Universal Weekly (1920, 1923-27)

18 Universal Weekly December 10, 1927 “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” Successful Premiere In Shubert’s Lafayette Theatre, Detroit TNCLE TOM’S CABIN,” LTniversal’s two-million J dollar production of the famous ante-bellum story and play, had its first premiere out of New York City last Sunday night when it was presented in Shuber't’s Lafayette Theatre, Detroit, before a brilliant audienpe. This is the first road-show opening of the picture, which is expected to enjoy a long run in Detroit. The picture is in its fourth week at the Central Theatre, New York City, with steadily mounting box-office results. The Detroit opening was on the same colorful scale as £he world premiere of the picture at the Central. The house was crowded with prominent State and City officials, exhibitors nd other leading citizens of Detroit. This representtive audience was so movecl bv the beauty and the excitement of the screen drama that it laughed, cried and applauded spontaneously throughout the story, according to the reviewers. Three executives from the Universal home office in New York journeyed to Detroit for the opening. They were Paul Gulick, director of publicity; Sydney Singerman, manager of the program department, and Wayne Pierson, in charge of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” roadshows. They report an exceptionally successful send-off for "“Uncle Tom” in that city and an enthusiastic attitude on the part of -exhibitors who saw it. An idea of the reception accorded to the picture by the motion picture critics may be had from the following excerpts: Harold Heffernan in the Detroit News: “There was considerable cheering last evening at the Shubert Lafayette Theatre, where Uniwersal’s expensive edition of Uncle Tom opened its local engagement. * * * The opening crowd became pretty much worked up over the situation showing Eliza making her ■escape over the ice, and with good reason. It registers as one of the most effective thrill stunts in the movie catalog. Some of the cheering spectators had seen Eliza give Mr. Haley the slip before, but never in such spectacular or satisfactory f^hion. “Universal’s ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ is downright, frank melodrama, a tear-wringer if there ever was one, but beautifully produced. For sentimental reasons alone this current Uncle Tom should live as long as the play.” Charles J. Richardson in the Detroit Evening Times: “This picture is a hum-dinger for action throughout its numerous reels. Liza’s escape across the ice and rescue at the brink of a falls is a gem for thrills. Simon Legree’s brutality provides a climatic punch which sends shivers through the collective hones of the spectators. Sunday’s first night audience laughed, cried and applauded spontaneously all .through the story. Their receptiqp indicated that the picture will have a long and prosperous run. Ella H. McCormick in the Detroit Free Press: “The screen version leaves all of the old-time ‘stupendous, mammoth, gigantic’ — this has ever been the accepted way of advertising an ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ show — production quite in the discard. Nothing that the most loyal Uncle Tom theatre-goer has ever seen will again be able to stand up under its superlative adjectives. The ultimate in reality has been attained by Harry Pollard, the director, in the filming of the story. It was an ambitious undertaking, carefully, prodigally and sincerely carried to accomplishment. “The picture is undoubtedly one of the very finest cinema achievements to date. To everyone who had a part in its making it should bring increased fame, for it gives new life to a classic story and reveals a period in the history of America with which every American should be familiar.” Virginia Grey and Mona Ray as the Little Eva and Topsy of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin" are making a series of personal appearances that add much merriment to Universal’s classic. Illllllllllllllllll|lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!lllllllllllllllllllllllllll!llli:i|l||llllll!ll!lllll Laura La Plante Scores in “Silk Stockings” PEGGY PATTON in the Wisconsin News heads the following review with the caption, “That La Plante Girl Again Week’s Best”: “If there ever is a time when a woman envies a man the privilege of a few inelegant and forcible cuss words, is when she discovers a run in a pair of new stockings. “Consequently the modern wife should be able to understand in a day when bare legs are permissible why a woman would be led to remove the traitorous members under the table. But why she should put them in your husband’s pocket and have him display them on the night of your' wedding anniversary — well that is a different thing. ~ “But that is just exactly what happened in ‘Silk Stockings,’ the picture now showing at the Alhambra. Laura La Plante, as the pretty little wife, really loved her husband, but she was ‘gunning’ for a divorce just the same. The stockings episode was the final blow to a lot of imaginary troubles and she got what she wanted. “A few weeks alone and she discovered that the lost mate was the most desirable thing in her life and she. deliberately compromises herself with him to nullify the interlocutory decree. “Johnny Harron is the likable and misunderstood young husband and Otis Harlan the peacemaker. The engaging little-Xaura“ does some splendid comedy pantomime.