Variety (January 1921)

42 Friday, January £1, 1021 -■■ ■ humor. Despite that, the over- Srawa continuity docs not insure a letlurglc feeling. The photography Of J»r. Hen Vail !a lair but un- exceptionablc It would tif.'vm. iu conclusion — and thi.* nia\ only be a guess—that if drama, tense, rigid in flavor, would have been the objective in- stead of farce comedy, the result would have been a materially greater feature. Perhaps artistic- ally, too. Certainly the introduc- tion warrants it. In its present version it is hard to recommend it other than possessing all the de- merits of 6 regular release. Just one more. tttep. SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Alicia T^-« Constance BinnHjr Ko*a Vargas Lucy F'oi P«n Mnriano Calderuii Ward Cr*ite Don Luis V.irsHR Prane Wilbur I'aMi-ron'a BeMSketpst Clertru<t« liillnmn Rtohanl Iti<1gl«>y Mark Smith Mm. Kvanft, Alicia's Aunt <iruc«* Scudlford Mr. Stimson, American Consul.... Won. Riley Hatch Spy Adolph Millar C instance Blnney in Healart's "Something Different" Isn't. It has no stor. warranting the expansion to its present length. It has no con- tinuity (Kathry*.e Stuart) offering anything exceptional in episodical treatment. Its cast, while havi. g •ome admirable artists, have noth- ing to do to excite one into speaking of any individual merit. Robert M. Haas' art direction is the best thing, if. William Neill as director will not .shine over any accomplish- ments in this slow—oh, much too slow-mo ing—comedy. Withal the producers' idea in selecting Alice Duerr Miller's original story foe Hiss Finney's talents must have been along those lines that Charles Frohman selected pajama farcos for BilHe Burke. i Tho day is over in the legitimate theatre when a pajama-clad heroine is the center of interest because of a tendency to shock her aristocratic elders. Why should a lady in riding breeches with proclivities to shoot her boot-covered legs in the air and cavorting in pell-mell fashion be re- cepti 'e to picture audiences? Alice Lee (Miss Blnney), prefer- ring the invitation of a school chum In one of South America's imper- turbable republics, leaves Long Island and a wealthy though ob- jectionable suitor. In the strange land she is unknowingly made the accomplice of a revolutionary party. Imprisoned by a gallant captain and tho usual "stuff," they fall in love. Miss Miller's original story or novel is "Calderon's Prisoner." It was a popular seller, but not on*? t Miss Miller's' best. To single out any one in this dull comedy for any individual merit is to point to Ward Crane, who does aome fine "straight" acting, with sufficient reserve in every scene to justify being mentioned. Lucy Fox, although scarcely sharing the num- ber of scenes given to Miss Binney, does rival the star in pulchritudi- nous charm. This is a rare occur- rence in any picture with a star. Oliver Russell's photography is praiseworthy. Sj»me of the titles are gei inely funny and you can't help laughing at the introduction to tho American consul who seeks a pctft in any wot country. Step. through the dictograph, and simul- taneously is the cause for tbe epi- sodes. The continuity further em- braces it la nothing more than a gentle, grave-grown old man. who is reading out of a book with the more vivid passages calling for the ensuing action. The most interesting elements are tho scenes of the Norsemen in acticn. Superior to that are the Chinese scenes, especially the float- ing gardens. They are a credit to Kdward Shulter. art director, while excellent camera work is the con- tribution of Jackson J. Rose. This may or may not be the pic- ture debut of Courtenay Foote; but as for his ability to act few can ttnd UMonastaNHi JUe.^vaor in . thi* production. It is a triple roio in addition, showing more than any- thing else the knack of being versa- tile in character. Thelma Percy is fair to look upon and her emotional work reglsteredt although a little more of the Oriental make-up in thoHO scenes would have brought more contrast to the part. A hi; played wth Skillful reserve as the Distrlat Attorney was handled by Dwlgbt Crittenden. It -is seldom a player uses such discretion in a few scenes nnd still remains Im- pressive enough to be spoken about. The "boas" of Chance Ward was not sufficiently dominating to be convincing. As an inspector with old police methods "Doc** Cannon gives a very satisfactory perform- ance. Miss Duly in a small bit was well cast. The direction of Edward Sloman is able. Strp. THE LAND OF JAZZ. 'In the Land of Jase" (Fox), starring Eileen Percy, a former Ziegfeld girl, is one of the numerous "over-night" productions this con- cern has literally circulated. Liite many others, it has little merit. The direction was by Jules O. Furthmaa from a story by Barbara Le Marr Deely. Neither holds any- thing to deserve mention, nor does the picture as a whole. The heroine, on pretext of being insane, sev:ur«s admittance to an "insanitarium," the presiding phy- sician over which is the heroine's best friend and, although affianced to the "best" friend, is 4 »eeved over the Litter's relationship to a French offlcvr, whose kiss has a "heavenly kick." The entire affair winds up in reel of shimmying for some obvious cause. It is worth observing, however, the Improvement in Miss Percy's pictorial "oris. From .point of vivacity she may be able to do big- ger things and certainly more worth while. It is all a matter of direc- tion, site p. THE STAR ROVER. Dr. Hutch Standing. Faith Levering Inxpe< tor Burns.... District Attorney,,, Berjteant Andover., TuM>* llaxle • •••••• . . .Court* nay Foot" Thelma Percy "1 »(ic" Cannon .Dwlgtit Crittenden lw k Carlyvle Chance Ward .... Marci Hi T>u!