Screen Opinions (1923-24)

128 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH “EMPTY CRADLE”— [Class A ] 80% (Adapted from “Cheating Wives”) Story: — Poor Mother’s Dream of Having Sold Baby Into Wealthy Home VALUE Photography — Very good — Not credited. TYPE OF PICTURE— Sentimental. Moral Standard — Good. Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Stars — Very good — Mary Alden and Harry Morey. Author — Very good — Leota Morgan. Direction — Very good — Burton King. Adaptation — Very good — Not credited. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Good. CAST Alice Larkin Mary Alden John Larkin Harry T. Morey Buddy Mickey Bennett Frankie Edward Quinn Baby Louise Helen Rowland Robert Lewis Coit Albertson Ethel Madelon La Varre Martha Blake Rica Alien August 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Truart Footage — 6,000 ft. Distributor — State Rights ( Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — The Consequences of a Lie are Apt to Be Far-Reaching. Human Interest Strong Factor — Interesting Dream Story — Good Christmas Features — Cast Excellent In summing up the merits of “The Empty Cradle,” we find that one of the picture’s big assets lies in having Mary Alden in the mother role. Her work in this picture is almost as good, if not quite as clever, as in that other splendid production, “The Old Nest.” “The Empty Cradle” is not as strong, nor as convincing as the latter, and we find ourselves wondering about the moral aspect of the scenes showing the mother, who has won luxury for her babies, herself and husband, allowing herself to respond to the embraces of a former lover. The fact that this is part of a dream seems to eliminate any objectionable influence. The story is different and quite fascinating. It would have made an excellent Christmas film minus the scenes just mentioned; for what could be more touching than children waking upon Christmas morning to empty stockings— or the attempt of a mother to make good her promise that Santa will come the following night, by appealing to a rich but hard-hearted relative? The way in which the children of the picture have been directed is worthy of note. They are never for a moment anything but a part of the story they are playing — they are natural as life itself, falling into line with the various amusing or pathetic details of the picture in a most delightful fashion. Mary Alden wears some pretty and becoming gowns in the dream storv, in which also there are artistic settings. The general details of the production are good, the editing is carefully done, and the subtitles are effective and are arranged in correct relationship to the action. They are decidedly an aid in creating sympathy for the characters. Harry Morey gives a fine performance as the town’s most prominent failure. The cast is good throughout, and we believe this picture will please in any theatre. STORY OF THE PLAY In the town of Bloomdale the people on the hill did not associate with the people of the road, and when a certain young woman married “into the road” her friends ostracized her, principally because her husband was counted shiftless, and the woman, with her three children, were always at the point of starvation. When Christmas came and the two boys’ letters to Santa Claus brought no response the mother went to the aunt, who treated her as an outcast, and begged for Christmas toys for her children. Returning unsuccessful, and despondent, she is tempted by a stranger to sell her baby girl to a wealthy, but childless family. Falling asleep she dreams that she has yielded, that also her aunt has died, and that she has deceived her hus { band, who has been temporarily blind from an accident, by telling him that the baby is dead, and that she has inherited the big house on the hill. There, with the money from the sale of her baby they live in luxury, and having followed the stranger and learned that she has been adopted by the childless wife of her former lover, she frequents his home as much as possible, until her husband becomes jealous and tragedy occurs when he follows and accidentally shoots the child in the arms of the man. Then she awakens and meets the stranger, who comes with fifty thousand dollars in payment for the baby with a decided “NO 1” PROGRAM COPY— “The Empty Cradle”— Featuring Mary Alden and Harry Morey Don’t miss seeing Mary Alden in the role of the mother who was tempted to sell her child, and who was brought to a realization of what it would mean to her through a dream* Harry Morey and three talented children are in the cast. No Advertising Support Accepted!