Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Sunday, January 11, 1920 pp DAILY 8 Simple and Obvious Little Picture With a Few Entertaining Spots Edith Roberts in “THE TRIFLERS” Universal DP Ee eC) Feige teen tech oes ss W. Christy Cabanne CU IEEL CY ie Meertemey essai.” i Joseph Franklin Poland SCENARIO BY ....... Peis ae hole te Hal Hoadley CANICA MEAN Geena te, .),. ce eee a John Leezer AS,ASWHOLE: .... -. Very slow moving little picture with some entertaining moments but failing to reach any climax. SLO Rs cae. Simple, quite obvious and unable to intrigue the attention constantly because of its primer-like simplicity. DEE CEL) Naira We ee hk acre er eS | Average eer ten Lt Vary pee Noy Porte ye Very good DELCR EAM LIN Cr aise eile Woe cls sa kee Satisfactory ERC) IN Kat eee Sha). ee Usual STAR....Registers with appeal, youth and prettiness Di tO) ia onan David Butler brightest in cast; registers three or four fine laughs. {ECU ON NE OR TASS yee bag et Be Generally plain PENTHRIORS 39 25,0055 Include good hotel lobby scene eae see ee Tene oes, Stee. Os Fairly good CHARACTER OF STORY...... Poor girl discovers fast society she dreams of is shallow and insincere. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION...... About 5,000 feet Here is a picture that in its simplicity is almost primer-like and which, though it has a few interesting and entertaining moments, fails to command the attention all the way through because of this. The story is well enough treated but a lack of i!lumining incident and an absence of a sustaining interest handicap it to no little extent. The whole story is pretty obvious even before the author has gotten into his plet and so there’s nothing to do but sit and await the foregone conclusion. I;dith Roberts appears as Janet Randa!l, a department store girl who longs for a fling at high society. Quite true to type she overlooks the poor but honest leve of Dan Cassidy of the traffic squad. When Janet’s vacation time comes she goes to a fashionable hotel instead of to Sullivan lake and there at a dance she meets her idol, Monte Moreville. After four days Janet goes to settle her bill and finds it a hundred dollars. prise to her as she thought the $25 she was asked for her room covered a week instead of a day. Monte comes to her rescue with the money and a proposition, that she pose as his wife in order that he may the better handle a blackmailing lady who threatens a This is more than a sur breach of promise suit. So then Janet tastes to the full of high life but finds to her disappointment that all its people are shallow and insincere and, after thus risking her good name, she goes back to the poor and still honest blue-coat. Fyven the story material in hand is not treated as well as it could be. The sudden change in character of Monte when he proposes in reality to Janet is not in the least convincing. And Monte’s “fast” crowd doesn’t act like a natural fast crowd at all. stantly assumes a stilted attitude that almost approaches on the conventional. Miss Roberts’ characterization is really the dominatNot a skilled actress It con ing thing about the production. by any means she, manages, however, to extract a eood deal of sympathy and some humor from her role. David Butler’s performance as the traffic cop stands out and it’s a pity his part wasn’t larger. He gets several legitimate laughs in the short space he’s on the screen. Others are Forrest Stanley, Frederick Vroom, Lillian Langdon, Charles Arling, Oleta Ottis,» Katherine Kirkham, Arthur Shirley, Ben Alexander. Nell Craig, Colin Kenny and Arthur Hoyt. Slip It In Quietly and There Won’t Be Any Strenuous Kicks Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If you find yourself shy a picture you can slip “The Triflers” in quietly and there won’t be any strenuous kicks about it. There are some scenes in it that amuse and others that mildly interest and although the picture is far from being a solidly dramatic piece of entertainment, its good points will likely stand out and get it over averagely well. The central situation, that of a girl posing as the wife of a society rake, can be elaborated upon in advertising copy to advantage. This should attract considerably. Miss Roberts’ name, together with that of David Butler should be featured. to like this leading man a lot Letter ater seeing his werk here. People are going