Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Sunday, January 11, 1920 pa DAILY u Rapid Action Sea Story With Any Number of Genuine Thrills George Walsh in “THE SHARK” Fox LIER LO Ry Soe sats... es Dell Henderson RARER Nd ee 5. aes icc Vs» sk Thomas F. Fallon SEN A RIOUB YO. s. )..... ee Thomas F. Fallon DMIs AMAN 25050... ... 0. ee Joe Ruttenberg AS A WHOLE...... Considerably better than anything this star has had in quite a while. Sr) Fes Yom va Rapid-action sea-story containing a number of good fist fights and a big thrill in dive of heroine from top mast of ship. PITRE CTI O Nese... Generally satistactory; has speeded up the action to extent that story loop-holes are not noticed. Be eee a ere tn... . es he es Very good Dt eee Sees... . iets. Satisfactory CAMERA WORK...... Some pretty good sea shots BEAR ay es} Registers well in a part calling for general agility and considerable use of fists. BU OR iva Good with a number of interesting character types DIS LOO St ete. ss. ove oe Pe wt Appropriate PEPE ESL OES the ese us sas Sea stuff generally good DE PAL os. A number of weak spots in story and a bad slip in direction but speed of action covers these. CHARACTER OF STORY...... Sailor saves shanghaied girl from brutal sea captain. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION...... About 5,000 feet This is a story of the sea and has been keyed at a very rapid pace throughout with the result that its loop-holes will doubtless be overlooked in the excitement generated by the action. Without a doubt it is the best picture in which George Walsh has appeared in some time. He-‘has the role of a fighting sailor and his athletic prowess and general all-around agility are given ample play during the run of the picture. That the story, in some respects, approaches the ridiculous can not be denied upon a close inspection of its construction. That business men should see fit to discuss the important matters on a slumming party and request the private office of the proprietor of a notorious dive for their work, the while leaving the heroine, the only woman in the party, unregarded, is beyond an ordinary mortal’s conception. However most people will pardon this impossibility with the excuse that “they do it in the movies,” and will be content to concentrate their attention on the many thrills that the picture provides. Of these the star’s fist fights winding up with his encounter with the brutal captain on the deck, are by no means the least. Spectacular indeed is the high dive taken by the heroine from the top mast of the schooner, to escape the vicious crew and the star’s escape from the police over a railroad bridge, narrowly missing being run down'by a train, are further scenes that provide thrills of the heartiest physical type. Walsh is seen as Shark Rawley, a sailor on the vessel owned and captained by the brutal Sanchez. The two are ashore one night when Doris Selby, together with her.father and business associates, are on a slumming party. Sanchez makes off with Doris while Shark is attempting to rescue her from another, and immediately puts out to sea. Shark just manages to catch the boat and here begins a series of furious fights between the captain and his crew on one side and Shark on the other, over the girl. Eventually the ship catches fire (a fire which could have easily been put out) and all hands are forced to the water, from which some time later Doris and Shark are rescued. The fights are all very well staged particularly, as said, the one between the captain and Shark. When this is over and the captain lies prone on the deck, Shark enters the cabin where the girl is hidden and she immediately knocks him out with a bottle. This scene is liable to get a laugh but otherwise the action should register as intended. Walsh is supported by Mary Hall, Robert Broderick, William G. Nally, James Mack, Henry Pemberton and Marie Pagano. This Should Give General Satisfaction Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor While “The Shark” will not likely create a new box office record there doesn’t seem to be any reason why it shouldn’t give general satisfaction to most all photoplay audiences. The fights and the thrills key the action up to a good fast tempo and the inconsistencies of the plot are not glaring because of this. In advertising “The Shark” tell them that it is a story of the sea and that the leap of the heroine from the top mast and the burning of the sc} are among the picture’s thrills. 100ner George Walsh has a certain following and should be featured, mainly because in this picture he quite surpasses anything he has done recently.