Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 209 “DRUMS OF FATE”— Class A (Adapted from novel, “Sacrifice”) Story: — Wife Believing Husband Dead Sacrifices Happiness VALUE Photography — Very good — James Howe. TYPE OF PICTURE— Unusual— Interesting. Moral Standard — Good. Story — Very good — Drama— Family. Star — Very good — Mary Miles Minter. Author — Very good — Stephen French Whitman. Direction — Very good — Charles Maigne. Adaptation — Very good — Will M. Ritchey. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Good. CAST Carol Dolliver Mary Miles Minter Laurence Teck Maurice Flynn Felix Brantome George Fawcett Cornelius Rysbrock Robert Cain David Verne Casson Ferguson Hamoud Bin-Said Bertram Grassby Native King Noble Johnson February 15 to 28, 1923. Producer — Paramount Footage — 5,716 ft. Distributor — Famous Players Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— Beauty of Self-Sacrifice (Not Strongly Marked). Well-Made Picture — Story Entertaining — Locale Interesting One of the best of the Mary Miles Minter features “Drums of Fate” gives the star opportunities that she has seldom had, and presents a story of unusual dramatic value. The locale of the story is also interesting and includes East Africa, Venice and Algiers as well as New York. The atmosphere of the different places is well established, and. the director has succeeded well in staging scenes in which warlike tribes of Africa attack the whites. The star is especially pleasing. She gives an intelligent and refined portrayal of the role of Carol Dolliver, and dresses the part becomingly. Maurice Flynn is astonishingly convincing as the lover-husband of the picture, and Casson Ferguson, as the sickly composer, is a picturesque figure. The production is generally good, and should prove satisfactory for the neighborhood house as well as for the larger theatres. The picture is well edited and is artistic in settings and photography. STORY OF THE PLAY Carol Dolliver marries Laurence Teck, an African explorer, who is shortly called away to the African jungles on business. His Hindu servant, previous to Teck’s departure, shows Carol drums which the native African tribes beat in signaling from one to another over the jungle, and at the same time tells of a message which the drums hold for her, and speaks of a vision in which he sees the dead body of a man she loves. A rival, Cornelius Rysbrook, brings back the report that Teck has been killed. But after Carol, out of respect for her father’s wishes in the matter, marries David Verne, a sickly composer, in the hope of prolonging his life and his musical usefulness, Teck returns. Believing that Carol loves David, Teck goes back to Africa, where at David’s death he is followed by Carol. Her safari is attacked by natives, who bring her into the camp of the native king, of whom Teck has made a friend. The close of the story shows them happy in their New York home. PROGRAM COPY — "Drums of Fate” — Featuring Mary Miles Minter Here is a picture that is as entertaining as it is unusual. If you want something really different, with a refined star and an excellent cast, don’t miss “Drums of Fate,” with Mary Miles Minter. “FIGHTING BLOOD”— Series (Adapted from stories under this name) Story: — Romance of Soda Shaker, Uses Prize Ring as Aid to Buying Education VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Not credited. Gale Galen George O’Hara TYPE OF PICTURE— Sporting. Judy Wilcox Clara Horton Moral Standard — Average. Rags Dempster Arthur Rankin _ , _ K. O. Kelly Kit Guard Story — Very good— Comedy — Adults. Ajariah Stubbs William Courtright Star — Very good — George O’Hara. Spence M. C. Ryan Author — Very good — H. C. Witmer. Nate Shapiro Albert Cooke Direction — Very good — Not credited. Mrs. Wilcox Mabel Van Buren Adaptation — Very good — Not credited. Technique — Very good. • Spiritual Influence — Neutral. February 15 to 28, 1923. Producer — P. A. Powers Length — 12 rounds Distributor — F. B. O. (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!