Variety (May 1924)

'Wednesday, May 7, 1924 PICTURES 25 „, Is otherwise "witliont any ^Sndatlon except that which the « perceives, that any one could .11 in love with her on eight wlth- ™: ,„y Bcenarlo aaslstance. Jack 'oil as a maater-mlnd-crook-hero, nothlnsr to KO wild over. The rest of the characteri are cast «h astute and extravagant Judg- ■^ nt and, though they all overact ■MAUSe the story le euch that It ^^to be played with whltehrush Knshes and axes, these sterling tors save It almost always from in« entirely ridiculous. As It fcas the Rlvoll audience several Lne's snickered out of turn at the ^consistencies and the overdrawn nd yellow melodrama, especially ^le^ strain for lurid mechanical ef- cts AH sorts of visual props are em- loyed, such as "the papers" hidden _4 a deck of cards, they being the ecret plans of the United States to lestroy an enemy In war; an alr- riane chase at the finish which Is u palpably counterfeit as a cloth Zk dummy; gunplay, taxi ehasedU j iozens of telephones, smashed sky- sT^; tehts, no end of taxis, code mes age, trap doors, secret passages, tc, ad lib. The story Is a wild melange of Itock thrills, with the heroine turn- tag out to be In the secret service III the time, the hero turning square liter he baffled both p.ollce and irch-crlmlnals for no known reason, ^nce he Is euch a fine and simple hap. The "pack," the crime-trust if Paris, are a villainous lot, who lave a most uncanny way of being iverywhere, and, of course, getting nowhere, since they arfe "on the other side." "The Lone Wolf . (a non-de- icriptlve title evidently synthetic for box-offlce appeal irrespective of the naterlal, being the nickname of the hero In the underworld) Is a fclr program picture and will get ty with simple-minded folks who react to mechanical kicks and still believe sub-titles no matter what they say. Also, Miss Dalton will live It a rating. Lait. THE EEJECTED WOMAN Distinctive Production released by Oold- yn-CosmopoIltan. Story by John Lynch; reeled by Albert Parker. Shown at the Capitol New York, week May 4. Runninc me 85 minutes. ane Du Pre« Alma Rubena ihn Leslie Conrad Nagel mea Dunbar Wyndham standing uel Du Pre» Oeorie MacQuarrle 1 Ciaifnon Bela LuROal Craig Burnett Antonio D'Alcy tucllle Van Tayle Leonora Huifhea Vadame Roea If me. L« Vlolette Peter I^slle Aubrey Smith Leyton Carter Fred Burton doug'he,'' «r oId-thner«. Thto Mm of the frocen north" la dMthtraUhed by the fa«t It was prodtioed and filmed wlM>Uy in Alaska. It's a tale oC the frigid country durlnf the gold rush daya It In- < eludes plenty of Ice and snow Btuff that should make it likely for sum- mer bookings. As a story U'a pretty familiar stuff and includes all the old hoke. The simplicity of its re- counting Is none the lees Im- pressive. The yam starts with the separa- tion of a young mother from her baby daughter as a result of ship- wreck, having acoompanied her col- lege professor-husband to Alaska. Circumstances make her easy pfey for the attentions of a professional gambler. The girl grows up and is wooed by the young engineer, who, through the Interest of a kindly "sour- dough" of orlgln&l "woman-hating" tendencies, prospers and sees that the girl 'has the best of attention. The mother, despite her tainted existence the past IV'or 16 years, Is mpathetically portrayed. The In- evitable meeting and the dramatic pursuit to bring the villain to justice are the punches of the basic- ally trite plot. The scenery is the big thing. It is quite Interesting despite over- doing. As the film ran 90 minutes at the special showing at the Ritz- Carlton hotel, New York, May 1, that speaks considerable for how much can be dispensed with. Baby Margie of the cast, a win- some youngster, distlng^ulshed her- self. Gladys Johnston, personating Ruth Stanlaw grown up, suggested brilliant possibilities as a screen personality. Her girlish charm typifies the adolescent period out- wardly better than Marguerite Clark ever did, or anybody today. But she spoiled it with one attempt at an elemental "registering" of the sorrowing emotion. For sweet-and- pretty parts that do not call for any histrionics, she la a corking type for the screen. The film at the special showing was Introduced by a photoplay rec- ord of the late President Harding's visit to Alaska, showing the "Che- chahcofl" company Intimately on location. The film producers probably cogi- tated considerably on the retention of this unique title. Its value com. merclally is still open to discussion In view of Its difficult pronuncll- tlon, but it may be the unique title will prove a diatinguishlng mark. It's a