Screen Opinions (1923-24)

SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH 89 “KNOCK ON THE DOOR”— [Class C] 50% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — A Bachelor’s Dream of Rescuing Girl in the Mountains VALUE CAST Photography — Average — Philip Tanura. The Man Eddie Polo TYPE OF PICTURE — Ordinary. The Girl. Kathleen Myers Moral Standard — Average. (Others in the cast — Glen White and Mathilde Brundage) Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. — Star — Fair — Eddie Polo. November 15 to 30, 1923. Author — Average — Melville Brown. Direction — Average — William Hughes Curran. V Adaptation — Average — Not credited. Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Johnny Walker Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — State Rights Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTU RE— None. Dream Picture With Melodramatic Action Should Please in Cheap Localities . There is nothing in “The Knock on the Door” to recommend it to the high class house. The construction of the picture is crude, and one wonders, for instance, why the adventures of the dream do not end with the betrothal of the lovers, and why so much padding is necessary to fill out the required picture length. The scenes in connection with the holdup of the occupants of the automobile, the girl’s escape to the bachelor’s lodge, from where she is rudely snatched by the villain of the dream, who in the real story is her brother, are well done and interesting, and some comedy is extracted from the endeavors of the party to make themselves at home in the lodge and to prepare a wedding breakfast for the bride and groom. The scenic backgrounds of the picture are beautiful, and the ordinary class audience will no doubt gain good entertainment from it. STORY OF THE PLAY A bachelor sitting by his fireside in a mountain lodge, falls asleep and dreams of a girl who, with her father, mother and brother, have stopped during the afternoon to inquire about the property next door. He dreams that the girl, after knocking at his door, falls unconscious without, that he carries her in, and listens to her story of a holdup, in which all members of the party are robbed. He also dreams that the villain, who means to marry the girl, comes to the lodge and together with three other men, kidnaps the girl after tieing him hand and foot. He rescues the girl and sends the thieves on their way while he drives home with the girl. A quick betrothal and marriage is the result, after which the bachelor awakens, disappointed that it is all a dream. PROGRAM COPY — “The Knock on the Door” — Featuring Eddie Polo You will enjoy the story of a thrilling dream in which the hero rescues a pretty girl in the mountains and then marries her. Comedy, romance and adventure combine to make “The Knock on the Door” a fascinating production. Eddie Polo is the star. “LITTLE JOHNNY JONES”— [Class B] 65% (Adapted from stage play of same name) Story: — Romance of Jockey and Adventures at English Derby VALUE Photography — Fair — Charles Gilson. P TYPE OF PICTURE — Humorous — Sensational. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Good — Comedy-drama — Family. Star — Good — Johnny Hines. Author — Good — George M. Cohan. Direction — Average — Arthur Rosson. Adaptation — Good — Raymond L. Schrock. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Warner Bros. Footage — 7,000 ft. . Distributor — State Rights (Continued on next page) Johnny Jones.. .Johnny Hines Earl ot Bloomsburg Wyndham Standing Mrs Jones ... Margaret Seddon Sir James Smythe Robert Prior Robert Anstead George Webb Joe Nelson Mervyn LeRoy Chauffeur “Fat” Can Lady Jane Smythe Pauline French Brownie The Wonder Dog November 15 to 30, 1923. Unbiased and Independent Reviews Only!