Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH" ABOUT PICTURES 221 “DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS”— Class A (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Quaker Girl Forbidden to Marry Man She Loves VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Alex G. Penrod, Patience Morgan Marguerite Courtot assisted by Paul Allen, Maurice Kains Thomas Allen Dexter Raymond McKee and Albert Doubrava. Charles Morgan William Walcott TYPE OF PICTURE — Sensational — Samuel Siggs J. Thornton Baston Interesting. Jake Finner Patrick Hartigan Moral Standard — Average. “Scuff Smith” Leigh R. Smith "■ Henny Clark Ada Lay cock Story— Very good — Romantic melodrama — Dot Morgan Clara Bow Family. Baby Patience Morgan Elizabeth Foley Cast — Very good — All-Star, featuring Mar Captain Capt. James A. Tilton guerite Courtot and Raymond McKee. Nahoma Clarice Vance Author — Very good — John L. E. Pell. Town Crier Curtis Pierce Direction — Very good — Elmer Clifton. Jimmie James Turfler Adaptation — Fair — John L. E. Pell. Baby Thomas A. Dexter Thomas White Technique — Average. » 1 ■ 1 ' — ■ — Spiritual Influence — Average. February 15 to 28, 1923. Producer — Elmer Clifton Footage — 8,900 ft. Distributor — W. W. Hodkinson Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Outstanding. Story of Whaling Industry on New England Coast Presented Sensationally “Down to the Sea in Ships” is not exactly what the title would lead one to expect in the matter of artistry. This is not meant to imply that the production is other than intensely interesting, for never has there been photographed as illuminative a description of the details of the whaling industry. And it is indeed thrilling to watch the actual harpooning of a whale, the releasing of the rope from the schooner as the small boat, with its crew, is towed through the water at the caprice of the wounded monster, or the final “cutting in,” which is a peeling off of the blubber and severing of the huge head, which in itself makes a load of several tons weight to lift into the mother ship. This is, of course, only a small part of the picture taken individually and is deftly intertwined with the romance of a Quaker maid whose father forbids her association with the man she loves because he is not of her faith, and who narrowly escapes marriage to a Chinaman posing as a Quaker, by the timely return of her lover from the sea. The picture is developed in a sensational manner that will no doubt be a help rather than a detriment in putting it across with the average audience. But nevertheless, the fact remains that the adaptation of the story is a bit crude, nor is the plot as substantial as it might be. It would seem, for instance, that there could be some good reason for Morgan’s immovable determination to marry his daughter to the impostor Siggs, other than his belief that he is of the Quaker faith. The ending, where the lover, returning from a whaling trip, rushes through the storm and arrives at the meeting house in time to kick the glass from a window and leap to the side of the woman he loves just as she is about to repeat the last line of the simple Quaker ceremony that will make her the wife of another, is truly melodramatic. Marguerite Courtot is charming as the Quakeress heroine, and Raymond McKee does well as the lover. The cast is good throughout. One of the best portrayals in the picture is given by William Walcott as Charles Morgan. STORY OF THE PLAY Charles Morgan, a man of dogmatic Quaker views, tries to prevent his daughter’s marriage to the man she loves, and who is not of her faith, by marrying her to one Siggs, an oriental, who is in league with a seaman by the name of Finner to rob Morgan of his ships. Thomas Allen Dexter, the lover, returns in time to save his sweetheart from an unhappy union, after an adventurous whaling trip during which a mutiny occurs. PROGRAM COPY — “Down to the Sea in Ships” — Featuring Marguerite Courtot and Raymond McKee You cannot afford to miss “Down to the Sea in Ships,” which is one of the most thrilling and illuminative of stories of the whaling industry on the New England coast. Lovely Marguerite Courtot is the romantic Quaker maid, and Raymond McKee is the hero lover. No Advertising Support Accepted 1