Screen Opinions (1923-24)

50 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH used are really the feature of the picture, but the modern love story in which Lucy Doraine plays the role of a girl who is forced to marry a man she does not love, and who afterward tries to gain revenge by vamping her stepson, is unconvincing and not totally wholesome. The picture could have been improved by closer cutting and more careful editing. Evidently a good deal of money has been spent on the production which was made abroad, but we do not believe that it will be found a strong attraction for the American public. The intended moral of the story is not properly emphasized. STORY OF THE PLAY Mary Conway marries a man who is much older than she is and whom she does not love, to save her mother the embarrassment of exposure in a business deal, and the man! she does love shoots himself. Mary pledges herself to avenge her lover, and plans to deal the blow to C* her husband through his son. Promising each to meet him at a certain spot at the midnight hour, she allows father and son to face each other in a tragic situation. In a dream she is warned of the danger of her vengeful plan by the re-enactment of the destruction, of Sodom. Later she joins her lover in the hospital, where he is convalescing. PROGRAM COPY— “The Queen of Sin”— With an AU-Star Cast You will be impressed with the re-enactment on the screen of the destruction of Sodom and the lesson of the tragedy of sin as expressed therein and applied to modern life. An excellent cast and many extras are employed in this stupendous production. “BRIGHT SHAWL”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Adventures of American Youth in Cuban Rebellion VALUE Photography — Excellent — George Folsey. TYPE OF PICTURE— Interesting— Mildly Sensational. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Stars — Very good — Richard Barthelmess and Dorothy Gish. Author — Very good — Joseph Hergesheimer. Direction — Very good — John S. Robertson Adaptation — Goo(f — Edmund Goulding. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Inspiration Pictures Footage CAST Charles Abbott Richard Barthelmess La Clavel Dorothy Gish Caesar Y Santacilla Anders Randolf Andres Escobar Andre de Beranger Domingo Escobar E. G. Robinson Carmimta Escobar Margaret Seddon Narcissa Escobar Mary Astor Vincente Escobar Luis Alberni La Pilar .Jetta Gondal Caspar De Vaca William Powell Jaime Quintara George Humbert May IS to 31, 1923. —7,426 ft. Distributor — First National Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Story Not Best Choice for Barthelmess and Co-Star ‘The Bright Shawl” is not apt to be satisfying to Richard Barthelmess fans for the reason that the part he plays does not afford him the right opportunities. Or is it that Barthelmess is not the vigorous type required for the part? We are inclined to think that the latter assumption is the correct one, for it is not the misunderstood boy of “Tol’able David” or the lovable American youth of “Sonny,” or the stifled spirit of “The Bond Boy” that requires expression in Joseph Hergesheimer’s hero of “The Bright Shawl,” but a rich young American fighting the cause of a family of Cuban patriots. The character calls for robust interpretation — force as well as romanticism. However, the picture taken as a whole is intensely artistic; for the director Robertson has given the visualization of the story many delightful and original touches. Dorothy Gish gives a creditable performance as the Spanish dancer, La Clavel, a character quite different from any she has attempted before. Mary Astor is charming as Narcissa, and Jetta Gondal is effective as La Pillar. The revolutionary element of the story is not strongly emphasized, and it seemed to the writer that the production as a whole did not have sufficient “punch” to recommend it as a general purpose picture. The costuming of the period is picturesque and nicely carried out, the ladies wearing hoop skirts and the gentlemen appearing in frock coats, high hats and the old-fashioned stock collars. A good bit of suspense is secured in the sword bout between De Vaca and Abbott, leaving De Vaca in good standing with the spectator when in admiration of the youth’s courage he re ( Continued on next page) c No Advertising Support Accepted!