Screen Opinions (1923-24)

ALL THE “TRUTH” ABOUT PICTURES 7 caused us to place the picture in the “A” class. There are various good advertising angles to be found in the picture among them a prize fighter’s honor; a wife’s awakening to the fact that social distinction without character is only skin deep. The humorous angle of the story can also be emphasized. Jonnie Walker gives an excellent performance, and so also does Eileen Percy playing opposite him. STORY OF THE PLAY Brian O’Brien resolves to fight his last fight in the ring and pay his winnings toward a garage. Just before the fight his opponent, Battling Tracy, begs him to let him win because it is necessary for him to have the money to take his invalid mother to California. O’Brien refuses, but after the fight is over he hands the money to Tracy. The man from whom O’Brien is buying the garage, hearing of his generous act, allows him a chance on the business without the payment down agreed upon. Later O’Brien’s wife, anxious for social position, responds to the flattery of Gerald Van Sicklen, one of the smart set. And not until her husband has become a hero through rescuing stolen jewels does she awaken to the difference between the two men and realize that she loves her husband in spite of his humble calling. PROGRAM COPY — “The Fourth Musketeer” — Featuring Johnnie Walker From the prize ring to a garage of his own seemed to Brian O’Brien a long step toward respectability. Come and see how it appealed to his pretty wife. “The Fourth Musketeer’’ is a picture that you are going to like, with the wholesome Johnnie Walker in the leading role. “MAN FROM GLENGARRY”— Class A (Adapted from novel of same name) Story: — Feud and Romance VALUE Photography — Very good — Barney McGill and Jacques Beizeul. TYPE OF PICTURE— SensationalRomantic. Moral Standard — Good. Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Cast — Very good — All-Star. Author — Very good — Ralph Connor. Direction — Very good— Henry McRae. Adaptation — Very good — Kenneth O’Hara. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Good. Producer — Ernest Shipman Footage — 5; in Canadian Lumber Woods CAST Big MacDonald Anders Randolph Ronald MacDonald Warner P. Richmond Rev. Alexander Murray Harlan Knight Kate Murray Marion S wayne Louis Lenoir E. L. Fernandez Eugene St. Clair Jack Newton Mamie St. Clair Pauline Garon Frank De Lacey Frank Badgley Colonel Thorpe William Colvin Kerestin McLeod Marion Lloyd April 1 to 15, 1923. ,000 ft. Distributor — W. W. Hodkinson Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — The Spirit of Forgiveness Is Disconcerting to Evil Intent. Spectacular Features of Story Well Presented and Atmosphere of Canadian Lumber Woods Convincing “The Man from Glengarry” one of Ralph Connor’s best stories, lends itself well to the screen, and in the present picturization the spectacular and sensational features have been given special attention. The dynamiting of a log jam, broad views of the log-filled river with lumber jacks leaping nimbly from log to log, a real thrill when the heroine hurrying over the logs to prevent her lover from killing the river boss loses her footing and falls into the water and is being rapidly carried down stream into the rapids when the hero rescues her, and scenes in which the lumber jacks present the rugged side of their characters, are among the things that help to hold the attention. But with the exception of Big MacDonald, Maimie St. Clair and Louis Lenoir the cast is only fairly well chosen. E. L. Fernandez, as Lenoir, the devil-may-care river boss, gives one of the best performances in the picture. He is exactly the type and allows the part to completely absorb him. On the other hand we would never have chosen Warner P. Richmond for the role of Ronald MacDonald. He plays the part well, but is not the correct type. Pauline Garon is attractive as usual, and Harlan Knight does well as the minister, who tried to turn the lumber jacks into God-fearing men. In billing the picture the river thrills should be featured — the heroine snatched from death in the rush of the log jam. STORY OF THE PLAY Big MacDonald, boss of the St. Clair lumber camp at North Limits, Canada, is killed by Lenoir, the boss of a rival camp, and on his deathbed tells his son, Ronald, that he forgives Le Noir. Ronald vows to kill the Frenchman, and when Le Noir jams the river with his logs to prevent Ronald from getting the St. Clair logs through, the clash comes, and as Ronald is about to strangle his opponent, his sweetheart, Kate Murray, the minister’s daughter, rushes over (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!