Variety (September 1922)

42 PICTURES - Friday, September 20, 1022 THE FIGHTING GUIDE A Vi:igr.»|'li. v.tli William I>unmn ant E<mh Johnson co-starred. i>tre< t« <i i>> Wiil'.iirn Imuran fronf the K'-rlpt by lit J. .smollen. Shown at Ww h New York on doable U iture bill. Ned L.lKiitnlr:jr William Duncan Kthel MaqDonald /.Hdtth Join/on I^oril C'iiumXch Winston.. .flarry Loniyiitle Tubba. \\ ,iU!am MCCall Grant Kn..*■•••- ShTnry l>All.rx>U John MarlK.n:t.l Chirles Dudley 'Indian Kill' Kred De Hilv.i Mm. Canu'Jii> Mn! Harry Hum* Here Is a Vitaffraph western t liat Is decidedly different. Because of this fact it is strong enough to ride by itself instead of being played on double feature bills as jt i* being by the Loew Circuit. A western without a dressed tip cowboy, or near cowboy, and still with Just as much action and better riding stuff th'*n the usual type of western has. William Duncan and Edith Johnson the the Vita's serial stars. They both qualify as feature stars and they should be kept so, providing they will continue to turn out pic- tures of the calibre of this one is. It is a picture that gets over the plate with a wallop. William Duncan has the role of a guide In the northwest. The head of an English Syndicate engages him to guide him to the holdings of the company. Duncan decides to compel the titled one to change places with him and he walks into a mystery crime, clears it up and wins the girl, who is the daughter of his dad's former partner and who Is accused of the crime. It la a simple tale directly and simply told, but with a lot of action. Duncan handles himself wonderfully well, rides like a Comanche and pulls one trick In the riding stuff that is enough to make the picture. Miss Johnson shows a wealth of screen personality in this picture and handles her role exceeding well. The production wasn't a costly one, but the picture is there with the action punch from beginning to end. A Fred. GIRL WHO RAN WILD A Universal production of Hrct Harte'a "M'llaa," adapted and directed by Rupert Julian, with Gladys Walton starred. Shown at Loew'M New York on a double feature bill with Buster Keaton'a "Cops." Bret Harte's Immortal "M'liss" is presented here under the title of -The Girl Who Ran Wild." which undoubtedly is the Idea of the Uni- versal executives as to a title that is sure fire for the box office. May- be it is and then again maybe it isn't. Thoso that would be attract- ed by that particular title are going to be disappointed when they see the picture, and thoso who would 04 me to see "M'liss*' stay away from the theatre because they could not by the widest stretch of their imag- ination figure that "The Girl" title would be remotely connected with the Urct Ilarte story. It is barely possible, however, that V did not want this production confused with the Artcraft production of "M'liss'' which Mickey Nellan directed with Mary Pirkford as the star, released In 11MK. That version of "M'liss" was a real picture; this version is just so much iilm. The Harte story was adapted and directed by Rupert Julian, who was far from getting either the spirit or the atmosphere of the story on the screen. Gladys Walton, one of the younger U stars, suffers by comparison with Miss I'ickford in the role by those who remember the performance of the latter in the picture, but she Is a pleasing enough little harum scarum of the gold camp, with perhaps a slight tendency to over-act the tom- boy stuff. The cast supporting the star is a fairly good one as Univer- sal standards of casts go, and the production is about all that could be asked for In a picture of this sort that was evidently made inside of a low production overhead limit. It. however, Is a fairly entertain- ing picture that moves along rather slowly as to action except for th? dance hall barroom tight between the hero and the heavy. That is rather well handled by the princi- pals involved. Otherwise there Is nothing about this picture that takes it out of the U regulation pro- gram class, even though it might have been developed into a real spe- cial. From a box office standpoint there is naught about the picture that one would bank on. except In the reg- ular daily change of policy houses, where there la a steady grind and no one cares what is on the screen and the picture house Just serves as a limekiller. Fred, REPENTANCE London, Sept. 15. This, the first picture made by Geoffrey Benstead, with the "B. & Z." brand, is good