Screen Opinions (1923-24)

108 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH the spectator feels more pleased because he is getting the substance of a snappy serial at one sitting. The cast is quite equal to the occasion. One of the picture’s attractions is the peppy fighting of William Duncan. STORY OF THE PLAY Dan Stevens is disowned by his father, and after emptying out his pockets and starting out into the world with nothing but a suit of clothes to his name, he finds work at a lumber camp in the west. He then figures in a series of adventures which have for an objective protecting the daughter of the owner of the lumber camp, Benjamin Cole. He finally succeeds in bringing the gang, who are trying to get the deed of the property, to justice, and ends up by using Mr. Cole as an agent to sell a rich oil claim to his father for three million dollars. PROGRAM COPY — “Smashing Barriers” — Featuring William Duncan ” Dan Stevens spurned an angry father’s offer of a thousand dollars and a kick into the street, and rode to success on his own. Don't miss this condensed version of the most thrilling serial ever made. William Duncan is the star. “RAPIDS”— [Class B] 65% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Quarreling Financiers Hamper Engineer’s Work of Harnessing Rapids VALUE CAST Photography — Good — Walter L. Griffin and Robert Fisher Clarke Harry T. Morey Oliver Sigurdson. Elsie Worden Mary Astor TYPE OF PICTURE — Interesting. Jim Belding Walter Miller Moral Standard — Average. John Minton Harlan Knight ■ Henry Marsham Charles Slattery Story — Good — Drama — Family. Horace Wimperley Edwin Forsberg Cast — Good — Featuring Henry Morey and Herbert Stoughton Jack Newton Mary Astor. Bishop Sullivan Charles Wellesley Author — Good — Allan Sullivan. Louis Beaudette John W. Dillon Direction — Average — David M. Hartford. Sue Peggy Rice Adaptation — Average — Faith Green. Mayor Filmer Frank Andrews Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Average. July 15 to 31, 1923. Producer — Ernest Shipman Footage — 6,000 ft. Distributor — W. W. Hodkinson Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Greed and Financial Conflicts Are Disastrous to Man’s Best Hopes. Fascinating River Views and Story’s Interesting Objective Save Production From Results of Incapable Direction “The Rapids” is not a particularly well-made production, but in spite of this fact the picture will interest the majority of audiences in the neighborhood house and in some transient theatres. Harry Morey is the type to play convincingly the role of Robert Fisher Clarke, engineering genius, desirous of harnessing the Sault Ste. Marie rapids and of building a model industrial town on the banks of the river, although at times he overacts the part. The scenes on the river, with closeups of the rapids, are inspiring, and it is a pity that the author’s big idea has not been handled in a more masterful way. The conflict between the three financiers, which works havoc on Clarke’s project and destroys his faith in his associates, includes some well-staged mob scenes, and altogether there is much to be enjoyed in the picture. A crudeness in direction is the main fault to be found with this feature, in which capable players are employed. STORY OF THE PLAY C Robert Fisher Clark, a dreamer and engineering genius, on his way to Chicago, astonishes the pullman porter by leaving the train at a small way station on the Sault Ste. Marie rapids. Clarke has seen a wonderful vision of a model industrial town situated on the banks of the river, utilizing the harnessed power of the great rapids. After he has succeeded in gaining backing for his project a conflict between certain financiers so hampers the completion of his plans that he decides to bid farewell to the Rapids. Before going he proposes marriage to Elsie Worden, but when Jim Belding, a young engineer in his employ, meets with an accident in the river, Elsie suddenly awakens to the fact that it is Jim she loves and not Clarke. Clarke accepts his fate and takes with him little Sue, a child he has rescued from the rapids. PROGRAM COPY — “The Rapids” — Featuring Harry Morey and Mary Astor You cannot resist the spell of the Sault Ste. Marie as presented in the thrilling feature, “The Rapids,” with Harry Morey and pretty Mary Astor. An inspiring story of an engineering vision. No Advertising Support Accepted!