Screen Opinions (1923-24)

36 SCREEN OPINIONS t+iH*t+ZZZ TELLS THE TRUTH least of which is that where the heroine is dragged through the park on the end of her pet dog’s leash. The manipulation of Georgine’s marriage so as to assure the family a safe financial future is the central pivot of the story, and Rose Dion and Paul Cazeneuve are excellent as the ambitious parents. Rod La Rocque and Orville Caldwell, as the lovers of the story, are nicely cast, and altogether “The French Doll” is a safe bet for any theatre. STORY OF THE PLAY Georgine Mazulier, daughter of a French antique dealer, sets out to win a wealthy husband in accordance with her parents wishes, and when Wellington Wick, a man with a fish establishment and a million or two appears on the scene, the only objection in Georgine’s mind is the fact that he persists in introducing her to the inside works of the fish canning and glue business. And so Georgine who has disposed of the man she thought she loved, but who turned out to be a man without money, finds herself still harrassed with the problem of how to finance the family. At Palm Beach she meets the regretful Wellington again, and incidents chosen by fate cause her to decide in favor of the man with the glue. PROGRAM COPY — “The French Doll” — Featuring Mae Murray You will find the tale of how pretty French Georgine finally reconciled herself to a fish and glue millionaire for a husband most amusing, and Mae Murray in the title role more alluring than ever. “FAIR CHEAT”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Girl Posing as Own Double, According to Father’s Whim, Becomes Engaged to Man She Loves VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Alfred Ortlieb. Morgan Van Dam Edmund Breese TYPE OF PICTURE — Spirited. John Hamilton Bert Lytell Moral Standard — Average. Camilla Dorothy Mackaill — Gloria Starke Marie White Story — Very good — Comedy — Family. Rutledge Stone William Robyns Cast — Very good — Featuring Bert Lytell, Crittenden Scott Buckley Harold Fashay Edmund Breese and Dorothy Mackaill. Floman Zeigler Bradley Barker Author — Very good — Wm. B. Laub. Sam Hiller. . Jack Newton Direction — Very good — Burton King. “Bunk” Willis Tom Blake Adaptation — Very good — Not credited. ■ Technique — Very good. October 1 to 15, 1923. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — P. A. Powers Footage— 6,000 ft. Distributor — F. B. O. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Spicy Comedy With a Different Twist “The Fair Cheat” is not a big picture, but it is an entertaining one. It has vivacity and a consistent plot, and bids fair to win considerable popularity. Bert Lytell, playing a part of no great consequence as far as opportunity goes, is attractive as Johnny Hamilton in love with a rich man’s daughter, but with insufficient funds to make him father’s choice of a son-in-law. Edmund Breese is excellent as the father, but appears in only a few scenes throughout the picture, and Dorothy Mackaill is charming as the daughter who met her father’s wishes by working for one year before considering marriage, and became engaged to Johnny while posing as a follies girl under an assumed name. The plot affords plenty of opportunity for light comedy, and has been developed by Director Burton King in a human and amusing way. STORY OF THE PLAY John Hamilton is in love with Camilla Van Dam, whose wealthy father realizes not alone that John is not rich enough to supply Camilla’s extravagant wants, but also that Camilla requires a little disciplining before taking over the contract of trying to make a success of matrimony. To the fulfillment of his plans Morgan Van Dam has his press agent issue a report that he and his daughter have gone on a cruising trip to extend over the period of a year. In the meantime Camilla is left at home to keep a promise to her father that she will work during the year under an assumed name, and John, who believes Camilla to have gone with her father, is busied trying to keep his promise to Mr. Van Dam that he will become engaged before the end of the year. The result is that John meets Camilla as Dolly Marlow of the Follies, and becomes engaged to her. On the return of Mr. Van Dam and at his first meeting with Camilla in her home a confession on John’s part is necessary. The story ends happily when he discovers that after all Dolly and Camilla are one and the same girl. PROGRAM COPY — “The Fair Cheat” — Featuring Bert Lytell, Dorothy Mackaill and Edmund Breese Getting the husband she wanted by proxy was a cute little trick manipulated by pretty Camilla Van Dam. And Dorothy Mackaill, as the girl, is as charming as they make them. Bert Lytell and Edmund Breese are also featured members of the cast. No Advertising Support Accepted! ( (