Variety (May 1918)

36 MOVING PICTURES MEN. "Men" features three women, Charlotte Walker, Gertrude McCoy and Anna Lehr. Besides the remainder of the company in Erlnclpal roles appear from the playing to ave been selected for ability rather than economy. This carries the feature along. Its story could not do that, excepting In the old way of giving the picture bouses something everybody knows they wanted at one time, the wrecking of a young girl, the love affair of another (in this case sisters, unknown to one another), the vlllian and the hero, two of the latter. „ The writer of the story made it as hard as possible for the casting director. About eight of the roles called for good playing, which probably suggested the three "names." One of the scenes is almost a duplicate of another not so long ago, although the furniture may have been different. It is of the man about town meeting u model, posing model, not cloaks and suits. This model was quite in- nocent and her artist-employer loved her. Ik- told her so, but sho knew another fellow and the other fellow led her into a furnished apartment, told her it was hers, and he prom- ised to marry the girl, but nearly married her sister instead, while the artist made good on the marriage thing with his model later on. It's all very pretty and booky, excepting for the fellow who started all the trouble by doubting the girl he had proposed to. That's in the other issue of the story, the straight love thing. He left the girl to go to Mexico or somewhere where there was an open lot, and it was months before he got back, "just in time" and the "next day" was the wed- ding—but it's the same old thing, though done here with a polish of production, photography and playing that makes It hold up. One hardly knows who to prefer among the three women stars, Miss Lehr or Miss McCoy. And not being certain which one or both played the roles, both might be chosen with perfect safety, but the gal that the guy walked out on was certainly some girl to leave on such short notice. One thing that forces Itself to notice Is that some of the roles seemed filled by players be- yond the age the original script might have called for. This is hidden a bit often by the photography and make up and again that discloses It. But "Men" will do all right as a regular release for regular fans. They will like it. Sim*. OLD WIVES FOR NEW. Charles Murdock Elliott Dexter Sophy Murdock Sylvia Ashton Sophy (In the prologue) Wanda Hawley Juliet Kaeburn Florence Vldor Berkeley Theodore Roberts Norma Murdock Helen Jerome Eddy Viola Marcla Manon Jessie Julia Faye Charley Murdock J. Parks-Jones Bertha Edna Mae Cooper Blagden Custav Seyffertitz Sim cox Tully Marshall In adapting David Graham Phillips' bril- liant novel, 'Old Wives For New" (Artcraft) to the screen, Cecil B. DeMUle, the star Lasky director, accomplished an admirable product. It Is fortuuale that the plcturizatlon fell Into such expert hands. The results might have been fatal otherwise, for there is a mixing of the fictional with the real. Mr. Phillips, a master-author, could conceivably handle delicate situations with his facile pen much more easily than Mr. DeMUle could fashion his scenes for the film version. These appears to have been some doubt as to the propriety of presenting the picture in total at the Rlvoll. The problem of cutting was no doubt con- sidered. The picture is shown this week in the same house, though originally scheduled for last week and there probably have been few eliminations, since the running time Is one hour and ten minutes. It doesn't seem feasible to delcto scenes without spoiling a worthy film product. One woman patron of the Rlvoll remarked that "It Is a beautiful picture, but I am afraid Its a bit Immoral," which, however, isn't aptly descriptive. What some audiences might find naughty in "Old Wives For New," others will consider splen- did dramatics. Perhaps the lady patron found in the several feminine characters whose fine feathers were gleaned through their ability to land a "live one," something not to be upppovwl «f. True, those characters are there, but they are very cleverly dono—faith- fully done in fact. Yet Mr. DeMUle has as deftly Bteerod from the vulgar as did Mr. Phillips In his word story. The novel in jest tells of Charles Murdock, a young man of fine promise, who marries a beautiful girl In his youth, there being two children to the union. Twenty years later, though