Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Be ee Sunday, January 18, 1920 diel DAILY ib 7 RR a EE EET STI, Author’s Dramatic Idea Is Quite Spoiled by Scenario and Direction Lucy Cotton in “BLIND LOVE” Gerald Bacon—Aywon—State Rights PPR PGLUCEL ORIG? Mtr ee tae... wo Oliver D. Bailey Pe RRERS RG, ee nl ss sos oc ee ae Max Marcin Sete PR RRC) Pe enema eo cee ee Basil Dickey AP EGAN IML reer wk, we ws ha we Edward Earl AS A WHOLE...... Very fine dramatic idea marred by ill-treatment in scenario; climax shows big league situation but is not sympathetically developed. SLORN@ oe. Essential twists expertly contrived and climax reveals a big dramatic idea but poor handling has deprived it of full entertaining power. DIRECTION. ..... Shows real effort but for most part is stagey and forces players to play to camera in obvious fashion. PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHTINGS S25... Some good but others just as bad in regard to lights and shadows. CP VPLOEC NV GUAR EOS, Je fois aloes» s.duer die dletals didie ales Poor SPAR Je Seva: Registers fairly well through youth, beauty and ability although her work in later features has shown to better advantage. SUPPORID titre: Well selected but not well directed Pe EU ES LORIN SS feral tt eae’ sss Beautiful garden shots INZERIORS Fw: Fail to create the proper high class atmosphere. WE RATI ar: Le Guere’s makeup varies in different scenes and gives him appearance of chameleon. © CHARACTERVOE: STORY:..... Mercenary villain attempts to ruin young man’s marriage to rich girl. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION ...... About 5,300 feet On reading all those big names of the men concerned in the production of “Blind Love” one might arrive at the conclusion that the picture was something out of the ordinary in the way of entertainment. Such, however, is not the case unless out of the ordinary be interpreted to mean below the average feature standard. Mr. Marcin’s idea for “Blind Love” different and doubtless emanated a dramatic strength in its original synopsis form. It builded to a particularly striking climax, a climax which one can well imagine holding an audience breathless on the speaking stage or, again, on the screen if it were handled in a sympathetic manner. However, the other celebrities connected with the production, namely Basil Dickey and Oliver Bailey have generally failed in realizing on the dramatic worth of the material handed them by the author. The scenario writer has botched the work almost completely so what might have been an intensely interesting story culminating in a denouement of real force, turns out to be an artificially motivated, uneven story concluding in a climax that only reveals its full possibilties to one trained to take even the bad pictures seriously—and which will hardly reveal anything satisfactory to the person in search of entertainment. The story relates of Beard’s love for Josephine Burden, an heiress, who is overjoyed particularly as she realize he is unaware of her wealth. They marry. Previously George Collins had received Beard’s signature, when the latter was intoxicated, to a paper purporting to be an ordinary I. O. U. but which was a statement to the effect that he (Beard) would pay Collins a sum of money in reward for his introduction to Josephine if he ever succeeded in marrying her. When Josephine learns of this she is utterly disThe story then concentrates on another was curiously consolate. love affair of an aged pair and through the tragedy which concludes this Josephine and Beard are brought to a real understanding of each other—the false note is explained. Lucy Cotton creates a favorable impression as Josephine while George Le Guere, Thurlow Bergen, Morgan Coman, Charles Butler, Lillian Bacon and Edouarde Durand play other important roles. People Have Been Educated to Better Pictures Than This Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Practically every picture audience in the country has been educated to expect better things than “Blind Love.” And it seems a pity to condemn it when all the sincere effort expended on it is considered. However, “Blind Love” is way below the standards set by the average offering of the day. Exhibitors who have built up any sort of a patronage through select ing their pictures from the best the market has to offer, will find that it fails to rank in the 1, 2, 3 class. If it has to be played, feature the name of Max Marcin and mention the fact that he was one of the authors of “Cheating Cheaters” and also give Lucy Cotton a play for all things indicate to the rapid rise in popularity of this young actress.