Visual Education (Jan 1923-Dec 1924)

March, 192 3 99 life, he understands psychology, and he has sympathy and humor. He paints his characters sometimes with a few brief strokes, sometimes in detail, but always with warmth and realism. His characters are people you meet every day, doing the same things that you and your family do every day — with the possible exception of the pretty daughter, whose selfishness may be somewhat exaggerated. Take the whole family, including grandmother and the baby, to see this excellent picture. (Universal.) Fruits of Faith Honor be to Will Rogers! His presence redeems the most pitiful pretense of a picture and turns it into something really worth-while. In addition to cleverness and sincerity, he has that rare and infinitely desirable thing known as a magnetic personality. You will immensely enjoy this film story of a worthless tramp and a baby. Whether or not the moral suggested as to the value of faith has any significance is for you to decide. Safe for children. (Pathe'.) Mighty Lak' a Rose A rather impossible and yet affecting picture, in which a blind orphan and her violin turn underworld crooks into clean men who go honestly to work with dinner-pails in their hands. One understands, of course, that the process of cinematic regeneration must be rapid, but even at that the conversion is so sudden as to be marvelous. Dorothy Mackaill is most appealing as the sightless and abandoned child, and James Rennie (Dorothy Gish's husband) wins sympathy as her sacrificing sweetheart. And the title ! Oh, that's the name of the wistful melody which induces the conversion. Whether or not you let your children see this picture depends upon their amount of worldly wisdom. (First National.) The Ninety and Nine Too often a film, in the endeavor to avoid the cynicism and hard brilliance so prevalent today, swings to the other extreme and becomes drenched with artificial sentiment. Here the stray sheep is, of course, the hero who sacrifices, falls, suffers, and redeems himself. The instrument of redemption is a country lass who assiduously tends the sunk soul fortune has brought her. There are a few strong, dramatic moments, including a forest fire, but the reels are sicklied o'er with ' pale sentimentality. One fancies that Colleen Moore, the simple country maid, said to herself. "Now I will be like Lillian Gish. I just will be!" (Vitagraph.) Shadows One of the few notable pictures of the season. Its success is due partly to a strong, dramatic plot effectively developed, but even more to the remarkable impersonation by Lon Chaney. His characterization of the patient Chinese laundryman whose gentle influence is so far-reaching, makes a memorable addition to your book of screen memories. Every grown-up should see this picture. • (Al Lichtman Corporation.) The Strangers' Banquet The dramatic meal offered an unsuspecting public in "The Strangers' Banquet" is nothing more than hash. After a cheap, melodramatic beginning whose import the optience is never permitted to gather, the story gets under way, dragging in many plots which apparently have no connection with the main theme. But then, one doesn't know which is the main plot, anyway. The only justification for the picture seems to be that it employed a vast number of screen celebrities, including Teddy, the Mack Sennett dog. This canine displayed rare -good dog sense and lay down and died early in the picture. Mr. Marshall Neilan will lose his reputation as a director if he is responsible for another picture as poor as this. Take your friends to the zoo or the Automat, but not to "The Strangers' Banquet." (Goldwyn.) Tess of the Storm Country When Mary Pickford appears in a picture, its success is assured — such are her charm, talent and reputation! This picture, however, is a well-staged and effectively presented visualization of a popular novel, and in addition to the inimitable Mary boasts a fine supporting cast. You can scarcely ask children to stay away from a Mary Pickford film, even though the theme is somber and mature. (United Artists.) Thirty Days A mildly humorous drama, distinguished chiefly as the vehicle of Wallace Reid's last screen appearance. The picture is so light in content and treatment as not to merit serious comment. It seems to be a slight burlesque on a number of time-worn melodramatic situations, but one feels that even the burlesque is unintentional. The audience, doubtless numbering many who went out of morbid curiosity, was amused and so the picture was probably not unsuccessful. (Famous Players-Lasky.) The Voice from the Minaret Those with a pure conscience might worship when the voice called from the minaret. Not until the very end of the very last reel, however, were Norma Talmadge and Eugene O'Brien able to obey the holy summons. Until then they had to stifle their love because of their better natures and also because the lady possessed a jealous husband. Eventually the husband dies, as one would expect him to do, and the lovers are free. Norma Talmadge suffers beautifully and is really an actress. Eugene O'Brien suffers trying to suffer. The picture is very sophisticated and children will not benefit from seeing it. (First National.) The World's Applause A tense little drama with all the veneer and polish typical of William De Mille productions. The self-indulgence and vanity of a popular actress lead her into a careless flirtation with a married man — a flirtation which ends in death and tragedy. Bebe Daniels as the frivolous actress shows some force and understanding, but her performance is colorless beside that of Kathlyn Williams as the outraged and neglected wife. Her portrayal of jealousy, remorse, sorrow and desperation is as fine a piece of acting as one could desire to see. She is the real star of the picture. The contemplation of the triangle problem, no matter how well done, is not for youthful picturegoers. (Famous Players-Lasky.) Heredity Again "Late for reveille again, I see, O'Malley," snorted the irate captain. "How do you account for this persistent tardiness?" " 'Tis inherited, sir," answered Pvt. O'Malley. "Me father was the late Michael O'Malley." — The American Legion Weekly. Honesty First "No," said the old man, sternly. "I will not do it. Never have I sold anything by false representation, and I will not begin now." For a moment he was silent, and the clerk who stood before him could see that the better nature of his employer was fighting strongly for the right. "No," said the old man, again. "I will not do it. It is an inferior grade of shoe, and I will never pass it off as anything better. Mark it, 'A Shoe Fit for a Queen,' and put it in the window. A queen does not have to do much walking."— London Tit-Bits.