Variety (April 1924)

20 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, April 23, 1924 TRIUMPH riiTo>vr,iir.t i<l-turo an.l a r-rr'A r. n- M- '■ ■rudtirtion, F*-ature«i l.t'.'iiiic*? .lity itnd Hi tl Jjk Iloi(iii". I)Ui''i>il by Do .M..:<'. A'l.iiU- «id fioin the niajrasiini: ^to^y of M;ty IMu.n- loii. showliiB nt Ihe Itixoil, .%'■ w YTk, ■wci k iif April :iu. nimiiing lini>', SS iiun- ntcs. Ann L/iiul T,':.'i;.» J<y Kinir 'I.iriMt Uiil la 1IniV|u« WillKiin «'l',fr Alit'M- \.ir...iu jRi.t"-! ^t:.lMl <'h.irl<H c^'Ii) Vaii'xtff TlifulDro Kofliiff .Samil 1 OwTt.TI 1(1. Ill rt IM.s.ii I'mltlN-'-H Uika Jul:.i !'.(>*' IJaVMl (iarmt i'imji^o Kav.cti T^.rrini Spot: Isw'tMido AiM.* u A f...-ti ry g:r! Z.i«il Ti't" A tr..in|i l;,ui ■'{ Uatt.i:i •thf tUm.r r rl A'111.I H. r.|..:t A i*.(iril*M J. >!::iiL Atluii)!* A corking re'ci^o t!la^ wiU staiul Dp upon tho work of tlip |)lny- ♦>rs, but a crfilit to tlii' rutiro .p(.r- DOniifl conrcin<"il in tlio niikliig. ""' Two minutes sliy oC an liour ;in<l a half in running tinip 1'm> fcatmc foiilil undi)ii))('<lls- assiinio ilflnion without a. harmful tffrit aUliouKh De Mille has so rouiinod tlie continuity tliat tiie stiuy nevi r beconirs an out-anil-out bur(l< n. It in In a minor number of prolonged i-loseup.s and in tin- repetition of a tew st€'rcotyped bits tliat Ihf soif^- flors might have been manipulated to advantage. rrodurtionall;-, the film eonfnrms to the Do Mille tradition in tiiat the wettings are more liliriy to bo ovrr- dre^sed than spari-e as to inipres- Mlon. The camera man, unim n- tloned, is also entitled to a how Uf an excellent piece of vvorli which Includes a couple of new an;;l»s that are <"ertain to receive imu*'r- sonafion by many. Of the cast there are three dis- tinct standpoints. Miss ,loy I.a RocQUO and Varconi, with the men overshadowing tlio girl on actual performance. The trio comprise the proverbial "til.mket flnisii' as to tffO"t, and if tho dfliiiitiou is to become additionally s;ringt nt laurel wreaths may be addressed, seali d, signed and delivered to L.i Koc<iU'. It's his picture. The name of Varconi Miunds new and should he be a recent nc<iuisi- tlon to tlif studir.s tliis )i.irticul.ir donation will e.^.tahlish him, and ;t marks .something el.-^o for -.nany of the Const nia:e celluloid coiitingcn? to worry about. Cast as an inter- mediate anarchist, with a chance to "dog It" as rega-da wearing ap- parel, Varconi struts ih.-ough this theme to make it look a madc-to- order role. La Rocijue is all over the s.^r'-en as a wca.thy spendthrif*, a park bum, and finally as a normal ex- ample of American citizenship. This Juvenile is building up a following for himself through su.'cessivo and creditable performances, giving in- dications o* reaching that f-trength where the name solos in fmn: of the theatre. La Unique may ruin a few masculine and rgotistical jier- sonal opinions in a witnessing audi- ence on the .subject of appearani e, but the girls g.osp, and wiiere they go the boys generally go, too, ..nd like It, making It suitable fur La nocque, who must know J.xi k Buchanan. There's nothing escf p'ionr.l in the ttory other than the action Is well tprinkled with laughs in telling of a tin manufacturer who dies and leaves a will stating that if his son (locsnt settle lown within two ye.ns the fiour^'O of income, the factory, shall pass to the managfr of the plant, unknowingly fri.m every an- gle, also a .son of the old cndirer by a secret marriacrc. Little ambition to work ai;d p'ep.ty of cm-.eh.'y does ,iway with any intention of labnr on tln^ p.irt of King (I^a Rncfiue), with ti;e liu-^i- ness suhsoiiuentl.v falling into hi." stepbrother'.s hands, lioth having been, and being, in love with tlie forewoman (Miss Joy), who has op- eratic inclinations, the Hnaneiil sit- uation Is reversed at tho expiration of the time limit. Follows tlie girl'*- theatrical succe.