Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Sunday, May 30, 1920 ILw Ml Good Idea Unable to Stand Up Against Avalanche of Padding Seena Owen in “THE HOUSE OF TOYS” American-Pathe PRADO i ee George Cox PRR ele... . St Henry Russell Miller pee AN OSES ear... hot Daniel F. Whitcomb SSCL EAN AGN, eet... Not credited AS ASWHOLE?, ...; Human little idea almost buried by avalanche of padding. RRO nt Samia. te Pretty; real feeling in its theme DIRECTION... .: Wasted hundreds of feet on meaningless scenes and relegated real action to subtitles. PO GIA BEI crags os. ee Oe Good PALL N Goes... f... ., oe All very good SME ASW OR Ka” 26... ... anne Satisfactory SA RG ones Wears extravagant clothes but doesn’t do much with her few opportunities. Re EC) OT ee Mee ese oT. Soe ME os Average PL Hes BC) Sea: eee... sie Satisfactory RHE MO) a Same DG ALL ere: In effort to inject realistic detail director has run afoul of padding. CHARACTER OF STORY....i23 Deals with hard working husband and butterfly wife from new angle. DENGUOPORSPRODUCTION. age About 0,000 feet Really this picture looks as if it never went near the cutting room. The man in the theater seat might well hazard he guess that everything the direcor shot had been used. Asa result the human little idea contained in the story is almost completely buried by this avalanche of padding. There are scenes seemingly interminable in which characters walk from room to room without registering anything. There are profuse close ups parcelled out to all the players apparently at ran dom that are totally unnecessary in the telling of the story. On the other hand, when it comes to picturing the events of real consequence that are part of the story the director has against him various errors of omis sion. These events are given over to the mercies of the subtitles. It is entirely probable that these sub titles, minus the pictured action, would tell the complete story in themselves. David, a young architect, marries Shirley, ward of her wealthy aunt, against the severe old lady’s advice to wait until his fortune is made. After three or four years the couple have a child and a heap of debts while a general air of discontent pervades their home. ‘The upshot of it is that Shirley goes back to live with her aunt while David secures work in the office of Radbourne, an old and kindly architect. Here he works for a while with all hope gone. Then Esther, Radbourne’s secretary, takes him in hand and tells him that he should have hope, that his mental ills should not triumph over his knowledge of his ability to succeed. And on this theory, put into practice, David makes a bright start on the upward path. Esther, though she loves him, bids him go back to his wife and even assists in effecting their reconciliation. The most moving moment in the picture is the scene between the two women, Shirley embarrassed because of her neglect of her husband in his hours of need, Esther withholding her deep feeling for David because of her desire to do the right thing. Seena Owen hasn't many opportunities in the role of Shirley and makes small use of those she has. However, her appearances are marked by a lavish display of clothes. Pell Trenton is rather negative as David. Helen Jerome Eddy is a convincing and appealing Esther, while George Hernandez has a congenial character role. Could Still Be Made Into Human Little Picture Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Photoplay patrons aren’t exorbitant in their demands for action in their entertainment. Some pictures, containing very little physical action, have been success{ul because of the drama that rises from plain truths and human characters. Such a picture “The House of Toys” might easily have been had it received skilful as well as appreciative treatment. But in its present state it will likely prove wearisome to the great majority of people. Of course there is the road of “cutting and editing” open to the producers. If they chose they could make their picture into one that would be at least pleasing. And if such was their course the exhibitor might well write “The House of Toys” on his books as a feature to advertise as “human and appealing” and as “a stir ring page from real life.”