Screen Opinions (1923-24)

74 Screen Opinions Tells the Truth Percentage Figure Values Masterful 100% Superior #ri% Excellent 00% Very good ..... 80% I Good 65% Average 50% Fair 40% Poor 25% Every picture reviewed in SCREEN OPINIONS is analyzed according to definite standards before arriving at positive percentage value. The independent summary in “The Opinion” is submitted to you for final judgment, because in all cases you must have the last word when it comes to selecting the pictures. A thorough reading of "The Opinion” will give a clearer idea of the nature of the picture, so that you may be better able to judge its money-making possibilities for you, its entertainment value and suitability for your patronage. “DANGER LINE”— 65% (Adapted from “The Battle”) Reviewed May, 1924 Theme — Near-Tragedy of Attempt to Americanize Japanese Wife VAGUE Photography — Very good — D. Asselin. Moral standard — Average. Story — Average — Drama — Adults. Star — Good — Sessue Hayakawa. Author — Average — Claude Farrers. Direction — Good — E. E. Violet. Technique — Good. Spiritual influence — Average. Moral — None outstanding. CAST Marquis Yerisaka Sessue Hayakawa Marquis Tsuri Aoki Mrs. Hockley Gina Palermo Miss Vane Cady Winter Captain Fergan Felix Ford Producer — Aubert. Footage — About 5600 feet. Distributor — F. B. O. The Opinion In “The Dauger Line” Sessue Hayakawa and Tsuri Aoki are co-starring. We have seen the Hayakawas in many excellent productions before. The picture is good but not out of the ordinary. The best feature from an audience standpoint, is the battleship spectacle in which the Japanese navy: engages in battle v.dth an enemy fleet. Color flashes from the guns as they discharge, and the overturning and sinking of gunboats, with scenes aboard a Japanese ironside in which the hero is injured and his rival mustering his honor, takes, his place at the telemeter and ia billed, provide thrilling entertainment. “SHERLOCK JR.”— 90% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed May, 1924 Theme — Projectionist Disappointed in Love Ilecomes Detective VALUE Photography — Excellent — Byron Houck Moral standard — Average. Story — Excellent — -FarceCom. — Family S'tar — Excellent — Buster Keaton. Author — Excellent — Clyde Bruckman. Direction — Excellent — Bustor Keaton. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual influence — Neutral. Moral — None. CAST Erwin Jane Fold West George Davis. John Patrick Buster Keaton Kathryn McGuir Ward Crane Joseph Keaton Horace Morgan Producer — Joseph M. Schenck. Footage — 4065 feet. Distributor — Metro. The Opinion “Sherlock Jr.” is one of the most original farce-comedies that has come to the screen in some time. A novelty is introduced in the fact that the hero who falls asleep in the projection booth, leaves his body and leaps into the picture at the moment being presented on the screen. In his dream he passes through a rapid series of adventures, which, happening on the heels of each other, are no less surprising1 to the man passing through the nightmare than they are to the spectator. Awaking from his dream he decides to become a detective and immaculately dressed in attire that includes a silk high hat, white gloves and cane, he takes the trail of a jewel theft of which he has been accused. The scenes in the home of the villain where Buster plays' tag with a hrnid grenade in the shape of a billiard, ball are both original and funny. The picture teems with amusing situations. The exhibitor cannot afford to miss this one.