Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 247 (Adapted from “The Summons”) Story: — Unhappy Experience of Man Hounded by Criminal Half-Brother VALUE CAST Photography — Very good— Benjamin Kline. Sam Bass Frank Mayo TYPE OF PICTURE— Sensational. Mary Sylvia Breamer Moral Standard — Average. Will Bass Philo McCullough — ■ — Sheriff George A. Williams Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. District Attorney Harry Carter Star — Very good— Frank Mayo. Author — Good — George Pattullo. _ Direction — Good — Edward Sedgwick. Adaptation — Good — George Randolph Chester. Technique — Good. 1 ■■ ■ ■ ■ . — . — — Spiritual Influence — Average. March 1 to IS, 1923. Producer — Universal Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — Universal Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Sensational Quality Recommends It as Box Office Attraction It is seldom that emotional acting of the splendid quality demonstrated by Frank Mayo in “The First Degree” finds its way to an ordinary film production. Beyond this and a story that holds the attention, the picture is just plain “movie,” presenting no moral teaching and nothing in particular to think about after you have left the theatre. Nevertheless, “The First Degree” is an excellent box office attraction, slightly romantic, considerably melodramatic and excellently played. Philo McCullough gives an unusually convincing performance. As the heavy, he succeeds in outlining a despicable type, and Sylvia Breamer was never more charming than in the comparatively few scenes in which she appears. The story is told after a method often used in films by having the principal character relate certain happenings precedent to an unhappy condition at which he has arrived. The picture is well presented throughout, and with the exception of a weak point in the plot, in which the story of a stranger is believed by the townspeople in preference to that of a man honorably known among them, there is little fault to be found. A subtitle which might be eliminated with good moral effect condones a murder on the ground that the supposed murderer had done a benefit to humanity by committing the murder. STORY OF THE PLAY Sam Bass, called before the Grand Jury, believes that he is to be prosecuted for a murder which he is under the impression he has committed. Of his own accord he tells the story of his life and how his half-brother has hounded him, causing (him to be sent to prison for safej robbing when the brother himself was the real criminal, and later ruining his career in a town where he had made good as a lawyer. The affair, caused by jealousy over a girl, ends happily for Sam when the man he thought he killed is brought into the court room to be identified for stealing sheep. PROGRAM COPY — “The First Degree” — Featuring Frank Mayo The story Sam Bass told the Grand Jury when he was summoned to testify in a sheep stealing case will raise you out of your chair. Don’t miss Frank Mayo’s most thrilling emotional role as presented in “The First Degree.” “MILADY”— Class A (Adaptation of famous novel) Story: — Effort of Queen Anne of France to Save Lover VALUE . CAST Photography — Average — Not credited. D’Artagnan Aime Simon-Girard TYPE OF PICTURE — Historic — Sensational. Constance Bonacieux Pierette Madd Moral Standard — Average. Milady De Winter Claude Merelle — Cardinal Richelieu Monsieur De Max Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Athos Henri Rollman Cast — Very good — All-Star. Porthos Monsieur Martinelli Author — Very good — Alexandre Dumas. Aramus P. De Guingand Direction — Very good — Henri Diamant-Berger. The Queen Jeanne Desclos Adaptation — Very good — Not credited. Technique — Good. ■ Spiritual Influence — Neutral. March 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Henri Diamant-Berger Footage — 7,622 ft. Distributor — American Releasing Corp. (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!