krieg in protection of Emily, his arm cruelly wrenched by Krieg, becomes whole and the weakling boy miraculously becomes a hero. Gaston Glass, Pauline Stark, Russell Simpson and Ernest Torrence are the high lights of an excellent cast. The picture also offers comedy relief. STORY OF THE PLAY Caleb Deming is bitterly disappointed when, in place of the sturdy son he has hoped for, a cripple is born to him. With the added hardship of the death of his wife he becomes a changed man, and is scarcely able to bear the presence of his son, who earns a living by making toys. Amos, the son, is imbued with a spirituality which exerts itself, especially on Emily Preston, a neighbor girl who is an outcast of society because of her brother’s prison record. Krieg, a lumberman, tries to further implicate Will Preston on his release from prison with the result that Preston is accused of murder. In the events that follow Emily discovers that Krieg and not her brother, was the murderer, with the result that Preston is released and placed on watch for Krieg, who goes to Emily’s house with intent to kill her for having squealed on him. Amos, learning of Emily’s danger, rushes to the house, and in combat with Krieg is suddenly made whole. Krieg’s consternation is such that he flees in terror from the hand of Providence. PROGRAM COPY— “The Kingdom Within”— With an All-Star Cast Was it faith that transformed Amos Deming from a cripple to a straight and sturdy man in the twinkling of an eye? Here is a picture that you will not want to miss, which tells you of a “Kingdom Within.” Gaston Glass, Pauline Stark, Russell Simpson and Ernest Torrence are members of a fine cast. “FLAMING HOUR”— Class A (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Fighting Youth, Fired from Job, Plays Hero VALUE Photography — Excellent — Bennie Kline. TYPE OF PICTURE— InterestingSpectacular. Moral Standard — Good. Story — Very good — Melodrama — Family. Star — Very good — Frank Mayo. Author — Very good — Lillian Chester. Direction — Very good — Edward Sedgwick. Adaptation — Very good — George R. Chester. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Average. CAST Bruce Henderson Frank Mayo Lucille Danby Helen Ferguson John Danby Melbourne McDowell Richard Mower Charles Clai^ Jones Albert McQuarrie Ben Tom Kennedy Producer — Universal February 1 to 15, 1923. Footage — 4,508 ft. Distributor — Universal Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Value of Self-Control (Not Strongly Marked). Spectacular Explosion Attractive Feature of Film — Good Entertainment Frank Mayo has a particularly strong appeal as the hero of “The Flaming Hour,” which presents him as a young man who was too fond of using his fists in making readjustments at the manufacturing plant where he was employed as manager. The story is well directed, and is developed in melodramatic style, including an attempted robbery, the imprisonment in a safe of an employer and his daughter, their rescue by the hero and the spectacular series of explosions (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted I