Screen Opinions (1923-24)

226 SCREEN OPINIONS WEEKLY SERVICE pression that the late actor should have his place in the cast. However, Agnes Ayres gives such a spirited performance, looking as pert and winsome as any flapper, that we are amply satisfied, and Richard Dix, as the regretful son of the opposing party, who has fallen before the smiles of the fascinating Virginia Kent, is quite as we would picture the romantic son of a sport king. Theodore Roberts is as always master of the situation, and Robert Cain is excellent as the heavy. The cast is good throughout, with Robert Brower, Warren Rogers and J. Farrell MacDonald getting in fine work. The racing scenes are well photographed, and one or two real thrills are staged in which accidents which seem to be very real occur. You can bank on this picture. Book it on the reputation of former auto racing pictures. STORY OF THE PLAY Virginia Kent, daughter of John Kent, manufacturer of the Grenada automobile, is so impressed with the idea that her father is losing out to his chief competitor, Smith, of the Mono machine, that she decides to try a little advertising of her own. Her first venture is in speeding at sixty miles an hour, which, however, fails to get her into jail, and thereby into the newspapers, because Roddy Smith, who is substituting for the cop, falls in love with her at first sight. Later, when Dad is over in London, she has a racing car built for Granada, and because the driver is being bribed by Smith, Sr., she drives it to victory herself. The story ends with Dad’s fortunes taking a turn for the better, and Virginia and the son of the enemy betrothed. PROGRAM COPY — “Racing Hearts” — Featuring Agnes Ayres If you are longing to see another of those peppy Paramount automobile pictures! with hairbreadth escapes on a dusty track, don’t miss “Racing Hearts,’’ with Agnes Ayres, Theodore Roberts and Richard Dix. It’s a pippin’ ! “JAZZMAN I A”— Class A (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Beautiful Queen Spurns Native Love and Marries American VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Oliver T. Marsh. Ninon Mae Murray TYPE OF PICTURE — Frivolous — Jerry Langdon Rod La Rocque Entertaining. Captain Valmar Robert Fraser Moral Standard — Average. Sonny Daimler Eddie Burns 1 ■ ■ ■ — Prince Otto of Como Jean Hersholt Story — Very good — Farce-comedy — Adults. Baron Bolo Lionel Belmore Star— Very good — Mae Murray. Josephus Ramson Herbert Standing Author — Very good — Edmund Goulding. Marline Mrs. J. Farrell MacDonald Direction — Very good — Robert Z. Leonard. Julius Furman Wilfred Lucas Adaptation — Very good — Not credited. Colonel Kerr Herbert Frank Technique — Very good. ■ Spiritual Influence — Neutral. March 1 to IS, 1923. Producer — Tiffany Productions Footage — 7,000 ft. Distributor — Metro Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Good Light Entertainment, But Not Equal to Former Mae Murray Successes The box office value of “Jazzmania” is unquestionably good, in spite of the fact that this production does not approach in artistic excellence “Fascination” or “Broadway Rose,” previous successes in which Mae Murray starred. “Jazzmania” is a polite farce bordering at times on burlesque. The subject, an old one with a new twist, treats of a beautiful queen of some mythical kingdom, who is wooed by a prince who hopes to gain money and power to push his own crooked enterprises through marrying Ninon, the queen of Jazzmania. The scenes in which the pretty queen, breaking the bonds of convention, goes into the street disguised as a peasant during a festival and becomes enamored of jazz through seeing a couple of dancing negroes, are peppy and effective. As the picture progresses and Queen Ninon comes to America and Broadway, and is torn between her duty to her people and her love of America and one of its sons, there happens much to interest the average person. Miss Murray is fascinating at every phase of the story, and never more so than when she dances or appears in male attire. The transformation of her kingdom under the establishment of modern methods, when instead of being a mere queen she becomes a president, and sits at her desk like a modern business woman, is a happy thought on the part of the author, and is presented in a snappy and entertain (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!