Screen Opinions (1923-24)

18 Screen Opinions Tell the Truth THE OPINION Full of pep and originality. All audiences will like this. Has good comedy. Current stage success also. Albert Gran as Mr. Tevis who loved the ladies, hated work and lied unflinchingly, gives an excellent eccentric comedy performance. Some of the scenes in Nettie's Dark rooms are a bit raw, such as where she strips off all clothing save undergarments and a neglige, but the character to which the actions are suited is so well portrayed by Marie Prevost that one forgives the naughtiness. The moral balance of the picture is satisfactory, and May McAvoy is wholesome and charming as the girl who loved a tarnished man. Subtitles argue that every man bemoans the fact that he cannot come clean to the one woman he loves. THE STORY Letitia and Emmett, employed in the same offices, are mutually attracted. Emmett tries to live down mistakes of his past life which include an Irresponsible young woman, Nettie Dark. Nettie loves him and decides to win him back. Letitia, whose father has cashed a check for five hundred dollars belonging to his wife, and given it all to Nettie, comes to get it back on an evening when Emmett visits Nettie through a frameup. Their all but shattered romance is finally restored. “UNSEEN HANDS”— 65% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed October, 1924 Theme — Man’s Ingratitude and desire of possession leads to crime and death VALUE Photography — Good — Not credited. Moral standard — Average. Story— Good — Melodrama — Adults. Author — Good — W. C. Graves, Jr. Cast — Good — With Wallace Beery. Direction — Good — Jacques Jaccard. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. CAST Jean Scholast Wallace Beery Georges Le Quintrec Joseph Dowling Madame Le Quintrec Fontaine LeRue Armand Le Quintrec Jack Rollins Matoaka Cleo Madison Producer — W. C. Graves, Jr. Footage — 5382 feet. Distributor — Pathe Exchange, Inc. THE OPINION Wallace Beery’s acting in villain role a feature of the production. The story Is somewhat different. Ingratitude of man to benefactor whose wife he would possess takes form of murder by indirect method. Double exposure ghost work is high light, showing villain pursued by spirits of victims. Has average entertainment punch, and will appeal moderately in neighborhood house because of slight originality in plot. THE STORY Jean Scholast is chosen because of his diplomacy in handling an insulting peasant, superintendent at the mines of George Le Quintrec. whose wife is young and pretty. Jsan gains admittance into the domestic circle of the Le Quintrecs. and turns off the lights when Le Quintrec is being operated on, thus causing his death and paving the way for the fulfillment of a romance already begun between Jean and Madame Le Quintrec. He filches her of money and property, and after her death flees to America where he is found by young Armand Le Quintrec about to kill a squaw he has made his wife. The story ends in the death of Jean before Armand can take revenge. “YOUTH FOR SALE”— 80% (Adapted from a story of the same name) Reviewed October, 1924 Theme — Boarding house romance and girl blinded by bootleg liquor VALUE Photography — Excellent — Jack Brown. Moral standard — Good. Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Author — Very good — Raymond Harris. Cast — Very good — All-Star. Direction — Very good — W. C. Cabane. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Good. Moral — Danger of one mis-step. CAST Molly May Allison Connie Sigrid Holmquist Tom Powers Chas. Emmett Mack Monty Breck Richard Bennett Mrs. Molloy .....Alice Chapin Producer — C. C. Burr. Footage — About 5000 feet. Distributor — C. C. Burr. THE OPINION An especially good production for the transient house. Some neighborhood audiences will like it, but the exhibitor must be his own adviser regarding this. Forceful warning against use of bootleg liquor. Interesting story of modern stage life including girls of both old-fashioned and jazz types,. Well made and played by excellent cast. Plenty of heart interest to please the young people especially. There are no objectionable scenes with the exception of one or two Incidents at a jazz party, where the closeup of a girl's vulgar performance of the ‘‘split’' is shown. THE STORY Connie Sutton boarded at the home of Molly Melloy whose mother kept a lodging house. Connie envied Molly her beau Tom Powers, and Tom found himself constantly falling for Connie's over-affectionate embraces. Graduating from a position in a department store, Connie becomes a chorus girl. Molly and (Printed in U. S. A.)