Screen Opinions (1923-24)

144 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH “STEEL RAIL”— [Serial]65% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Struggle Between Rival Railroad Companies for Supremacy in San Marcos Valley VALUE Photography — Very good — George Robinson. TYPE OF PICTURE— Thrilling. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Star — Good — William Duncan. Authors — Good — Paul M. Bryan and George Plympton. Direction — Good — William Duncan. Adaptation — Good — Paul M. Bryan and George Plympton. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Universal Length — Fifteen CAST Bruce Boyd Judith Armstrong Frank Norton Mark Zabel Morris Blake Col. John Armstrong Calvin Bitner Anna Olga ..William Duncan ....Edith Johnson Ralph McCullough Harry Carter Harry Woods John Cossar . . .Frank Whitson ....Mabel Randall , . Cathleen Calhoun August IS to 31, 1923. Episodes Distributor — Universal Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Machine Made Serial Abundant in Thrills — The Kind That Goes Over Big There is but one fault to find with Universal’s latest serial — the plot is not always consistent. It bears a similarity to the serials of several years ago in which things happened without excuse and thrills rained down in bucketfuls. This is the sort of thing that the average movie fan likes, however, and it can easily be predicted that “The Steel Rail” will gain popularity with each succeeding episode. The first three episodes contain as per the usual serial perscription, three big thrills. The first sends the heroine over an embankment in an automobile and then stages a rescue from the river bottom by the hero. This is astonishingly realistic. The second shows the heroine and the hero in a wild attempt to stop a runaway box car filled with dynamite. The third leaves the heroine trapped in a forest fire. William Duncan, Edith Duncan and a good cast play the serial. STORY OF THE PLAY Col. Armstrong, who heads a group of ranchers, has purchased the right of way to construct a railroad through the San Marcos Valley. Mark Zabel, president of a rival company, means to make Armstrong’s project impossible, and after trying to prevent his engaging Bruce Boyd, a famous young engineer, to finish the work he endeavors to have an injunction served on Armstrong, preventing the continuation of the railway through property owned by him, the option given by him to Boyd, having been stolen by one of Zabel’s henchmen preparatory to striking the final blow. All obstacles are overcome by Boyd who also wins the love of Judith Armstrong his employer’s daughter. PROGRAM COPY — “The Steel Rail” — Featuring William Duncan Thrill follows thrill in the new and interesting serial “The Steel Rail.” You will want to see every episode of this splendid chapter play, which features that sturdy star, William Duncan. “THROUGH THE FLAMES”— [Class C] 50% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Firefighter’s Experience in Running Down Firebugs VALUE CAST Photography — -Average — Not credited. Dan Merrill Richard Talmadge TYPE OF PICTURE — Sensational. Mary Fenton Charlotte Pierce Moral — Standard — Average. Jim Hanley M. Geary ■ ■ — — Capt. Strong S. J. Bingham Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Jerry Fenton Taylor Graves Star — Average — Richard Talmadge. Margery Arnold Ruth Langston Author — Average — George Plympton. “Red” Burke Fred Kohler Direction — Average — Jack Nelson. Dan’s Mother Edith Yorke Adaptation — Average — George Plympton. Howard Morton Geo. Sherwood Technique — Average. Bertram Arnold C. H. Mailes Spiritual Influence — Neutral. “Sparks” Pat, the dog August IS to 31, 1923. Producer — Phil Goldstone Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — State Rights (Continued on Next Page) No Advertising Support Accepted!