Screen Opinions (1923-24)

No Advertising Support Accepted aj^ S) 55 “THUNDERING (Especially prepared for screen) HOOFS”— 65% Reviewed December, 1924 VALUE Photography — Good — Ross Fischer. Kora! standard — Average. Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Author — Average — Marion Jackson. Star— Good — Fred Thompson. Direction — Good — Alber Rogell. Technique — Good. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. CAST Dave Marshall Fred Thompson John Marshall Fred Huntley Carmelita Ann May Don Juan Estrada Charles Mailes Luke Severn Bill Lowry Producer — Not credited. Footage — 5033 feet. Distributor — F. B. O. THE OPINION Above ordinary as westerns go. Story only average. Bull ring scenes are exceptionally realistic and include closeups of a ferocious bull in the act of charging. These alternate with views of the audience and of matadors. Fred Thompson performs thrilling stunts. The scenic quality of the picture is attractive. THE STORY Marshall falls in love with Carmelita. Luke Severn, a thief, posing as a gentleman wins the favor of Carmelita’s father, and marries her. Dave is thrown into prison for trying to interfere, and escapes. At the close of the spectacle the sheriff arrests Severn for depredations. “BLACK LIGHTNING” — 50% (Especially prepared for screen) VALUE Photography — Good — Jack MacKenzie. Moral standard — Good. Story — Average — Melodrama — Family. Author — Average — Harry Davis. Cast — Good — All-Star. Direction — Average — J. P. Hogan. Technique — Average. Spiritual Influence — Neutral. Moral — None. Reviewed December, 1924 CAST Martha Darned Clara Bow Roy Chambers, Harold Austin Ez Howard Eddie Phillips Jim Howard James Mason Joe Darned Joe Butterworth Producer — Gotham. Footage — About 6000 feet. Distributor — State Rights. THE OPINION Picture interesting but slow. The dog Thunder is not well trained. The story is flimsy, and the intrigue injected with the villainous Howard brothers is not vigorous enough. You can advertise Thunder as the most beautiful of all screen police dogs. Good for neighborhood house and transient theatre. THE STORY Roy Chambers protects Martha, sister of dead buddy, from degenerate neighbors. Roy is slightly wounded by one. In the events that follow one of them kills his own brother. Martha and Roy marry. “LOST TRIBE”— 65% CEducatlonaO Reviewed December, 1924 (Educational) Producer — Capt. Frank Hurley. Footage — About 6000 feet. Distributor — State Rights. THE OPINION Interesting views of cannibals whose features proclaim them to be of Hebrew extraction. These pictures taken in New Guinea are satisfactorily edited and will be enjoyed by students although their novelty should prove attractive to the general public. “BRASS BOWL”— 80% (Adapted from novel of same name) Reviewed December, 1924 VALUE Photography — Good — Not credited. Moral standard — Average. Story — Very good — Melodra. — Family. Author — Very good — Louis .T. Vance. Star — Very good — Edmund Lowe. Direction — Very good— Jerome Storm. Technique — Very good. Spiritual influence — Neutral. Moral — None. THE OPINION CAST Dan Maitland : Anisty Sylvia O’Hagen Bannerman Producer— Fox. Footage — 5830 feet. Distributor — Fox. Edmund Lowe Edmund Lowe ..Claire Adams Jack Duffy Fred Butler Good for the neighborhood house as well as for transient houses. Interestingcrook complications that will hold the average audience, and is presented on the screen with vigor and realism. Edmund Lowe does well in double role. Plenty of brisk action and a good vein of suspense keeps the spectator at a high tension of interest. THE STORY Rich Dan Maitland is forced into strange adventures owing to his resemblance to Anisty, an international crook. Sylvia Graeme, delivering jewels to Maitland, mistakes Anisty for Maitland. Events follow quickly and finally Anisty is arrested. Dan and Sylvia plight their troth.