Screen Opinions (1923-24)

32 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH “MASTERS OF MER”— [Class C] 50% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Youth Driven by Circumstances From Home to Navy VALUE CAST Photography — Average — Steve Smith, Jr. Lieutenant Breen Earle Williams TYPE OF PICTURE — Unsatisfactory. Mabel Arthur Alice Calhoun Moral Standard — Average. Dick Halpin Cullen Landis — Bessie Fleming Wanda Hawley Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. “Pig” Jones Dick Sutherland Cast — Good — All-Star. Sawyer Charles E. Mason Author — Good — Morgan Robertson. Mr. Thorpe Bert Apling Direction — Average — David Smith. Captain Bilker Jack Curtis Adaptation — Average — C. Graham Baker. “Nigger” Martin Turner Technique — Fair. ■ Spiritual Influence — Neutral. May 1 to IS, 1923. Producer — Albert E. Smith Footage — 6,800 ft. Distributor — Vitagraph Our Opinion MORAL O'THE PICTURE— None Outstanding. Production Too Long — Good Cast — Poor Adaptation ‘‘Masters of Men” proves somewhat disappointing. In the first place it is too long-drawn out, and in the second place the character development is meagre. One of the chief characters of the early part of the picture, George Arthur, is allowed to drop out of sight altogether until he enters the scene in the last reel to die in the Spanish American war. One of the production’s faults is the unattractive wording of subtitles which frequently express their meaning in narrative style, an error that detracts from the picture’s dramatic values. The cast is composed, as will be seen, of players who are well-known and capable, although in one or two instances there is fault to be found with the placing of types. For instance, Alice Calhoun, who makes a lovely picture in the latter part of the production, dressed according to the period of the Spanish American war, is not particularly well suited to the school girl role which she must play in the opening reels. Wanda Hawley does well, and Cullen Landis gives the best performance of any of the cast. He is fetching as a youth of the navy, and fights in a professional way. An especially effective scene among a series of battleships scenes is that where he pulls his comrade from the boat just as it is sinking and swims to safety with him. Earl Williams plays up to his usual standard. STORY OF THE PLAY Dick Halpin, accused of theft at school by the brother of his childhood sweetheart, Mabel Arthur, leaves home and joins the navy. When he returns to town several years later he calls on Bessie Fleming, the one person who believed in him, and steals a kiss at parting, which has the effect of separating Bessie and her lover. Lieutenant Breen, for some time. The misunderstanding which occurs is only righted after George Arthur, who dies at sea, has confessed that he himself committed the theft, and Mabel and Bessie take a hand in straightening out their own love affairs. PROGRAM COPY— “Masters of Men”— With an All-Star Cast Dick Halpin’s struggle with adverse fate made a man of him, and in the end won him the girl of his dreams. Cullen Landis, Earle Williams, Alice Calhoun and Wanda Hawley head the cast. “GLIMPSES OF THE MOOR”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Moneyless Pair Reaching for Happiness in Luxury VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — Harold Rosson. Susan ^Branch Bebe Daniels TYPE OF PICTURE — Interesting. Ursula Gillow Nita Naldi Moral Standard — Average. “Nick” Lansing David Powell — ■ ...... Fred Gillow Maurice Costello Story — Very good — Drama — Adults. Mrs. Ellie Vanderlyn Rubye de Remer Stars — Very good — Bebe Daniels and Streffy Charles Gerrard Nita Naldi. Bob Fulmer Wililam Quirk Author — Very good — -Edith Wharton. Grace Fulmer Pearl Sindelar Direction — Good — Allan Dwan. Adaptation — Very good — Lloyd Sheldon. Technique — Very good. ■_ ■ 1 ■ Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Jllay 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Paramount Footage — 6,502 ft. Distributor — Famous Players (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted! € t