Screen Opinions (1923-24)

S«'-rv-f i> Optnlotm Tell* >Ue Truth 42 THE OPINION Story is different and carries interest. Good film for the neighborhood house. Has plenty of adventure and romance, together with picturesque atmosphere of forsaken desert city. The best performance of the picture is given by Charles Crockett as an old man temporarily unbalanced. The cast is capable. THE STORY As result of a frameup a father gives spendthrift son one dollar and lands him at a forsaken city in the desert to work out his salvation. In the course of events surprising things occur. The hero places a valuable invention on the market. Romance ends with wedding bells. “SNOB”— 80% (Adapted from story of same name) Reviewed November 1924 VALUE Photography — Very good — A. Barlatier. Moral standard — Good. Story — Very good — Drama — Family. Author — Very good — Helen R. Martin. Cast — Very good — All-Star. Direction — Very good — Monta Bell. Technique — Very good. Spiritual Influence — Good. Moral — Disadvantage of being' snob. CAST Eugene Curry .John Gilbert Nancy Claxton Norma Shearer Herrick Appleton .....Conrad Nagel Dorothy Rensheimer Phyllis Haver Mrs. Letter ...Hedda Hopper Producer — Metro-Goldwyn. Footage — 6613 feet. Distributor — Metro-Goldwyn. THE OPINION Will be liked by majority of audiences. Much merriment will be caused by the unhappy position of the shy country child forced by an ambitious mother to “say her piece for the gentlemen." The moral of the story is forcefully projected, and the production is one for high recommendation. Very good for Sunday presentation. THE STORY Eugene Curry, a teacher, plans to marry rich Dorothy, in spite of previous engagement to Nancy. He consents to a marriage to Nancy, who unknown to Eugene is heiress to a fortune. Finally discovering grounds for divorce, Nancy divorces him and marries Herrick Appleton, an artist and former sweetheart, Just aa Eugene discovers that Nancy is rich. “ONLY WOMAN”— 65% (Especially prepared for screen) VALUE Photography — Good — Antonio Gaudio. Moral standard — Average. Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Author — Good — C. Gardner Sullivan. Star — Good — Norma Talmadge. Direction — Good — Sidney Alcott. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Average. Moral — None outstanding. Reviewed November, 1924 CAST Helen Brinsley Norma Talmadge Rex Herrington Eugene O’Brien "Fighting Jerry" Edward Davis William Brinsley... Winter Hall Ole Hanson... _ ...Matthew Betz Producer — Joseph M. Schenck. Footage — 6770 feet. Distributor — First National. THE OPINION Unpleasant story does not present Norma Talmadge at best. An ordinary program feature and cannot safely be billed as anything else. The spectacular feature consists of unusually well made storm scenes showing a vessel laboring In terrific gale. These scenes can be boosted in advertising. THE STORY Helen Brinsley marries Herrington, a drunkard and waster, to save her father from disgrace. Helen on yachting cruise, lands Jazz guests, and puts to sea with her husband. In a fearful storm they overcome a brutal sailor. In the storm all the crew are swept overboard. Rex determines to start life over again, and * happy future Is visioned. “THIS WOMAN”— 65% (Adapted from novel of same name) Reviewed November, 1924 VALUE Photography — Good — Lyman Broening. Moral standard — Average. Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Author — Good — Howard Rockey. Caat — Good — All-Star. Direction — Good — Phil Rpsen. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Average. Moral — None outstanding. THE CAST Carol Drayton Irene Rich Whitney Duane Ricardo Cortez Rose— Louise Fazenda Gordon Duane Frank Elliott Bobby Bleecker ..Creighton Hale Producer — Warner Bros. Footage — 7079 feet. Distributor — Warner Bros. OPINION Not a big theatre picture. All right for ordinary transient theatre and neighborhood sections. Don't forget Louise Fazenda’s name in advertising. Rather long. Irene Rich plays sobby role well. Marc McDermott outstanding as singing teacher — the most interesting in the story. Creighton Hale’s comedy relieves mora than one dismal situation. His good natured drunk scene is very well done. THE STORY Carol Drayton, a singer, is taken by Rose to a oafe that is raided and Carol !* taken to the lockup. Later she Is taken to the home of a mualo master who marries her. An attempt to brand her as a thief reveal* the tru* character of (tar husband.