Screen Opinions (1923-24)

No Advertising Support Accepted 1 115 “WHAT SHALL I DO?”— 80% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed August. 1924 Theme — Familiar objects recall memory of secret marriage to youth Injured by fall VALUE Photography — Very good — Jos. Walker. Moral standard — Good. Story — Very good — Comedy — Family. Cast — Very good — Dorothy Mackaill. Direction — Very good — John Adolfl. Technique — Very good. Spiritual influence — Average. Moral — None outstanding. CAST The Girl Dorothy Mackaill The Boy Johnny Harron Boy's Father William V. Mong Boy’s Mother .Louise Dresser Producer — Not credited. Footage — 6111 feet. Distributor — Producers Dlst. Corp. THE OPINION Familiar theme gets original and exceptionally human treatment. Convincing detail in story of injured youth’s desertion of wife and baby, and his regaining of memory when wife is on verge of insanity. Dorothy Mackaill is exceptionally skillful in portraying the girl. Johnny Harron makes the very best of good opportunities as the youth. This is a picturel that will hold an audience every moment of the way. “ARAB”— 80% (Adapted from the play of the same name) Reviewed August. 1924 Theme — Arab convert eaves mission and girl he loves from Moslems VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — John J. Seitz. Jamil Ramon Novarro Moral standard — Average. Mary Hilbert Alice Terry Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Dr. Hilbert Gerald Robertshaw Stars — Very good — R. Novarro-A. Terry Myrza _ Justa Uribe Direction — Very good — Rex Ingram. — — — Technique — Very good. Producer — Metro-Goldwyn. Spiritual influence — Average. Footage — 6710 feet. Moral — None. Distributor — Metro-Goldwyn. THE OPINION Story not substantiated enough for feature production. Authentic desert settings are an attraction, together with interesting Arab types, and competent work of stars and cast. Ramon Novarre makes a handsome Arabian dragoman, and is keenly alive to the requirements of the role. Alice Terry has few opportunities. After all the touch of originality which the story contains, a few dashes of comedy and fascinating desert atmosphere together with Director Ingram’s skill in making a lot out of nothing supply the main reasons for the picture’s appeal. “FOOLS IN THE DARK”— 80% (Adapted from a story of the same name) Reviewed August, 1924 Theme — Scheme to prove timid youth’s valor and worthiness of sweetheart VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — B. Wagner. Ruth Rand Patsy Ruth Miller Moral standard — Average. Percy Schwartz .Matt Moore Story — Very good — Com. -Mel. — Family. Kotah Bert Grasby Cast — Very good — All-Star. Dr. Rand Charles Belcher Direction — Very good — A1 Santell. Diploma .... Tom Wilson .Technique — Very good. — — ^Spiritual influence — Neutral. Producer — A1 Santell. Moral — None. Footage — 7702 feet. | Distributor — F. B. O. THE OPINION Plenty of swift action and good comedy. Mystery situation introduces melodramatic action that keeps spectator guessing until the finish. One of the funniest stunts shows Diploma the hero’s valet, struggling with a skeleton which follows him about the room attached to a white sheet to which Diploma’s feet are glued. This is original and funny. The romance is nicely rounded, and a thrill or two including an automobile accident increases the tension. Tom Moore and Patsy Ruth Miller give good performances, and Tom Wilson as Diploma whose greatest concern is to solve a three-ring problem, is the life of the party.