Screen Opinions (1923-24)

170 ‘BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAV” PROGRAM COPY — “Boy of Mine” — With Henry B. Walthall, Irene Rich, Ben Alexander and Rockliff Fellowes You’ll recognize the best type of American boy in Bill Latimer of the splendid Booth Tarkington story, “Boy of Mine.” Ben Alexander puts a punch into the action every inch of the way. Henry B. Walthall, Irene Rich and Rockliffe Fellowes are in the cast. “BIG BROTHER”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from story of same name) Story: — Gangster’s Struggle to Be Big Brother to Waif and Romance With Mission Worker VALUE Photography — Very good — Hal Rosson. TYPE OF PICTURE— SociologicalHumorous. Moral Standard — Good. Story — Very good — Comedy-melodrama — Adults. Cast — Very good — All-Star — With Tom Moore, Edith Roberts, Raymond Hatton and Mickey Bennett. Author — Very good — Rex Beach. Direction — Very good — Allan Dwan. Adaptation — Very good — Paul Sloane. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Good. Producer — Paramount CAST Jimmy Donovan Tom Moore Kitty Costello Edith Roberts Cokey Joe Miller Raymond Hatton Midge Murray Mickey Bennett Big Ben Murray Joe King “Father Dan” Marron. .. .Charles Henderson Mike Navarro Paul Panzer Monk Manelli Neill Kelley Mr. Duryea William Black Spike Doyle Martin Faust Izzy Milton Herman Mrs. Sheehan Florence Ashbrook Navarro’s Girl Yvonne Hughes February 1 to IS, 1924. Distributor — Famous Players Footage — 7,080 ft. Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE: — Be a Big Brother to Someone. Entertaining and Presents Good Moral, But Too Much Underworld Atmosphere for Child Audience — Picture Too Long “Big Brother” is apt to be mistaken by the exhibitor for a production suitable for the child audience. Our impression is that in spite of the fact that one of the principal characters in the story is a small boy, the picture contains too much underworld atmosphere to recommend it for presentation before children. Barring this angle of the situation, and the fact that too much footage has been accorded the underworld scenes, the production is enjoyable. Mickey Bennett, the child actor, selected for the role of Midge Murray, son of a murdered gangster, gives a commendable performance. In fact, Mickey is half the picture. Tom Moore is convincing as gangster Jimmy Donovan, whose loyalty to a deceased pal, and whose love for the child, made him a self-elected big brother to little Midge. Scenes showing Jimmy’s efforts to bring Midge up in the way he should go will be enjoyed by all who see the picture. Midge’s introduction to Jimmy’s idea of what a little boy’s bath should be is one of the most amusing incidents in the production, especially as the acquiring of wash boiler and tub lead the police to follow up a suspicion that Jimmy is preparing to make hooch. There are also a number of pathetic touches, such as the scenes in which Midge is taken away by the authorities on the ground that Jimmy is not a fit guardian for him. The orphanage scenes are also interesting, and Jimmy’s romance with Kitty Costello forms a pleasing thread of the story. Edith Roberts is charming as Kitty. The cast is good throughout. The production is strong in human interest. STORY OF THE PLAY When Big Ben Murray met his death by foul play, Jimmy Donovan, the most feared of the Bowery gangsters and pal of Ben, undertook to rear little Midge, Ben’s orphan son. This new experience in Jimmy’s life, the feeling that he must be responsible for Midge’s future, made a new man of him, a fact that was not understood by the authorities when they decided that Jimmy was not the proper guardian for Midge. Jimmy’s romance with Kitty Costello, a mission worker, brings the story to a pleasant close, after Midge has ended his term at the orphanage, and has been given back to Jimmy, to become one of a new household started by Jimmy and Kitty. (Continued on next page) No Advertising Support Accepted!