Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 203 gerous employer. William Scott, as Danny Mulvey, framed to prison in the employer’s scheme to gain possession of Marne, Danny’s sister, is a good type and plays the part well. James Morrison is delightful as Charles Black, a manly type, and Wallace Beery, again chosen to portray a heavy, runs true to form. Tully Marshall, with little to do, does that little well, and Willard Louis is convincing as the tempter, Watkins. Claire Du Brey fills the requirements of the rebellious wife, and the child, Josephine Adair, is delightfully natural. Both the title of the picture and the nature of the plot recommend this production as a worth while special for the smaller houses, and an excellent program feature for the average neighborhood house. It contains some good dashes of comedy in dancehall scenes, where Wallace Beery, as Brennan, a crook, trips the “light fantastic” in caveman fashion. STORY OF THE PLAY Mame Mulvey, a pretty shop girl, allows her love of finery to cause her to yield to the temptation offered her by James Watkins, her employer, in accompanying him to a cabaret attired in the pick of the department store’s high-priced finery. Watkins’ attempt to gain possession of Mame is sensed by her friend, Josie, who tries to prevent it by giving friendly advice. On an evening when Josie is selected by Watkins to come to his office by herself, the situation complicates itself when, as she raises a desk ornament to strike him, Mame, Danny, her brother who has been framed to prison by Watkins, and Mrs. Watkins are all discovered on the scene after the previously extinguished lights are turned on. Later Mame, who is mortally injured in a fire, confesses to the murder for which Danny and Josie have been held. The close of the story shows Josie and Danny happy. PROGRAM COPY— “Only a Shop Girl”— With an All-Star Cast Pretty Mame Mulvey failed to consider consequences when she yielded to temptation to indulge a desire for finery. “Only a Shop Girl” is a thrilling and thoughtful melodrama that you will want your daughter to see. Estelle Taylor, Mae Busch and other notable players are in the cast. “WHITE HELL”— Class B (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Youth Victim of Murder Mystery in Canadian Northwest VALUE CAST Photography — Good — H. G. Plympton. David Manley Richard Travers TYPE OF PICTURE — Interesting. Helen Allen Muriel Kingston Moral Standard — Good. Hart Sonley .Jack Baston _ Wauna Ruth La Mar Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Henry Allen Charles Graham Star — Good — Richard Travers. Jim Harry Foulds Author — Good — Not credited. Direction — Good. — Bernard Fiekel. Adaptation— Good — Leola Morgan. Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Average. February 1 to 15, 1923. Producer— Charles E. Bartlett Footage— 6,100 ft. Distributor — State Rights Our Opinion MORAL O'THE PICTURE— None Outstanding. Interesting Presentation of Story — Good Vein of Human Interest “White Hell” is not unlike a lot of other stories of the Canadian Northwest, but it wins out principally on its human interest qualities. The boy, Jim, for instance, played satisfactorily by Harry Foulds, proves to be one of the most interesting characters in the picture. Kicked about by a cruel father, and bereft of his mother through murder, he becomes the buddy of David Manley, a fine type of man who has difficulties proving himself out of the reach of the gallows for the death of Jimmy’s mother. The situation is interesting and is made more so by the fact that Jimmy, fearing that his pal is to be taken away from him, shoots and kills the real villain as he is pulling the trigger on David. A nice romance is also interwoven with the principal events of the story, and the heroine role is acceptably filled by Muriel Kingston. Ruth La Mar also gives a satisfying portrayal of the Indian girl, Wauna. This is a good feature for the neighborhood house. STORY OF THE PLAY Near a northern village named White Hell lived Jimmy, the son of an unfortunate mar«agc. David Manley, a young woodsman, takes pity on Jimmy, and on the death of his mother at the hand of Jack Baston, adopts him into his cabin. A gun dropped by David in a light with (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!