>^» abroad, after wl.l'h smoke from a fire etifles h<r voce forever whence the r< - turns home, ur.der a promise to mairy the former manager, but tt>ll in love with the previous presi- dent, who j.s now but an <.m'p;cycc in the same factory. Misman.igcmcnt of funde fiV.d In;- Pijs.sioiitd declaratii ng have the trio within 11.0 main eiiicc, where takes jila. 0 tho switcJi to tlie original status and tl;o betrothal of King and the t'''.. «')tU tlic ''epbiothcr sworn to worK in close liiiiini.j,y cv< r afti 1', 1)( .Mille ce,.;(ln't rcsj-^t jhiloto- phizirig in liio sub-litU*-', and if tliere .s a m<ir,il in tiie pi- ture it's we;i (piined iin(l<r the < ntertaiiiing i|ialitie.s rivi.iltd. Wliiili oKiy i;<>t si)eak so well for the film s tipiift movement, but js ccrtajn to be rc- lUtineiiilive. """The'Telease has only the two WiakiUKScs of duration .ind a .slow- ing i>p ot t.'ie fiript pa. c at the lijiisii. llowivcr, it w'.iuld ftill be above jiar with a eongluni' r.aiiin of oth«i faults K'l'ufiy (.11 the .•■trc'itlh of tiifc lafct. H-if. WOULD STRUGGLE FOR OIL .*■• ni-<Mlw alH.nal r-'fur'-, i>rtMlu.(tl l>y P . I i.nau el Mii,.m et tliu rii.l. U sii.N;- liri'iti lin«'ni (.f iJ'o Int'vior in fo- .,I>'r;!t icn w.th th<» Hurry S' S.iiilair < »il « 'ori'orulu II. ^^l'^|^ilt■ d i>y II K. lUitlfr. ..-Ikjv. II al the t';ini»,e, Ni w Verli, \,^.»k el .'il'i.l :(|. JPl'-i. I'.i,r,r Uf tin.t, <(i The )ii< tore canting consioerable hablmb aiiout for Ktveral weeks. \\ lien Inst offered to theatres along Broadway, there wa.s acoonipanyin!.- the. proposal to spend lO.OOO in ad- vertising tho I'icturc to t)io public. The picture is: to a great extei^t an cdui ational, but at ti.i.s tune, when there is so widespread a gene:;.! in- terest on the part of the ptihiic in tlie Oil .SiUiation and the o.l lands, it is worth Willie. The Tcajiot Dome oil land scandal, together witli tlie inquiry in Wasliiiigtcn, lias whetted I uoi:C interest jn just ilic situation that this ])ietu:'-i snows ihc dnij l-.le detail of. At present the jiictine sfem-~ a li!- ? e K.o lung, li then' w»re .ilout 1!) minutes cut from it, it wculii be avniialde to a greater ixtent. It i-n t a picture thai ime can pl.iy to the e.Mlusicn <f thur regular loa- ture, hut. Ill eonj:inetiC'n with it. Die 0.1 Mm sl.oiiid p:o\e a lox-otlice h.!).. It is .u :(al;;y a i/stiiry cf Cil from the Hiblii..il (i.i>« to the pres- ent. Tlie inginiiing .-lnuvs tl'.e in- strui'.ioTis to Ni/iih to lill the Cnlnks of the Aik with ii.;>h, and from •li.'^t |H int down the a.u-es of history the prrt tliat oil has played to the liegiMiing (if ti'iC auton-.idiilo days. liie great amount used .-ind li.e trc- niemlous part p'ayed by oil-drjven vehicles in il.e W.jrUl W.ir, tiic driv- ing if the tiansatlanti' fihii^s, and now the lion,'-- u-igc^ of o.l !• r light and heat. In showing the various oil fnIds and tho pipe hues new down and those projiesed in.t.'iis '01 iitry. tlicre ;s a dett'd line in me of the ni;ips th.'it shows a I lie line to be la.d from Tcaptt Dome to M. Louis. Thcie 11 a lot ef h tatistii al m.\'- t'r s;hrv.'ii jn the r'i't'ir" as to ■oi.- ■ .mption of 0.1 in var.ons parts of !:.e WO! d that ceold l.