Screen Opinions (1923-24)

“BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” 137 circus lemonade for a dollar a week and his keep, or making his first appearance as a bareback rider. The picture is rich in the sort of comedy that Jackie puts over best, and while he is not called on for big things in the way of acting, “Circus Days” is destined to be one of his most popular pictures. It is well directed, and the boy star is supported by a capable cast. The circus atmosphere in which the greater part of the production is set is unusually realistic. Glimpses of many of the main features of the circus are shown, including the clown acts, the procession about the ring, and bareback riding. One of the funniest things in the picture is where Jackie is lifted from the back of the horse by the wire fastened to his waist. STORY OF THE PLAY 9 Toby Tyler whose presence in his uncle’s house along with his mother is resented by Uncle Eben gets a job selling lemonade with a circus, and as the circus pulls out of town, at midnight he sends a note to his mother telling her that not to worry, that he is alright and will send her his salary every week. Later when the little girl who does bareback riding sprains her ankle, and she and her uncle, Luigi, the clown, are about to be discharged because she is unable to do her act, Toby puts on her wig and dress and proves himself such a riot that the manager offers him seventy-five dollars a week to keep on doing the act. The close of the story shows him bringing his mother away from Uncle Eben’s in a Ford car. PROGRAM COPY — “Circus Days” — Featuring Jackie Coogan Be sure to bring the children to see Jackie Coogan in his latest and funniest picture, “Circus Days.” It's a riot of fun. “SUCCESS”— [Class A]80% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Experience of Actor Who Treated Success Too Lightly VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — William J. Black. Barry Carleton Brandon Tynan TYPE OF PICTURE — Interesting — Jane Randolph Naomi Childers Sentimental. Rose Randolph Mary Astor Moral Standard — Good. Sam Lewis Dore Davidson — . . . ■ Willis Potter Lionel Adams Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Gilbert Gordon Stanley Ridges Star — Very good — Brandon Tynan. Henry Briggs Robert Lee Keiling Authors — Very good — Adeline Leitzbach and Nick Walker Billy Quirk Theodore A Liebler, Jr. Ruth Helen Macks Direction — Very good — Ralph Ince. Joe • Gay Pendleton Adaptation — Good— Adeline Leitzbach and Treadwell John Woodford Theodore A. Liebler, Jr. — Technique — Very good. August 15 to 31, 1923. Spiritual Influence — Good. Producer — Murray W. Garsson Footage — 6,300 ft. Distributor — Metro Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Success Must Be Caught on the Wing — A Reputation Once Lost is Difficult to Regain Big Theatre Scenes, Excellent Star, and Comedy Lead Features of Production “Success” just missed being a big production. As it stands the theatre scenes in the last half of the picture in which Dore Davidson proves his mettle as a comedian in the role of Sam Lewis, a burlesque manager branching out as a manager of Shakespearean plays, are its salvation. Those scenes representing what happens when the star of the play becomes intoxicated and the show is kept waiting while efforts are being made to get him on his feet, and Lewis raves at an orchestra that has started the overture all too soon are splendidly staged. The editing and subtitling at this point is especially well done, and no matter what the faults of the earlier part of the production may be, the audience will have forgotten them after the grand climax of the picture. Brandon Tynan gives a fine performance as the actor who threw away reputation and success through folly and drinking, and played as he had never played before years after he had, in a rage, torn up his first starring contract, to save the reputation of his daughter’s fiance. We do not remember such excellently arranged theatrical sets as those presented in “Success.” Deep perspectives, actual scenes from “King Lear” and glimpses here and there behind scenes are among the reasons why they are remarkable. Mary Astor is lovely as Cordelia (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!