Screen Opinions (1923-24)

40 Screen Uplnlou* Tells the Truth “HUSBANDS AND {Especially prepared for screen) VALUE Photography — Excellent — A. Gaudio. Moral standard — Good. Story — Excellent — Comedy — Family. Author — Excellent — John M. Stahl. Cast — Excellent — All-Star. Direction — Excellent — John M. Stahl. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Good. Moral — Husband should be good lover. LOVERS”— 90% Reviewed November, 1924 CAST James Livingston Lewis 8. Stone Grace Livingstone Florence Vidor Ray Phillips Dew Cody Marie Dale Fuller Robert Stanton Winter Hall Producer — First National. Footage — 7822 feet. Distributor — First National. THE OPINION If you made money with "The Reckless Age” two years ago, you will make money with this one. The theme is a bit different, but the real drama of the situation is quite as fascinating. In the opening reels a devoted wife helps a thoughtless husband to get out to business in the morning. It contains a lot of comedy. The turning of the tables when friend wife discovers she is not appreciated, the part a pair of lost trousers plays in the ganfe of fate, the comic side of the other man’s tragedy when the bride-to-be fails to appear, and the elopement of the original pair, leaving a perspiring organist, guests, bridegroom, flower girls, etc., are interesting and amusing features of one of the season’s best. Good for any theatre. THE STORY Livingstone takes his wife's devotion as matter of course, forgetting to show her that he loves her. A supposed friend succeeds in separating the pair. The wedding after a divorce is scheduled when Livingstone appears and elopes with his own wife while bridegroom number two awaits bride. “IS LOVE EVERYTHING”?— 80% (Especially prepared for screen) VALUE Photography — Very good — Armands. Moral standard — Fair. Story — Very good — Drama — Adults. Author — Very good — W. C. Cabanne. Cast — Very good — All-Star. Direction — Very good — W. C. Cabanne. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. Reviewed November, 1924 CAST Virginia Carter Alma Rubens Robert Whitney Frank Mayo Jordan Southwick H. B. Warner Boyd Carter Walter McGrail Edythe Stanley Lilyan Tashman Producer — Murray W. Garsson. Footage — About 6000 feet. Distributor — Pathe. THE OPINION Good adult picture. Romantic, thrilling, jazzy and has strong sex appeal. H. B. Warner gives outstanding performance. Not the sort of picture to show audience of young people or children. Too many drunken and brutal characters. Good sea stuff, spectacular explosion at sea showing sinking vessel. Excellent for transient theatres. THE STORY Virginia discovers after marriage that she still loves Whitney, a former lover. Her husband stages a yachting party at which Whitney is a guest. The ship is blown up. The lovers are saved but seen by the husband who is believed to have been drowned, plighting their troth. The husband disappears. “IN EVERY WOMAN’S LIFE”— 65% (Adapted from novel, ‘‘Belonging’’) VALUE Photography — Very good — Not credited. Moral standard — Average. Story — Good — Melodrama — Adults. Author — Good — Olive Wadsley. Cast — Good — All-Star. Direction — Good — Irving Cummings. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. Reviewed November. 1924) CAST Sara Langford Virginia Va.ll I Julian Greer Lloyd Hughes Coti...._ Marc McDermott Douglas Greer George Fawcett Diana Lansdale .Vera Lewis Producer — M. C. Levee. Footage — 6300 feet. Distributor — First National. THE OPINION Has excellent suspense and dramatic tension In scenes where paralytic speechless and unable to move hands or feet, sees and hears with tragic rsults. Marc McDermott exhibits remarkable powers of facial pantomime. The melodramatic quality will hold any audience. Good horse racing scenes. Virginia Valli is charming, although in some scenes she overacts. Stuart Holmes plays the villain role well. THE STORY Sara Is rescued from marriage with Carleton, a bigamist, by Count Coti Desanges, a French sportsman, who later becomes a paralytic, Sara loves Julian Green, but remains loyal to her husband. When Carleton attacks Sara In her husband’s presence the excitement enables him to grasp a revolver, killing Carleton. Sara and her lover are about to be arrested when the sick man. by means of his eyes, confesses. He dies Immediately.