Screen Opinions (1923-24)

184 “BOOK THE NEW PERCENTAGE WAY” Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE— None Cheap Development and Ordinary Story — High Class Audiences Will Resent Overacted Scenes “Alimony” is essentially a picture for cheap audiences. Many of its scenes are overacted, and the development of the theme is done in a tawdry fashion. Grace Darmond gives an intelligent performance. She is charming, and gives the production the only mark of dignity which it possesses. It appears to be the direction that is at fault, for the majority of the players are well and favorably known. With the exception of the admirable character of the ' heroine, Marion Mason, there is very little to recommend the story, and certainly young America will get an unwholesome picture of society in “Alimony.” STORY OF THE PLAY Jimmie Mason, a young inventor, with the aid of his pretty wife, Marion, finally wins success and incidentally, wealth. He becomes entangled with a scheming woman, Gloria DuBois, who conspires with Granville, in love with Marion, to ruin Jimmy financially. A separation is secured by Jimmie and Marion, and with the huge alimony exacted by Marion she buys in the stock through which Jimmy has become bankrupt. They remarry and Jimmy is put on his feet again by Marion’s good judgment and foresight. PROGRAM COPY — “Alimony” — With an All-Star Cast Jimmie Mason’s downfall proved a lesson in love and finance; for his pretty wife, Marion, showed him that she knew a lot about both. Grace Darmond and Warner Baxter have the leading roles in "Alimony,” a story of domestic triangles. “BLACK OXEN”— [Class A] 80% (Adapted from novel of same name) Story: — Romance of Woman of Sixty Who Was Rejuvenated by Science VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — Norbest Brodin. TYPE OF PICTURE Unusual — Romantic. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Very good — Drama — Adults. Star — Very good — Corinne Griffith. Author — Very good — Gertrude Atherton. Direction — Very good — Frank Lloyd. Adaptation — Very good — Frank Lloyd and Mary O’Hara. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Madam Zattiany ) Corinne Griffith Mary Ogden | Lee Clavering Conway Tearle Charles Dinwiddie Thomas Ricketts Judge Gavin Trent Thomas S. Guise Janet Oglethorpe Clara Bow Jane Oglethorpe Kate Lester James Oglethorpe Harry Mestayer Dennie Ferris Lincoln Stedman Agnes Trevor Claire MacDowell Prince Hohenhauer Alan Hale Gera Dwight Clarissa Selwynne Oglethorpe Butler Fred Gambold Ogden Butler Percy Williams Doctor Steinach Otto Nelson Chancellor Eric Mayne Austrian Adviser Otto Lederer Anna Goodrich Carmelita Geraghty February 15 to 29, 1924. Producer — Frank Lloyd Production, Inc. Footage — 7,927 ft. Distributor — First National Our Opinion MORAL O’THE PICTURE — Science May Rejuvenate the Body but Youth and Age Still Walk Separate Paths of Inequality of Experience Good Box Office Draw on Reputation of Novel, but Theme a Bit Repellent for Screen _____ We predict quite a difference of opinion on the box office merits of the screen version of Gertrude Atherton’s novel, “Black Oxen,” which in so far as artistic staging is concerned hits the top notch. We believe too that women will rush to see the picture, especially those who have read the book; for the fact that the heroine is a woman who has been rejuvenated by Dr. Steinbach’s X-Ray process, rubbing off of the skin of face, skin-lifting process, and various other tricks of surgery and science, is a sop to the curiosity of the average feminine. Corinne Griffith is a very lovely Mary Ogden, but does not quite fit the average person’s idea of Gertrude Atherton’s heroine, for, although (Continued on next page) 1 No Advertising Support Accepted!