Variety (May 1926)

Wednesday, May 19, 1926 FILM REVIEWS VARIETY 17 er with a supposedly revolutionary process for mak'ng durable auto- mobile tires and a glrL Also sev- eral naughties who plot to get the young man's secret process, aided by a good looking blonde. The young man drives in place of the champion auto racer, who Is hurt In a spill, and wins, using the tires of his own make. But he is detained from reaching the track in time, as usual, by a villainous ruse. Raymond McKee is the film's star. He has previously confined his efforts to two-reel comedies. Of a sudden the two-reel boys have taken a lurch at features. And without much success. But McKee •hows possibilities, having a pleas- ing face. Better Juvenile than comedian. Ethel Shannon is the girl in the film. Miss Shannon cannot be re- called but is familiar. Probably familiar for quite a while. She looked older than her role in sev- eral close-ups. But a good actress and seems experienced. Bona Lee, large sized blonde, cops the beauty honors, though her role calls for a woman made attractive only by dress. Bruce Gordon Is admirable as the "dirty" worker. Others are E. W. Berman, George Chapman, James Conly and Charles Mack. "The Speed Limit" would harm bo late-run house. Being speedy, it will not only satisfy adults but also kids. Making no pretenses at any- thing else, it proves capable of sup- plying entertainment YELLOW FINGERS Fox production made from the story by Gene Wrlfht. Adapted by Eve Unroll and directed by Emmett Flynn with Ralph Ince and Olive 1 lord en featured. On I^oew's New York Roof, May 10, one day. Running time. 60 mint. Captain Shane Ralph Ince Nlana Olive Iiorden DeVreia Armand Kallx Nona Deerlna- Claire Adams Rajah Jagore Nigel de BruUer The theme of a native girl and a white man, v/ith the girl's gror'lng resentment toward a %hite woman who intends to marry the man, in the gist of this picture, set in the Malay Peninsula. It also brings Ralph Ince to the fore once more as an actor, his sole recent activity in that direction hav- ing been an independently made version of Jack London's "The Sea Wolf" (recently shown around New York privately and has been taken over by P. D. C. for release). Here Ince is a Captain Shane, trader and guardian of Nlana, a na- tive girl, to whom he is very dear, but whose relationship is unassail- ably pure. On a trip two of Shane's sailors rescue an American girl from a Chinese den in Bangkok. When telling her story, she Is brought back with him. And she. a Miss Deerlng, eventually marries Shane, but not until Nlana has been so dis- tressed she entered into a vengeful alliance with Shane's enemies, only to repent at the last moment and turn the tables. It's a well told melodrama, filled with action and fighting and also with enough of the South Sea un- dress business to get the mugs who like their brown ladies bare. Ince. as a hard boiled fellow with a good heart, does well, while the leading women, Olive Borden as the native and Claire Adams as the white girl are highly decorative. Miss Borden also throws In a few cooch duncen which, if cooch dancing has any ar- tistic or commercial value In the movies, rank high. Satisfactory for the smalier houses and safe for the exhibitor whose main worry is to book enter- tainment and not names. Bisk. MARRIED? Owen Moor* and Constance Bennett In the Herman F. J ana prod not to a of story by Marjorle Berton Cook*. Renown Pic- ture. Directed by George Terwtlllger. At the Arena, New York, on* day. May 10. Running time, 08 minute*. A real good program picture with plenty of pep, an interesting, if not too original, story and some laugh getting gags by way of action and subtitle. Jack Thompson, Antrim Story. Julia Hurley, Gordon Standing, John Costelle, Evangeline Russell and others (names flashed on and off too fast) make up well balanced cast headed by sleek Owen, of the Moore boys, and Constance, blond and doll-faced daughter of Richard Bennett Something about the lumber hold- ings being blocked from producing if the land further down the rapids is leased to the villainous operators of the lumber company. Love story too. A marriage via 'phone Is a novel situation. One that could bo played on with more ample material and made a legitimate farce. It wl»l probably be seen later with some different eoloro\l fi'lng*. Clean-cut Moore Is an appealing type and plays with sense in this picture. Miss Bennett does well merely by looking pretty, bored and smoking clgarets. The directing of George Terwllllger is excellent In spots and poor elsewhere. At the Arena (two bit-grind) pic- ture entertained highly. Reginald Barker, Col. T. J. McCoy and Percy Hllburn, cameraman, left Hollywood for the northwest to find locations for the production of "The Flaming Forest" (Cosmopolitan). SOMEBODY'S MOTHER n Horner pM'jtt'iiMti.in by arrangt-ment with \V. H*y Johnston. I*r «<lUi-C'1 by Qer»« ten Pictures t'orp. Written and directed by Oscar A|ifel. Mary (\irr Marred. At th*) Stanley, New York, one day (May 13). Running time. 55 minutes. "Matches Mary" M:iry Oarr Tat Mukey Mcnaia l'eter Hex I^ea** Peter's Wife K;iitiryu McUuIr* J1 ni• • ■ • • • • • • •••••■••* >.J~*w*»v*t^d lawyer llohert J. (irave* John Foster Frank Whiiaoa Judtfe A!!>rrt Hart Ilex (>log> Himself If there ever was a st*t-up for any- one, this picture is that for Mary Carr, Its star. As the title Infers, it is about a mother. There isn't a sweeter public mother in the world. And you can't help hut love her and even weep with her, no matter how theatrical her move- ments and motives for action may be. Rex Lease, as the hoy. Is fine look- ing and a good actor. Looks much like Cullen Landls, even to gestures and facial expression. A newcomer, he should be watched and he will go far. Kathryn McGuire, <aa his) wife, also unfamiliar, looks sweet. "Somebody's Mother" seems a sure thing to reach the good grace* of the neighborhood sob sisters «tnd mothers. DID YOU MISS OUT LAST YEAR? » * THEN, DON'T YOU MISS OUT THIS YEAR WHEN -G-M'S PARADE OF HITS MARCHES BY! LAST year we showed you our line-up— YOU said "Great!"— TIME alone proved how great it was. WE told you we had great pictures coming like 44 MARE Nostrum" "La Boheme" "Unholy Three" "MERRY Widow" "The Midshipman" "Never The Twain" "THE Barrier"lbanez' Torrent" and hits, hits, hits! YOU said: "Sounds all right on paper BUT 111 wait!" OUR salesmen are now on their way to you TO present The Parade of Hits for 1926-27* IF you were a doubting Thomas last year DON'T be left behind again because without question M-G-M's greatest year is coming. WHEN you sign for those pictures you've made a smart deal. AND all doubting Thomases must realize by now THAT when M-G-M says it's got the goods YOU can depend on it. AND M-G-M is here to tell you that THE Parade of Hits will make a lot of exhibitors A lot richer— HOW about your THE TOP OF THE INDUSTRY