Screen Opinions (1923-24)

No AdTMllnIng Support Afffptfili *s}br*gr THE OPINION Plenty of laughs and swift action. Not big, but entertaining, and a good bet for the average audience. Kenneth McDonald fits the title role well. Eddie Harris as an eccentric detective is amusing. The prize ring scenes are good. Girls college gymnasium scenes are attractive. The plot isn’t new, but pleases through original treatment. THE STORY A college athlete becomes athletic instructor in a girls’ college. His conquest of a prize fighter who insults one of his pupils, attracts a fight manager, and he later becomes a champion. A romance with one of the girls is included in the story. “BARBARA FRIETCHIE" — 80% (Adapted from a play of the same name) Reviewed November, 1924 VALUE CAST Photography — Excellent — Henry Sharp. Barbara Florence Vidor • Moral standard — Average. Captain Trumbull Edmund Lowe Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Colonel Frietchie Emmett King Author — Very good — Clyde Fitch. Jack Neely _Joe Bennett Star — Very good — Florence Vidor. Colonel Negly ...._ Charles Delaney Direction — Very good — Lambert Hillyer Technique — Very good. Producer — Thomas H. Inee. Spiritual Influence — Average. Footage — About 6500 feet. Moral — Loyalty of love. Distributor — Producers’ Dist. Corp. THE OPINION Interesting historical production in which romance is emphasized more strongly than actual historical facts. A good box office feature, with plenty of action and fascinating southern atmosphere. A series of excellently assembled battle scenes are particularly stirring and well done; some bits of comedy relieve the serious character of the story. The cast is capable throughout. THE STORY Barbara Frietchie, daughter of Colonel Frietchie, a Mexican war veteran of Frederickton, Maryland, is loved by Captain Trumbull. With the outbreak of the war between the north and the south, about 1861, Trumbull joined the Northern forces. In loyalty to her father Barbara breaks with him; but when he is brought into her father’s house wounded she shields him, and believing him dead hangs the Union flag from the window. As she turns from the window she sees her lover returning to consciousness. At the end of the war they are married. “FOOLISH VIRGIN”— 65% (From Thomas Dixon’s novel) VALUE Photography — Fair — N. Brodin. Moral standard — Good. Story — Average — Not credited. Star — Good — Elaine Hammerstein. Direction — Good — G. W. Hill. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Excellent. Moral — It pays to be honest. Reviewed November, 1924 CAST Mary Adams Elaine Hammerstein Jim Owens _Robt. Frasieer Nance Owens Gladys Brockwell Chas. Spencer -Lloyd Whitlock Producer — Columbia. Footage — 5931 feet. Distributor — C. B. C. Films. THE OPINION Interesting picture of well known Thos. Dixon novel for average audience. Good neighborhood picture. Features are thrilling forest Are. fights and elaborate entertainment in underworld den. Good moral. THE STORY School teacher, lured to resort, is rescued by young man. Romance follows and they go to North Carolina. Wife learns necklace is stolen and many exciting incidents follow. “HONOR AMONG MEN”— 50% (Adapted from "The King’s Kackal”) VALUE Photography — Fair — Not credited. Moral standard — Average. kStory — Average — Melodrama — Family. lAuthor — Average — Richard H. Davis. 'Cast — Average — All-Star. Direction — Average — Denison Clift. Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. Reviewed November, 1924 CAST Prince Kaloney Edmund Lowe Patricia Carson Claire Adams King Louis Sheldon Lewis Countess Zara Diana Miller Colonel Erhaupt Fred Becker Producer — Fox Footage — 4660 feet. Distributor — Fox. THE OPINION Entertainment value problematical. You cannot be sure that your patrons will like this picture because the uninteresting plot is not clearly outlined. The subtitles are not effective, and the action throughout is artificial. Sheldon Lewis Is not satisfactory. The picture is not well directed. THE STORY An exiled king of Messina is aided by a loyal prince who struggles to put the king back on the throne against intrigue and opposition. On learning the king is unworthy the prince renounces the cause. A romance with an American girl is also included in the story.