Screen Opinions (1923-24)

91 SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH who want to be what they never can be, and with the efforts of restaurant waiters, dishwashers, etc., to become proficient in the art of the drama, of Terpsichore, of Sculpture, and so forth. The picture has been produced in a cheap, hurried fashion which prevents the best comedy angle from being developed, but as it stands it will please the ordinary class audience, and with a good musical accompaniment should get across well. Herbert Rawlinson, as the young man who became a waiter by force of circumstances, and a hotel manager and aide to downtrodden ambitions by strength of financial inheritance, does well. Kalla Pasha is also well to the fore in comedy of the picture, and Beatrice Burnham and Margaret Landis are attractive in the feminine side. The cast is good throughout. STORY OF THE PLAY Thomas Gwynne, an educated young man is forced by financial straits to become a waiter at a hotel in the mountains, and is later appointed manager. The servants have various aspirations outside their regular vocations, and to avoid a strike Gwynne conceives the idea of letting each study that particular profession or art to which he or she aspires. The owner of the hotel sells out to Gwynne when the latter inherits a million dollars. But in the end Gwynne’s plan proves a failure, and each decides that his old vocation is the best, after the million has been squandered in a futile attempt to better humanity. PROGRAM COPY — “A Million to Burn” — Featuring Herbert Rawlinson Thomas Gwynne found that money and patience together could not convert people into what they had no talent for. Humorous presentation of theme with a moral. Herbert Rawlinson is the star. “BLOW YOUR OWN HORN”— [Class B] 65% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Returned Soldier Becomes Rich Through “Blow Your Own Horn” Methods VALUE Photography — Good — -Joseph Dubray. TYPE OF PICTURE— Humorous — Spirited. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Good — Comedy — Family. Cast — Good — All-Star. Author — Good — Owen Davis. Direction — Good — James Wesley Horne. Adaptation — Good — Rex Taylor. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Average. CAST Jack Dunbar Warner Baxter Nicholas Small Ralph Lewis Ann Small Derelys Perdue Augustus Jolyon Eugenie Acker Dinsmore Bevan William H. Turner Gillen Jolyon Ernest C. Warde “Buddy” Dunbar John Fox, Jr. Julia Yates Mary Jane Sanderson Mrs. Jolyon Eugenie Ford Mrs. Gilroy Yates Dell Boone Percy Yates Billey Osborne Timothy Cole Stanhope Wheatcroft November 15 to 30, 1923. Producer P. A. Powers Footage — 5,000 ft. Distributor — F. B. O. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — It Pays to Boost Your Own Ability. Humorous Theme Has Originality of Treatment — Should Get Across Looking at a feature film in the more or less cold atmosphere of a projection room one is apt to get the worst rather than the best impression of it, but we believe that “Blow Your Own Horn” when it reaches the theatre and has the advantage of a good musical accompaniment, will give very fair satisfaction. The theme, which treats of the benefits to be derived from advertising your own ability and keeping up appearances, is not exactly new. But in the present instance the treatment given it, as well as the humorous development of the plot, is original. A couple of youngsters, John Fox Jr. and Billy Osborne, are members of the cast, whose humorous efforts are sure to be enjoyed. Ralph Lewis and Warner Baxter do considerable team work that also makes good entertainment. The cast is not a particularly strong one, but its members give capable performances. The closing reel of the picture presents spectacular scenes which are the result of the cutting of an electric wire at the moment when a radio invention is to be tried out. The flames and electrical display are done in natural color. STORY OF THE PLAY Jack Dunbar, who returns from the world war broke and jobless, attracts the attention of a man who has made a fortune on the war. He tells Jack that he will never get along until he (Continued on next page) Unbiased and Independent Reviews Only!