<. f.-s.lv •litn- .lattd. J'r<i!. They oo crcp ciit here and there in the (iction. The tale la one of a retiiing i?ilk falesman in ti dtrartment tN re, who IS much pur.sued by wcnicn, from tho Mndl.idy of his boarding house right along the line to the fter.o in the buyer's office, and the heiress bent on a lark who flirts witli blni ever the countti* .'.nd finally falls for him at the fnd cf the pi.-ture. liut r.ot until ho '.» ("- t..ng>.<l with the boarding house mistres.s who holds him up fcr $50U for lur shattered heart, the s;tni., who finally dei idcs to marry a plumbtr from the Bronx, f,nd the boss' daughter who thought he didn't look so l;ad after all. Alfred Lunt plays the ba<^hful salesm.in and gives him a doleful piofessional pallbearer appearance in the early part that brings laughs. Jobyna Howland as the boarding hou.se woman looks wonderful on the s-ireen and puts over a majority of t'e lunghs in this charm ter. Her- bert Corthell working with Jier at times )S a splendid foil. Alinii I'almeri looks decidedly pretty and has imjjroved somewhat in ill ting- since her lirst picture. Her v.imping bit got over very nice- ly and she looks to be right in line for one of Uiose flighty fliipjier rules li siiC i- i.ropeiiy hui.dlcil. OiiC of those .111(1 .shell be .issured i.s a lio.t ofli'e draw. Lynn Fontiiine, Winilrid .ivllcn and FinU' Kinncv iiil contribute in looks and small bits in tiie picture. Tlie pliotography and lighting are far from good and the tinting of the ruinf i.t liie caiiieo a;most m.iis the Pn.U;.'e •, nt.rny. YANKEE MADNESS Treilili^a, wr;;ifn nril (nrfcled ly chiiTli" v.. .Si >.;;i.i,-. I'liuletiaiihid liy 1 iaiy <;<i(il- fr.fncl. H.l.li'.d ty y H. O. At thd New Verk. Aviii 1.'. HuP9 *A ininutep. llebdl Mortcr .\rlhur Miiktt i-iecrii Tnm 'Wilwn li.ihaiil Jti.iirn 'JcorRi.' Laikin Delorff Hillie liov>* UMielrlii- Kiirl Scheiii-K Trri'Wi Oilie Kirly I>:i l.,iii Manuel •'amere I'll I " L<it'..i:o WictT Ixjne springs into revolt after cunningly laid plans. Tbey «3rlve a etcne train through the jail wall to form an exit. Another scen« carrying a tremen- dous kick Is a death struggle be- tween the Villain and the heavy in the girl's room. The lights are all cut fii.d the battle is ilUiminated only by ;ritermittcnt flashes of light- ning. That in ifsclf is nothing new, but the fierceness tvith •wliich the fight i.$ waged and the striking r-ic- torial values are corking. During the last few moments the film deteriorates into a savage se- ries of one s'rap fitter another. However, that won't hurt the box ofn appreciably, psTfticularly since everything from a complete traJn to an auto load of humans plunges sensationally over a precipice. The entire picture is a credit to Thomas Buckingham, the director. Even at the end when the old, hack- neyed situation of staying the elec- trocution of the boy at the last min- ute comes up, iie shows artistry and originality. Butler ^nd Miss Starke both do well, but they must surrender hon- ors to Harold Goodwin as the brother and Evelyn Brent as the dancer, two remarkably good per- formances. The balance of the east, continuity and photography, arc ail splendid. The name "Arizona Express" is nn unfortunate selection, sounding like .