Screen Opinions (1923-24)

“BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY’’ 25 * Clara Beranger, and then by the director, William DeMille, is unusually effective. There are no empty spaces as it were, and every moment of the picture is devoted to the entertainment of the spectator. The plot of “Grumpy” provides one of the best yet of comedy-melodramas; for what could be more neatly managed than the search for the elusive gardenia with a hair twined around the stem, which was to prove who was the thief of the Lawson diamond? May McAvoy is, as always, dainty, intelligent and charming in her work, and Conrad Nagel is quite the type for the lover of the story. Casson Ferguson does his best with the villain role, but is not by nature well adapted to it. It is difficult to reconcile his personality with the character of Chamberlin Jarvis. The supporting cast is good throughout. STORY OF THE PLAY Ernest Heron, in love with Virginia, the niece of his old friend “Grumpy,” a retired lawyer, returns from a trip to find one Chamberlin Jarvis suing for her hand. Jarvis is also on the trail of the Lawson diamond with which Heron has been entrusted, and one night attempting to open Grumpy’s safe, where he believes the diamond to be hidden, he is attacked in the dark by Heron, and the latter is struck unconscious, while Jarvis removes his mask, rings the alarm and calmly turns in to help at first aid. A gardenia clutched in Heron’s hand is extricated by the butler, which later forms the clue to the thief. The fact that both men wore gardenias on that evening complicates the situation, until it is discovered that the) one Heron wore was wound around with a strand of hair. The story closes with the capture of the thief by the police, the discovery of the diamond in the heel of Jarvis’ shoe by Grumpy, and the formal betrothal of Heron and Virginia. PROGRAM COPY — “Grumpy” — Featuring Theodore Roberts, May McAvoy and Conrad Nagel There are laughs and thrills in the latest William DeMille production, “Grumpy,” a human interest, humorous melodrama with the inimitable Theodore Roberts in the 'title role, and pretty May McAvoy and Conrad Nagel in the cast. Don’t miss this one! “TENTS OF ALLAH”— [Class C] 50% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Sultan’s Attempted Vengeance on Man Who Stole Bride VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — Not credited. Chiddar Ben-Ek Monte Blue TYPE OF PICTURE^— Entertaining. Oulaid Mary Alden Moral Standard — Average. Elaine Calvert Mary Thurman — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Abou Ben-Ek Frank Currier Story — Average — Drama — Family. Chala Amalia Rivera Cast — Good — All-Star, featuring Monte Blue Ableef Martin Faust and Mary Alden. Sultan Macey Harlam Author — Average — Charles A. Logue. Commander Millgrate Charles Lane Direction — Average — Charles A. Logue. American Consul Frank Currier Adaptation — Poor — Charles A. Logue. Cynthia Wheeler Sally Crute Technique — Poor. * Spiritual Influence — Neutral. April 15 to 30, 1923. Producer — E. A. MacManus Footage — 6,800 ft. Distributor — Associated Pictures Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Confused Construction Mars Interesting Production “The Tents of Allah” excels in photography. In fact this is the picture’s chief charm. The majority of the scenes are tinted in a blue shade that makes the sky edged with billowy white clouds look like the real thing, and this together with the effective locations chosen to portray life on the Moroccan desert almost persuades the spectator that the picture is good. But as a matter of fact it is so poorly constructed that for some time after it commences it keeps one guessing to know what it is all about. Then when it reaches a point somewhere between the third and the fourth reel incidents are revealed which should have made the starting point of the story. By this we mean that the real plot of “The Tents of Allah” is centered in the romance and elopement of Oulaid and Commander Millgrate when the latter rescues the former from a dreaded marriage with the sultan. In trying to feature the romance of Chiddar Ben-Ek, played by Monte Blue, the marriage of Millgrate and Oulaid, the primary theme is pushed into the background. Individual portrayals are excellently done. Monte Blue gives an especially effective performance as the desert bandit Chiddar, and Mary Thurman is charming as Elaine Calvert. Mary (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!