Screen Opinions (1923-24)

206 SCREEN OPINIONS WEEKLY SERVICE “WASTED LIVES”— Class A (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Medical Student’s Response to Thrill of Making People Well VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Not credited. Randolph Adams Richard Wayne TYPE OF PICTURE — Substantial — Dorothy Richards Catherine Murphy Entertaining. Doctor Wentworth Winter Hall Moral Standard — Very good. Mrs. Jonathan Adams Lillian Leighton -■—■■■■ — Madge Richards Margaret Loomis Story— Very good — Drama— Family. Ned Hastings Arthur Osborne Cast — Very good — All-Star. Noah Redstone Walt Whitman Author — Very good — Not credited. Bobby Adams Phillipe de Lacy Direction — Very good — Clarence Geldert. Mrs. Hastings Fannie Midgley Adaptation — Very good — Not credited. Technique — Very good. ■ ■ ■ ■■ Spiritual Influence — Very good. February 15 to 28, 1923. Producer — Mission Film Corp. . Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — Second National Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — The Dedicating of Our Knowledge or Talents to the Service of Humanity. Wholesome and Entertaining Picture With a Mission Slowly but surely the producer is learning that a clean, wholesome story can be put across as entertainingly as the other kind, and once in a while we find a picture such as “Wasted Lives,” in which as much attention is given to the correct relationship between subtitles and action as in the hundred thousand dollar production, and in which the beauty of an ideal stands for more to the producer than all the glamour of settings and garb with which the perpetual eternal triangle sort seeks to lure. One of the charms of “Wasted Lives” is its freedom from the maudlin element. It has many pleasing outdoor scenes, in which children as well as grownups participate, and the wholesome side of social and home life dominates. The characters of the story are all of a high class of humanity. The young doctor who, on a hunting trip in the north is led by destiny to the door of a cabin wherein he learns the thrill of service through restoring a sick child, is convincingly played by Richard Wayne. His portrayal of Randolph Adams is intelligent and vastly pleasing. Catherine Murphy, not so well known as some other feminine leads, constitutes a refreshing change from the flapper type. She is dignified and appeals to the intelligence rather than to the senses, representing a higher type of womanhood. Lillian Leighton is excellent as the doting mother, who becomes temporarily obsessed with the idea that God is not just, when her son’s name appears erroneously among the killed in France. Little Phillipe de Lacy, a war waif brought to this country by a nurse, proves interesting in the role of Bobby Adams. It is quite singular that this baby, picked out of an ash can in France, should find his way to the American screen. He gives promise of becoming a screen favorite. Winter Hall plays up to his usual fine standard as Dr. Wentworth, and Margaret Loomis is especially attractive as the ingenue member of the cast. Walt Whitman, Arthur Osborne and Fannie Midgley fill their respective roles acceptably. “Wasted Lives” has a good vein of human interest, and gives the spectator something to think about. STORY OF THE PLAY Randolph Adams, a medical student, and his friend, Ned Hastings, have lost their way while on a hunting trip in the north. In a cabin which they enter by chance, Adams’ medical skill is called upon to save a sick child. In response to Noah Redstone, the master of the cabin’s, question, “Why do you go about killing things when you can spend your time saving human lives?” a change comes over him, and realizing the thrill of being able to relieve suffering, he decides to devote his life to the work. Later he enters the Red Cross service in France, leaving the children’s hospital he has erected in the care of a friend. He is reported dead, and his wife is about to accept Hastings’ offer of marriage when Adams appears on the scene, having spent some time in a hospital abroad recovering from an injury. Just at the moment his mother is pronounced dead from an automobile accident. But refusing to give her up without effort, he hurriedly puts a new respiratory invention to work and succeeds in saving her life. The story closes with a happy reunion. PROGRAM COPY — “Wasted Lives” — Featuring Richard Wayne Randolph Adams made a discovery ! He found that helping other folks live contains the finest thrill of anything in the world. Richard Wayne, leading man of a number of recent productions, including “Her Husband’s Trademark” and “Wealth,” is the star of a picture that makes you think. No Advertising Support Accepted! C