Variety (January 1924)

26 VARIETY PICTURES Thursday, January 24,1924 THE EXTRA GIRL rra*eniO(l by Mack 8«nneU. with Mabel Ifomuintl starred. Htorjr by M&ck Bennett. Directed by K. Richard Jonea. Shown for a run at the Central. New Tarlu Jan. 20. Runninx tirae, 78 minute*. Keleaaed Uirouffh A-sHoclated Bahlbltore. Pa Oraham Oeorre Nichola Ua Ornham •••••.Anna Ilemandei Bue Uraham • MatMt Normand Save aid^llngi • Kalph Urevee Aa/oo Afplejohn • Vernon Dent T. Philip Hackett..... Itamsey Wallace Th« Actiir • Wllllum Desmond Belle Brown Charlotte Mlncau The Director Carl Stockdale Studio Manaeer Krio Mayne Berlal Director Cbarlca K. French The ActreM KIslo Tarron T»ddy Br Illnuelf I Mabel Normand came to town last Bunday at the Central on the screen la the form of "The Extra Girl." Tb« picture is Just another one of th* comedy melodramatic type of things that MISB Normand has been Appearing In recently. Had It pre ceded "UoUywood" and "Souls for Sale" It would have l>cen a knock- out, but coming as It does after those two "Inside stuff" pictures. It doesn't deliver any particular kick. It Is a good program feature, and in towns where the exhibitor feels he can get away with it the morbid Interest in the star at this tirae may draw some money. The story of "The Extra Girl" Is by Mack Sennett and the direction t>y F. Richard Jones. As a matter •r fact, the only credit overlooked on the screen titles Is that the "stock is by I^astman." MIs.s Normand has the role of n "female Morton." Back In the old home town In Illinois she Is in love with a garage mechanic, while her dad wants her to marry the owner of the drug store. Mabel won't have any of the pill pounder, and on the wedding day runs away to Holly- wood, with transportation and funds provided through her winning a beauty contest. That beauty contest thing was a frame, though, for a Jealous grass widow back in the home town who wanted to cop the auto surgeon switched the pictures in the envelope that went to the contest editor. Ho when Mabel gets on the Bennett lot she is given a Job as an assistant in the wardrobe department. That doesn't fcaze her. She writes home of the glories of "the land of sunshine and flowers" and has dad and mother Join her. They bring }16000 with them. One of Mabel's obliging friends on the Coast in- vests it for them, telling them the next day that the company has gone to the wall and there is nothing left for them to do but go back home. Right here Mabel comes to the fore and tracks the villain to his room and with her little revolver sticks him up to get the coin back, but he Is getting the best of the situation when In bursts the little auto guy, who has been working props around the studio to be near Mabel. Between them they get the coin back. The picture has a lot of hoke that will get laughs, and Mabel's camera test Is one of these Uhat is certain to get over. The supporting cast has George Nichols and Anna Hernandez play- ing the Pa and Ma, while Ralph Graves Is the hero and Ramsey Wal- lace the heavy. Mabel has one bit, that of lead- ing a Hon around the studio, that Is certain to give the audiences a thrill. The only que.Mtion In the exhibitor's mind should be, Can he or can he not get away with showing a Mabel Normand at this timoT If his pub- llo will stand for her—and for the greater part there is no reason why they shouldn't (at least until the trial of the shooting chauffeur proves different)—he will undoubt- edly get some coin with "The Hxtra GirL" Fred. RIVOLI Next Week Qktun M ABRAHAM LINCOLN I'rogrammnd aa "Al and Ray Rockett present their plcturlaatlon of the dramatic life of Abraham Lincoln." Story by France* Marlon; directed by Phil Roeen; produced by the Rockett-Mncoln Film Co. Opcn.-I at the flal»ty, New York, for a run Jan. 21. 