Screen Opinions (1923-24)

6 SCREEN OPINIONS WEEKLY SERVICE ttmwtwtmtmffltfflfflm8ffltmwttmtm»:mtmtffltn«mnmfflfflH»mtwuwwm Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Folly of Denying the Existence of God. Hysterical Presentation of Interesting Story Apt to Win Ridicule We admit that a story dealing with the conversion of an atheist to Christianity requires more than the ordinary amount of skill in adapting it to the screen. But just why such a sorry performance as the spectator must sit through in viewing the Fox production of “My Friend, the Devil” — eight reels of it — has been wished on a modern-minded public, we are at a loss to know. The action is unconvincing and many times hysterical in style. The cast is a competent one, as a glance at the names listed will tell. But the direction and also the adaptation is much at fault. The wise exhibitor will pass this picture up, not because of religious or moral scruples, although certain impassioned scenes in the artist’s studio might well be eliminated, but because it will bore his patrons excessively. STORY OF THE PLAY Dr. George Dryden, grown to believe there is no God because his mother has been struck by lightning in his childhood, leaving his erring father untouched. He becomes a famous physician, believing in his own personal power to heal the sick and denying any higher or spiritual source of relief. To please her mother, who has been cured by Dr. Dryden, Anna Ryder marries him and a child is born. In after years, unable to dismiss her aversion for her husband on religious principles, she falls in love with an artist who is painting her portrait. Dr. Dryden does not discover that his wife has been untrue to him until some years after her death, when he enters her rooms, which have been kept locked, and reads a letter of love addressed to her by the artist. Believing that the artist is the father of the daughter1 who lies at death’s door, he refuses to come to her aid until it is almost too late. At last, learning that he is all wrong, he prays to God to help her, and in the morning the reaper of death who has stood at the head of the bed throughout the night, turns away and he girls shows signs of recovery. PROGRAM COPY— “My Friend, the Devil”— With an All-Star Cast Denial of the existence of a God, tainted with bitterness all the happiness that might have been the lot of Dr. George Dryden. You will be interested to see how the last link of love about to be torn from his grasp, he awakens to his folly. An excellent cast plays the picture, headed by Barbara Castleton, Charles Richman and Robert Frazer. i “FOURTH MUSKETEER”— Class A (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Experience of ex-Pugilist and Over-Ambitious Wife _ VALUE Photography — Very good — William O’Connell. TYPE OF PICTURE— Semi-Humorous— Fascinating. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Very good — Comedy-drama — Family. Star — Very good — Johnnie Walker. Author — Very good — H. C. Witwer. Direction — Very good — William Kerrigan Howard. Adaptation — Very good — Paul Schofield. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Average. Producer — P. A. Powers CAST_ _ Brian O’Brien.... Johnnie Walker Mrs. Brian O’Brien Eileen Percy Joe Tracy William Scott Mrs. Tracy Edith Yorke Jimmy Tracy George Stone Dan O’Reilly James McElhern Mike Donovan Eddie Gribbon Gerald Van Sicklen Philo McCullough Mrs. Rector Kate Lester April 1 to 15, 1923. Distributor — F. B. O. Footage — 6,100 ft. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — The Value of a Man Lies in Character Attributes. Amusing Situations, Sympathetic Story Development, Interesting Fight and Good Star "The Fourth Musketeer” is the sort of picture that the exhibitor can book with the assurance that he is going to please his patrons. Looking at it from a critical standpoint the plot may not be as professional in construction as may be desired, and if we stop to analyze it or cast about for reasons why we like the production we will likely find that much of our enjoyment is due to character development by the director, and human interest situations, such for instance as that where Brian O’Brien beats Battling Tracy in the ring and then loans him the money to take his invalid mother to California. A good cast and a wholesome star add to the quota of pleasant attributes that have (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!