Screen Opinions (1923-24)

138 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH in “King Lear,” the play within a play. The cast is good throughout. The earlier reels of the picture are faulty in technique. STORY OF THE PLAY Barry Carleton, on the threshold of success, tears up a contract to star in a certain production, because the manager objects to his marrying Jane Randolph, the leading woman. Unable to regain a foothold with the public after his marriage he goes from bad to worse until his wife decides to take her little girl and go in search of a living on her own account. Fifteen years afterward he enters the same manager’s office and finds his daughter, who believes him dead, being allotted the role of Cordlia in “King Lear.’’ On the night on which Gilbert Gordon is making his debut in the role of King Lear, Barry, engaged as his dresser, is obliged to step into the role when Gordon, in a huff at Rose, Barry’s daughter becomes intoxicated. At the close of the show Barry hurries away and the audience is none the wiser. The picture closes! with a reunion of the family. PROGRAM COPY — “Success” — Featuring Brandon Tynan You can’t help being interested in the experience of an actor who failed to reckon with the fiickleness of success'. Brandon Tynan and a splendid cast play the excellent dram^, "Success." “PURPLE HIGHWAY”— [Class A-c]90% (Adapted from the play “Dear Me”) Story: — Slavey Becomes Theatrical Star and Marries Successful Playwright VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — George Weber and April Blair.. Madge Kennedy Henry Cronjager. Edgar Prentice Monty Blue TYPE OF PICTURE — Romantic. Dudley Quail Vincent Coleman Moral Standard — Good. Joe Renard Pedro de Cordoba 1 Mrs. Carney Emily Fitzroy Story — Excellent — Comedy-romance — Family. Manny Bean Dore Davidson Star — Excellent — Madge Kennedy. Mr. Quail William H. Tooker Authors— Excellent — Luther Reed and Hale Mrs. Quail Winnifred Harris Hamilton. Shakespeare Jones John W. Jenkins Direction — Excellent — Henry Kolker. Ogilrie Charles Kent Adaptation — Excellent — Rufus Steele. Technique — Excellent. August 15 to 31, 1923. Spiritual Influence — Average. Producer — Kenma Corporation Footage — 6574 ft. Distributor — Famous Players Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Outstanding Star Fascinating as Ever — Production is Happy Combination of Romance, Drama and Comedy — Good Program Feature for High Class Audiences In spite of the fact that Madge Kennedy has been absent from the screen for some time she acquits herself in the same graceful, fascinating way as heretofore. “The Purple Highway” is a different sort of picture from any in which she has appeared in the screen, and is an adaptation of the stage play “Dear Me.” As April Blair, a slavey in a home for failures, she is both pathetic and amusing; and from the buffeted child of fate she blossoms into a theatrical star, helping her two best friends to success. Miss Kennedy has the advantage of artistic direction and excellent photography, and settings equivalent to the importance of the plot. The scenes leading up to the climax of the story take place in the theatre, principally behind scenes, where the April Blair, now a star, throws a fine bit of temperament when she fails to discover the playwright, Edgar Prentice, in the seat she bought for him. In this point of the picture Miss Kennedy does a fine bit of acting. Monty Blue is well cast in the romantic role of the playwright, and Pedro de Cordoba as the composer is also excellent. It remains for Dore Davidson to lure the spectator into fits of laughter in the role of Manny Bean, manager of the show. This is not a picture for cheap locations, but should give the best of satisfaction in high class houses. STORY OF THE PLAY April Blair, a slavey in a home for failures, is beloved by the inmates, but is mistreated by Mrs Carney, the housekeeper. When she is fired by Mrs. Carney for helping to organize a picnic in the latter’s absence, Edgar Prentice, son of a rich man, living at the home, pretending to be a failure, while he observes life and works on a play together with a discouraged musician, Joe Renard, accompanies her together with Joe. In the events that follow the play is accepted (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!