Screen Opinions (1923-24)

as Bfittw Opinion* Telia the Truth "BEAUTY PRIZE”— 80% (Especially prepared for the screen) Reviewed November. 1924 VALUE Photography — Very good — John Arnold. Moral standard — Average. Story — Very good — Comedy — Family. Author — Very good — Nina W. Putnam. Star — Very good — Viola Dana. Direction — Very good — Lloyd Ingraham Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. CAST Connie Du Bois Viola Dana George Brady ..._Pat O'Malley Eddie Schwartz Eddie Phillips Madame Edtelle Eunice Vin Moore Pa Du Bois Edward Connelly Producer — Metro-Goldwyn. Footage — 5700 feet. Distributor — Metro-Goldwyn. THE OPINION Snappy and entertaining throughout. Clean comedy and a funny situation commend the picture to the neighborhood exhibitor. The star is excellent in a role that is full of opportunity. Scenes at the parade of the contestants for the beauty prize included. These scenes are nicely assembled and subtitled and have the effect of keeping Interest tense. Jazzily worded subtitles are an added feature and help give the picture its pep. THE STORY Mother of Connie, a manicurist, secures a position as caretaker of a Fifth Avenue mansion. An admirer persuades Connie to enter a beauty contest about to be held, and without her knowledge enrolls her as the niece of Mrs. Winthrop. owner of the home. Complications occur, and when Connie wins the prize a friend of Mrs. Winthrop, to test her character, suggests that she give the money to another who needs it. The affair is straightened out and Connie decides to marry her country lover. “HEARTS OF OAK”— 65% (Adapted from a play of the same name) Revletved November, 1924 VALUE Photography' — Good — Not credited. Moral standard — Good. Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Author — Good — James A. Herne. Star — Good — Pauline Starke. Direction— Good — John Ford. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Good. Moral — None outstanding. CAST Terry Dunnivan Hobart Bosworth Chrystal Pauline Starke Ned Fairweather Theodore Von Eltz Owen McGoraty James Gordon Grandfather Dunnlvan.Francls Powers Producer — Fox. Footage — 5336 feet. Distributor — Fox. THE OPINION Different from the average story, wholesome and colorful, and should make a good Sunday feature for the neighborhood house. Plenty of sea atmosphere, and some scenes showing a vessel ploughing through the ice in the frozen north. The majority of the action takes place on the New England coast. Being a purely melodramatic production situations and action are extreme as becomes melodrama. The cast throughout give a good performance. THE STORY' Terry Dunnivan. a retired sea captain, loves Chrystal Herne, who is also loved by Ned Falrw'eather, Terry's adopted son. When Ned is believed dead Chrystal marries Terry. Ned returns. Later. Terry realizing that Ned and Chrystal love each other, takes Ned's place on an old vessel and is later found dying by a rescue party. By radio the dying Terry hears the voice of his wife and baby thousands of miles away saying a last goodbye. “HER LOVE STORY”— 80% (Adapted from a story of the same name) Reviewed November. 1924 VALl'E CAST Photography — Excellent — Geo. Weber. Princess Marie Gloria Swanson Moral standard — Average. Capt. Rodi Ian Keith Story — Very good — Drama — Adults. Archduke George Fawcett Author — Very good — Mary R. Rinehart. The King Echlln Gayer Star — Star — Excellent — Gloria Swanson. Prime Minister Mario Majeronl Direction — Very good — Allan Dwan. Technique — Very good. Producer — Paramount. Spiritual Influence — Average. Footage — 6750 feet. Moral — None. Distributor — Famous Players-Lasky. THE OPINION Excellent dramatic situations a bit different. Beautifully staged, and the intereating group of characters are carefully cast. Gloria Swanson plays a role totally different from any she has yet attempted — that of a woman of madonnalike sweetness. She plays it well. Effective closeups of the star are presented. The action Is Interesting, full of suspense, and very human. The picture is excellent in all its parts. We do not recommend it as a money-getter except by force of the star's popularity. Suitable for the neighborhood houses and all high class theatres. Sex appeal in minority. THE STORY Princess forced to marry a profligate king, bears a child to a lover she married by gypsy ceremony on the eve of her marriage to the king. The king banishes her . to a convent, thus separating her from her child. Several years later her lover Is brought to her by a friend, and with him she escapes from the eonvent, enters the palace, where the king drops dead of heart failure, and brings away her child.