Screen Opinions (1923-24)

“BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY" 123 STORY OF THE PLAY Agnes Urban, grinding an organ for a merry-go-round, is loved by Count Hohnegg, who is prepared to treat the affair lightly. But the girl’s innocence and sincerity reproach him, and so his lore for Agnes becomes the greater passion of his life. Some time after he has been forced into a loveless marriage by his emperor, Franz Joseph, the war breaks out, and he is reported dead Agnes has accepted an offer of marriage from the hunchback, Bartholomew Gruber. But on the eve of her marriage the count returns, announcing that his wife has died, that he is a count no longer, and that he is prepared to marry Agnes. Bartholomew, realizing that she is now marrying him only from a sense of duty, sends her back to the count, willing to make a personal sacrifice in order that she may be happy. PROGRAM COPY— “The Merry-Go-Round”— With an All-Star Cast Don’t miss this romance of a count and a pretty peasant girl, who won a husband as she stood grinding an organ for a merry-go-round. Lovely Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, George Seigmaun, George Hackathome, Dale Fuller and other well-known players are in the cast. “HUMAN WRECK AGE”— [Class A] 80% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Fight Against Dope Ring; Lawyer’s Desperate Struggle to Overcome Habit VALUE CAST Photography' — Very good — Not credited. Ethel MacFarland Mrs. Wallace Reid TYPE OF PICTURE— Inspirational. Alan MacFarland James Kirkwood Moral Standard — Good. Mary Finnegan Bessie Love ■■■■ ' — ■ — Jimmy Brown George Hackathorne Story — Good — Drama — Adults. Mrs. Brown Claire McDowell Star — Very good — Mrs. Wallace Reid. Dr. Hillman Robert McKim Author — Good — C. Gardner Sullivan. Mrs. Finnegan . Victory Bateman Direction — Very good — John Griffith Wray. Steve Stone Harry Northrup Adaptation — Very good — C. Gardner Sullivan. Harris Otto Hoffman Technique — Very good. Dr. Blake Eric Mayne Spiritual Influence — Good. Dunn Philip Sleeman The Baby.. George Clark Ginger Smith Lucille Ricksen August 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Mrs. Wallace Reid Footage — 8,000 ft. Distributor— F. B. O. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE)— Dope Strikes at the Foundation of Success and Bums Its Bridges Behind It. Effective Presentation of Drug Curse — Mrs. Wallace Reid and Capable Cast Give Realistic Performance— Should Draw as Special No one who sees the film “Human Wreckage” will doubt the sincerity of Mrs. Wallace Reid, the producer and star of the production, which tells a frightful story of the dope, its ravages, methods of distribution, and points out the reasons why it is next to impossible under present conditions for the drug addict to successfully combat the habit. It is to be presumed that in portraying the role of Ethel MacFarland, fighting beside her husband for his recovery from the effects of narcotics, that her sad experience in a losing game with her own husband is being recounted, and much of the picture’s appeal centers in this fact. She plays the part wonderfully. James Kirkwood’s performance in the role of Alan MacFarland, whose condition is due to the advice of a society doctor who prescribed morphine for overtired nerves, is also quite remarkable. Bessie Love excels herself in the role of a young mother, also a drug addict, unconsciously drugging her own baby, and George Hackathorne, Claire McDowell, Victory Bateman and Robert McKim can be individually singled out as giving valuable assistance in the effective presentation of the theme. A thread of comedy relief is added by Lucille Ricksen as Ginger Smith. Miss Ricksen’s portrayal of this role places her in line with the best. We hope to see her doing star comedy roles. It would not be fair to close our review without giving due credit to the director, John Griffith Wray, to C. Gardner Sullivan, and to cameraman and editors for the artistic and effective presentation of a difficult subject. In advertising the picture the exhibitor will find the name of Mrs. Wallace Reid the best angle of exploitation. He can also use the more sensational features, such as fighting the dope ring, and the agony of attempted return of the dope fiend to normalcy. The hyena appearing in double exposure throughout the picture as symbolic of dope can also be used. (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!