Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Sunday, June 13, 1920 é DAILY : They Don’t Go Wrong In Calling This One A Special Hobart Bosworth in “BELOW THE SURFACE” Ince Special—Paramount-Artcraft SPE RSRG IMO TR. 2... Pe. 5 Irvan Willat CORT SR GN SS 7 a | ir Luther Reed Pe LOEB YY... ges sek: E. Magnus Ingleton BeeUORRASNLAN 2. eae ee eee ee jee Laylor BweAaWHOLE... 25... Wonderful production with great under sea scenes given story of thrills pat) Be Y eons Has big punch at start and thrills ga lore toward the finish—middle is inclined to sag in interest. PERI CTION: ... =. Wonderful specially from technical viewpoint—under sea stuff and boat collision superbly handled. POOR APH Y Worce ....cceven vials a Excellent PMA Oe Se cs. os SP. 5 A. we Excellent Mert ete. C) We Korea pesind. sc oe dea oe Unusual SDA Tes. Fi Delivers characterization full of strength eGR 2) fee: re Headed by Grace Darmond and Lloyd Hughes. PX DIGRLORS. .... Under water stuff superbly done PN WRLO RSge ee. oe Pes. ir. Calan Very good SPELLS 2m. o. ee roe. Sahel ee Fine CHARACTER OF STORY....... Sturdy old diver rescues son from hands of adventurers. Ma. ConligOherRODUCTLION |. gay a. = 6,268 feet They. call this one a special and it certainly is worthy the name. It’s one of these pictures that really is a special from whatever angle you chance to look at it, the box office and entertainment angles especially. The story gets away to a wonderful start introducing a sequence that is loaded to the sprocket holes with thrills and suspense. Word comes into a little Maine seacoast village that a submarine lies crippled on the ocean bed with her crew trapped and at the point of death. Martin Flint (Hobart Bosworth) makes the almost impossible descent in his diving suit to the damaged submarine, fastens chains and saves the crew. ‘Lhis sequence is handled with admirable skill both as to construction and direction. It reveals a fine element of suspense while the action on the sea-bed thrills through its realism. Director Willat certainly handled the work splendidly from the technical side. Naturally the high tempo established in this sequence is not maintained throughout the picture. The action immediately following it and during the middle reels is somewhat inclined to melodramatic story contains several loopholes. picks up toward the finish and concludes in a burst of thrills and suspense that vie for first honors with the opening sequence. Ilint’s son has capitulated to the charms of an adventuress and has even married her. The adventuress with her partner seeks to induce young Flint to descend through the water to an old wreck of gold. A few old coins from this ship and the plotters see visions of floating a big stock company. After the boy makes the perilous dive he finds his wife has flown. In delirium he accuses his father of sending her away and, sick and fevered, he lies calling for her. Martin Flint, knowing the truth, goes to Boston to force the woman to return with him. He finds her and takes her aboard a boat, but her partner comes along also. In the night the vessel strikes a wreck and Here is another excellently done techniThe ad as the However it sag goes down. cal sequence that provides thrill after thrill. venturess and her man are drowned while Flint saves himself. When the boy hears this he insists on going down to the depths for his “wife.” He makes the dive and through a port hole sees her in the cabin with the other man. Here is a gruesome, yet compelling bit. The drama in the situation is big and again has the director’s work assured a production in which realism fairly startles the beholder. Bosworth does fine work as Flint Lloyd Hughes and Grace Darmond have the chief supporting roles. George Webb, Gladys George, John Lockney, Edith Yorke and George Claire compléte the cast. while Showmen Ought To Do Big Things And Big Business With This Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This certainly deserves the best sort of exploitation that you can command. It’s a special picture in every sense of the word and business ought to be big if you go aiter it properly and make a special effort to reach the crowds. It is a rich subject for exploitation in the way of lobby display and special stage settings, and it is rich in plain advertising value. The under sea stuff certainly deserves to be featured and the realism of the story can be vouched for by mentioning Irvin Willat’s name as director. Certainly people will remember his previous Ince production, “Behind the Door.” Then there are Bosworth, Hughes and Grace Darmond, a strong star and two very popular supporting props. With all this advertising material and the various novelties of the production, you ought to be able to make your advertisements just as attractive as the picture deserves.