satisfactory program fea- ture for the dally change houses. Abet. fetched moments, a ffood entertain- ing feature with Miss Bellamy's emoting making It worth while all the while. Oon. JUST OFF BROADWAY FoT production, directed by Bdward Mor- timer and featuring John Gilbert. Name of author not Klven. At the Circle, New York, May 1. •■ haJt tbe bill. Run* atiout an hour. Stephen Moore John Gilbert Jean tAwrence Marlon NIzon Nan Norton •. Trilby Clark Florelle , Pierre GIrndon Comfort Ben Hondrlcki The best box office angle Is In the title. That might mean something. The story Itself Is a combination itorthwest snow picture with a so- ciety angle. Alma Rubens plays the lead with her principal support Conrad Nagel and Wyndham Stand- ing, the former as the lead and the latter the heavy. It Is in the snow country that the ktory opens with Miss Rubens as the daughter of the trading post keeper. Their domain Is Invaded In midwinter by aeroplane by a so- ciety man from New York who Is looking for adventure. He gets It by remaining overnight In a cabin high In the hills with the girl when both are caught in a snow storm. After that there is nothing left for the boy to do except to say he'll remember her. She thinks that means marrlace and Anally follows him to New York, only to discover she is not as attractive In her shabby north country clothes as the native). At that point the heavy steps In. He h.as been the boy's father's gen- eral manager and hatcj the boy. He knows the contents of the father's Will to the effect that in the event that the boy marry without the con- sent of the trustees of the estate he is to lose everything. Ho sendH the little Kirl abroad and pays for her cilucation tor a year and whtn returning she stop.s right Into so- ciety and cop.s the youth.. After the marriage the heavy springs his ace and the two are parted after one night of wedded life. Then it's a case of back to the snow country for the girl, and the .heavy and the hu.sband have to fol- t^low her in time for the big hand- to-hand contest. They stage it with ail the frills; this includes the hurl- ing of lighted lamps, which, strangely enough, in this Instance does not moan the Igniting and burning of the building, shots In thf' dark and all that sort of thing, finishing with the conventional clo.'-e-up clinch. As a hokum production in the cheaper grade of house It will serve Well enough, but as a pre-release In a Main Stem house it runs for Sweeney. Fred. THE IVHITE SIN Palmer Photoplay Corporation preacnta thia dramatic feature. Adaptation by Harold Shumate, scenario by De Andrea and Julian La Mothe. directed by William A. Seller. Running time. 86 minutea. Re- viewed at Stanley, New York. April 80. Hattle Ixiu Harkneas MadRe Bellamy Grant Van Gore John Bowera Graco Van Gore Fr&ncella BIlllnKton Spencer Van Gore HaJ Cooley Peter Van Oor* Jaa. Corrliran Travera Dale Billy Bevan Graco'a Aunt Norrla Johnaon Aunt Cynthia Ethel Waka Judge Langley Otia Harlan Mrs. Van Gore Myrtle Vare The Doctor Arthur Mlllette Yaoht Captain James Gordon Starting as a drama of the Paris underworld, "Just Off Broadway" quickly shifts to a crisp and enter- taining light comedy of New York's crook coterie. The film presents a rather complicated plot, but one that grlves ample opportunity for Interest- ing incident and flashy action. It Is in the lighter moments that the picture is at its best. An at- tempt to present a cold synopsis of the plot would resemble a cross-sec- tion of the Einstein theory, Introduc- ing, as It does, aphasia, mistaken Identity, counterfeiting, detectives galore and even more crooks. It will suffice to tell that John Gil- bert is cast as a millionaire amateur detective who makes txse ot a nasty crack on the head to feign loss of memory and land a gang of counter- feiters, and Incidentally the Innocent little girl who has become tangled up with them. This results In several clever farcical situations and more follow when the hero leads the gang Into a robbery of his own home and as- tonishes them with his apparent knowledge of the safe, the Jewels and the layout of the whole apart- ment. The girl becomes convinced to her sorrow that her man is a thief as well as a counterfeiter and it Is not until the very end that the mystery is unravelled. There will be some difference of opinion as to the wisdom of having the audience know right along the identity of the hero. However, the picture Is essentially a comedy and not a mystery. There Is not one real guffaw throughout but about a snicker a minute which serves Just as well. Gilbert who heretofore has been seen usually In heavy roles