Screen Opinions (1923-24)

‘BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” 47 pleasingly set, and well directed, and can be recommended for the transient theatre and some neighborhood houses. The court scenes of this picture are effectively staged, although the drinking of poison by the husband following his confession to the murder of Hendricks, is distinctly melodramatic. STORY OF THE PLAY A husband for whom wine, women and song prove distracting, is trapped in a theft o! twenty-five thousand dollars from his employer, Hendricks. Hendricks, who covets the man’s wife, sends for her and promises to give her husband twenty-five thousand dollars more and send him away to make a fresh start, provided that she sign a paper stating that in case he does not make good and return the loan within a year, she will get a divorce and become the wife! of Hendricks. In the events that follow the man loses out, and Hendricks’ attorney, also in love with the woman, gives her a check for the amount to return to Hendricks and so wipe out the obligation. The man, returning, kills Hendricks, and steals into his own home for protection, which he gets when his wife takes the blame of the murder. She is about to be convicted of first degree murder when the husband rushes into the courtroom, confesses and then swallows poison and dies. The story closes with the wife and the attorney about to marry. PROGRAM COPY — “Truth About Wives” — Featuring Betty Blythe Beautiful Betty Blythe was never more lovely than as the long-suffering wife and mother in the dramatic story, "Truth About Wives.” If you like stories of domestic tragedies you will be entertained by this production, played by a competent cast. “YOU CAN’T FOOL YOUR WIFE”— [Class A] 80% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Experience of Husbands and Wives Forsaking Narrow Path VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Bert Glennon. Edith McBride Leatrice Joy TYPE OF PICTURE— Fascinating — Garth McBride Lewis S. Stone Problematic. Ardrita Saneck Nita Naldi Moral Standard — Average. Vera Redell Pauline Garon ■ Dr. Konrad Saneck Paul McAllister Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Jackson Redell John Daly Murphy Cast — Very good — With Lewis S. Stone, Lillian Redell Julia Swayne Gordon Leatrice Joy, Nita Naldi and Russell Fenton Tom Carrigan Pauline Garon. John Yates Dan Pennell Author — Very good — Waldemar Young. Direction — Very good — George Melford. Adaptation — Very good — Not credited. Technique — Very good. . Spiritual Influence — Average. May IS to 31, 1923. Producer — Paramount Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — Famous Players Our Opinion MORAL O'THE PICTURE— There’s No Fool Like an Old Fool. Excellent Audience Picture — Sympathetic Direction Those who enjoyed Lewis Stone’s portrayal of John Emerson, the recalcitrant husband in “The Dangerous Age,” will be glad to know that he is playing a similar role in the Paramount production, “You Can’t Fool Your Wife,” and that while the latter production may fall short of the former in the total summing up, Mr. Stone’s portrayal of the forty-year-old husband, Garth McBride, caught in the edges of a pretty skirt, is quite as finished a performance as his John Emerson. The material difference in the two productions is that “The Dangerous Age” has the best plot to build on. But comparisons are often odious, and we will confine ourselves with analyzing the picture in question, which all in all is a very excellent production. A weak point occurs in the story at the approach to the climax where all the characters are gathered from their various retreats to the home of the famous surgeon whose wife has had a flirtation with the man he is about to operate on. This situation is too fictitious to be given a place in a story so excellent up to this point. The production is elegantly dressed in the matter of costuming and sets, the cast is well selected, and the individuality of each character is nicely preserved. One of the types of the picture that will be most enjoyed is Jackson Redell, presented in excellent comedy style by John Daly Murphy. Leatrice Joy is exactly the type for the neglected wife. Her portrayal of the role is delightful insomuch as the part is played from the philosophic angle. Pauline Garon makes the role of Vera Redell stand out. Nita Naldi is excellent as Ardrita Saneck, and Julia Swayne Gordon gives an intelligent portrayal of Lillian Redell, who is ever (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!