Screen Opinions (1923-24)

"BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” 39 founders on the edge of a cliff just in time to save the lives of its occupants, there is not a dull moment. The cast is made up of players who are capable of interpreting the character, and while Raymond Griffith, as the crime deflector, is the life of the party, much credit is due Marie Prevost, Johnnie Walker, Dagmar Godowski and Lionel Belmore, who are not alone wisely cast, but play with spirit and intelligence. Most people will enjoy the scenes in the home of Ruth Carson, where with mysterious red lights playing on ceiling or wall, she is notified that there is but a short space of time between her and the hour of her death, and also those aboard the train, where strange things are constantly happening, a murder is committed, and detective Scott, gliding into the daylight from the most unheard of places, delivers periodical shocks to the overwrought nerves of the occupants of the car. Aneffective dance rendered at long range under red lights in a spacious cabaret scene is one of the spectacular and beautiful things of the picture. Dagmar Godowsky acquits herself well in the dance. STORY OF THE PLAY Ruth Carson, who as a child was torn from her father, has been discovered by him and is about to start west to meet him when strangely mysterious things begin to happen. Red lights on wall and ceiling are accompanied by written warnings of approaching death. Blake, her sweetheart who she sends for a minister who is to accompany them to the train and marry them, is arrested and placed in jail, and gets to the depot just in time to see the train pull out without him. He finally reaches Ruth by aeroplane, and aboard the train an atmosphere of mystery and terror prevails. The last terrible act of a lunatic brother of Mr. Carson’s who later is discovered to be the perpetrator of the trouble, is to uncouple the private car from the rest of the train and send it forward to crash into an eastbound express. Blake's timely action in causing the car to be switched to a side track prevents the crash, but the passengers get a bad shaking up when the car jumps the track and founders on the edge of a cliff. The close of the story presents a clear atmosphere, with Blake and Ruth happy. PROGRAM COPY— “Red Lights’’— With an All-Star Cast The most thrilling mystery story since D. W. Griffith’s “One Exciting Night.” You can’t afford to miss it. Marie Prevost, Johnny Walker, Raymond Griffith and Alice Lake appear in the cast. “EAGLE’S FEATHER”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Broken Romance of Middle-Aged Woman VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — George Rizard. Delilah Jamieson Mary Alden TYPE OF PICTURE — Gloomy. John Trent James Kirkwood Moral Standard — Average. Mrs. Trent Rosemary Theby Jeff Carey Lester Cuneo Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Martha Elinor Fail Cast — Very good — Featuring Mary Alden and Van Brewen George Seigman James Kirkwood. Count de Longe Crauford Kent Author — Very good — Katherine Newlin Burt. Parson Winger John Elliott Direction — Very good — Edward Sloman. The Irishman Charles McHugh Adaptation — Very good — Winnifred Dunn. The Swede William Orlamond Technique — Very good. ■ Spiritual Influence — Average. October 1 to 15, 1923. Producer — Metro Footage — 6,000 ft. Distributor — Metro Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Outstanding. Gloomy Theme Has Some Light Moments — Excellent Cast Includes Mary Alden 9 Just what the reaction of the public will be on “The Eagle’s Feather” we cannot predict. The fact that its story is unusual, and in fact quite original, and that the central situation in which a middle-aged woman mistakes a man’s gratitude for love, and has a rude awakening when she discovers he is in love with a young girl, is human and very interesting. Mary Alden in the role of the woman, who was known as “the biggest man in the valley,” gives an unusual impersonation, and we believe that she will succeed in drawing tears in the scenes where the woman realizes that she has loved in vain. James Kirkwood also gives a good performance as the man whose fancy drew him to the younger woman, and Elinor Fair is charming as the girl. The situation where the older woman, misunderstanding the man’s attitude, comes to tell the younger woman of her joy at being loved is one of the most dramatic in the picture. The pic (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!