Screen Opinions (1923-24)

•'BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” 143 tfSU Peter Van Dorn, of the town of Volandam, ignoring the sympathy and human understanding of the younger daughter, Zoe. He takes Melissa to sea with him, and upon showing her a chest full of treasure he learns that she loves gold more than anything else. He has also learned from seeing her with a former lover, that she has a fickle heart. When he is in the act of denouncing Melissa, Zoe, who is watching from the dock, dives into the water to join Peter who has seen in her gaze that she is the woman who can be true until death. PROGRAM COPY — “The Flying Dutchman” — With an All-Star Cast If you remember the famous Wagner opera “The Flying Dutchman’’ with its quaint legendary tale of romance and tragedy, you will enjoy the Lloyd Carleton picturization of the story. An excellent cast plays the picture. “SCARLET LILY”— [Class B]65% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Experience of Girl Forced by Circumstances to Occupy Admirer’s Apartment VALUE Photography — Good — Joseph Brotherton. TYPE OF PICTURE— Ordinary. Moral Standard — Fair. Story — Fair — Drama — Adults. Star — Good — Katherine MacDonald. Author — Good — Fred Sittenham. Direction — Good — Victor Schertzinger. Adaptation — Average — Lois Zellner and Florence Hern. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — B. P. Schulberg CAST Dora Mason Katherine MacDonald Lawson Dean Orville Caldwell Jessup Barnes Stuart Holmes Mrs. Barnes Edith Lyle Trixie Montressa Adele Farrington Laurence Pepton Gordon Russell Beatrice Milo Grace Norse Little Mollie Jan Mishkinin John Rankin Lincoln Stedman August 15 to 31, 1923. Distributor — First National Footage 6229 ft. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Outstanding Unsympathetic Story Not Improved by Subtitling or Editing Katherine MacDonald is not to blame for whatever may be wrong with the production, “The Scarlet Lily.” Individually speaking, her work in the picture is good — she is beautiful to look at, and plays with intelligence. The title role of this particular story, however, offers nothing out of the ordinary, the author being content to surround his heroine with a somewhat fictitious atmosphere and to make her the prey of another woman’s husband. This is old stuff which is bound to become tiresome unless treated in an original way. In this instance the young woman’s excuse for accepting an apartment from a man she neither loves nor respects is a sick sister for whom she must find shelter. A good deal of interest is created in the scenes that have to do with Dora Mason’s meeting with the man Jessup Barnes, and with his jealous wife, when he has become a political rival with her newely acquired husband. A cramped style of subtitling interfere considerably with the general effect of the picture. STORY OF THE PLAY Dora Mason is discharged from the house decoration shop where she is employed because Jessup Barnes, a married man of unsavory repute, insists that she personally attend to the decoration of an apartment for him. Later Dora discovers to her dismay that the contract she has accepted so gladly is merely a trap. But when she and her younger sister, who is seriously ill, are turned out by the landlady, she sees no alternative but to make use of the key to the apartment which Barnes has left with her. Ensuing circumstances bring Mrs. Barnes on the scene. Following the death of her sister Dora accepts the invitation of an old friend to come to the country, and while there meets and marries Lawson Dean, a lawyer who later becomes a rival of Barnes for election to the office of district attorney. The inevitable meeting occurs, the husband listens to the voice of gossip, and is about to withdraw from the election to prevent exposure by his enemies, when Beatrice Milo, a show girl reveals the true story of Dora’s persecution by Barnes. Reconciliation and understanding between Dora and Lawson closes the story. PROGRAM COPY — “The Scarlet Lily” — Featuring Katherine MacDonald Circumstances forced beautiful Dora Mason into the trap set for her by Jessup Barnes, a society man. See how gossip can twist an untruth and paint the whitest reputation blaclcl Katherine MacDonald is the star of this interesting drama. No Advertising Support Accepted!