Wid's Filmdom (1920)

y, ¢ A aiaiiaennieamaadied Sunday, May 30, 1920 Wi f DAILY Many Lavish Sets and Much Cody Love Lew Cody in “THE BUTTERFLY MAN” Gasnier Prod.-Robertson-Cole Pte CO Re oes... . se Ida May Park Pe IRESGNIS CBr vad ss... George Barr McCutcheon INES Oe Bees... se eaateee Not credited CAMERAMAN: ..-....... 50. cee Joseph Dubray AS A WHOLE...... Not much to this except elaborate sets and week-end party gayeties. Robt NOP yoy 5 Can’t be considered a story; merely allows the star to flap around as “The Butterfly Man.” DIRECTION...... Gave all the attention to elaborating on'settings. PROGR ABP ELY Fei, a. cere). Lee Fair PEE RL Gr Pegs Son. on Usually clear eel ASW ORK eo .n). ss. 5 Pe ons Acceptable BEAR. wae Acts and looks the same during the entire run of the picture; no variance to his performance. pe eG) Ree... Large supporting cast with little to do other than play up to the star. PIS EO) Tey er, cas «ss... CEM os Satisfactory BLO R OSs Me eet... ... en a Lavish sets yt AS at es Rak os. Ordinary attention CHmAkAG lun OF ‘STORY... He-vamp who has more women than he can handle. PNG isOn PRODUCTION ee...... 5,200 feet If there’ ever was anything of a story to what they blame George Barr McCutcheon for, they’ve used very little of it in making the picture. One reel would have sufficed to tell the tale. But those responsible had the making of a feaure on their hands and features must © have at least five reels to come under that heading. The direction is not the best, the entire attention and effort being given to providing artistic settings and presenting attractive house parties, one of which introduces a brand new idea. Some of the guests are attired in evening costumes while others wear bathing suits and sport around in the pool which is part of the set. The story is so slight that it is necessary to follow practically every scene with a title. They have attempted to gain sympathy for the star by reminding the audiences at frequent intervals of his devotion to his mother, though this is only apparent in the titles. Then to make you feel real sorry for him, once more Western Union plays a heavy part and announces the death of the mother, whereupon you are supposed to sympathize with the hero as the closing fade-out shows him walking away, head downcast. Almost the entire picture is taken up with the social gatherings attended by “The Butterfly Man.” The opening reel has him the center of attraction at a garden fete where he is very much sought after by all the ladies present. However, Louise Lovely happens to be the luckiest. He escorts her home. The next event is a dinner given by another of his admirers, a Mrs. Trend, with whom he is carrying on a flirtation much to the disgust of everybody, her husband included. The third and most elaborate event is the Rose Cotillion where Lew reaches the height of his vamping in a daring dance with Mrs. Trend, the results of which indirectly cause him to lose the hand of the wealthy Louise, whose money he had hoped to marry. But Lew manages to square himself in the eyes of Mr. Trend by rescuing his little daughter when a basket suspended from the ceiling from which she is strewing flowers, catches fire. The next morning comes the news of his mother’s death and everybody, including the girl who had jilted him, feels sorry for “The Butterfly Man.” Center on Cody and Forget Story Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Lew Cody’s art of love making and his tricks as a he-vamper will suit the younger set but may not receive a very welcome reception from the older and more serious minded members of your audiences. And even at that it’s a question whether or not his particular talents will continue to please those who do like his work if he isn’t supplied with more substantial story material. There isn’t much of it in “The Butterfly Man,” so don’t make promises on this score. Base the attraction on the elaborate social functions shown in the picture. In “The Beloved Cheater” there was a story to talk about, so if you showed it refer to it in announcing “The Butterfly Man.” It may help. For catchlines use: “Is it always the woman who is the butterfly? See the male of the species at the blank theater.” Or, “He made some of them glad, he made some of them sad, but he made none of them bad. See “The Butterfly Man.’”