The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March .17, | 1923, ‘.These -are the members of the unnamed household which, tagether ‘with -a vulgar son-in-law, his wife, and a baby; Bay out. their little denies of-love and: finance. As we have said, the main interest centres on the actions and reactions of this group. We follow the fortunes of Papa, the: ‘affairs ’’ of Cora, and the pranks of Hedrick with easily sustained attention. Except towards the’ end, when the ‘sentiment’ becomes what Hedrick would call ‘‘ slushy,’’ and the close-ups are ‘too-oft repeated, the interest never flags. Hedrick is a host in himself, and Buddy Messinger makes of him as ‘* nasty ’’ a little boy as, say, Jackie Coogan is a ‘‘ nice ’’ one. The fans will screain at Hedrick. ~ His antics are: irresistibly funny, and the sub-titles which * ‘accompany his various ‘appearances-are fully in keeping with his’ disposition: Hileen Perey makes an attractive figure of Cora; ait ihe | lightheadedness—not to say “downright selfishness—of _ this character. precipitates the. cloudburst that for ‘a’ time néarly overwhelms her devoted Papa: All the minor personages .are well in the picture, while the: variqus iM comedy incidents of this suburban menage are: too numerous ,to mention. « ; “The Flirt.’ "(founded on a. novel: by Booth Tarkington) is, we repeat, in‘its ‘* quiet,” “style a first-rate production. ‘When it is shorn of a fewunnecessary pathos it should ‘prove one of the most “popular attractions in the Huropes un’ list. . se *. 4s The Dawn: of. the East.: A strong story with many good acting parts. ‘Should’ prove a big popular draw. RELEASED BY GAUMONT. Length, 4,876 ft. Release Date, October 15, 1923. \HE fourth film in Gaumont’s new “ Realart ” series is, in if‘ our opinion, easily the best of the quartette. It presents & strong, intriguing story set in novel and varied surroundings} it is lieid and ¢colierent in its plot development, and is acted with rare ability and conviction by a clever company — ’ Scene rrom ' Tan Dawn or tHE EAst.’™ of real artistes. In a word, provide a big popular draw. ‘*The Dawn of the Kast ’’ should It is a drama, not a thesis. The author is’ not’ straining to ‘‘ prove ’’ something, or to illustrate a mere mental abstraction. The action is crisp. and brisk and the characters are full-blooded. ‘There is, moreover, running through the play, a well-conceived contrast between the Eastern rather overworked | scenes and some . ' opportunity offered her.” Woman who became Dorothy's mother. THE. LE: RENTER. ek MOVING: PICTURE. NEWS. _ 45. REVIEW OF NEW PRODUCTIONS=Continued. : 22a = — eee ee ait ~ wane and Western Atmosphere the Chinese people, especially, giving a fine sense of-guile and craftiness to. the plot. In brief, the story is' as follows: Countess Natalya jaa her younger -sister,Russian noblewomen, but refugees since -the Revolution, have, with other women of theieclass and predica ment, drifted to Shanghai, where Natalya. makes a bare living for herself and her sick sister by singing and dancing in the café of the Almond Blossom. In her anxiety .to escape from this life, which she loathes, Natalya falls into the net of Sotan a.Chinese villain, who pretends friendship for her and arranges the details of an official betrothal between Natalya and a wealthy Chinaman, Wu Ting, who greatly « desires: the beautiful Russian. As’soon as the betrothal money is in her hands; Natalya and her sister escape to America, where Natalya marries Roger Strong, a young diplomat. Later, Sotan follows her to America and blackmails her, telling her. that the betrothal ceremony. really constitutes a legal marriage, and that she is Wu Ting’s wife. Invents move swiftly and in melodramatic fashion to the big climax in which the countess matches her wits against the cunning of the Chinese, and wins: . This is only the bare outline of a drama which is full of subtle touches and thrilling situations. '* The Dawn of: the Kast ’’ contains a splendid. part for tice Brady; and this talented actress takes full advantage of every Second in~point of interest (and equal in merit) are the Wu Ting of Sam King and the Sotan of Michio Itow, respectively. Kenneth Harlan gives a good rendering’ of the character of Roger, and the various smaller parts are well filled in. This *‘ Realart '’ production merits wide booking, as it is, we fecl sure, .an offering i wil Pane a certain appeal to the general public. The Case of Becky: Can a woman have two separate personalties? This subject is dealt with ina rather novel production. RELEASED BY GAUMONT: Length, Five Reels. — Release Date, October 1, 1923; | T's subject of this play is the psychological phenomenon of a girl who had two separate and distinct souls, one being the exact opposite of the other. This is the ‘‘ Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ’’ idea, supplemented by hypnotic scenes. Briefly, the story deals with the plight of a young girl who, for a long time, was kept in subjection by a scoundrelly hypnotist, but w vho was delivered from her evil genius at last by the psychic ‘influence of a kindly scientist. The details of the plot are as follows: Before Dorothy Stone was born a travelling hypnotist, named Balzamo, visited the little town where Dr. IXmerson’ and his young wife lived, and when he departed he took with him, in hypnotic subjection, the The seventeen years that followed saw the three, the hypnotist, the faded woman, and the young girl, travelling about from one country fair to another until the opening scene of the story, which shows.the griefstricken girl rising from her mother’s death-bed with'’ the decision made to run away from the unbearable life she was living, Dorothy found shelter and a home in a quiet little village with the ‘Arnolds, mother and son, who treated her as.a daughter. One day in the garden when John Arnold, who had fallen deeply in love with Dorothy and she with him, was showing her the diamond engagement ring he had brought her, she suddenly fell into a strange trance, from which she emerged ny changed ‘girl—a. wild, incorrigible, vicious being. who called herself Becky.