Screen Opinions (1923-24)

220 SCREEN OPINIONS WEEKLY SERVICE feature on double feature day. It has little to offer by way of an exploitation angle, except what has already been mentioned in expert horsemanship. STORY OF THE PLAY When Pop Martin, sheriff, becomes ill just when the district is suffering from the ravages of a bandit, and the town bank has been entered and robbed, his daughter, resolved that her father should not lose his position, offers to take his place. Dressing as a dancehall girl, she is successful in passing among the gang unobserved, and in this way learns their plans. On the following day she visits the chief bandit’s den and brings him in, thus keeping the sheriff’s laurels in the family. PROGRAM COPY — “The Thoroughbred” — Featuring Helen Gibson Indomitable courage and a determination that her dad should remain town sheriff in spite of illness caused Pop Martin’s daughter to don the breeches and tot a gun. Helen Gibson, the screen’s most expert horsewoman, is the star. “ALL THE BROTHERS WERE VALIANT”— Class A (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Crew Incited to Mutiny by Captain’s Brother Over Hidden Pearls VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Robert Kurrle. Girl Billy Dove TYPE OF PICTURE — Sensational — Mark Shore Lon Chaney Romantic. Joel Shore Malcolm McGregor Moral Standard — Good. Story — Very good — Romantic melodrama. Cast — Very good — All-Star. Author — Very good — Ben Ames Williams. Direction — Very good — Irvin Willat. Adaptation — Very good — Julien Josephson. Technique — Very good. • ■ ■ Spiritual Influence — Good. February 15 to 28, 1923. Producer — Metro Footage — 6,265 ft. Distributor — Metro Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — None Outstanding. Melodrama of the Sea Well Presented Has the Thrill and Romance the Public Loves Stories of the sea seem to be popular at the present time, and “All the Brothers Were Valiant” will be found to be one of the best of them. It is somewhat out of the ordinary, and while it cannot be classed as a tremendous artistic success, it contains the sensational material that the public loves, including a mutiny at sea, which is made more interesting from the fact that the one who incites the mutiny and the captain of the ship are brothers. Still more interest attaches to the incident when we realize that the chief mutineer was formerly the ship’s captain. Lon Chaney is excellent as Mark Shore, beloved of the village folk and envied by his younger brother, Joel, but who later proves a disappointment that is only relieved by his awakening to brotherly instincts in the end. Malcolm McGregor does well as Joel, and Billy Dove presents a different and very delightful angle of her personality as the sweetheart of the story. The sea atmosphere is splendid, the action of the picture for the most part rapid, and we can recommend the picture as an excellent program feature for any theatre. STORY OF THE PLAY Mark Shore and his younger brother, Joel, are the only remaining sons of a family of seamen, all of whom have been recorded in the family record as “valiant.” On an occasion when the whaling ship of which Mark is captain returns to port without him, and his strange disappearance makes it necessary to fill his place, Joel is given a chance as skipper. In the events that follow, which entail his marriage with a pretty childhood sweetheart, a stormy voyage during which Mark is picked up from an island where he has fallen ill with fever, and a mutiny incited by Mark, who is determined to capture a certain treasure of hidden pearls back on the island, Mark is killed by a shark as he leaps into the sea to rescue his brother, having at last awakened to the urge of brotherly instincts. And so Joel is able to place Mark’s name under the heading in the family record, “All the Brothers were Valiant.” PROGRAM COPY — “All the Brothers Were Valiant” — With an All-Star Cast At last Mark Shore awoke to the impulse of brotherly instincts and died a hero. You must see this thrilling tale of the sea, more romantic and adventurous than any that you have ever known. Lovely Billy Dove, Lon Chaney and Malcolm McGregor are among the cast No Advertising Support Accepted!