Screen Opinions (1923-24)

122 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH STORY OF THE PLAY Brant Murdock, the son of Joseph Murdock, oil and cattle baron's marriage with a squaw, unaware of the Indian blood flowing in his veins, marries Norma Biddle. On the night of their marriage, he overhears Tyler Burgess, the man Norma thought she loved before her ambitious mother insisted on her accepting Brant's offer, threatening his father with exposure of the fact that his wife was a squaw. After a quarrel Burgess shoots and kills the old man, whose gun he has previously loaded with blanks. Norma gets a divorce and marries Burgess, and Brant accidentally meeting Burgess gives him a beating and then sends him out into the blizzard, where he promises him that the “Indian" in him will follow to kill. He is saved the trouble when Hongdeer, an Indian with a grudge against Burgess, shoots him. Brant, wounded from a rifle shot by Burgess, staggers into Norma's cabin unawares. The result is reconciliation and a second marriage ceremony. PROGRAM COPY — “One-Eighth Apache” — Featuring Roy Stewart and Kathleen Kirkham Brant Murdock’s attempt to avenge his father’s death ended in cementing a broken romance. You will like this virile tale of the love of a man with Indian blood in his veins. Roy Stewart and Kathleen Kirkham are the stars. “MERRY-GO-ROUND”[Class A-b] 95% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Romance of Peasant Girl and Austrian Count VALUE CAST Photography — Superior — Charles Kaufman and Agnes Urban Mary Philbin William Daniels. Count Hohnegg Norman Kerry TYPE OF PICTURE — Romantic. Sylvester Urban Cesare Gravina Moral Standard — Good. Ursula Urban Edith Yorke — ■ — Bartholomew Gruber George Hackathorne Story — Superior — Drama — Family. Shani Huber George Seigmann Cast — Superior— All-Star. Mariana Huber.... Dale Fuller Author — Superior — Not credited. Mrs. Aurora Rosseiter Lillian Sylvester Direction — Superior — Rupert Julian. Minister of War Spottiswoode Aitken Adaptation — Superior — Not credited. Komtesse Gisella Von Steinbrueck Technique — Superior. Dorothy Wallace Spiritual Influence — Average. ■ ■ ■ — ■■ August 1 to IS, 1923. Producer — Universal Footage — 9,178 ft. Distributor — Universal Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — The Greater Love Is Characterized by Self-Sacrifice. Has Combination of Qualities That Swell Box Office Receipts — Splendidly Directed — Fascinating It is easy to imagine that “The Merry-Go-Round” consumed several months in the making. Elaborate sets, careful direction and painstaking editing help to verify the contention of the producers that the picture was over a year in the making. There are many reasons why it is a quality production, not the least of which is the work of an excellent cast wisely selected to interpret an . interesting group of characters. The romance of “The Merry-Go-Round” is fascinating and somewhat different in development from the hackneyed tale of the rich man and the poor girl. The aristocratic hero really loves the little girl who grinds the organ for the merry-go-round, and although he is forced to lead to the altar a woman who is the choice of his emperor, Franz Joseph, when the war is over and his unloved bride has died, he returns to his peasant sweetheart and marries her. And so Rupert Julian, who directed the production, has extracted a vast amount of heart interest from the love story of an Austrian count whose unholy passion became transformed under trustful gaze of a mere girl. Norman Kerry’s portrayal of Count Hohnegg is intensely sympathetic. This character required exceptionally skillful handling, which it received at the hands of Mr. Kerry. Mary Philbin also does well — in fact, her work at times is remarkable — but there are occasions when she seems confused between the portrayal of grief and of fear, and there is a noticeable lack of control at emotional moments. Cesare Gravina gives a good performance in the role of Sylvester Urban, and George Seigmann is eminently successful in outlining the character of the hated Shani Huber. The role played by George Hackathorne, that of a hunchback worshiping at the shrine of the pretty organ grinder. He plays it excellently. The story is interesting and fairly original, and the elaborate demands of its settings have been carried out to the last degree, and with a fine quality of realism. “The Merry-Go-Round” is not the type to serve as a special, but it is an extraordinary program feature. (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!