<*> "The Star Rover" (Metro-Shurt- leff) has three of the most essential picture points—a good story, equally good east and a finished production. The late Jack London wrote the story. In a scenario succinct and well knit together by Albert Shelby Le Vino, it is largely dependent for its interest and endurance on the part of an audience, accepting facts that are to be coupled wi^h the fantastic. For London's story is one of countless endeavors to prove the soul is ever transient, although It passes from the body after it is deceased. There is a cut-back into two epi- sodes as the result of a poliee "third degree" to wring a confes- sion from a man. Tho methods employed are those of suspending him by the thumbs. And in the SUb-conscioui State, when the nor- ms! senses are numbed, the Hash bach P really t e supposed con- HER FIRST ELOPEMENT. A polite comedy with a shopworn theme. Wanda Ilawley stars. It is a Uealart special adapted in a scenario by Edith Kennedy from a story by Alice Durr Miller and di- rected by Sam Wood. It runs through without a single "kick." The best place for auch pictures is on the shelves. An all-believing heroine who, un- der pretext of impersonating an adventuress, incidentally compro- mises herself with the man she is supposed to meet, but wh / has been too pre-occupicd to make her ac- quaintance. She goes off on a yachting trip with him. Believing her to be the woman whom he can still in her purpose of attaching his brother, he finally learns the truth. It Is curious to observe Miss Kennedy's idea in continuity in (lashing on the screen the marriage license that the couple have pro- cured o square the idea there may have been an illicit relationship. Technique of this kind has been passe for years. The cast includes Jerome Pat- rick. Nell Craig, Ann Hastings. Lucien Littleiield, Kdvvin Stevens. John MacKinon. As a production the picture is expensive, rich in its interiors and settings. The photography is very good. Htcp. THE GOOD BAD WIFE. Vera McCord's production (inde- pendently released) of "The Good Had Wife." lias more bad (if one may use that expression) than good in it. It has been film-adapted from a novel entitled "The Wild Fawn," by Mary I. Taylor. The singular fact is that the subject is too much for Miss McCord's talent "VeifuHien that t ire police chief hears] as a directress, and nn'ch be.voud HOTEL. HOLLYWOOD THE ItiNDIMOUS OS I II E \ T R I C A t 8 BIST the starring efforts of Dorothy Green or the featured Sidney Mason. - It is doubtful if the book could have made good 'llm material. Its application for a picture, it seems, needs the* combired talents of a cast of truly big artists and a di- rector worth his weight In gold. The task that would confront such a director under the pi*e-supposed circumstances would he to take the darling of the Parisian theatrical world, plant her In a Southern com- munity, with all Its combined ele- ments of what it considers faith, religion, ethics, et al., and out of a clear sky, this Parisian lady shocks the community, causes tbe youijger brother of her husband to shoot an alleged •erasUa whom &he had divorced before her marriage. This Is about the meat of the story. Misa Green must dance in a man- ner nothing short o* expert. This Miss Green fails to do, and the con- tention ahe Is the darling of. Paris and in her "coup de theatre," is enabled to stimulate the interest of the American 1 misrepresented from ie start. On the face there is nothing in the action to show why this American should be en- tranced. These are but a few out of numerous incidents 1 in the pic- ture that cannot hold true, or If true, seem beyond reason as they aro enacted. The picture has been badly as- sembled. Its scenes are wobbly and, to add to the general demerit, the title work is permeated by matter which one can hardly forgive in these days of progressive picture making. The referenev ' -> "never crossing the threshold of this home." has about exhausted its use- fulness in bot) the picture theatre and the legitimate. If tbe picture had been staged ise the manner of the first opening scene showing tbe environment which surrounds Miss McCord's heroine actress, there would be something in a unit to commend. The continuity of Paul Price ig poor, the photography of Abe Pried I is Inexpert. It is not at all doubtful if this so* called "all-star" cast. Including the featured members referred to. i a highly exaggerated. They include Moe Lee, Leslie Btowe. Mathilda Brundage. Albert lfackett. Heat rice Jordan, Pauline Denkens. Wesley Jenkins, T. Thornton Barton, Kr« vllle Aldersor. and Bessio Stilton. 1 ae comedy work of the colored team has rome good jxolnfs, ^jyfl what looks like an inslgniucaiu bit by Moe Lee. a Chinese girl, is ef- fective. Step. ...-L L -L 99 .— .Jl V Take a Tip from the Wise Old Serpent! He may be a naughty old snake, but he always starts something that's full of pep and fun! < CONSTANCE TALMADGE took the tip and you'll see the riotous results at the inn i rwoon I «»* AKfiELES. CALIFORNIA. SM A R K T R A N Broadway and 47th Street Beginning Sunday, Jan. 23 "MAMMA'S AFFAIR" Presented by Joseph M. Schcnck. Adapted by John Emerson—Anita Loos From Rachael Barton Butler's Famous Stage Success. Directed by Victor Fleming The kind of comedies that please patrons and makes money for exhibitors under the plan of the Associated First National l,|, * v<V* *** ******** There'll be a Franchise everywhere