Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 239 other country. He plays well. Carmel Myers is attractive as Saidee, who is the daughter of a professional forger, and is loved by Steve, and Pat O’Malley, as the returned soldier to whom Saidee ministered in the great war, plays the part in a refreshing manner; in fact, he is a typical American youth bent on winning the girl he has learned to love. The last reels of the story are unpleasantly melodramatic, with prison scenes and the electric chair looming large. The attempt of Saidee to gain the governor’s signature on a pardon to which she finally forges his name when he is suddenly stricken by paralysis, holds a good deal of unpleasant suspense, and the made effort to reach the prison in time to prevent the execution, the failure of the trap door of the gallows to work at the crucial moment, the struggle of the real murderer to reach the prison for the same purpose as Saidee, all are tainted with artificiality. Various unwholesome conclusions on life problems appear in the subtitles, such as “Death is the price we pay for life,” or something to that effect, and others which reflect incorrect morals and theories. STORY OF THE PLAY Steve Cline returns from South America to find his brother still robbing safes, and Saidee McCall and father, who is a professional forger, still in business. A situation arises in which the arrival of the police results in the death of Steve’s brother and the migration of the McCalls from their old haunts. Later we find Saidee comforting a wounded soldier on the battlefield, and later, when circumstances place her in polite society she is recognized by the district attorney, who demands that she becomes his wife in order that he allow her father to go free. This results in the murder of the district attorney by McCall in an attempt to rescue Saidee from his insults. Steve, who was also on the scene, takes the blame and is about to be executed when Saidee arrives with a pardon. The close of the story shows Steve and Saidee happy. PROGRAM COPY — “The Last Hour” — With Milton Sills and Carmel Myers You will be thrilled by this crook melodrama in which the hero takes the blame for a murder and is saved by the undaunted faith of his sweetheart, who obtains a pardon. Milton Sills and pretty Carmel Myers are featured. “PRISONER”— Class B (Adapted from “Castle Craneycrow”) Story: — Determined Lover Saves Girl From Unhappy Marriage VALUE Photography — Good — Benjamin Reynolds. TYPE OF PICTURE— RomanticAdventurous. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Good — Romantic drama. Star— Good— Herbert Rawlinson, with Eileen Percy. Author — Good — George Barr McCutcheon. Direction — Good — Jack Conway. Adaptation — Good — Edward T. Lowe, Jr. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Universal CAST Philip Quentin Herbert Rawlinson Dorothy Garrison Eileen Percy Lord Bob.. George Cowle Lady Francis ..June Elvidge Dickey Savage Lincoln Stedman Lady Jane Gertrude Short Prince Ugo Ravorelli Bertram Grassby Count Sallonica Mario Carillo Duke Laselli Hayford Hobbs Mrs. Garrison Lillian Langdon Gourant Bert Sprotte March 1 to 15, 1923. Distributor — Universal Footage — 4,795 ft. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— Where There’s a Will There’s a Way. Picture Features Ghostly Underground Passages There are a number of reasons why “The Prisoner” recommends itself to the average theatre program, not the least of which is the popularity of the star, Herbert Rawlinson, and his feminine lead, Eileen Percy. The romantic adventure presented in the plot in which a murderer disguised as a prince is about to make away with the heroine as his wife when he is forestalled by the action of a persistent lover, is both thrilling and interesting. Bertram Grassby gives a good performance, and makes an excellent contrast to the hero role, which is pleasingly portrayed by Herbert Rawlinson. Eileen Percy is less attractively cast than she was in “The Flirt,” but withal does well. June Elvidge, Gertrude Short and Lincoln Stedman stand out in a large and competent cast. The scenes in the underground passages beneath the castle Craneycrow, in which are to be seen human bones and skeletons, are atmospherically good. It is a pity that the subtitles of the picture had not been more carefully worded (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!