proves an adept farceur and puts a good deal of character Into hla rather llght-walsted role. Marlon Nixon shares honors with him with prac- tically all the dramatic burden of the film on her shoulders. Beh Hendricks, Jr., la amusing as a "lovable crook" and the balance do very acceptable work. A neat little program feature which should mean box office coin since no one should find serious fault with It save possible for the entire absence of logic. the formula closely, with the usual villainous bank president, directing the raiders from the inside, and the new sheriff being warned that his term of office will be Just a week un- less he comes over to their side. A touch of novelty has the heroine as an evangelist parson, who sets out to convert the town and Is aided to a great extent by the hero's guns In her reforming crusade. Fred Thompson has a role Just fitted to his rather rollicking talents. He Is perhaps the handsomest of the Western regulars now that "Buck" Jones has graduated Into the "Charles" and society class. His appearance and smile should win him many feminine admirers, and the horsemanship and athletic stunts of daring will please the m.ijority of his own sex. "Silver King," his horse, is galloping nearer Mix's "Tony" with every new picture. The comedy Is supplied by the antics of an undertaker whose Joy reaches Its greatest heights when the shooting Is thickest. He has plenty of opportunity for glorious expectations, as it's Just a case of one battle after another. So hot, In fact, were some of the fights, and so narrow the escapes, that the audience laughed louder and longer at them than at tbe optimistic undertaker. seeks shelter In his wife's arms. Marguerite has now learned to love him but the way she grabbed hold of his much wounded body gave every sign of her speedily becoming a widow. Scenlcally there '" much which Is beautiful but an attempt to copy German methods of lighting Is by no means wholly successful. The staging seems as unreal as the rest. These beautiful settings are on the lino of the kiosks and pavilions of an exhibition. Humberstone Wright takes the palm for his performance of Charles I. It Is fine character work In an extremely difficult part which might easily have been made ludi- crous. Kven In his <moet craty moments Wright clings to a vesttgs of kingly dtgnfty. The Duke de Qulse is well played by Henry "Vic- tor. Matheson Lan<' has a great part In Henry, but never manages to make It gripping. Gladys Jen- nings Is as beautiful as ever as Marguerite hut has no material. Stella St. Audrle gives a fine char- acter study as Catharine de Medici and Madame D'Eieterre is respon- sible for the finest hit of acting In the film during the few minutes shs Is seen as Henry's dying mother. Gore. THE CHECHAHCOS fapt. Austin E. Lathrop presenta this A«socinled Kxhlbltore' picture released through Pftthe Exchange. Directed anil written by Lewis H. Moomaw. Hor.ieehoe" Riley William Dills "Ob neuter All)erl vnn Antwerp Mra. Stanlaw Eva Gordon Prof, fltnnlaw Howard Webster KIchard "Cold" Steele Alexis B. Luce "any Stanlaw Haby MarRlo Ruth Stanlaw Gladys John.rton t.'o'T'e Gucrney "" engineer H. Hays Miles 'Chechahoos" (pronounced chec- chaw-koz) Is the Indian word used to designate the tenderfeet or new- comers to the Alaskan country to distinguish them from "sour- Madge Bellamy does splendid work In this feature In a role calling for constant emotional pyrotechnics and considerable versatility. The story is swift moving, dramatic and convincing except in one or two spots. The author found it necessary to work In a fire and rescue to plant his hero and heroine for the final embrace. Hal Cooley also was saddled with a vlllianous role that doesn't ring true at times. As a young rake intent upon the ruin of Hattle Lou Harkness, his sister's maid, he plans ;i mock marriage aboard the Van Gore yacht but la crossed by the captain who performs the ceremony outside the three-mile limit, making it legal. The next day the girl dlscoverf the supposed hoax and leaves the yacht. After her baby la born she decides to deceive Van Gore's parents by posing as his wife. This decision follows her discovery of a month old newspaper recounting the wreck of the yacht with all aboard reported lost. Tlie parents of Van Gore take her in, treat her kindly and give her a home. The eldest son falls in love with his brother's widow. The situ- ation becomes complicated wlien a wire announces the return of the yachting party after a rescue from a south sea Island. The girl decides to throw herself on the mercy of Spencer. She is successful when his sister