Screen Opinions (1923-24)

38 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Unusual Story Has Interesting Group of Characters and Presents a High Order of Screen Technique Just what the box offices possibilities of “Strangers of the Night” are we are not prepared to say, but we believe that with proper exploitation it can be made to draw heavily. It offers various angles for advertising, not the least of which is the former success of the play, “Captain Applejack,” from which the picture was taken. The mysterious atmosphere which is developed and combined with an unusual refined comedy situation, is fascinating. The home of Ambroise Applejohn, with its oldtime furnishings, its conventional old-fashioned people, together with Ambroise’s lack of romance and failure to perceive on the awakening of the romantic instinct that the girl and the love that his imagination painted lay right at his door, holds one spellbound. Enid Bennett is lovely in the role of the devoted Poppy, and Matt Moore is excellently cast as Ambroise. The latter half of the picture, in which thrilling melodrama plays a part, introduces Barbara La Marr beautifully gowned and playing her best, and Robert McKim also doing well. They are the arch conspirators who are finally foiled by Ambroise. A fine quality of photography, subtly worded subtitles and fine adaptation and direction make the picture quite above the ordinary production. STORY OF THE PLAY Ambroise Applejohn, in whose household certain things, such as rising and going to bed, were were done at exactly the same time every day, was awakened to the influence of romance by a few idly spoken words overheard in the park, where lovers whispered and philosophers chatted. But Ambroise didn’t know that the girl he loved was even then living underneath his own roof as his mother’s ward. And so when a lady in distress came to the door precisely at the hour at which the family was in the habit of retiring, Ambroise almost fell for a pair of scarlet lips that were afterward found to belong to a conspirator, wife of a Russian named Borolsky, who meant to gain possession of a certain parchment, the key to treasure hidden in the house. Thrilling incidents occur relating to the parchment and the treasure hidden behind a panel of the wall lead to the discovery of the treasure by Ambroise and Poppy and the burning of the parchment by Ambroise just in time to save it from the conspirators. The story closes with the betrothal of Poppy and Ambroise. PROGRAM COPY — “Strangers of the Night” — Featuring Enid Bennett and Matt Moore A thrilling tale of mystery and comedy combined is presented in “Strangers of the Night,” in which exquisite Enid Bennett and Matt Moore are featured. You can’t afford to miss this picture, because it is different. “RED LIGHTS”— [Class A-c] 90% (Adapted frbm play, “The Rear Car”) Story: — Girl Harassed by Mysterious Threats Directed by Father’s Lunatic Brother VALUE Photography — Excellent— R. T. Bergquist. TYPE OF PICTURE— Sensational. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Excellent — Mystery melodrama — Family. Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Author — Excellent — Carey Wilson. Direction — Excellent — Clarence Badger. Adaptation — Excellent — Carey Wilson. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Cosmopolitan CAST Ruth Carson Marie Prevost Sheridan Scott Raymond Griffith Blake Johnnie Walker Norah O’Neill Alice Lake Roxy Dagmar Godowsky I.uke Carson William Worthington Kirk Allen Frank Elliott Alden Murray Lionel Belmore Ezra Jean Hersholt Porter George Reed October 1 to 15, 1923. Distributor— Gold wyn Footage — 6,841 ft. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None. Exciting Events and Good Comedy Features of Excellent Production With the exception of “One Exciting Night,” the D. W. Griffith mystery picture, there has been no other in which the action is so fascinatingly mysterious as that of “Red Lights.” And while it is not as big, nor as romantic as the Griffith melodrama, it bids fair to win large popularity. Laughs and thrills pile up one upon another in farcical fashion, and from the moment when the girl boards the train to join her father in the west, to that where the runaway car (Continued on next page) ^ A************* vx> <*♦<*♦* No Advertising Support Accepted! <