highly successful in business, he finds himself thoroughly dln- satinfled because of his mate having grown slovenly, obese and lost all charm. In tho north woods he meets Juliet Raeburn, tho woman ho ran and does love. Juliet, when he confesses that ho 1h married, evades him and he attempts to forget. So to do he goes out one evening with his roue partner, accom- panied with two "painted llllies." Tho part- ner is shot by a Jealous cast-off, but the af- fair is partly hushed up. Juliet's name Is dragged into the mens and she flies to Italy. Murdoek, too, goes abroad, taking along a "Illy" as a shield for the woman he loves. Murdoek's wife obtains a divorce and finish finds Murdock and Juliet starting on a Ven- etian honeymoon. There are so many excel- lent features to the picture version of "Old Wives For New" that those who llkod the book arc sure to enjoy tho picture. Laying aside the perioral theme, what may bo con- sidered Immoral Is counter-balanced by tho pointing out of a moral and thus the pleturo should encounter no serious censorship. The care with which the all-round, fine cast wsb chosen speaks for itself In the results at- tained. Elliott Dexter has perhaps done no more polished characterization than as Mur- dock. Theodore Roberts as the un-mannorly partner presented his usual high-class acting. Florence Vldor as Juliet Is sincere, while Marcla Manon, Julia Faye and Edna Mae Cooper performed splendidly under careful direction. Photographically the picture Is on as high a plane as the other essentials. To Jeanie Macpherson goes full credit for tho scenario, also a fine bit of craft. Ibee. A SOUL FOR SALE. Steele M lnturn Albert Roscoe Neila Pendleton Dorothy Phillips Hale Faxon Wm. Burress Mrs. Pendleton Katherlne Kirk wood "A Soul for Sale" is a Jewel production. starring Dorothy Phillips. It Is an adapts- tlon of Evelyn Campbell's novelette which appeared in Snappy Stories under the title of "Barter." That's exactly the kind of people "A Soul for Sale" will appeal to—the kind one sees at 8.90 A. M. weekday mornings going to their stenographic work, clad In silk stockings, short skirts and with enough make-up on the face to shame a professional burlesque queen. Then "to make it more difficult," Unlversal's scenario department threw In a couple of extra bits of sensation- alism. This local censorship business is a curious affair. One reads that they find fault with certain scenes In "Hearts of the World," and that same local board will probably pass "A Soul for Sale" without adverse comment, which contains a visualisation of a young girl in a man's room having her filmy nightdress torn from her, and a title reading that the man intends to ravish her, she making only feeble protest, culminating In the man deciding not to take what he doesn't own. That scene has absolutely no bearing on the* progression of the story and was manifestly put In for very obvious sensationalism. The plot Itself may be told In a very few words. Girl's mother le extravagant and persuades daughter to accept rich man for a husband, much older than herself, and to give up the poor young man. Well, the poor young man goes to the oil fields, where he wears Immaculate white clothes and a Panama hat, and comes back rich and finally wins the girl. In spite of these handicaps Allan Holubar has made a most effective productions, and the cast, for Universal, Is remarkably good. The whole thjng is nothing more than a pandering to Immature or perverted minds. Jolo t Arthur Storey, of the same company, will retire Saturday to take up newspaper work, PARALTA PLAYS PICK OF THE PICTURES BfSSIC 1 8ARRISCALF CURRENT ISSUE BESSIE BARRISCALE in JAMES YOUNG, « Director ROSE O' PARADISE » GRACE MILLEK WHITE, Author ROBERT BRUNTON, Manager of Production! Character is that often indefinable something, without which all men and things ^ would be equal. Character is that touch of individuality which distinguishes your theatre when compared with another. Most five cent houses are half empty. The fifty cent houses are packing 'em in. Character creates value. The public demands good pictures. Is the character of your theatre meeting the demand? PARALTA PLAYS, Inc. 8 N WEST 48th STREET E W YORK CITY i Foreign Distributors: Inter-Ocean Film Corporation. Canadian Distributors 4 : Globe Films, Ltd. Bwaxo.- MlHHrs WAUMAU. s^^#r r* >JsfcsftffftB J n DISTRIBUTED THROUGH H0QKINS0N SERVICE AT ALL GENERAL FILM EXCHANGES