Screen Opinions (1923-24)

232 SCREEN OPINIONS WEEKLY SERVICE constructing a series of wax work horrors. The cast is an excellent one, but no one, with the possible exception of Mildred Manning, is overstocked with opportunity. Theatres catering to sensation loving audiences will find this production moderately satisfactory. STORY OF THE PLAY Bebe, an artist’s model, is loved by a sculptor, but the girl is indifferent, and on meeting a young American, comes under the spell of romance. Later the young man’s father, believing her to be the same as other women of her class whom he has known, requests her to give his son up. In the meantime, a builder of wax works horrors, demented through his long application to gruesome subjects, follows the suggestion of Santados, the sculptor, that he use the young man as a human victim of a torture machine he has invented. The young man is rescued before it is too late, and while he is delirious in the hospital, calling for Bebe, his father realizes that the only cure for his son is the presence of the girl. The story ends happily. PROGRAM COPY — “While Paris Sleeps” — Featuring an All-Star Cast Sculptor Santados took advantage of instruments of the devil in ridding himself of a rival, but awakened conscience removed a horrible menace. A fine cast plays this Maurice Tourneur romantic melodrama. “TRUXTON KING”— Class A (Adapted from one of the Graustark stories) Story: — Spy Suspect Saves Life of Child Prince VALUE . CAST Photography — Average — Not credited. Truxton King John Gilbert TYPE OF PICTURE — Adventurous — Larraine Ruth Clifford Romantic. Count Marlanx Frank Leigh Moral Standard — Average. Prince Robin Mickey Moore 1 — Robbs Otis Harlan Story — Very good — Romantic drama — Family. Count Carlos Von Enge... Henry John Miller Star — Very good — John Gilbert. John Tullis Richard Wayne Author — Very good — George Barr William Spanz Willis Marks McCutcheon. Olga Platanova Winifred Bryson Direction — Very good — Jerome Storm. Baron Dangloss Mark Fenton Adaptation — Very good — Paul Schofield. Technique — Good. 1 ■ Spiritual Influence — Neutral. March 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Fox Footage — 5,613 ft. Distributor — Fox Our MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Interesting Adaptation of Graustark Story A rollicking spirit of romantic adventure pervades the latest John Gilbert production “Truxton King.” Your patrons are apt to like the production because it provides a number of laughs along with the somewhat thrilling action of the play. The situation provided by the celebrated author, George Barr McCutcheon, in which a young American entering the gardens of the royal palace is mistaken for a spy and thereafter during his efforts to save the little Prince Robin from his enemies suffers persecution, affords many adventurous incidents. John Gilbert is well suited to the role of Truxton King, and Ruth Clifford is lovely as Aunt Lorraine, an American girl mistaken by the hero for a princess. Little Mickey Moore plays the role of Prince Robin in his usual fetching manner, and Frank Leigh is excellent as Marlanx the heavy. An unusual feat of photography during an attack on the castle shows the cavalry horses leaping over the head of the cameraman who is located in a trench. The effect is quite thrilling. STORY OF THE PLAY Truxton King, an American traveler, enters the royal gardens and meets Robin, the child prince. A beautiful girl also appears on the scene, who is greeted by the prinqe as Aunt Lorraine, and is mistaken by Truxton King for a princess. Later King is suspected of being a spy, and discovering a plot against the life of the prince by one Marlanx, who had been exiled by the late king, he is finally instrumental in rescuing both the prince and Lorraine from harm. The close of the story discloses that Lorraine is the sister of King’s best friend, and opens the way for the wedding of hero and heroine. PROGRAM COPY — “Truxton King” — Featuring John Gilbert When an American saunters into the gardens of royalty unannounced, what can he expect? Come and see into what a remarkable series of adventures a little curiosity led one good American youth. John Gilbert is the star. 4. No Advertising Support Accepted!