Screen Opinions (1923-24)

14 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH become engaged to Willie Duckworth, decides to keep his identity a secret, and persists that he is James Robinson. A fortune, left to him by the relative should he return before May 24th of that year, is about to revert according to the terms of the will to June and Willis, and various unhappy things keep turning up owing to his policy of scattering seeds of kindness. Because he has befriended a child left alone at the railway station, he becomes the butt of a gang of crooks, who blackmail him and cause him to be. arrested. June’s receipt of telegrams from the Montana ranch, where Jimmy has been employed, identifying him as Jimmy MacTavish, clears the situation and leaves an open road to romance. PROGRAM COPY— “The Sunshine Trail” — Featuring Douglas MacLean James Henry MacTavish found that scattering seeds of kindness sometimes causes strange complications that are hard to straighten out. But Jimmy kept right ahead on “The Sunshine Trail” of many adventures, as you will see. Douglas MacLean is the star, assisted by little Muriel Frances Dana and a good cast. “MODERN MARRIAGE”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — A Wife’s Indiscretion Causes Entanglement in Murder Mystery VALUE Photography — Very good — Edward Paul. TYPE OF PICTURE — Fascinating mystery. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Very good — Melodrama — Adults. Cast — Very good — Featuring Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne. Author— Very good— Derek Vane. Direction — Very good — Lawrence C. Windom. Adaptation — Very good — Dorothy Farnum. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Hugh Varley . . . Denise Varley.. Frank Despard. Cort Maitland.. Nita Blake Hugh, Jr Elihu Simpson. . Mammy Blossom Young CAST Francis X. Bushman Beverly Bayne Roland Bottomley Ernest Hilliard Zita Moulton Frankie Evans Arnold Lucy Pauline Dempsey Blanche Craig April 15 to 30, 1923. Producer — Francis X. Bushman Pictures, Inc. Footage — 6,331 ft. Distributor — American Releasing Corporation Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Forgetfulness of Marriage Vows Must Lead to Trouble. Unusually Well Made Production — Excellent Mystery Story With Domestic Problem — Bushman Vastly Improved in Screen Technique “Modern Marriage” is interesting from more than one point of view; for not only is it an unusually well made, carefully edited, skillfully enacted production, but it marks the return of two formerly well-known screen stars after an absence of several years. And not only this, but it is noticeable that the years have smoothed out the screen technique of Francis X. Bushman to a marked degree. His portrayal of Hugh Varley, the unappreciated husband, is graceful and intelligent, betraying none of the staginess which marred to some extent Mr. Bushman’s former screen efforts. Beverly Bayne has a fair conception of the requirements of the indiscreet wife, and is altogether acceptable. One of the best portrayals of the picture is that of Elihu Simpson, the valet of the murdered man, by Arnold Lucy. In fact, one might almost say that his handling of this role is masterly. The heavy parts are excellently played by Roland Bottomley and Ernest Hilliard, and the other woman in the case is ably interpreted by Zita Moulton. Little Frankie Evans is charming as the child of the story, and, indeed, there is no fault to be found with the well balanced cast. The professionally constructed plot of “Modern Marriage” is clearly outlined in the screen adaptation, with the complications of a carefully planned murder mystery and marital problem moving so consistently that the pictured story reads like an open book. “Modern Marriage” is presented more as a matter of entertainment than as a matter of morals, although the picture does contain a valuable lesson. This should be a sure fire hit for the average moving picture theatre. The settings and all details are artistically arranged. STORY OF THE PLAY Hugh Varley receives an anonymous note hinting at his wife’s indiscretion with one Frank Despard just at the moment when his wife, Denise, has decided to end her associations with Despard. On the day when Denise goes to Despard’s apartment to request her letters back, Cortland Maitland, living on another floor, is found immediately following the visit of Denise, rifling Despard’s room. In the struggle that ensues Despard is killed. The Varleys, in fear of being implicated in the affair, move to the country, where Cortland Maitland, employed as secretary to Hugh Varley, tries to steal plans of an invention on which Varley is working. Maitland, severely injured and about to die, confesses to the murder. An interesting outcome of (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!