Screen Opinions (1923-24)

lie Screen Opinions Tells the Truth “ALONG CAME RUTH”— 80% (Adapted from a play of the same name) Reviewed August, 1924 Theme— Girl’s choice of place to make good makes success of tumble-down furniture store VALUE Photography — Very good — J. Arnold. Moral standard — Average. Story — Very good — Melodrama — Family Star — Very good — Viola Dana. Direction — Very good — Eddie Cline. Technique — Very good. Spiritual influence — Neutral. Moral — Benefitting by opportunity. CAST Ruth Ambrose Viola Dana Plinty Bangs .Walter Hiers Israel Hubbard _ Tully Marshall Allan Hubbard Raymond McKee Producer — Metro-Goldwyn. Footage — 5000 feet. Distributor — Metro-Goldwyn. THE OPINION Good comedy for average house. Theme a bit hackneyed, but interesting development and attractive romance give it a fresh aspect. Viola Dana appears to good advantage, and Raymond McKee fits a lover role which is sparingly developed. Walter Hiers grasps the few opportunities provided him, and Tully Marshall makes a character role .interesting. The writer’s impression is that the action lacks the comedy punch. “BABBITT”— 90% (Adapted from a novel of the same name) Reviewed August, 1924 Theme — Experience of middle-aged husband who felt the call of Illegitimate romance VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — David Avel. George F. Babbitt Willard Louis Moral standard — Good. Mrs. Myra Babbitt .....Mary Alden Story — Excellent — Com.-Dra. — Family. Theodore Roosevelt Raymond McKee Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Tanis Judlque Carmel Myers Direction — Excellent — Harry Beaumont. Technique — Excellent. Producer — Warner Bros. Spiritual influence — Good. Footage — 7913 feet. Moral — Compensation of self-respect. Distributor — Warner Bros. THE OPINION Fascinating presentation of domestic problem. Babbitt’s plunge into romance will prove amusing to men, and no player of the screen could handle the role more capably than does Willard Louis. In fact his portrayal of a self-made family man infatuated by a vamp is inimitable. Mary Alden is excellent as the dutiful wife. The portrayed of family life is unusually successful, thanks to Director Beaumont and capable cast. Plenty of comedy, suspense, romance. Wealth of homely detail a feature. Exhibitors cannot afford to miss this excellent attraction. Properly advertised it means money at the box office. “RARIN’TO GO”— 50% (Adapted from "Rattler Rock) Reveiwed August, 1924 Theme — Adventures and romance of cow-hand VALUE Photography — Fair — Not credited. Moral standard — Average. Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Star — Fair — Buffalo Bill, Jr. Direction — Average — Richard Thorpe. Technique — Average. Spiritual influence — Neutral. Moral — None. Bill Dillon "Hawk" Morton Miss Harper Miss Williams ... CAST Buffalo Bill. Jr. Olin Francis ...Dorothy Wood Karleen Day Producer — Action Pictures Corp. Footage — 5000 feet. Distributor — Artclass. THE OPINION Average western with a rough-riding hero. Buffalo Bill, Jr., is a better fighter than he is an actor, consequently he gets away with the requirements of a vigorous role acceptably. The cast is fair. Production should please average audience. Good thrill in automobile hurtling over embankment.