Screen Opinions (1923-24)

“BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” 135 “ITCHING PALMS”— [Class E]25% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Complications Arise Over a Hidden Packet of Counterfeit Money VALUE CAST Photography — Good — William Marshall. Jerry Tom Gallery TYPE OF PICTURE — Uninteresting. Jerry’s Father Hershal Mayall Moral Standard — Average. Virgie Virginia Fox — 1 ■ ■ — ■ ■■ ■■■■ " 1 ~ Mac -....Tom Wilson Story — Poor — Comedy-melodrama — Family. Obadiah Simpkins Joseph Harrington Cast — Good — All-Star. Village Dumbbell Victor Potel Authors — Poor — Wyndham Gittens and Helmer Grandma Gano Gertrude Claire Bergman. Doctor Peak Robert Walker Direction — Poor — James W. Horne. Judge Barrett Tom Lingham Adaptation — Poor — Wyndham Gittens and Constable Coman Richard Cummings Helmer Bergman. Technique — Poor. August 15 to 31, 1923. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Not credited Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — F. B. O. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Crudely Made Production not Likely to Get Across — Good Cast but Action Misses Fire There is little to be said in favor of “Itching Palms,” which is evidently meant for a comedy-drama. It is played by a good cast, whose work throughout suffers from incapable direction and a trifling story. No doubt the adaptation is to blame in good measure for the faultiness of the picture in which comedy that might have gotten across fails completely. The outline of the plot is vague, the continuity poor, the subtitling trivial — but what is the use of dwelling longer on the errors of an unentertaining picture. STORY OF THE PLAY Jerry returning home on a freight car brings with him a tramp he has picked up on the way. In a bucket of water drawn from the old well on his grandmother's farm they discover a five dollar bill, which they invest in ingredients for patent medicine. In the meantime Grandma Gano is searching for a packet of money stolen from the post office, and hidden away somewhere on the farm by her son who keeps out of sight for fear of being arrested as a thief. A good deal of the action takes place in and about a house supposed to be haunted. Finally Dr. Peak, who is the guilty one in the theft, is caught and arrested by a detective who has been posing as the “village dumbbell.” The close of the story shows Jerry and his sweetheart, Virgie, and his grandmother settling down in their own little home, after the packet of money is found and discovered to be counterfeit. PROGRAM COPY— “Itching Palms”— With an All-Star Cast You’ll enjoy this harum scarum chase for a mysterious packet found hidden in an old well. An all-star cast plays the picture. “RUPERT OF HEHTZAI”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from novel of same name) Story: — Adventures of Young Englishman Who is the Double of Monarch of Fictitious Kingdom VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Gian MacWilliams. Queen Flavia Elaine Hammerstein TYPE OF PICTURE: — Romantic — Rudolph, King of Ruritania ) t>„_. t Adventurous. Rudolph Rassendyll j ’ ’ ' ' y Moral Standard — Average. Rupert of Hentzau Lew Cody 1 Countess Helga Von Tarlenheim Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Claire Windsor Cast — Very good — All-Star. Colonel Sapt Hobart Bosworth Author — Very good — Sir Anthony Hope. Count Fritz Von Tarlenheim Direction — Very good — Victor Heerman. Bryant Washburn Adaptation — Very good — Edward J. Montagne. Rosa Holf Marjorie Daw Technique — Very good. — Spiritual Influence — -Neutral. August 15 to 31, 1923. Producer — Myron Selznick Footage — 9,717 ft. Distributor — Selznick Distributing Corp. (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!