Screen Opinions (1923-24)

246 SCREEN OPINIONS WEEKLY SERVICE into the same sensational prominence with a horse race. It is splendid! The strongly marked romantic vein should help the production to find favor in any audience. The settings, gowns and social settings are notably attractive. STORY OF THE PLAY Lady Adrienne Carlyle, unhappily married to an elderly and degenerate Englishman, falls in love with Andrew Fabian, an Oxford student, at first sight. Later when she discovers her husband and a notorious woman embracing, she decides to leave her Bombay home for England. Instead of continuing her voyage, however, she accompanies Fabian into the desert from where he intends starting on an expedition through the Holy Land. A mutual confession of love is interrupted by “a voice from the minaret” calling the faithful to prayer, and incidentally by the arrival of Bishop Ellsworth, who is to accompany Fabian to Palestine, and a flight further into the desert by the lovers is postponed by the voice of conscience. A messenger bringing news of her husband’s disability causes Adrienne to decide for duty. Later Lord Carlyle, trying to learn the name of the man his wife loves, invites Fabian, now a clergyman, to the house. In the belief that their coffee is poisoned they fly to each other’s aims, revealing their secret. The incident closes with the death of Lord Carlyle who dies in his chair just as he is about to denounce Fabian to the clergy. PROGRAM COPY — “The Voice from the Minaret” — With Norma Talmadge Was Lady Adrienne Carlyle to blame for her attitude toward a husband who forgot his marriage vows? “The Voice from the Minaret” presents a situation that will interest you. Lovely Norma Talmadge is the star. “LOWE LETTER”— Class A (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Romance of Factory Girl’s Escape from Burglar Admirer VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Victor Millner. Mary Ann McKee Gladys Walton TYPE OF PICTURE — Humorous — Romantic. Bill Carter Edward Hearne Moral Standard — Good. Red Mike George Cooper ■ -■■■■ Kate Smith Fontane Le Rue Story — Very good — Comedy-drama — Family. Rev. Halloway Walter Whitman Star— Very good — Gladys Walton. Mrs. Halloway Albert Lee Author — Very good — Bradley King. Mrs. Carter Lucy Donohue Direction — Very good — King Baggot. Adaptation — Very good — Hugh Hoffman. Spiritual Influence — Average. March 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Universal Footage — 4,426 ft. Distributor — Universal Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Peppy Comedy-Drama Is Rich in Types and Presents Popular Star in Best of Recent Pictures There is no question of the success of “The Love Letter” — it consists of the sort of humor tinged with melodrama that the average movie fan likes. The picture is without a doubt entertaining. One of the features of the production is the variety of types excellently portrayed; and while the picture does not seem to point any definite moral, wholesomeness predominates, especially in the scenes in the rural village, where Mary Ann McKee, fleeing from association with a band of crooks, looks up the man whose name was signed to a reply put in the pocket of a pair of overalls. Gladys Walton portrays the factory girl type well. In fact, this is the best picture that she has appeared in for some time. George Cooper gives an unusually satisfactory performance as Red Mike. His conception of the stolid-faced, crime-steeped man is commendable. Edward Hearne, in the hero lead, makes the best of his opportunities. STORY OF THE PLAY Mary Ann McKee, discharged from an overalls factory for putting love notes in the pockets of the overalls, goes to a rural village to escape association with a band of crooks, after Red Mike, an admirer who tried to involve her in a safe robbery, has been sent to prison. There she looks up Bill Carter, the bearer of a name signed to a reply to one of her notes. She marries Bill, and later when Mary Ann has become a part of the wholesome atmosphere of the village, Red Mike suddenly appears and threatens to kill her husband unless she accompanies him to the city. Red, who in his early days painted a madonna, finds his heart melting when he discovers Mary Ann bidding farewell to her baby, and the story closes with Red explaining to Bill that Mary Ann lied to save his life, and taking the trail out of the village alone. PROGRAM COPY — “The Love Letter” — Featuring Gladys Walton Who would have thought that a reply to a love note sent at random might prove a life line to rescue the pretty heroine from being engulfed in crime. Gladys Walton is charming in her latest, “The Love Letter.” No Advertising Support Accepted!