Screen Opinions (1923-24)

Screen Opinions Tells tlie Tnth 6 “BATTLING BUDDY”— 65% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed September, 1924 Theme — Struggle of youtli against usurper of ranch Inheritance VALUE CAST Photography — Good — George Meehan. Ruddy West Buddy Roosevelt Moral standard — Average. Dorothy Parker .Violet La Plante Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Pete Hall...... William Lowery Star — Average — Buddy Roosevelt. Ginger Kewpie King Direction — Good — Richard Thorpe. Technique — Good. Producer — Lester F. Scott, Jr. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Footage — About 4800 feet. Moral — None. Distributor — Artclass Pictures Corp. THE OPINION A rollicking production with a hppy spirit. It will please the average audience. The star is wholesome and pleasing in appearance. A good punch is derived from his fight with Hall’s gang and his scaling seemingly impassable slopes on horseback. The latter is a novelty aided by trick photography. Good comedy is injected by the character Ginger. THE STORY Buddy West on his way to take charge of a ranch left jointly to him and his uncle’s adopted daughter, is met by a gang in the employ of the ranch superintendent who means to kill Buddy and marry the girL A swift series of fighting adventures saves the girl from an unwelcome lover and wins her love for himself. “DESERT OUTLAW”— 65% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed September. 1924 Theme — Experience of prospector mistaken for thief anil murderer _ VALUE CAST Photography — Very good — Not credited Sam Langdor. Buck Jones Moral standard — Average. May Halloway Evelyn Brent Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Doc McOhesney DeWitt Jennings Star — Good— Charles (Buck) Jones. Tom Halloway -...William Haynes Direction — Good — Edmund Mortimer. Technique — Good. Producer — Fox. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Footage — 5576 feet. Moral — None. Distributor — Fox. THE OPINION Nicely staged western of ordinary attributes as regards story and action. A leap from the cliff into the water by the hero astride his horse is one of the most thrilling novelites of its kind. A pleasing romance is interwoven in which the hero falls in love with the sister of a man for whose misdeeds he has been arrested. Buck Jones very good. “HOW TO EDUCATE A WIFE”— 80% (Adapted from a story of the same name) Reviewed September, 1924 Theme — Teaching wives to entertain for business p eposes upsets two homes CAST Husbands — Monte Blue — Creighton Hale Wives Marie Prevost — Betty Francisco Benson Edward Earle “Prudence True” Claude Gillingwater Producer — Warner Bros. Footage — 6300 feet. Distributor — Warner Bros. THE OPINION First class audience picture with good comedy punch and interesting plot. Monte Blue splendid as unsuccessful insurance broker who ran marital bark on rocks through advice of friend regarding educating wife to entertain prospective clients. Marie Prevost gives unusually capable performance as the wife. Creighton Hale, Edward Earle and Claude Gillingwater are notable members of a fine cast. Domestic scenes very amusing. Strong vein of human interest. The story written by Elinor Glyn has not the usual tawdry se appeal. VALUE Photography — Very good — G. Carpenter Moral standard — Average. Story — Very good — Comedy — Adults. Cast — Very good — All-Star. Direction — Very good — Monte Bell. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Average. Moral — Danger of ignoring marriage vows for business gain.