Screen Opinions (1923-24)

“BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” 109 ‘SALTY SAUNDERS”— [Class C] 50% (Especially prepared for screen) Stroy: — Romance and Adventures of a Texas Ranger VALUE Photography — Fair — Not credited. TYPE OF PICTURE— Ordinary. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Star — Average — Neal Hart . Author — Average — Not credited. Direction — Average — Not credited. Adaptation — Average — Not credited. Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — William Steiner Productions CAST Salty Saunders Neal Hart (Other characters not credited.) July IS to 31, 1923. Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — State Rights Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Ordinary Western Picture — Good Riding, Broncho Busting and Bulldogging Scenes There is little to be said for or against “Salty Saunders,” which will prove a fair attraction for the cheaper theatres. The story is just the ordinary one of romance and adventure in the cattle country, but is less interesting than the majority of the same class. Where Neal Hart is a favorite, “Salty Saunders” will go well. Some good riding and familiar scenes about the ranch will attract the small boy. STORY OF THE PLAY Salty Saunders, a Texas Ranger, starts an investigation of cattle rustling by disguising himself as an employee of the Flying X ranch, and while there wins the love of Betty Hampton. Later he succeeds in showing up the gang, and in trailing the man who killed his father. “ALICE ADAMS”— [Class A-c] 90% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Socially Ambitious Poor VALUE Photography — Excellent — George S. Barnes. TYPE OF PICTURE— Fascinating — Unusual. Moral Standard — Good. Story — Excellent — Drama — Family. Star — Excellent — Florence Vidor. Author — Excellent — Booth Tarkington. Direction — Excellent — Rowland V. Lee. Adaptation — Excellent — Rowland V. Lee. T echnique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Good. Producer — King Vidor Footage — 6,361 ft. Girl’s Struggle to Be Somebody CAST Alice Adams Florence Vidor Virgil Adams Claude Gillingwater Mrs. Adams Margaret McWade Walter Adams Harold Goodwin Arthur Russell Vernon Steele J. A. Lamb Thomas Ricketts Mildred Palmer Gertrude Astor Henrietta Lamb Margaret Landis July 15 to 31, 1923. Distributor — Associated Exhibitors, Inc. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Sham Methods Always Lead to Embarrassment. Booth Tarkington’s Remarkable Girl Study Gets Human Development in Vidor Film — Star Inimitable in Title Role The screen adaptation of “Alice Adams,” Booth Tarkington’s prize novel, has one fault — it is a bit too long. But in spite of the fact that there are too many altogether charming closeups of the star, Florence Vidor, and too much footage given to some otherwise interesting scenes, the picture is unusually attractive. Florence Vidor’s portrayal of the title role is masterly, and the spectator will find himself suffering along with the girl as she strains every nerve to win the race for social recognition. No one could be better equipped to play the part than Miss Vidor. Her sensitive type of beauty is exactly fitted to the requirements of a lifelike presentation of Alice Adams, a girl so filled with the mortification of always being left out of the social circle because (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!