Screen Opinions (1923-24)

le Screen Opinions Telia the Truth “TURNED UP”— 65% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed October. 1924 Tlieme — Adventures of man who works to uncover employer’s crooked scheme VALUE Photography — Good — Not credited. Moral standard — Average. Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Author — Good — Not credited. Star — Good — Charles Hutchison. Direction — Good — Not credited. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. CAST Bruce Pomroy Charles Hutchison Betty Browne Mary Beth Milford Paul Gilmore __ Crauford Kent John Creighton _Otto Lederer Lola _ Betty Morrissy IToducer — William Steiner. Footage — 4000 feet. Distributor — Hurricane Film Corp. THE OPINION Neighborhood audiences as well as transient theatres will like this melodrama. Artistically set and well played. Good punch in Hutchisons’ thrilling stunts, such as jumping from a skyscraper roof into an open window of an opposite building, or motorcycle leap from a pier into the water. Story is not clearly OUtUned THE STORY Bruce Pomeroy, in the employ of the Greyston National Bank for the purpose of discovering a bond theft in which the president of the bank is implicated, becomes the target of a group of men higher up who try to fasten a money theft on him. In a series of adventures in which he has to fight for his life, he overcomes them and places those responsible for the theft of bonds behind the bars. “OPEN ALL NIGHT”— 90% (Suggested by stories of Paul Morand) Reviewed October. 1924 Theme— Young wife enamoured of circus rider gets lesson VALUE Photography — Excellent — Bert Glennon Moral standard — Fair. Story — Excellent — Com.-Dra. — Adults. Author — Excellent — IV ills Gold beck. Cast — Excellent — All-star. Direction — Excellent — 1 aul Bern. Technique — Excel lei, t. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None outstanding. CAST Therese Duverne Viola Dana Lea Jetta Gondel Edmond Duverne Adolph Menjou Igor Raymond Griffith Pettit Mathieu Maurice B. Flynn Producer — Paramount. Footage — 5671 feet. Distributor — Famous Players-Lasky. THE OPINION Ultra-modern comedy-satire. Production unusually well made and entertaining, but not safe for neighborhood house. Transient theatres will find it an excellent box office attraction if properly advertised. You can bill it on the strength of Adolph Menjou’s and Viola Dana’s names. Both give splendid performances. Maurice B. .Flynn, playing the role of the circus rider performing on the outskirts of Paris, makes a convincing caveman type such as the young wife of luxury believed she could love. Character portrayal throughout is excellent. Comedy and pep characterize bicycle race in which various nationalities are represented. Raymond Griffith excellent in happy drunken type. THE STORY Therese Duverne, pampere 1 wife of Edmond Duverne, ‘‘shrewd about women, but foolish enough to believe he understands them,” resents the indifferent manner of her husband, and inspired by a book she is reading, longs for a man who will beat her and force her to do the things she doesn’t want to do. A feminine friend plans to cure her, and takes her to a circus where she introduces her to a ruffian bicycle rider. She means to stay all night with him, but his brutality in the ring together with his onion breath cause her to repent. Her husband appearing on the scene knocks out the brute-man, and incidentally discovers the secret of keeping his wife’s love. “BOWERY BISHOP”— 50% (Especially adapted from a story of the same name) Reviewed October, 1924 Theme — Struggle of bowery bishop against unjust criticism VALUE Photography — Fair — Not credited. Moral standard — Good. Story — Fair — Meldorama — Family. Author — Fair — Not credited. Cast — Good — All-star. Direction — Average — Not credited. Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Good. Moral — Power of kindness and humility CAST Bishop -Henry B. Walthall Girl — Edith Roberts The Man Jack Rollins Producer — Selco. Footage — About 5000 feet. Distributor — Selznick. THE OPINION Picture with good moral. Story trifling, and developed in cheap melodramatic style. Henry Walthall not especially well suited to title role. Edith Roberts charming in feminine lead. Some interesting types appear in the bowery scenes, but the ultra-humble manner of the bishop apt ’to bring a laugh. Best suited to poor sections of cities. THE STORY A minister leaves fashionable congregation to give services in bowery. He is blamed for the betrayal of a girl who frequented the mission and is attacked and his mission put out of business by the ’’gang.’’ Later the truth is revealed when the girl’s betrayer accused of forgery confesses and is saved from prison by the bishop he wronged.