Screen Opinions (1923-24)

BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” 37 sns: “GRAIL”— [Class B] 65% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Texas Ranger’s Experience Capturing Youth Over Whom He Had Spiritual Influence VALUE CAST Photography — Good — Joseph Brotherton. Chic Shelby Dustin Farnum TYPE OF PICTURED — Interesting — Unusual. Dora Bledsoe Peggy Shaw Moral Standard — Good. Rev. Bledsoe Carl Stockdale ■ — — Mrs. Bledsoe Francis Raymond Story — Good — Drama — Family. James Trammel James Gordon Star — Good — Dustin Farnum. John Trammel Jack Rollins Author — Good — George Scarborough. Mrs. Trammel Frances Hatton Direction — Good — Colin Campbell. Sysie Trammel Alma Bennett Adaptation — Good — Charles Kenyon. Sam Harvey Leon Barry Technique — Good. ■ — ■ 1 1 Spiritual Influence — Good. October 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Fox Footage — 4,617 ft. Distributor — Fox Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— Not Clearly Outlined. Entertaining Production Based on Unusual Story “The Grail” has an appeal for the average picture theatre, and especially for the neighborhood house, where in many instances the religious tendency of the theme will find a ready response. On the other hand, the story is sufficiently red-blooded, presenting types in which primitive passions are uppermost, and with whom the struggle for life includes the free use of the gun. Dustin Farnum appears to better advantage in “The Grail” than in other recent productions in which he has appeared, and memorable among the scenes in which we would say he does his best is that where moved by an impulse that dates back to his childhood days, Chic Shelby, Texas ranger, finds himself preaching the gospel to the men of the hills. He seems to have caught the spirit of the character accurately, and expresses facially the spiritual thoughts with which the character is momentarily imbued. James Gordon does admirably in the role of the youth accused of crime, and possessed of a fear lest after all there be no God. Jack Rollins is also one of the outstanding figures of the picture as the father, James Trammel. This is a safe feature for any house. STORY OF THE PLAY Chic Shelby, sent into the Texas hills to arrest a man for murder, is drawn to the edge of a gospel meeting in a little town where the accused, a youth, James Trammel, lives. The youth, who has been hiding in the hills, comes down to the meeting just at the moment when Shelby, moved by the memory of his mother’s teachings, rises to speak. The boy is so influenced by Shelby, who is known to him only as a stranger, that he is overcome with joy at the strength of belief that is inspired through the stranger’s words, and the dissolution of the fear that there is no God, with which he has been tormented. Later, after many adventures, Shelby goes to the cabin in the hills where the youth is hiding and arrests him. The boy is acquitted and after all is over Shelby regains his confidence. The ranger also marries a pretty girl of the hills who plays a large part in the action of the story. PROGRAM COPY — “The Grail” — Featuring Dustin Farnum Chic Shelby, a Texas ranger, found that posing as a stranger is apt to bring distressing complications. See how the faith of a youth is shaken when he is arrested by the man he had idolized. Dustin Farnum and a good cast play the picture. “STRANGERS OF THE NIGHT”— [Cl. A-c] 90% (Adapted from play, “Captain Applejack”) Story: — Conspiracy to Gain Possession of Parchment Key to Hidden Treasure 0 VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — Alvin Wyckoff. Ambrose Applejohn Matt Moore TYPE OF PICTURE — Mysterious — Poppy Faire Enid Bennett Humorous. Anna Valeska Barbara La Marr Moral Standard — Average. Brolosky Robert McKim ■ ■■ ■■■■ ■ Mrs. Agatha Whatacombe. . Mathilde Brundage Story — Excellent — Comedy-melodrama — Mrs. Horace Pengard Otto Hoffman Family. Lush Thomas Ricketts Cast — Excellent — All-Star. ■" Author — Excellent — Walter Hackett. October 1 to 15, 1923. Direction — Excellent — Fred Niblo. Adaptation — Excellent — Bess Meredyth. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Metro Footage — 7,800 ft. Distributor — Metro (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!