Screen Opinions (1923-24)

158 “BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” between Alden and Myles Standish as presented gives one a genuine thrill; and right here we will say that E. Alyn Warren’s conception of the character of Standish is a stroke of genius. Enid Bennett is lovely as Priscilla, and is especially appealing in the scene in which Alden pleads the cause of his friend Standish, and receives the disconcerting reply “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?” We will not attempt to go into detail on the merits of the picture. Suffice it to say that it is one of the most human, most artistic and most inspiring of screen productions. It is one of the few great motion pictures— one of the highlights of the art, lifting the screen from the mediocrity of the modern sex drama, and the various meaningless screen entertainments that are from time to time thrust upon the public. When we tell you that sixty-one names appear in the cast it is easy to see why we refrain from enlarging further on individual merits. The production has all the requirements of the successful special, and furthermore it is a production that will wear for all time. STORY OF THE PLAY Bound for a land where they could enjoy freedom of worship, the Pilgrim Fathers left England in the good ship Mayflower to come to America, about the year 1620. During the voyage they were called upon to combat not alone the fury of the sea, but the temper of an unruly crew. John Alden, a manly young fellow though an unbeliever, formed a warm friendship with Myles Standish, leader of the expedition, and was always on hand when occasion required an extra act of courage. The maiden, Priscilla Mullins, won his regard during the voyage, and later during the severity of a winter which mowed the little band down to but a few remaining members, he learned to love her. John further proved the worth of his friendship to Myles Standish. when Standish, whose wife died during the voyage, and who was totally unconscious . of the growing romance between Priscilla and John, sent him to Priscilla with a proposal of marriage on the ground that John Alden could present his proposal in more elegant language than he himself could. “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?” said Priscilla. And so originated the first harsh words between the two fast friends. But when following an Indian raid after Myles Standish was reported dead, the latter appears on the scene of the wedding of John and Priscilla, Standish goes Alden one better, declaring that now he is more surely the friend of John Alden than ever before. PROGRAM COPY — “The Courtship of Myles Standish” — Charles Ray One of the truly great pictures, and one which you pr your children cannot afford to miss. A beautiful, spectacular, human production telling concisely and humanly the story of “The Courtship of Myles Standish.” Charles Ray is the star, and is supported by a wonderful cast of sixty-one members. * “6Rir— [Class A] (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Son of Gangster Born With Fear of a Gun Urged to Heroism by Girl He Loves VALUE . CAST Photography — Very good — Fred Waller. "Kid” Hart Glenn Hunter TYPE OF PICTURE — Adventurous — Annie Hart Helenka Adamowska Interesting. Houdini Hart Roland Young Moral Standard — Average. Orchid McGonigle Clara Bow Boris Giovanni Smith, Osgood Perkins Story — Average — Melodrama — Adults. Flashy Joe Townsend Martin Star — Very good — Glenn Hunter. Pop Finkel Dore Davidson Author — Average — F. Scott Fitzgerald. _ Bennie Finkel Martin Broder Direction — Very good — Frank Tuttle. Tony O’Cohen Joseph Depew Adaptation — Very good — Ashmore Creelman. ■ — — Technique — Very good. February 1 to IS, 1924. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Producer — Film Guild Footage — 5,800 ft. Distributor — W. W. Hodkinson Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Fear Is Merely a Condition of Mind. Good Melodrama — Colorful Presentation of Underworld Story — Glenn Hunter at Best The story of “Grit” is slightly out of the ordinary, in spite of the fact that it contains a not unusual amount of underworld atmosphere. In fact the story has its setting almost entirely in the underworld. With the exception of the antique shop of Pop Finkel, where the old man had a method of his own for shooting worm holes into his furniture, the haunts of gangsters form the background of the majority of the story’s action. The character played sympa (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted! r