Screen Opinions (1923-24)

No Advertising Support Accepted! 05 "GOOD BAD BOY”— 65% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed June, 1924 Theme — Story of Boy Whose Drunken Father Won Success with Invention VALUE Photography — Good — William Marshall Moral standard — Good. Story — Good — Comedy-Drama — Family. Cast — Good — All-Star. Direction — Good — Edward F. Cline. Technique — Good. Spiritual influence — Average. Moral — Children often misunderstood. CAST Billy Benson Joe Butterworth Mary Fawcett.. Mary Jane Irving Judge Fawcett E. W. David John Benson Forrest Robinson Producer — B. F. Zeidman. Footage-— About 5000 feet. Distributor — State Rights. THE OPINION Good picture for neighborhood sections. Children will like it as well as adults. Joe Butterworth is capable and attractive as the boy and Mary Jane Irving does well as the girl. The clever dog Brownie is a feature of the production, and the excellent portrayals of Ma and Pa Benson by Lucy Beaumont and Forrest Robinson will surely be enjoyed. Wholesome comedy is the picture’s biggest attraction. “LISTEN LESTER”— 90% (Adapted from a story of the same name) Reviewed May, 1924 Theme — Romance and Adventures of Rich Flirt Pursued by Woman VALUE Photography — Excellent — J. Stumar. Moral Standard — Fair. Story — Excellent — Comedy — Family. Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Direction — Excellent — Wm. A. Seiter. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — You can't get away from fate. CAST Listen Lester Harry Myers Arbutus Quilty Louise Fazenda Col. Dodge Alec Francis Mary Dodge Eva Novak Producer — Sacramento Piet. Corp. Footage — About 6000 feet. Distributor — Principal Pictures. THE OPINION Bubbling with clean humor and played by a splendid cast. Production is attractively dressed. Majority of action takes place in a fashionable hotel where house detective Lester endeavors to regain for a rich guest a packet of letters from a woman who pursues him. With the assistance of the hotel clerk he enters on a series of adventures which ends in his getting battered in a fake kidnapping stunt. A happy ending with the rich man discovering he loves the woman who he thought pursued him for his money brings one of the best pictures of the season to a close. “WANDERING HUSBANDS”— 90% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed June, 1924 Theme — Wife’s Ruse Causes Husband to Make Final Choice for Her or Vamp VALUE Photography — Excellent — Not credited. Moral Standard — Average. Story — Excellent — Drama — Adults. Star — Excellent — Lila Lee. Direction — Excellent — Wm. Beaudine. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Average. Moral — Error uncovered thru crises. CAST George Moreland James Kirkwood Diana Moreland Lila Lee Marilyn Foster Margaret Livingston Percy Eugene Pallette Producer — Regal Pictures, Inc. Footage — 6306 feet. Distributor — W. W. Hodkinson Corp. THE OPINION Lila Lee returns to her own in “Wandering Husbands” in which she gives an unusually fine performance. She also looks well and dresses well. The theme is the same as has been used in many other picture productions. The heart interest is well developed, and details of everyday life are introduced in a consistent flow. The ruse to get her husband out in a leaky boat is rather far-fetched, but will please the average audience. Moral is well pointed.