■v "western, • and the picture is far removed from the aveiage of th;it c ategoi y. compelled to watch Messalllnii's lovA uffaii s, the love affaire of an EgynZ tiiin princess with a cultivated tasf» for sadism end the pure love ot two slaves. The male slave wai r- 'ly tho cause of the trouble! Messnllna wanted him, eo did th^ I'rinctss Mirlt. He smirked at botlj like a Wardour street shop nsslstn ant, but announced his purity when the ladies proposed getting to cues; Jn tho end ho was discovered to be a Persian prince, and all tha nmorou.s wenches having been wiped out. true love got Ite film reward. The story is badly told. Sccnl. ctill'- the- picture is fine, and no morj beautiful settings have ever been seen. Crowds running Into thousands fill the rcelago and speed, ily lose their interest, although their direction Is brilliant. The acting is not good. Mcsealina Is portrayed by the Countess Lln.i de Liguoro, the Egyptian princess by Gianni TerribilU Gonzales, and the slave girl by Lucia Zanussl. All three women depend on the exposure ot their physical ch.arms more than on histrionic art. The men are almost all bad. Despite the badness of the story and the poor acting there is little doubt but that this picture, with its magnlflcent spectacular 1. oduction. will prove an exceptloni^ ally good showman's proposition. Oore. FALL OF AN EMPRESS -.ondon, April 10. The ccr.?cr h.avlng discovered suggestion, 01* something of the sort, in the title, "Messallina," the latest big Italian film to be .shown here, ie known as "The Fall of an Empress.' It is a big film, much too big in every way. Its very vastness is wearying, and its length well nigh uiTbe.\rable. For t'.ree hoir : the audience was THROUGH THE SHADOWS London, April 11. It would appear that Italy is cut to *<hovv she c.in beat Sweden in sordidness and morbidity. "Through the Sliadows" has every feature, yet made, beaten in long drawn out wretchedness and under world real- ism. Throughout its entire footage there is not a single spot of sun- shine, not a ray of relief, and the finale bringg no reprieve. All la black horror and nastincss and there is no promise of happiness to come, 111 this, at least, the producer. Car- mine Uallone, has had tho courage All Exhibitors in Michigan Read cur magazine published every Tuesday If you want to reach this rlientel* there is no better medium. Rates very low MICHIGAN FILM REVIEW JACOB SMITH, Publisher 415 Free Press BIdg. DETROIT SECOND YOUTH E,'l,ii.nv(> rruilud.en r.( •.-I'l .1 >'-y i-if.il- «-.n, y\il.-i|iici| fnr.i iiip m.v<l by Ali.-m 1 i..:in-.iif »y v'l.hii I.jiuti. I)ini;til liy A.r It Tail-ir. At 111" r.iiiiin. Nrw \i.rli w. ri( April .1'. tiitrttifr w:'n Wrrlil Siruj;- H.e fcir Oil, • r.uiiniiiB time, M minulf:^'. .Mr. Kriiiii s Aifr. .1 Lunt .'.r.rio Wiiiteii Mam I'airr.erl Mr». n-nson Ji.ljna Ilewlaml .\1, N.,h VV,. :• r ".itlitt Wlii).'|.,'aiii H.ibf rt curl hull Itesfi Itiiuniiin T.yiin Fi rita'.nf riii.il"'. Wirufreil Allm \Ir Ileiiii. 1; :,.iins.i. n tfarc Hi in Itcmitk 1 .uit ti.tinry Fairly amusing little profrani lea- !i.re that just falls sliort cf be.ng a comedy wow. With the east it 'houUl h.-ive been one of the i ieturcs of the yciir had the htory .uid tiie (liieLlioii re.-iched the strcngi'l of the names, but ns it falls in this ri speit, ( redit must be givn to the pliivers for having pilkd the pic- I ure tlirouf,-h. (iri^inally the story i y Allan I'liilegr.-ift must have lad ,i lot of .aiiglis Willi h neither the stript writer nor Ine director ii.uld kill. It sftns tliat directors do not oiicn ni.'iiio writers .ind tliat pro- durf.