Screen Opinions (1923-24)

No Ari-rer-tlatng Support Accented! “POTASH AND PERLMUTTER”— 90% (Adapted from “Business Before Pleasure") Reviewed Novemb< VALtE Photography — Excellent — Arthur Miller .Moral standard — Average. Story — Excellent — Comedy — Family. Author — Excellent — Montague Glass. Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Direction — Excellent — A1 Green. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. .Moral — None. er, 19-M CAST Mawruss Perlmutter Alexander Carr Abe Potash George Sidney Rosie Potash Vera Gordon Rita Sismondi Betty Blythe Irma Potash Peggy Shaw Producer — Samuel Goldwyn. Footage — 6685 feet. Distributor — First National. THE OPINION A production that will draw the crowd first on the association of its title with the successful play, "Potash and Perlmutter." and thereafter on the strength of its comedy and excellent cast. In addition to those mentioned in the cast Constance and Norma Talmadge appear in short scenes as applicants for a vamp role. The titles are especially good. The directing of a scene in a Roman play, together w-ith the introduction of Mawruss’ relatives in the leading roles of the picture, is elaborate and funny. Carr, Sidney and Vera Gordon are A-l. You can bank on this one. in which a number of novelties are introduced, such as an automobile driving straight through an artificial background of mountains. THE STORY Abe Potash and Mawruss Perlmutter leave the cloak and suit business to produce moving pictures in Hollywood. Mawruss ruins their first effort by filling all of the roles with his relatives. The hiring of the leading vamp arouses jealousy in the wives, and the vamp is finally found by the jealous pair in the arms of her fiance. “MEDDLING WOMEN” — 40% (Especially prepared for the screen) VAT. HE Photography — Good — Frank Zueki r. Moral standard — Average. Story — Fair— Melodrama — Adults. Author — Fair — Ivan Abrahamson. Star — Average — Lionel Barrymore. Direction — Fair — Ivan Abrahamson. Technique — Fair. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — Leave others free to act. Reviewed November, 1!>2< CAST Edwin Ainsworth Lionel Barrymore John Wells Grace Ainsworth Sigrid Holmquist .Madeline Dagmar Godowsky Harold Chase Hugh Thompson Producer — Chadwick Pictures Corp. Footage — About 6000 feet. Distributor — State Rights. THE OPINION Unsatisfactory melodrama which may pull a house on the strength of the star’s name. The plot is vague. The picture will give fair satisfaction in cheap sections. Attempts at comedy do not carry, and the spectator is conscious throughout that there is something wrong — that there is a lack of sympahy between himself and the story. THE STORY Mother objects to the profession of both dramatist son and opera singer daughD. -in-law. but is brought to a realization of her foil ythrough listening to a reading of son’s play which gives meddling women a true picture of themselves. “DANTE’S INFERNO”— 65% ( Suggest e VALUE Photography — Very good — Jos. August. Moral standard — Good. Story — Average — Drama — Family. Author — Average — Edmund Gould ing. Cast — Good — A1 1 -Star. Direction — Good — Henry Otto. Technique — Fair. Spiritual Influence — Good. Moral — Your sin will find you out. Reviewed November, 1921 CAST Mortimer Judd Ralph Lewis Marjorie Vernon ...Pauline Starke Eugene Craig Tosef Swickard Mildred Craig. Gloria Grey Ernest Judd William Scott Producer — Fox. Footage — 5000 feet. Distributor — Fox. d by the poem: “Dante's Inferno") THE OPINION Not a big picture although apparently a good deal of money lias been spent on the making of it. The inferno scenes show the torture of different classes of sinners in hell, as pel Dante. The actual sets do not appear to be costly although they are quite ingenious. Naked women with streaming hair are seen in the distance and of course mule men. None of this is objectionable because of the allegorial significance. There is a monotony about the presentation that prevents the spectacle from going over big. Excellent acting of Ralph Lewis plays up the sin of being' miserly. Not sufficiently artistic, nor is the theme Cully enough exploite d to serve on the visual educational program. THE STORY Eugene Craig appeals to millionaire Mortimer Judd to help him financially. Judd refuses, and Craig on the point of suicide sends hirn a copy of Dante’s Inferno’" with a message written in the. fly leaf indicating that he has placed a curse on him. Judd has a dream and is so impressed upon awakening that he makes atone ment to those he has wronged, saving Craig.