Screen Opinions (1923-24)

14 Screen Opinions Tells tb« Troth It (Especially prepared for the screen) ”—50% Reviewed October. 1924 his romance with gang leader’s sister CAST Merritt William Fairbanks Ruth .Dorothy Revier Dolores Ruth Royce Jack Jack Richardson Theme — Adventures of Texas Rangcr VALXJE Photography — Average — Roland Price. Moral standard — Average. Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Author — Average — Keene Thompson. Star — Average — Wm. Fairbanks. Direction — Average — Alvin J. Neitz. Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. Producer — Phil Goldstone. Footage — 5000 feet. Distributor — State Rights. THE OPINION Usual characteristics of ordinary western. The usual fighting and struggle between bandits and hero, and cross-country pursuits. William Fairbanks and Dorothy Revier are supported by a competent cast. A picture for the neighborhood house in cheap sections. THE STORY Merritt, a Texas ranger, falls in love with Ruth, a girl on her way to claim an inheritance in the west. Bringing a captive to town Merritt allows him to visit the cabin of Dolores, who he believes loves him. Here, to his astonishment he finds Ruth, and discovers later that she is the sister of a dissolute fellow about to elope with the woman Dolores, who has at least two strings to her bow. The situation cleared after a number of adventures and Merritt and Ruth become engaged. “CYCLONE RIDER”—! (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed October. 1924 Theme — Steel worker’s romance drives racing car to win girl VAMIE CAST Photography — Excellent — Not credited. James Kent Reed Howes Moral standard — Good. Doris Howard Alma Bennett Story — Excellent — Melodrama — Family. Gordon Trask William Bailey Author — Excellent — Lincoln J. Carter. Mrs. Kent Margaret McQuade Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Grove ...Charles Conklin Direction — Excellent — T. Buckingham. — — — Technique — Excellent. Producer — Fox. Spiritual Influence — Average. Footage — 6272 feet. Moral — None outstanding. Distributor — Fox. THE OPINION One of the snappiest of stunt pictures. Plenty of original comedy mixed with thrills. Colored man falls out of skyscraper window and is rescued by youth on steel girder. Automobile races exceptionally good, romantic vein with competent cast well directed. Leap of racing car and driver from dock to moving ferry boat a hair raiser. You make no mistake on this one if you bill it as a whirlwind stunt melodrama. Reed Howes Is excellent in the hero role. Wholesome characteristics. THE STORY Reed Howes, a structural steel worker, devoted to his mother, is working on a carburetor with which he hopes to astonish the automobile world. He falls In love with the daughter of his employer, and wins the favor of the girl’s father through a daring rescue of a colored servant about to fall to his death from the window of a skyscraper. Howes is told that if he can earn five thousand dollars in a certain length of time he may marry the girl. To do this he enters the coming races as a driver, and after a fierce struggle against enemies who try to prevent him, he finally gets into the race, and is about to win when a child crosses the track in front of him. To save the child he turns his car over and is injured. The story closes with Howes winning his heart's desire. “NEVER SAY DIE”— 90% (Adapted from a play of the same name) Reviewed October. 1924 Theme — Rich youth marries friend’s fiancee but fnlls to Md!e” VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — J. Mackenzie. Jack Woodbury Douglas MacLean Moral standard — Average. Violet Stevenson .Lillian Rich Story — Excellent — Farce Com. — Family. La Cigale.. Helen Ferguson Author — Excellent — Wm. H. Post. Hector Walters Hallam Cooley Star — Excellent — Douglas MacLean. Griggs... Lucien Littlefield Direction — Excellent — George J. Crone. Technique — Excellent. Producer — Douglas MacLean Prod. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Footage — About 5000 feet. Moral — None. Distributor — Associated Exhibitors. THE OPINION Don’t hesitate on this one. Has snap from start to finish. Polite farce with a good plot clearly outlined. Comedy that any audience will enjoy. Douglas MacLean is the actor for the job. It’s good throughout and bristles with funny situations and spontaneous comedy action. THE STORY Jack Woodbury, supposed to have heart disease, yields to Hector, his friend's wish that he marry the latter's fiancee and make her his heir. Lack fails to die as anticipated, much to the disgust of Hector. The bride is of a different mind. After weathering all attempts by Hector and his agents to kill or cause him to be divorced. Jack and his bride set sail to a land of happiness.