Screen Opinions (1923-24)

SCREEN OPINIONS TELLS THE TRUTH 179 » “GREAT WHITE WAY”— [Class A-c] 90% (Especially prepared for screen) Story: — Adventures of New York Press Agent and Romance of Dancer and Prize Fighter VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — Harold Wenstrom Mabel Vandergrift Anita Stewart and Henry Cronjager. Jack Murray T. Roy Barnes TYPE OF PICTURE — Humorous. Joe Cain Oscar Shaw Moral Standard — Fair. Duke Sullivan Tom Lewis '■ 1 ' — • ■ ■ — City Editor Harry Watson Story — Excellent — Comedy-melodrama — Stubbs Olin Howland Family. Adolph Lutz Dore Davidson Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Brock Morton Hal Forde Author — Excellent — H. C. Witwer. Mr. Cain Stanley Forde Direction — Excellent — E. Mason Hopper. Arthur Brisbane Arthur Brisbane Adaptation — Excellent — Luther Reed. Tex Rickard Tex Rickard Technique — Excellent. Ned Weyburn Ned Weyburn Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Irvin S. Cobb Irvin S. Cobb H. C. Witwer H. C. Witwer Harry Hershfield Harry Hershfield Damon Runyon Damon Runyon Bugs Baer “Bugs” Baer George McManus George McManus Nell Brinkley Nell Brinkley Hal Coffman Hal Coffman J. W. McGurk J. W. McGurk Winsor McCay Winsor McCay Billy De Beck Billy De Beck Fay King Fay King Earle Sande Earle Sande Kid Broad Kid Broad Jimmy Stone Pete Hartley Referee Johnny Gallagher Cain’s Second Johnny Hennessey Stone’s Second Billy Gould McIntyre Frank Wonderley Announcer Joe Humphries Smoke Jerry Peterson February 15 to 29, 1924. Producer — Cosmopolitan Footage — 10,000 ft. Distributor — Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Ponderously Staged Comedy-Melodrama — Cast Including Persons Prominent In New York Sporting, Theatrical and Newspaper Circles an Attraction If the exhibitor wants a sure-fire special, he can’t go wrong on “The Great White Way.” This ponderously staged comedy-melodrama hits the mark at every punch, and is so genuinely the correct thing in detail, from Ned Weyburn rehearsing the “Follies” down to the intimate views of the printing presses at work on an edition of a city daily. A glance at the cast will reveal names of great interest in metropolitan circles, such as Arthur Brisbane, Irvin S. Cobb, Tex Rickard, Winsor McCay, Bugs Baer, George McManus, Nell Brinkley, all of whom appear in the picture. The production is well made. In fact one marvels at the expert handling of huge numbers of people which appear in the sets, at the theatre, at the prize fight, and also at the race track. The race track scenes were taken at Belmont Park during the period when Papyrus, champion English three-year-old, was preparing for the race with Zev. The film is said to have been six months in the maLing, and it is easy to believe that it was, for it is certain that the staging of the production has taken time and patience on the part of the technical staff at least. The smartly written subtitles fitting the action to the fraction, extract roars of laughter, and director E. Mason Hopper, together with H. C. Witwer, the author, are to be congratulated on the consistent presentation of a story that encompasses the sporting, theatrical and newspaper life of New York City. Anita Stewart has the leading feminine role, in which she acquits herself charmingly. The romance between Mabel Vandergrift, a dancer, and Joe Cain, a welterweight champion, which is the outcome of the press agent’s sparring for a story, constitutes an excellent vein of humor. Jack Murray, the press agent, played by T. Roy Barnes, is the life ow the party. Jack’s desperate efforts on behalf of his employers are delightfully humorous. The role is played with just the right spirit by Mr. Barnes. Tom Lewis, as Joe Cain’s manager, gives a good performance, and Oscar Shaw, in the role of Joe (Continued on next page) Unbiased and Independent Reviews Only!