Wid's Filmdom (1920)

OR Ry ee 4 Sunday, March 28, 1920 Very Pleasing Little Human Interest Drama Ethel Clayton in “YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP” Paramount—Artcraft DIRECTOR (snp nese eee Walter Edwards AUTHOR: +: (hee ee oe Bronson Howard SGENARI OVS Yorn pee ee Edith M. Kennedy CAMERAMAN wowuee: s:.'. ot eee Henry Kotani AS AWHOLE...... Human interest drama of domestic life, short on action but pleasing. SiR Ye eee Straight-forward and very simple but interesting because it reflects realities. DIRECTION... Has handled majority of sequences realistically. PHOTOGRAPH Y's: Sev Sere ote er ate Very good LIGHTINGS® 2.52). .0 oo ened tistics ines Effective CAMERAVWORK® OR ae on eee oe Good STAR a. Makes role even more human and appealing because of personality and skill. SUBRPO RADHA x: Harrison Ford fine as leading man. BA TERIOR. « « «2. scents Few but appropriate INTERIORS ©. c:. Gemidtls bee)» oe oh sadist Well chosen DETALE eg. st: ; The “listening in on the party wire” trick out of date for city society drama. CHARACTER OF STORY. >= Business-mad hus band and society-mad wife part when misunderstandings cause baby’s death, but are reunited by old family lawyer. LENGTH OF PRODUCTIONS: 2 cesanace 4,707 feet “Young Mrs. Winthrop” is a little human interest drama of domestic life, very short on action, but nevertheless pleasing because of its easy way of dealing with realities. There have been many other such stories on the screen and there is nothing very unusual about this adaptation of Bronson Howard’s play but at the same time its human interest element is dominant and retains the interest at all times even though the deeper emotions are only frequently touched. The story opens introducing the rich young Winthrops who have drifted apart. Douglas is absorbed in business, Constance in society and its frivolities.| And each objects to the other’s absorption. Their strongest tie is their baby. Old Mrs. Winthrop keeps the household running and watches the rift widening between the young couple in dismay. They at length decide to stay at home for an evening. Constance gives up a jazz party and he his But here intrudes a female vamp, an artificial spot in the picture, in the person of Mrs. Dunbar who lives in the house next door and who has often been snubbed by Constance. Seeing her chance to get even she has her maid call Douglas, has her claim to be his wife’s maid and say that Constance is going to the party after all. She then invites Douglas to dinner at her home. Vhrough the window Constance sees them and, hurt to the quick, goes to the jazz party after all. This misunderstanding proves far-reaching. That night the baby is taken sick and dies. The Winthrops separate, each believing the other in the wrong. They are brought together again by the old. family lawyer who, in a very sentimental sequence, plays on their sympathies by relating their former days of courtship and by also stating that the baby’s grave cannot be divided with the other properties held by the Winthrops. The picture seems a bit artificial in this very senti business. ‘mental ending but with some this very element will prove its strength. It seems a very poor trick to have Mrs. Dunbar “listen in” on the party wire in order to find out the Winthrop’s actions. There are no party wires in homes as sumptuous as the Winthrop’s is made out to be. Ethel Clayton registers very well indeed as the wife, her personality and skill portraying the role in the fullness of its reality. Harrison Ford gives a fine performance. A large cast including Charles Ogle, Helen Dunbar, Raymond Hatton, Winifred Greenkood, Mabel Van Buren and J. M. Dumont supports. Some of them have only bits. The comedy relief attempted with Walter Hiers and Rex Zane is rather ‘neffectual. Nothing Spectacular But Its Human Quality Should Please Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor By playing this up as a simple and human picture of young married folk by mentioning the name of the noted author and by giving Harrison Ford a good play along with the star, you ought to have an attraction that will really attract and give very good satisfaction. It is not spectacular and doesn’t lend itself to any sort of circus exploitation, but at the same time if vou bring out the human note of the picture in your advertising it will draw the people in. They like this sort of a story, if it’s well done as this is, just as much in a way as they like the more actionful feature. Use lines such as “A human story of young married life, realistically presented and delightfully acted,” “A story that gives you a peep into the lives of two young people and fascinates because it is so real.”