Screen Opinions (1923-24)

No Advertising Support Accepted! in “FEMALE”— 80% (Adapted from "Dalla. the Lion Cub”) Reviewed October. 1924 Theme— Girl’s matrimonial bargain prevented from fulflUment by «leath VAGUE Photography — Very good — Alfred Gilks. Moral standard — Average. Story — Very good — Drama — Adults. Author — Very good — Cynthia Stockley. Star — Very good — Betty Compson. Direction — Very good — Sam Wood. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. CAST Dalla _ — Betty Compson Col. Valentia Warner Baxter Barend De Beer._ Noah Beery Clodah Harrison Dorothy Cumming Cion Viron .Freeman Wood Producer — Paramount. Footage — 6167 feet. Distributor — Famous Players-Lasky. THE OPINION Not as good for the neighborhood house as for the transient theatre. Wholly of physical appeal. Interesting story of considerable originality. With Betty Compson as the star a good amount of sex appeal is assured, a quality that can be counted on to please the average audience. The plot is laid in and about Cape Town, South Africa, and includes a rather tame lion hunt. However, the romantic angle is the main objective, and the adventurous character of the heroine who marries her guardian to get pretty clothes, provides a continuous performance of absorbing incidents. THE STORY Dalla, an adventurous young woman, known as “the lion cub,” because of her association with jungle life in childhood, marries her guardian, Barend De Beer, believing that Col. Valentia. whom she loves, cares nothing for her. The scorn of other better dressed women inspires her with a desire to have pretty clothes and learn the ways of society that she may make them envious. At her marriage to a husband for whom she feels only respect, it is agreed that not until the end of three years shall she become actually his wife. Barend is killed in the jungle by one of Dalla’s lovers, paving the way to Dalla’s happiness. “AMERICAN MANNERS”— 50% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed October. 11*24 Theme — Adventure* of youth who uncover* smuggler* on father’* ships VAGUE CAST Photography — Good — Wm. Marshall. Roy Thomas., Richard Talmadge Moral standard — Average. Dan Thomas Marc Fenton Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Clyde Harven Lee Shumway Star — Average — Richard Talmadge. Gloria Winthrope Helen Lynch Direction — Average — James W. Horne. — * Technique — Average. Producer — Carlos Productions. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Footage — 5200 feet. Moral — None. Distributor — F. B. O. THE OPINION Not up to Richard Talmadge standard. Awkward subtitles Intercept comedy punch. The scenes in which Roy pretends to have acquired French manners mis3 Are. This fault is counter-balanced byathletic stunts. A pleasing romance is interwoven. An eccentric detective causes a number of laughs. THE STORY Roy Thomas, educated in Europe, wins for the Americans at the Olympic games. He is put to work on the docks where he uncovers a smuggling ring in spite of the efforts of a detective to prove him a crook. He also rescues Gloria, his sweetheart, from the clutches of an amorous sea captain when the girl is carried beyond the three-mile limit where he means to make her marry him. The close of the story shows Roy a hero of the day and about to marry Gloria. “HER OWN FREE WILL”— 65% (Adapted from a story of the same name) Reviewed October. 1924 Theme — Wife Anally discovers she cares for husband VAGUE Photography — Good — Roy Hunt. Moral standard — Average. Story — Good — Drama — Adults. Author — Good — Ethel M. Dell. Cast — Very good — All-star. Direction — Very good — Paul Scardon. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None outstanding. CAST Nan Everard Helen Chadwick Peter Cardock Holmes Herbert Jerry Lister Allan Simpson Colonel Everard -George Backus Mona Everard Violet Mercereau Producer — Eastern Productions. Footage — 5000 feet. Distributor — Producers Distribut. Corp. THE OPINION Good entertainment for the average audience. Plenty of variety in types and frequent change of scene. The leading feminine character is modern but not always admirable. This domestic problem picture will interest women. THE STORY Nan Everard, whose father is on the verge of bankruptcy, marries Peter Craddock, a millionaire mine owner. She refuses to accompany him to South America, and in his absence flirts with Jerry Lister. On Peter’s return matters Anally come to a climax when she accompanies Jerry to his summer cottage. There Peter saves his wife from assault. The result is reconciliation.