dramatic enter- tainment. The story is an original one, written by Lilian and Edward R Gordon, the latter having di- rected the production. The story is of humble life, but although strong it Is never sordid and the change of locale from the squalid east end to the fashionable west Is well done. Queenie has been kidnapped when a child and Is "keeping house" for a good-for-nothing scoundrel named Dan Creedon. She has one friend, a flower seller, Toby Willis, and while chatting with him one night meets Frank Hepburn, a society man who is having a look around the slums. Returning home, she is assaulted by Creedon, who is ar- rested. The fellow, however, is only bound over and on his return home again assaults the girl. This time it is Toby who comes to the rescue. In the subsequent fight he receives injuries from which he dies. Creedon is arrested for murder and Queenie is homeless. She Is befriended by a charitable woman, who obtains a position for her as a mannequin. She soon becomes a success. She meets Frank again and he is once more attracted by her innocence and beauty. She falls ill and he has her sent into the country to his own home, but Queenie thinks it is the house of the doctor who has been called in.. Creedon escapes and coincidence takes him to the house where she is. He forces her to write a letter exonerating him from guilt In the death of Toby. Later he calls on Lady Hepburn and tells her Frank has ruined Queenie. Lady- Hepburn goes to the house and find- ing them together and with a baby Queenie is mothering believes the story. She disowns Frank at the same time, telling him he is only her adopted son. The tangle is ulti- mately straightened out when Dan Creedon, who has been mortally wounded while resisting re-arrest, confesses his guilt and proves Queenie Is really Lady Hepburn's missing daughter. Explanations re- garding the true relationship be- tween Frank and Queenie fo'low and the pair are happily united. The production work is excellent throughout and the settings are good. Peggie Hathaway gives a very good performance as Queenie. Ray Raymond Is capital, if a little highly colored as Dan Creedon, and a capital study of Toby Willis comes from Geoffrey Benstead. Many other small parts are well played and the east end scenes give scope for some capitally stage-managed crowd work. The British, French and some { other continental rights In this film I have already been disposed of. Gore. DICK TURPIN . London, Sept. 13. This latest greatly boomed and long anticipated Stoll film is a dis- appointment. Beyond the fact that it is historical, the central character Is called "Dlok Turpin," and the famous ride to York is featured, it might be anything. Tho story is merely the usual historical mixture of ladies in distress and cavaliers, wicked and otherwise, with the usual happy ending. The "doubling" in the ride Is very apparent, not only on the part of Turpln but on the part of the Bow Street runners. Matheson Lang's name (no worse choice from a physical point of view cou!d have been cast for the part) will probably bring some measure of success to the film in England, but that is its only chance. The story tells how, on his way to Weston, near York. Ferret Bevis, who has Jeered at highwaymen and wagered nobody could rob him, is held up by Dick Turpin. The brag- gart has his daughter Esther with him. the object of his visit being to marry her to the Earl of Weston and with her Turpin promptly falls In love. As a side line, he assists Luke Sopors to recover his inheritance, ferret Bevis now decides Esther shall marry Luke and in her terror the girl sends a message to Turpin who is hiding in London. She im- ploresWm to come to her assist- ance. Turpin has been in the mean- lime captured, but Rack Bess re- sponds nobly to his call. Then comes the ride, with the pursuit lose behind. Black Bess dies of a broken heart and Turpin arrives too late to prevent the marriage, but In time to kill her husband and re- store her to the arms of her lover. The picture closes on Turpin who has acquired another horse, a white ?r®o iS tlr £?' drln! <inK a sad (oast to Bonny Black Bess." The acting Gore. FIRES OF INNOCENCE London, Sept.