-s seldom make either. Charles R. Seeling has tried to bo all three ■Aith the itsual remits. He is most sucicssful on the producing end, as he lias Turned out a tiim that has consid- rable iiox office lure if ex- ploiieil jiopeiiy in the theajitr liou'cs. His story is emacintcd and his di- rection to amateurish tii.ll even a ca.st of moderately well-known play- ers e;,nnot make it RCtm logical or effective. It is another of the musi- cal comedy revolution plots. Its chief fault is that >t la'jks the subtle irony and humor of others that pre- ceded if. • yanl.i e Madness" has one cr two of these spots, principally when Walter Long, as the nativ" "bad man," beromes inebriated and st.arts to raise local cain. Long has hardly more than ,a bit. but his work dom- inates the picture. Tom Wilson has tho otlier comedy role, but he fiiils to win many laughs with his "scared darky' mannerisms, which are al- ways the same. George L,-iikin and Billie Dove are tlie leads. Tiic girl is Kwcet in an itniniport.int part. Larkin, once famid as .-' king cf serials and stunt pirturep. shows nothing strenuous ( xcepl the numerous fights with the villains. Otherwise he does not .■nea";ure vn as .a particularly happy ■ lioi'e for a. hero, disiilaying some .itrocious taste in s.artorlal matter.? .1)1(1 ver.v little emotional ability. .'^l.ots of n. first.a and .a Cibaret scene, with Larkin doing a t.-ingo, .idd some slight interest. Tiie work ot thfj extra men and women throughout iS ncticeably bad. Ilowevi r, they've picked .1 com- niereial title and some fair "nnines-." .':i.d tiie pi':t'ire may r:,l';e in ;i iitfln n^ e n e V. The greatest drama ever made for the screen Adapted from the Sensational Stage Success By BERr/ARO K. BURNS ARIZONA EXPRESS y> X I rrd-j, ficn, (ijit.-'.'tc.i hy Th.MiiaM HiJ< K- i: J liarn r;iiil wrjttr-n ty Lincctn J. <*art*'r. t'liHi I In I in Ic* I'aullne Htarke, Ev^'lyn limit, l>a\nl liuttrr, Anno Oirnwalt, Fran- .h M»'- l"»i lialil ar.U ll.irold <iooiiw.n. At IjO>:w'h iV'.w Yorli. Arril J7, Ilunu 70 rmnut's. COMING SOON PpjSCILLA DEAJ^ /^ , ^iJn -^' Siren sf Seville" ;.HODKINSON Season I924-I025 RELEASE Thirty Pityt-Run Pictures Cbiill; one up for I'ox. "The Ari- 7.on.a Kxiness" is pointed directly <it tho box olllce and its .-lim is sure. Fintliermore, in spito of an excess of jihysical thrills in the last reel, it IS a neat job throughout, and In i pile of its iC minutes it never drags. In fact, there are moments when the pi'turc "gets" one, even theugh the obvious intention w;is to tl in (lilt .1 good aetion film. itiglit .-it the start things look in- leresting. David Jlutler, east as a lomtnt:', you.ig mail clerk on the .Aii'.icna 'xju'ess. Is seen getting his daily quotii of s'-ntimeiit hy whilling tho pfifiimed letters in the mail ho Is assorting. His chance fijr adven- tuio I oines when he has tho opj-nr- iunity to help ;r girl, such as he h.-i'^ drciinicd Jibout (I'auline Sst.-irke), e.-.- i.iiiii.'h tl.e iiiiiOi'<'nee of lier doomei! i.ioiiiir. 'i"l e latter Ins been "i.iil x o.ideii' ill prl.son . -i f je f u W M^Jtllz^ tiinati' affr.ir with a dancer in wlii> h ins uncle h.M been inuidercd, in re» islity l.y the h( avy. but afcurding to . ireuiiistiint,,,! tvidcn.c ly the 1" y Himself. Tho story is not the oitstanding (Uality of the picture, but rather it in tlie masterful handling cf jjiost <j( the vai.ous incident.". There is a (ucenc in %vbli.h lin entire prison AacuaUd Fint Notional Puturef, Inc., pxstnli "THE WOMAN ON THE JURY" with an All-Star Cast, including " ~ ~ SYLVIA BREAMER Frank Mayo, Lew Cody, Henry B. Walthall, Bessie Love, Myrtle Stedman, Mary Carr, Hobart Bosworth, Ford Sterling:, Roy Stewart and Jean Hersholt Directed by HARRY HOYT A 3itJbt national Picture