Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 201 “DESERT BRIDEGROOM”— Class B (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Sheriff Trails His Man and Champions Cause of Girl VALUE CAST Photography — Good — King Gray. Jack Harkins Jack Hoxie TYPE OF PICTURE — Sensational — Matilda Ann Carter Evelyn Nelson Interesting. Red Saunders Olin Francis Moral Standard — Average. A Newcomer Claude Payton ■ — Butternut Bartley E. J. Bedinger Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Rattlebone. Riley Speed Hansen Star — Good — Jack Hoxie. Justice Fenway Ed. La Niece Author — Good — Roy Clements. Tobey Bill White Direction — Good — Roy Clements and Ben Wilson. Adaptation — Good — Roy Clements. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. February 1 to IS, 1923. Producer — Ben Wilson Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — Arrow Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Red-Blooded Western With Interesting Plot Well Presented “A Desert Bridegroom” is likely to please wherever it is shown. It is a red-blooded picture well suited to the neighborhood house. Its chief appeal lies in the effective development of the plot with its interesting types, and the wide sweep of outdoors that greets the eye from time to time. The hero and the villain stage some thrilling fights, and old Tobey, a peculiar character who is fond of his whisky, but true to his mistress and to the hero sheriff, gets in some good comedy, especially at the point where he hears Red Saunders, who is supposed to be dead, walking about the next room. You can make no mistake in booking “A Desert Bridegroom.” It has many features of entertainment. Jack Hoxie does well as Jack Harkins, and Evelyn Nelson is excellently suited to the role of Matilda-Ann Carter. The cast is good throughout, and Bill White, as Tobey, is one of the best members. STORY OF THE PLAY Jack Harkins, sheriff of Shiny Ridge, is on his way to punish Red Saunders, who wronged a girl and went away, leaving her to die. He arrives in Cactus Center in time to champion the cause of Matilda-Ann Carter, who is being courted by the ranchman for sake of the property left her by her father. Red Saunders and Doc Galloway, who has been expelled from Shiny Ridge by Jack, plan to get the latter out of the way, and Red, after being beaten up by Jack, pretends he is dead while Doc arranges to have Jack lynched. Jack masters the situation and lassooes both men together. The story closes with the betrothal of Jack and Matilda-Ann. PROGRAM COPY — “A Desert Bridegroom” — Featuring Jack Hoxie Sheriff Jack Harkins found that the trail that led him to the enemy led also to the path of romance. Here is a red-blooded western that you’ll not want to miss. Jack Hoxie is the star. “STREETS OF NEW YORK”— Class B (Adapted from play of same name) Story: — Cripple Regains Fortune Through Disclosure of Crook VALUE CAST Photography — Good — Alfred Ortlieb. Paul Fairweather Edward Earle TYPE OF PICTURE — Sensational. Lucy Bloodgood Barbara Castleton Moral Standard — Average. Gideon Bloodgood Anders Randolph ■ Sally Dorothy Mackaill Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Badger Leslie King Cast — Good — All-Star, featuring Edward Earle Mrs. Fairweather Kate Blanke and Barbara Castleton. Author — Good — Leota Morgan. Direction — Average — Burton King. Adaptation — Poor — Not credited. Technique — Poor. — Spiritual Influence — Neutral. February 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Burton King Footage — 7,000 ft. Distributor — State Rights (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!