Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Sunday, March 28, 1920 Po ne ILy : Plenty of Automobile Atmosphere Mixed With Some Comedy and Thrills Wallace Reid in “EXCUSE MY DUST” Paramount—Artcraft LOR 28 So... eee ae or ie. Sam Wood RRR, oho. SS conan.» oS Byron Morgan See POUBY |= aoe a Will M. Ritchey ee RANMAN: 23.7. uct ca eles «. Alfred Gilks A> A WHOLE,..... Good comedy with thrillers but there is just a bit too much automobile stuff in it. PURO ERY tu so ks Very slim idea but humorous moments and thrills put it over in pretty good style. PIinRUGTION 2... Particularly good an automobile machine shop and racing atmosphere; plot is given second place. PeEOGRAPHY .. oo. eens ces e cca Very good BEM OLIN GS, occ ss oss Ces wie « Good night effects CAMERA WOREK...... Race stuff well handled; some shots from airplane. Pett, . oy... Is good looking and breezy in actions; gets away with role in satisfactory style. BELEPORT. ..... Theodore Roberts registers in comedy-character role. Ser LORS. . . ates. testes: Sie wis Fine racing stuff PARE TOL ICG)... tte, oo eV 0 ae ce op Scie ae Adequate PEL ALL........... Little too much “automobile” advertising, giving names. GHARACTER OF STORY...... Hero tricks villains and brings prize in long distance speed race to his firm. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION ...... About 4,330 feet “Excuse My Dust” is another automobile comedy with Wallace Reid as the star that lays a little too much stress on the automobiles and not quite enough on the story. An “automobile” atmosphere fairly permeates the five reels of film and while this is very good and proper there seems to be just a little too much of it for the good of the story. The comedy has rather a tough time of it with the gasoline and the chug of the engines. However they get over some good comedy and build to an automobile race climax that uncovers several sensational thrills) The race is from Los Angeles to San Francisco and what with the machinations of the villain group they work up a good degree of suspense. During the race two of the cars crash together when one attempts to pass the other. The thrill is well handled even though some of the dust from the title obscures the actual collision if indeed they really staged it. But the best stunt is the risky trip of one car across a railroad trestle. The driver steers it back into the road again just in time to escape getting smashed to bits by an oncoming engine. This one delivers the genuine sensation. Wallace Reid appears as ‘“Toodles” Walden, manager of his father-in-law’s automobile plant. Previously he had won the Los Angeles-San Francisco race and his bride at once and the same time. Now his wife forbids his speeding and in this she is backed up by her father, old J. D. Ward, a comedy-character part excellently played by Theodore Roberts. J. D. forbids all his employees speeding and sells the racing cars of the company. Then the rival company gets on the job, buys J. D.’s speed cars and then arranges things so he can’t help entering the race. They fix up J. D.’s engines in new bodies and place a reckless driver at the wheel of the prospective winner with instructions to do all in his power, sportsmanlike or unsportsmanlike to win the race. out most of the enemy’s plans and decides to drive in the race himself. Old J. D. takes another’car and . they start. The race is worked up very well and builds on to a finale with a good comedy touch. The star is his usual good looking self, breezy in his actions and gets away with his role nicely. Roberts gives splendid comedy assistance. Tully Marshall, Ann Little, Guy Oliver, Otto Brower, James Gordon, Walter Long, Jack Herbert and Fred Huntley com In the meantime ‘“Toodles” has found plete the cast. Reception Accorded the Others of This Series Is Your Guide Here Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If you have played the previous Wallace Reid automobile comedies released by Paramount-Artcraft you ought to have a very good line on how the present subject will go for it is similar to them in practically all respects, though “Double Speed” was better on account of its story. However, in the case of this one you have Byron Morgan’s Saturday Evening Post story to advertise in addition to the appearance of the star and if the other pictures have gone over well they have furnished the best sort of advance advertising campaign for you on this one. Play up the automobile race and its thrills and make a special bid to automobile enthusiasts in your advertising and lobby display. Exhibitors of “The Roaring Road” found it paying to tie up with some automobile house in the advertising of the picture. The plan could easily be worked here if desired.