Screen Opinions (1923-24)

116 “BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” “DAVID COPPERFIELD”— [Class A c] 90% (Adapted from novel of same name) Story: — Experience of Orphan Boy Misused by Stepfather VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — Not credited. Little David Buddy Martin TYPE OF PICTURE — Interesting — Quaint David Copperfield Gorm Smidd Moral Standard — Average. Agnes Karen Winther Aunt Betsy Trotwood Marie Dinesen Story — Excellent— Drama — Family. Mr. Micawber Frederick Jensen Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Uriah Heep Rasmus Christiansen Author — Excellent — Charles Dickens. Dorah Spenlow Karina Bell Direction — Excellent — A. W. Sandberg. Peggotty Karen Caspersen Adaptation — Excellent — L. Skands. ..... Technique — Excellent. December 15 to 31, 1923. Spiritual Influence — Average. Producer — Not credited Footage — 6,282 ft. Distributor — Associated Exhibitors Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— A Thoughtless Act Can Make No End of Trouble Exquisite and Sympathetic Picturization of Celebrated Novel Anyone who appreciates the picturesqueness of the Charles Dickens characters will be well repaid for time spent in viewing the screen adaptation of “David Copperfield.” So life-like are the various people of the picture that they might have stepped from the pages of the book itself. It is as if adapters and director had felt a genuine reverence in converting this classic to the screen, so sympathetic is the pictured version. The cast, composed of foreign names, is wisely chosen. Buddy Martin, for instance, is just the little boy to play the David of the boyhood period, and Gorm Smidd, less satisfactory in type than the former, plays intelligently. Marie Dinesen’s Betsy Trotwood is a work of art, and Frederick Jensen’s conception of the good-natured but irresponsible Mr. Micawber seems thoroughly correct. The three younger women, Peggotty, Agnes and Dorah, are exquisitely portrayed by Karen Caspersen, Karen Winther and Karina Bell. Although the production is said to have been made in Germany, the atmosphere is thoroughly English, and there is nothing in either interior or exterior sets to suggest its having been made anywhere but on the exact locations of the story. STORY OF THE PLAY David Copperfield’s young life was happy until his mother remarried and their home was made miserable by his cruel stepfather. His mother dies of a broken heart and David is sent to London to earn his keep. In the course of circumstances he 'finds his way to his Aunt Betsy Trotwood, whose only grudge against him at birth was that he happened to be a boy instead of a girl, Aunt Betsy having no use for men. The story of the picture includes incidents of his romance with Agnes, his marriage to Dorah and later his marriage to Agnes after the death of Dorah. PROGRAM COPY — “David Copperfield” — With an All-Star Cast Whether you have or have not read the celebrated Charles Dickens novel ‘‘David Copperfield” you cannot fail to be interested in the fascinating film presentation of the story. It is human, romantic and extremely picturesque. “IN SEARCH OF A THRILL”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from a story of same name) Story: — Girl Posing as Apache Taught Lesson of Humanity by Author VALUE CAST Photography — Very good— John Arnold. Ann Clemance Viola TYPE OF PICTURE — Spirited. Sir George Dumphy . .Templar Saxe Moral Standard— Average. Lila Lavender Mabel Van Buren ■ — Tommy Perkins Robert Schable Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Adrian Torrens Warner Baxter Star— Very good— Viola Dana. Rene Rosemary Theby Author — Very good — Kate Jordan. ^ Jeanne ....Walter Miller Direction — Very good— Oscar Apfel. — — — Adaptation — Very good — Basil Dickey and December 15 to 31, 1923. Winifred Dunn. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Average. Producer— Metro Footage— 5,000 ft. Distributor — Metro (Continued on next page) c No Advertising Support Accepted!