1924. Runnlns time, 124 min- utes. KK.NTUCKT A.VD INWANA PERIOD aarah Lincoln Fay McKenxle Thomas Lincoln, father.. .Weacott B. <:iark Nancy Hanks Llncikln, mother...Irene Hunt Tsom F.nlow. nclshbor Charles French Mr. Oollaher. nelshlMr Calvert Carter Mrs. Uollahi^r. ncight»r Madfs Hunt Austin (loIlAher, tM>y chum—Raymond Lee Sarah Lincoln (10 years old).. Ida McKenaie Abraham Lincoln (7 years old)..Danny Hoy THB NEW SALEM PERIOD Abraham Lincoln, as a youns man Georse A. Bllllnsa Anne Rutledge. nrst sweetheart 1 Ruth OlllTard I John McNeil KJdIe Burns Jack Armstrong, leader of Clary Orove Cans Pa< llartlcan Denton Oflat, employer of Lincoln Ot Is Harlan Mr. aikd Mrs. James Rutledffe, parents of Anno Jules Hanft and Julia Hesse Sally, country girl Ijoulse Faaendo A country politician Rot>ert Bculder Stephen A. Douglas, afte^^rard U. S. Senator William Humphrey Dr. Allen William Mclllwaln Auctioneer at New Orleans t>Iave Mar- k* Kre.1 Kohler Southern planters ( Bob Mllasch \ Ueorse Reehnu THE SPRINOFIHa,D PERIOD Abraham Lincoln Gcorse A. BUIlncs Mary OVMld. afterward Mrs. Lincoln.... Noll Crals Mary Todd's sister. Mrs. NInlan Ed- wards Ocnevltve Bllnn WlUle and Tad Lincoln, sons of Abra- ham and Mrs. Lincoln Mickey Moore and Newton llaU Richard 1. Oflesby, afterward Governor, . Francia Powers f ThOMASMEIGHAN <f ii>» PIED PIPERMALONE" »ft.CSCNTEO >V AOOLPH ZUKOA. ti JtSiC L IMKt By Booth Tarkington America's foremost male screen star in a story by America's foremost author—you know it's good. But you don't know how great "Pied Piper Malone" really is until you see it. And you'll find out what a tremendous following Meighan has among the fans at the same time. Adapted by Tom Geraghty. Directed by Alfred E. Green. One of the 18 Big New Para- mount Pictures Now Available THK WASHINOTON PERIOD Abraham Lincoln, President „ George A. Bllllnsa Mrs. Abraham Lincoln NeU Craic John Hay. Secretary to President Homer WIIHts Tom. colored servant Jim Blackwell Wklllam Scott, a Unton sold.er EVIdls Southerland Scott'a mother Frances Raymond Union ser.try Jack Rollings Corporal of Guard William MacCormack IliKby. ITnlon soldier Frank Newburg John Wilkes Rooth William Moran Chairman of Delegation John Kteppllng A Dani-er Wanda Oraaer General U. 8. Orant Waller Rogers General George Meade Alfred Allen General Robert E. Lee, C. 8. A James W^clcb Major, afterward General Anderson.... Miles McCarthy Colonel Rathbone Earl Schenck .Miss Harris Dolly MoI*«n Mrs. Surnut Cordelia Callahan A stable boy Dallas Hope A bartender Dick Johnson Ned Spa.nsler Jack Winn Actor at Ford's....'. Lawrence Grant Aotrcssv'^ at Ford's.... {Ivy Livingston i Kathleen tTiambers Stage hand at Ford's.... Harry Rattcnbury Allan rinkerton. Chief of Secret Serv- ice w. L. McPhecters rRE3IDD.VT LINCOLN'S CABLVET William II. Seward, Seeretarv of State, '.Waiis Marku ?Mmon I'amemn. SiH-rc^.arv of War..Joel Day Edwin M. Sta.nt.,n. Secretary ot War.. Mick Cogley Salmon P. Chase. Secretary of Treas- ury Charles Smiley Hugh Mc'.'*ulloeh, Secretary of Treasury, C. A. Smiley Gldoon Welles, Secretary of Navy R. O, Dlion Caleb B. Smith. Secretary of Interior.. Harry Kelsey Montgomery Blair, Postmaster-General.. Joseph MKUs Edward Dates, Altorney-Ueneral "t> Fred Manly James Speed, Attorney-General Van Hardenburg William Dennison, Postmaster-General.. R. J. Duston Produced by ^; iAMut/snAnRS-iASKVcoMraitAnoNe 2-coIunia Mats and This picture will go down Into history with the great books that have been written on Abraham Lin- coln. What It will do on the screen as entertainment for the m.osses is problenuitic'il. It can be raudo tho picture of the year, but It will cost tremendous motley In a skilltully directed advertising campti-lgn to put It over. One cannot come Into New York into a theatre devoted solely to legitimate stage attractions and expect overniKht to bring the whole countryside to one's doors with staid and dignlfled advortisinp; method.s. At lea.st not f^r a pic- ture unless it he the biggest pic- ture in the ann.tls of f.io Industry to d.ate, and the "Life of Abrali.ini Lincoln" as presented by AI and Kay Hnnltett docs not quite qualify as the greatest picture over. HlKtnric.'illy it is gigantic. There its greatest value lies. It Is at once imiiie.sHivp .