* 11. This la yet another picture put forward under the auspices of the British National Film League. It is an ordinary story marked by excel* lent production and much bettor act- ing than we are In the habit of seeing in native productions. The story is one of village life and has for its theme the social battle between the vicarage and the big house of the aristocracy. Because the vicar's daughter dresses well she is looked upon by the village gos- sips as being "no better than she should be." The vicar calls on a widow, a stranger to the village, and immediately becomes the center of sea dal. He is Innocent, but ap- pears so guilty that the bishop de- mands an explanation, which is con- sidered quite satisfactory. Finding the bottom knocked out of their scandal-loving ideas the gossips turn to the realities around them. The vicar's son has stolen Jewelry from the local representative of aristocracy and his daughter has dared to fall in love v with the son of the house. Eventually tho gossips are hoist by their own petard and the vicarage family arrives at the conventional happy ending. Joan Morgan is exceptionally good as the daughter, and the same can be said of Marie I'Mngton as the aristocratic lady. The leading cos- sips are ably played by Madge Tie? and Nell Emerald. Gore, is good. A vol B. Silverman, of House. Grossman & Vorhaus, and Louis Weiss, of Weiss Bros. Clarion Photoplays, Inc.. have been appoint- ed receivers of the profits of the "Sawing a Woman In Half film expose produced and distributed by Clarion and the Alexander Film Co. until restrained by court order. A motion will be argued this week to include as co-defendants John E. Coutts. Ike Weber. Walter Hall and Frank Kirby. Greatest Combination Stage and Semen rxuikm 6w Offend to&chibitors The biggest attraction of the new season that is ■ offered exclusively to motion picture theatres is George Beban and his theatrical company appearing in conjunction with Mr. Beban's tremendous motion picture The Sign of the Rose.** We can play only a 30-week route this season and only a few weeks* time remain open. Wire us at once for play dates and prices: A Telegram From a Surprised Exhibitor k£3N. ■**$*' **N> Hjr«> N WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM Wichita, Kansas. Sept. 23. 1922 Fred Warreo, American Releasing Corp., IS West 44th Street. New York. N. Y. Booked Beban and company in conjunction with The Sicn of the Rose. Played to regular admission prices figurine lucky to break even for advertising it would give the house. Delighted to advise you that it played to a profit beyond my wildest ex* pectations. Congratulations and many thanks for the attraction Stanley Chambers, Managing Director, Miller Theatre. '$m r m Harry Carson, presents \jeorge Bebati JheSIGNof the ROSE MCfcSV With Helene Sullivan and a superlative cast Written and superoi. A by George Bebari >\S\V«*\\\\\\V\\V\S\S\\V\\A\\\V.\V\SS>^^^ -van —— ,mcrtran m \ BSLSAf INC XOWOBATION to A NEW IDEA IN NATIONAL ADVERTISING OF MOTION PICTURES HERE'S SOME BIG NEWS FOR YOU ELLIS PARKER BUTLER ons of America's foremost authors, whose book, "Pigs Is Pigs," is known to practically every family, will writs a ssriss of six story advertisements in the Saturday Evening Post on "East Is West." First National considered this picturs so unusual it invited Mr. Butlsr to see it. Hs was so enthused over its bigness and its fine sntsrtainmsnt value that he agreed to write a message to the American public on its merits. It was then arranged to use theee heart-to-heart talks in the most widely distributed medium known, The Saturday Evening F*ost. Think of the tremendous asset in having Mr. Butler write these messages under his own signature. No more capable writer could be engaged to undertake such a campaign. And his high standing as a man of letters will carry additional weight. Besides, the American people love the personal touch in adver- tising, and especially when a man of so unusual attainments talks directly to them, telling them what HE thinks. These six story advertisements will also be reproduced on eix half-sheet posters for your lobby, so that a single glance will connect the advertisement with the picture, even if any one should not have taken time to read them through, though they'll be so interesting every one will read them. Joseph M. Schenofc present- CONSTANCE TALMADGE in 8 reels of the best fun and thrills ever screened u East Bs West" r.y Samuel Shi,.man and John B. Hymer, (mm the play produced by Wm. Harris, Jr. Adapted by rrancea Marion. Photographed by Antonio CJoudio. Art direction by Stephen Ooosaon. Directed by Sidney Franklin, ___^ director of "Smilin' Through" A First National Attraction