Wid's Filmdom (1920)

— ee Sexitaal Tune! 13.1920 Be aa a er see é“\ 4 DAILY 15 Contains Much Propaganda But Has Strong Story Interest H. B. Warner in “UNCHARTERED CHANNELS” Hampton-Robertson-Cole RUE rereC LC). arent Ss ola eee a Henry King Pa PTORS, .. oa Kenneth B. Clarke and Eugene B. Lewis. peter)’ By Yew ates... at Aeon Not credited Reeve Se TCA IE AN oo os ss nee Victor Milner AS A WHOLE...... Much propaganda against un rest in this, but story is interesting with several forceful moments. PREG! denis: ce Holds up very well and has several _ good humorous sequences. PLR EC LION 32.29 “Agitators” are burlesqued—pic ture’s aim achieved more through story than through its obvious propaganda. .... .... .. POP LCI Crt AP Poy tee os os ok ate Some dark spots Be ELI Gre Meee) es Wnt Sat gpetes ... Average APOE E tae VV CDR i ers coc dd w lee eke Satisfactory De Ae Has forceful and very pleasing personality Pe PO) Rel avamrem t. feaek Cris Piashs « Saeed a Very good Pea CRIN SS eM lene wry Her an eae oe RS Realistic [EUR TERI SS A BOI SSS ate Oot (ae ena cM or Satisfactory REA Le beee ars. Vem eyes urd see «ny os All right CHARACTER OF STORY ....:. Hero enters plumb ing works in overalls, puts “agitators” to rout, settles conditions and wins heiress. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION..... About 5,300 feet Once more old George W. Propaganda enters into a picture. “Unchartered Channels’ has to deal with honest workers and red agitators and a son of wealth who enters the ranks of the masses and fights for the common good. This one comes as near being enter tainment as any propaganda picture very well can. Of course the alleged “reds” are burlesqued to the point of ridiculousness. But “Unchartered Channels” is best when it doesn’t stop to aim ridicule at bewhiskered gentlemen and bespectacled women. In the telling of its story it is interesting and often forceful. Timothy Webb, disinherited in his father’s will is the central character. His uncle receives the Webb plumbing works and quickly starts to run them bankrupt through incompetency. Tim, under another name, takes a job at the works and there encounters both unionism and direct action. One of the agitators plans a strike because the men have only received a ten per cent instead of a twenty per cent raise. He forces the majority of the men into it and then cooks up a charge against Tim, whom he has suspected, to incite the workers to action. Lhere is a rousing fight between Tim and his handful of adherents and the others, the former conquering. Tim’s uncle has succeeded in ruining the business and Tim buys him out with money borrowed from Sylvia, an heiress formerly in the power of the agitators. In the end he is shown delivering a George Cohan speech to his men seated about the dinner table while Sylvia smiles lovingly at him. H. B. Warner brings a forceful and dominant personality to the role of Timothy and receives generally effective support throughout. Billy Elmer is good as the cheerful workingman. Percy Challenger plays advantageously in the comedy role of the uncle. Kath ryn Adams is the girl. OLGA LINEK SCHOLL Associated with Allen Holubar’s Productions CO-AUTHOR AND CO-SCENARIST OF— “HEART OF HUMANITY” CO-SCENARIST OF— “RIGHT TO HAPPINESS” CO-SCENARIST OF — “AMBITION” AUTHOR AND SCENARIST OF— Feature Picture to be Produced by MARSHALL NEILAN AND AUTHOR OF— Big Feature Now in Production by ALLEN HOLUBAR I HAVE A STORY FOR AN INTENSELY EMOTIONAL, DRAMATIC STAR. ALSO AN ALL-STAR CAST STORY—ONE OF A BIG HUMAN APPEAL. TELEPHONE 1949 VENICE 16 HAMILTON AVE., VENICE, CAL.