Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 243 Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Production Based on Trivial Is Poorly Constructed There is little to be said about “A Clouded Name,” other than that it is a poorly made picture — so poorly made, in fact, that the exhibitor who wants to win a reputation for always running the best will do well to avoid it. Our purpose in giving it space is to give pretty Norma Shearer the praise that is her due. She plays as well as possible under unfavorable circumstances, and indeed the picture would be a blank failure without her attractive personality and that of Gladden James, who is well and favorably known as a screen actor. Miss Shearer’s beauty, warmth of personality and evident talent should win her a place in the class of pictures that would give her a proper setting. The story of this picture is so confused that it is difficult to know just what it is all about. However, the young man of the story and the heroine are trying to avoid one another for some reason, and through the innocent manipulations of a child events happen that eliminate unhappy impressions of the past when an old man regains his memory. The child, Yvonne Logan, is bright and pretty, and should prove a worth while screen baby. PROGRAM COPY — “A Clouded Name” — Featuring Norma Shearer Marjorie Dare and Jim Allen thought that they had no right to the romance that beckoned until by a trick of fate an old man regained his memory and blotted out an imaginary barrier. Beautiful Norma Shearer and Gladden James are the stars. “OMAR THE TENTMAKER”— Class A (Adapted from play of same name) Story: — Persian’s Sweetheart Is Sought in Marriage by Shah VALUE Photography — Good — Not credited. TYPE OF PICTURE— Romantic. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Star— Good — Guy Bates Post. Author — Very good — Richard Walton Tully. Direction — Very good — James Young. Adaptation — Very good — Richard W. Tully. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Richard Walton Tully CAST Omar Guy Bates Post Shireen Virginia Browne Faire Little Shireen Patsy Ruth Miller Christian Crusader Maurice B. Flynn Shah of Shahs Noah Beery Nizam ul Mulk Nigel de Brulier Shah’s Mother Rose Dione Emissaries of the Shah { Gordon Mullen ( George Rigas March 1 to 15, 1923. Distributor — First National Footage — 8,000 ft. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Love and Sincerity Vital Qualities of Civilization. Creditable Adaptation of Play Illustrating Life of Persian Poet “Omar the Tentmaker” is, strictly speaking, a production best suited to the intellectual audience, which would, of course, include those who have some acquaintance with the works of the Persian poet, Omar Khayyam. We doubt if the cheaper theatres will find this picture satisfactory in a big way — it is liable to pass over the heads of the ordinary classes and be rated merely as any other story of the east, with its religious prejudices. We believe also that the story could have been projected in a more effective way, for while the plot is at all times interesting, and its characters unusually appealing, there is a conventionality about the action of the picture that in a measure prevents it from acquiring a great amount of human interest, and it may be that the close-up method of visualization which is used, and which limits the amount of illuminative detail that can be used, has something to do with the conclusion. The settings are simple but appropriate, and the picture has been carefully edited. The cast is excellent, with the exception of the star, Guy Bates Post, who, although reputedly skillful in his art, is not the type to portray the role of Omar satisfactorily. Virginia Browne Faire, as Shireen, and Patsy Ruth Miller, as little Shireen, the love child of Omar and the sweetheart stolen from him by the Shah, are delightful. Nigel de Brulier is excellent as Nizam ul Mulk, andt (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!