The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

44 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. REVIEW OF NEW PRODUCTIONS—Continued. Fools of Fortune. A really good comedy, excellently cast, and brightly acted. RELEASED BY WARDOUR. Length, 4,800 feet, Release date, September 3, 1923. HERE is a fine field for comic treatment in the impersonation of a missing heir, aud the writer of the scenario of ‘‘ Fools of Fortune’ has used his material to excellent advantage. His story has been intelligently directed, and. the casting of the characters is inspired, each artiste inter| preting his réle with real humour. comedy. ** Chuck '* Warner, a cowboy, full of schemes and dreams, reads the newspaper story of a missing heir, Ashburton de Puyster, and resolves to impersonate him. He gets his three pals to assist him, and one of them to dress up as an Indian who has brought him up. Taey sell up sheir belongings and set out for New York. But, unfortunately for ° ‘ Chuck, ”* the newspaper report is inaccurate, and De Puyster, senr., nearly overwhelmed with applicants for the missing heir’s money, turns the whole matter over to his attorney, Willie Van Tweed, who is also his prospective son-in-law. But ‘‘Chuek ' and his pals interview Van Tweed and treat him to ‘ cactus-juice,” hilarity becoming the order of the day henceforth. After some amusing experiences the Westerners arrive during a party, and Warner identifies the old De Puyster a8 his father. But the police arrive during the interview, and the Westerners adopt the traditional means of escape by firing at the chandelier. In their anxicty to escape they gather up the prone body of Van Tweed and escape to a freight truck, where, when inorning comes, they ‘discover their captive to be De Puyster. Their explanations follow, ‘‘ Chuck ’? Warner is discovered to be Mrs. De Puyster’s son, and tho liking that Warner had developed for her stepdaughter gives the required ending. aa “Fools. of Fortune” is a really fine bit of comedy and can be relied upon to entertain anywhere. Jack Dill contributes to his interpretation of the cowboy character the ability to waggla his ears, and is consistently good throughout. Russell Simpson, Tully Maishall, and Frank Brownlee do well as the other cowboys. William Austin gives a good account of himself as Van Tweed, and Thomas Ricketts makes an excellent De Puyster. Marguérite De La-Motta is charming as. Marion, her vivacity contributing largely to the brightness of the comedy. There should, be: good bookings for ‘‘ Fools of Fortune.” The result is-a really good The Jilt. Average program picture with good acting by principal. : RELEASED BY EUROPEAN. : Length, Five Reels. Release Date, Septomber 24, 1923. IS picture, trade shows by European this week in the:r + London theatre, is a program picture of average merit, ee with ‘a well-handled suspense section just beforo the end. It closes again on conventional lines, with the usual love incident. Some fine settings abound in the picture. “Rose Trenton has mistaken pity for love and becomes engaged to George Prothero, a war hero, blinded and cynical. Gradually the truth dawns on her, and she faces the task of telling a naturally jealous and suspicious man that she dces not love him— without letting him think that it is because of his eyes that she is breaking their engagement. She incidentally hears of an eye specialist in Paris who could possibly operate and restore George’s eyesight. She writes to this specialist. It happens vext day that her nerve is strong and she tells George of her mistake in promising to marry him. He is hurt, bitter, and then seemingly resigned. ‘‘I shall go to Europe and forget,” February 3, 1923. lie says, and goes at once.’ Two months later the original of a picture that stood facing Prothero’s on Rose’s dressing-table, ‘* Sandy,’’ returns from the trenches. He is réceived with evident strong feeling on Rose’s part, almost an open admission that she loves him. ‘Unexpectedly the blind man returns the same time. He and “ Sandy,’’ old friends, greet each other cordially. They chum about together. Then one day they are together on a long trip. In fear for some unknown reason, Rose watches for their return. George comes alone, led by a strange man; telling a tale of how ‘‘ Sandy '’ was killed while he, being blind, could not help. At the same time a letter comes from Paris aud Rose opens it mechanically; then screams. It datails how the French surgeon ‘had restored Prothero’s sight weeks before! Prothero ‘reads it and shouts, ‘‘ It’s ‘a liel’’ but the absurd denial does not stop the hand of Fate in bringing this remarkable drama to a satisfactory close, with ‘‘ Sandy ”’ and Rose in each other's arms. , Marguerite de la Motte has the chief réle and acquits herself well, The rest of the cast is adequate to the picture, which is an average program picture. ; Calvert’s Folly Fine photography in Fox program picture, with good holding interest. RELEASED BY FOX. Length, 4,400 fect. Release date, October 22, 1923. HERE is some really superb photography in the Fox picture, ‘‘ Calvert’s Folly,’ trade shown this week, especially in shots that show a vista beyond the actual interest centre of the scencs. This is noticeahle both in outdoor and indoor shots, and gives evidence of great care in production. Scene rrom ‘ Catverr’s Fouty.”’ The story is more ordinary, but has a good holding interest. James Calvert becomes jealous of Page mlyn, who has met Calvert’s fiancé and became friendly. Emlyn is the prospective purcliascr of a timber track belonging to Calvert, and the two journey West to inspect it. Staying at a mountainous hut, Emlyn takes strong drink, which bereaves him of his sénses. Calvert, meanwhile, has ventured out upon a ledge overlooking the valley, and Emlyn, who has been struck by Calvert, staggers after him. Later, Emlyn is discovered near the ledge insensible through drink, and _Calvert’s dead body is found lying mangled below. The general opinion is suicide, but an old cottager tells Emlyn that she saw him push Calvert over.