Screen Opinions (1923-24)

No Advertising Support Accepted! 49 THE OPINION If it were not for the star and excellence of the support, and good direction "The Garden of Weeds” would be a poor bit of junk. The story is not worth talking about. Mis* Compson wears stunning gowns. As far as the box office goes you will be safe. Women in one-piece bathing suits, drinking parties, but less of sex lure than is usual. THE STOIIY Dorothy Delbridge, an opera singer, marries Douglas Crawford, who she believes knows nothing of her past relations with Flagg, a man of fast reputation. Flagg attempts to again assert his power over Dorothy. In a fight Crawford accidentally kills him. — “SILENT ACCUSER (Adapted from story of same name) ”—90% Reviewed December, 1924 VALUE Photography — Excellent — Chas. Dreyer. Moral standard — Good. Story — Excellent — Drama — Family, Author — Excellent — Jack Boyle. Star — Excellent — Dog. Direction — Excellent— -C. Franklin. Technique — Excellent. Spiritual Influence — Good. Moral — Unexcelled loyalty of animals. CAST Barbara Jane Eleanor Boardman Jack Raymond McKee Phil Earl Metcalfe Stepfather Paul Weigel Peter the Great _ Himself Producer — Metro-Goldwyn. Footage — 5883 feet. Distributor — Metro-Goldwyn. THE OPINION One of the best of the dog star pictures. Peter the Great is a fine police dog that will win any audience. The picture is well made and the human side is unusually well developed, almost to the point of tears. Illumination and photography produce artistic results. Good double exposure scenes show the hallucinations from which the murderer suffers. THE STORY A police dog belonging to Jack, whom Barbara loves is the only one who knows the murderer of Barbara’s grandfather following assault by Phil, a jealous lover, on Barbara. Jack is sentenced to prison for murder. The dog gains the freedom of the prison. Jack escapes. Later the dog attacks Phil and he confesses that he is the murderer. “WARRENS OF (Adapted from play of same name) VIRGINIA”— 65% Reviewed December, 1924 VALUE Photography — Average — Not credited. Moral standard — Average. Story — Good — Drama — Family. Author— Good— Wm. C. De Mille. Cast — Good — All-Star. Direction — Good — Elmer Clifton. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Average. Moral — None. CAST General Warren George Backus Agatha Warren Martha Mansfield Lieut. Burton _ Wilfrid Lytell General Lee ...J. Barney Sherry General Grant Lt. Wilbur J. Fox Producer — Fox. Footage — About 6000 feet. Distributor — Fox. THE OPINION Will give average satisfaction but will not stand big billing. Not big enough for a special, but entertaining and apt to draw by reason of its Civil war atmosphere. Good romance but lacking insuspense and the spectacular quality usually looked for in war pictures. THE STORY Agatha, southern girl, loved Lieutenant Burton of the northern army. Burton is captured with a fake dispatch in his pocket as a means of capturing the Southern supply train. Burton hears his sweetheart denounce him, and is about to be hung when General Lee surrenders. The story ends happily. “ROARING RAILS”— 65% (Especially prepared for screen) Reviewed December, 1924 VALUE Photography — Very good — Sol Poluto. Moral standard — Good. Story — Good — Melodrama — Family. Author — Good — Hunt Stromberg. Star — Good — Harry Carey. Direction — Good — Hunt Stromberg. Technique — Good. Spiritual influence — Average. Moral — None outstanding. CAST Big Bill Benson .Harry Carey Little Bill Frankie Darre Nora Burke Edith Roberts Malcolm Gregory Wallace MacDonald Red Burley ....Frank Hagney Producer — Hunt Stromberg. Footage — About 5000 feet. Distributor — Prod. Dist. Corp. THE OPINION Good general purpose feature. Little Frankie Darro, the child actor, is an acquisition to the picture. There are not big opportunities for any of. the cast except the star. A forest fire, a cave-in, and the dynamiting of a bridge are highlights. Good for the neighborhood house. THE STORY Returned soldier becomes the victim of a fight between two' factions struggling for railway rights. He takes the blame for a murder at right time in hope of saving a child’s life through operation. The real murderer confesses. A romance is interwoven.