Screen Opinions (1923-24)

15 "BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY" Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — None. Amusing and Somewhat Different — Hoot Gibson Makes Good as Homesick Sailor Exhibitors will find “Out of Luck” a good all around comedy feature, especially in neighborhood sections. The change of locale from a western ranch to one of Uncle Sam’s gun boats, with the unsophisticated hero struggling with conditions and discipline with which he is unfamiliar, affords some good comedy. Audiences in cheaper sections will find much amusement in Hoot Gibson’s imitation of a seasick sailor. His struggle to keep himself, his mattress and his blankets in his hammock the first night out is also comcal. The picture is attractively set and the exhibitor can feel sure of pleasing his patrons in booking “Out of Luck.” STORY OF THE PLAY Sam Pertune, a western youth, had a quarrel with his prospectiv father-in-law and after hitting him with a stove poker, he runs away and joins the navy, believing the man to be dead. When the boat is about to sail for China he learns that he is not a murderer after all, and unaware of the rules of the navy, bids goodbye to his superior officer and is about to start for home when Uncle Sam grips him by the arm and turns him face to in the service. After serving his time he finally gets back to the girl he loves. PROGRAM COPY — “Out of Luck” — Featuring Hoot Gibson You’ll enjoy the distressing experience of a young man in love forced to serve his time in the navy. Hoot Gibson is funnier than ever before as the unfortunate Sam Pertune. “SKID PROOF”— [Class B] 65% (Adapted fflom story of same name) Story: — Romance and Adventures of Transcontinental Automobile Race VALUE CAST Photography — Good — Don Short. Jack Darwin Charles Jones TYPE OF PICTURE — Sporting. Nadine Lura Anson Moral Standard — Average. Dutton Hardmere Fred Erie ■■ Lorraine Hardmere Jacqueline Gadsdon Story — Good— Melodrama — Family. Marie Hardmere Peggy Shaw Star — Good — Charles Jones. Rufus Tyler Earl Metcalfe Author — Good — Byron Morgan. Masters Claude Peyton Direction — Good — Scott Dunlap. Dancing Joe Harry Tracey Adaptation — Average — Harvey Gates. ■■■ — ■■ ■ Technique — Average. September 1 to IS, 1923. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Fox Footage — 5,600 ft. Distributor — Fox Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Spirited Auto Race Feature of Production — Faulty Construction in Anti-Climaxed Story “Skid Proof” is the kind of picture that the masses like, and if your audiences hold a majority of sporting people you will have them shouting before the picture is over. The auto race is very good, and various adventures, such as one machine ditching another racer at full speed, occur throughout the picture. An aeroplane chasing one of the racing machines and shooting the driver in the arm at close range is another thrill. A burning machine hurtling down an embankment with its driver, who is picked up by another machine and hurried to a hospital, is interesting both in a spectacular way and in its connection with the race for the Vanderbilt cup, to which the injured man, regaining consciousness, speeds to drive the car of his prospective father-inlaw to victory. The production would have been rated higher but for the fact that the adaptation of the story is not as compact as it might be. It is also anti-climaxed. There are various complications in the story that are difficult to keep in sight without causing confusion. Charles Jones does well in the stellar role, and Peggy Shaw, Earl Metcalf and a capable cast support the star. STORY OF THE PLAY Jack Darwin had promised his mother that he would give up racing, but when the chance came to enter the transcontinental race by substituting for an unscrupulous driver, the mother’s pride in her boy overcame her fear, and she consented to his going. The remainder of the (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!