-inrt inleresting, and the Breat rcvortnce and respect which every true American holds for the martyred I'resident should make It an outstanding screen achieve- ment. There is huwever tinthhiK In- spiring or exaUitiK about the picture. It holds Its audience after about the third reel In a grip that brings a sob to the throat, .a sub that re- mains there thriiuRh the picture tn the very cud. Liut wlien it Is all over there is no great big moment, not a single great climax striven for and arrived at, that the audlenre will carry away to cause them to talk about the picture. True the pictures alms at Amer- icanization, a greater understand- ing on the part of the masses of the tremendous burden that Lincoln had to hear during the great crisis of the Civil War. but riKht here and now let it be said to those ttvU are Ti\n.n- l^fJSl4**f«' 'O"! t%e^lftuc« th«t they Win M^er be aWe trt grft fhrft portion of th* countrr lylnf south I of the Mason and Dixon line to *o- cept It as entertainment. There is a fact pointed out in picturedom that the three outstand- ing nUn successes to date have been those that have dealt with the his- torical periods of th"* country's his- tory. "The Birth of a Nation," the first of the super-specials, had the I>erlod of the reconstruction in the south after the war; "The Covered Wagon" deals with the winning ot the great west, and the third big money maker while not historical In fact was so typical of the hard rock-ribbed unforgiving conscience of the New England Yankee that "Way Down East" was considered a historical picture of New England life. Three sections of the country were touched on In this trio of tllms and it was believed that the next big picture that came along would naturally be one that was based on the man that gave his ail. even unto his life, to holdins these United States in union. That is the story that the Rocketts have tried to put into Abraham Lincoln, but they have failed to put It before an audience in a manner that makes one want to get up out of one's chair at the theatre and go forth resolved to bo a better Amer- ican. It does make you proud you are an American In the r.me light that Lincoln was one. ^ut it also makes you think that this country that should be made one of liberty In fact Isn't at this particular time Just what Lincoln would have wanted it to be. Historically and plctorlally there Isn't anything that could be asked for. Lincoln Is depicted from the night that he made his advent in the world In a little cabin In the Kentucky wilderness during a frightful blizzard to that fateful night when he passed from this world and "be- longed to the ages," after having been shot while at Ford's theatre, Wa.shlngton. The period of his lite aa a boy In Kentucky, followed by that as a young man in Indiana, his working as a rall-splltter and a Mississippi freighter, until chance brings him to Illinois and his first love affair with Anne Rutledge at New Salem where he worked as a clerk in a store to be near her. his first great sorrow in her death before they were married, are all graphically pictured. The following events of his life from the time that he went to Springfield, 11]., and his subsequent meeting with Mary Todd are splendidly set forth. The 'Todd in- cident as filmed however makes one wonder whether or not Lincoln was as much responsible .for his finally occupying the White House as his wife may have been, for Mary had set her heart on marrying a man that was to become President of the U. S. and she passed up Stephen A. Douglass, whose prospects were much brighter at that particular time, to marry Lincoln. During the period of his Pres- idency and the Civil War the political as well as the field of battle strife are sot forth. - Hattle scene.s follow one another, and the highest point that the picture touches Is where the men of the north come marching into Washington from the enst and the west In response to his call for SOO.OOO volunteers to put down the rebellion. It Is history, wonderful, vivid and colorful, and It Is possible there Is Just enough Americanism In all of us to give It the box office response that It deserves. If the picture gets that then It will run on Broadway for more than a year, but In the same breath It Is doubtful If our public Is ready to accept history as