reveals the true marriage. Spencer at- tempts to attack her but is pre- vented by his sister who locks the girl in her room. The house catches on fire with the girl and baby trapped In the burning building. Grant Van Gore attempts a rescue but Is overcome by smoke outside of the locked door. The brother after appearing a craven is goaded into rescuing his brother's wife and baby by his sister's taunts. After carrying out his brother he returns and Is burned alive. Mean- while the>glrl has lowered tho baby out of a window wrapped In bed clothes, following herself a moment later. The cast Is a strong one and tho picture barring ths one or two far WANTED BY THE LAW Sunset Productlaons picture releasing through the Aywon Film Corp., starring J. B. Warner. Story and direction credited to R. N. Bradbury. Showing at Loew'a New York as one half of double bill. May 2. Running time, 07 minute*. An ordinary western having little to redeem it. A much hackneyed story of the oldest son assuming the blame of a shooting to save his kid brother. It fails to arouse more than meagrre Interest and the cast show.«» nothing to stand out above the picture. Warner Walks through the lead- ing role for but an Indifferent per- formance while the sequence of events Is not such as to make the action overcome the remaining de- ficiencies. Dorothy Woods plays opposite Warner for a colorless performance. The picture la Inadequate for the larger houses but will probsfbly suf- fice in the miniature neighborhood auditoriums. Bkig. GALLOPING GALLAGHER Monogram production, directed by Altwrt Rogell and starring Fred Thompson. Writ- ten by M.-)rlon Jackson and photographed by Hobs Fisher. Released by F. B. O. At the New York, April 29. as half double bill. Runa 55 minutes. Hill Gallagher Fred Thompson Evelyn Churchill H,izel Keener Joe Burke Frank Ilagney Leon Berry Nelson McDowell Tub "Shorty" Hendricks Slim Andy Morris "Galloping Gallagher" Is fortunate in possessing the prime requisite of a Western picture—breeziness. It la this wholesome quality of not taking Itself too seriously that makes the film entertaining. The star's acting Is refreshingly free from restraint and the photog- raphy conspicuously artistic. There are a good many laughs and one or two thrills contributed chielly by the fine, white horse playing an Im- portant role. Those are the good points and strong enough to overbalance the weak sisters; a trite, spineless plot, different only in that it is more Illogical and far-fetched than the average; a cast that, aside from the star and hla leading woman, docs insipid work, and a genrral atmos- phere suggesting the producers were only endeavoring to turn out a fair program attraction rather than a really good Western. The hero in this case Is a wander- ing Western adventurer who, hap- pening upon a tiny town of tho prairies Just in time to beat up a gang of marauding robbers, Is picked for the super-hazardous Job of sheriff of ths burg. Bvents follow CLAUDE DUVAL < London, April 20. Recently there has been a boom in canonized ruffians Invested with a halo of romance. "Dick Turpin," foulest of all petty sneak thieves, started It and has now been fol- lowed by the Gaumont "Claude Duval." For the exaltation of Turpin there was little excuse except that his 'filmic heroism was a sure thing to keep children from spending their Saturday pennies anywhere else but at the klnema. Duval Is a bird of somewhat dif- ferent color. Highwayman and com- mon thief though he was he had been a gallant soldier although a mercenary one and It was the Injus- tice of the King for whom he had fought which drove him to outlawry. Turpln's alleged bravery was "penny plain, tuppence colored"; Duval's career possesses an element of romance and gallantry which shines out from a somewhat black- guardly and uncouth age. George Cooper has taken full ad- vantage of the mythical gallantry of his hero and has turned out a work- man-like picture but his footage Is ridiculous for such a feature. It ti^es a really great sgper feature to live for nine reels when It goes to the general public and it is that public which "Claude Duval's" suc- cess must depend upon. Cut out three reels and you have a picture possessing every possibility ot a transitory popular success. Throughout, Cooper's productive work Is excellent; he has staged many fine scenes, those of the revels at the Inn being exceptionally good. Here he shows something approach- ing genius and In these scenes his small part players, seen only In flashes provide some of the best genuine acting of the show. He has asked these un-named players to make bricks