Wid's Filmdom (1920)

ee ( Fi Sunday, May 30, 1920 é je ace of DAILY A Trifle Better Than the Average Program Offering Harry T. Morey in “THE SEA RIDER” RCC see eS Edwin L. Hollywood Pee. a... Harry Ditmars Bote lOe bY...) .. 3. ae Fred Schaefer CAMEDAMAN® 2.0 5......3. Seo Bill McCoy AS A WHOLE...... Satisfactory offering that has main appeal in sea atmosphere; well suited to personality of star. POU GRECY,<). sere}, Not wholly original idea, but some new twists and careful handling of material gets it over very well. DIRECTION. “. eo. ©. Managed to make good once started, though opening dragged a trifle. Rete APiLY. &, f........ he PTU.e. Good PPPeteCO Carve sa... ....: ME. ce Fair ext e WORK... I se. All right SOCAL Te reer ss Ca, o's as Pleasing in role of sea captain EO ieee ae... eS, |S Capable BOSLERLORS: .. 53. %: Mostly aboard freight vessel; realistic MLS esas ss... .... . ee Satisfactory POA ay uaa. Few minor faults, not serious CHARACTER OF STORY...... Two brothers, one good, the other bad, both in love with the ‘same girl. iar OPO PRODUCTION Saaee. *:.. 4,272 feet There’s just a bit of “The Sea Wolf” about “The Sea Raider” in that both men rule their respective vessels with the power of a king and,the violence of a tyrant. On the other hand, the two captains are distinct personalities inasmuch as a prologue provides the cause for “The Sea Raider’s intolerance, and that cause—a woman. Harry Morey’s latest picture doesn’t contain anything startlingly new in the way of an idea, but a splendid sea atmosphere together with some carefully handled “touches” and a well balanced cast, make it a first rate bit of entertainment. Coincident plays a part in the story, but the director has managed to handle these incidents so that they are not liable to cause any particular comment. They aim to gain sympathy for “The Sea Raider,” who has been discarded in favor of his younger brother and to a certain extent, one is inclined to feel sorry for him. However, if Alice Calhoun, as the girl in the case, had affected more enthusiasm over her new found love for the Sea Raider’s younger brother, more sympathy would have been felt for Morey. As it is, the girl acts as though she is merely carrying out the requirement of the scenario. Outside of a few admiring glances at Webster-Campbell, the younger brother, there is nothing to indicate that she loves him. When the old father dies, Harry provides a new home for his wife to be and her mother and two children. Upon his return from-a voyage he finds that the girl belongs to his brother. He buys the Trenton and leaves the port. As far as the audience is concerned, Alice and Campbell drop out of the story for the time being, at least. Some time later while anchored in New York harbor, Morey, standing on the deck of his boat, sees a young woman about to jump into the water. He calls to her and then goes to her. She tells a story similar to his own experience and thereby gains his sympathy. He takes her aboard the Trenton and finally agrees to let her spend the night when:she insists that she has no place to go. A few days pass and still the girl stays on. When the Trenton has taken on her load of explosives, Morey insists that the girl go ashore. Before the boat sails, however, Morey is confronted again by Camp bell, who has left Alice and drifted from bad to worse. He is taken aboard. Soon the girl is discovered hiding on the boat. She and Campbell meet and Morey discovers that Campbell is the cause of her downfall. There is a struggle and the explosives catch fire. Morey and the girl escape before the Trenton blows up while the brother is drowned. Invite Them to See Morey in a Role Out of the Ordinaray Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If you are after a good program picture, not a whirlwind nor a specially unusual production, “The Sea Raider” should fit right in. It’s not a wonder of a story, but with a fine sea atmosphere and Harry Morey’s personality and good work on the part of his supporting company, you will nt be likely to nave any difficulty in satisfying the majority. You can appeal to both the men and the women. For the men work {from the angle of the sea atmosphere and for the women tell them of the hero’s delusion and the ingratitude of one he had befriended. Use these lines: “If you had even provided a new home for the girl you were to marry and suddenly found she was in love with your brother, what would See what Harry Morey does in “The Sea SCA ETC. vo ook theater.” you do? Raider,’ a tale of the