entertalntnent, when It Is naught but history which they have reaid. In the selection of Oeorge Billings ns Lincoln the Rocketts dug up a find. If the story that Is told Is true, that he had never r'lyed a single role on either stage or screen prior to his advent In this picture. It Is all the more remarkable that they selected him. but Billings Is a born actor, at least he was in the role of Lincoln. Ruth Clirrord played Anne Rut- ledge In the early portion of Lin- coln's life and prove sweet, charm. Ing and delightful. Nell Craig wm the Mary Todd, afterward Mri. LiS, coin, carrying It off convincingly From the program of charucten at the head ot this review it ess readily be Judged the number ot persons who played roles both of major and minor importance, and In addition to these were thousands In the mob and battle scenes. The latter scenes were particularly weu directed, but strange to say not a single bit of the action was tb« recipient of applause. The written titles with excerpts from Lincoln's speeches won the heartiest hands from the audience on the opening night; likewise at the same time ot all the national airs that were played "Dixie" was the one that received an ovation, Fred. THE ETERNAL CITY Modern adaptation ot 8tr Hall Calna's novel of the same name, first screened by Pamnus Players-Lasky In 1915. with Psuline Frederick as Roma, ths heroine. The new fllmlns: I* sponsorv<l by Samu4 Goldwyn and released through Klret Na- tional. The scenario Is Oalda IIer(>«r«'i^ and tha produoiton Is by George Pits- maurlce. Projection tlme^ 81 minutes; at ths New York Strand. Jan. 20. Only th* principal characters are listed among tka doasn or so. Donna Roma BarlMira I a Marr Baron Bonolll Lionel Harrymora David Rossi n»n I.ytsll Bruno Richard Bennett' MlngtielU ....Montagu Lots 'Samuel Goldwyn (who desires ta have it known that he is 'not now connected with Goldwyn Pictures'), presents" this news-topical version ot the famous Hall Calne noveL There Is the bare thread of the Calne story, but the surrounding at- mosphere is absent. The same pic- ture as It was made by Famous Players was a faithful reproduction of the love story. Goldwyn's opus alms more to tie up present day in- terest in the political upheaval ot Italy than to develop the human in- terest of the story Itself. There are long passages dealing with the Intrigues of the Reds, the patriotic fervor of the black shirted Fascisti, and the arch revolutionist Bonelll. Of the religious pageantry which made the big feature of the first "Eternal City," there Is not a vestige. The production, which was made In Rome. Is In reality a record of Italian politics since the war. David; the hero, is a lieutenant ot Mus- solini, while Bonelll Is here the arch conspirator who seeks a dictator- ship over the country through his secret backing ot the native Bol- shevists. Perhaps there is no good reason why the original should not be re- vamped, but this method of revision gives to the story a special Interest only to the Italian colony. Whether the rest of the United States will manifest enthusiasm over the alien political situation is something else again. Al)out two years ago the Goldwyn Company Imported "Theodora," screen version of the Sardou melp* drama, made In Italy. The Astor, New York, played for a few weeks, but when the production—one ot undenlablei beauty and force—got Into the other big cities of the coun< try it drew the Italian population and then blew up. Pittsburgh, for Instance, played capacity two weeks and two ot slim takings, closing suddenly at the end of the fourtht principally, ao It was believed at ths time, because the Italian populatloa was about used up. "The Eternal City" started lost Sunday night at the Strand with a turnaway. At 9.40 (after the last show had begun) the lobby was filled with waiting people and therS was a line from the boxofflce down nearly to 46th street. The oapadtf DISK REVIEWS Current disk releases reviewed weekly BY ABEL IN "THE CLIPPER" Only paper publishing critical reviews <t current disks. 99 44/100tli$ Per Cent. 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