without straw and they have responded nobly. ' Nigel Barrle is badly cast as Claude Duval. Never once does he get the atmosphere or give the faint- est Impression of the dashing out- law. His gallantry does not ring true nor his horsemanship appear genuine. Fay Compton gives an ex- ceptionally good performance of her Grace, the Duchess of Brentlelgh. Hugh Miller Is very good as the vil- lainous Lord Malyn, as Is A. B. Imseson as Chesterton. Betty Falre la good as Anne as la Dorlenea Shirley as Moll. As is usual in such pictures much of the best acting is In the small un- named roles. Oore. NATURE'S FAIRYLAND London, April 20. As an example of beautiful pho- tography, divine patience and lovs of nature this feature Is remarkable. As a showman's proposition It has scarcely any drawing power. Rich- ard Kearton, brother of Cherry Kearton, who is responslbe for ths pictures. Is without an idea of show- manship. However, he Is a great photographer and a great naturalist The series la all-embracing. Noth« Ing haa come amiss to him, from ants to snakes. All his stuff is beau* tiful and a monument to his patlenos. His colored "8tilla"are miles ahead of most of the public sees, but thera la absolutely no showman's pull In the feature. Oore. EENRT, KING OF NAVABBE London, April 1. The Stoll Film Co. has chosen one of the most intriguing and thrilling periods In French history and have managed to make a picture ("per- sonal direction: Maurice Elvey") of extreme thinness. Technically per- fect, the feature lacks sincerity and punch. It Is stagey and through- out carries an atmosphere ot un- reality. The watcher cannot Imagine people are really fighting, drinking, loving. Everything they do is sbviously under "personal direction," Even tho rapier blades have to yield to It. The whole thing is like a beautiful statue, cold,, perfect, but without a soul. The story tella of the best known period of the fight between CathoUca and Huguenots. Henry of Navarre called to Paris to the deathbed of his mother Is warned of the plot against him, a point In which Is his marriage with Marguerite do Valois. He pretends to bo a fool and the conspiraton are taken In. On his wedding evr ho drinka heavily, rather pretends to, leaving tho way to the bridal chamber oprn to tho Duke de Guise who f pocdlly takes advantage of it only to ho turned down by Marguerite. Thon comes the*-evo of St. Bartholoincw and Its maseacre, llenry seeking Hamtuaiy In his wife's ch.iinljcr. ijo (ImIho Im defeated and the wounddl ileiiry A. L CHANGES SELLING PLAN TO COMMISSION Drawing Accounts No More-« N€w Angle to Film Selling Associated Kzhlhltors have placed their entire sales force on a straight commission basis. That news was handed down through an Inter-oflflce communication last week and the new arrangement became effective Monday. The sales force went right straight up In the air when the new arrangement was announced. It Is rumored that a number of resigna- tions have been handed In. A gen- eral cutting down of the home office staff of the organization Is als* taking place, with a number of at- taches leaving at the end of the current week. Within the past few weeks the Pathe organization which handles the physical distribution of the As- sociated Exhibitors product la said to have come to the fore with a new financial arrangement, which means that from this time on all of the sales force working on a com- mission basis will he compelled to submit their contracts with advance deposits to the cashier of the Pathe organization before the contracts are passed on the home office of the A. E. for final acceptance or rejec- tion. Placing of film salesmen on a straight commission basis Is a new angle In the selling end t>t pictures. Heretofore, when an arrangement on a commission basis was made. It was only done with a drawing ac- count also Included. The commissions allowed the sales staff vary according to the particular picture aold. The low- est commission is that of three per cent on the rental of a Harold Lloyd comedy to a"? high as 26 per cent on some of the pictures that are more difficult to place with the cxhibltor.s. NOT BOOZE Stuart Paton Convinces Court Non- Work Left Him Short Los Angeles, May 8. Despite that his wife Informed Judge .Summcrfleld her husband, •Stuart Paton, the director, had run JI,000 behind in his weekly alimony payments ot $75 werl<ly through spending his money for liquor, the court ordered tho weekly remittance cut to $26. _ In reply Paton, ajipearing under hla rightful name as George Calrn- rroft, convinced the court tho cause of hl.-f dfcliiuiMcncy was bclnf out of work.