Wid's Filmdom (1920)

22 ; 7 icf DAILY Sunday, March 28, 1920 RAL LS I a TET ETL, CET RR ES EES RE “Shore Acres,” a Story That Will Never Grow Old » Alice Lake in “SHORE ACRES” Screen Classics, Inc.—Metro DIRECTOR 560 ee oe: deere Rex Ingram BUTLHOR? kere wcs o> eee James A. Herne SCENARIOSBY 2-2... yc eee Arthur J. Zellner CAMERAMAN). <3... i. eee Stephen Norton AS A WHOLE...... Pleasing production but greater share of effort has .been given to atmosphere and settings. SLORY: yee Adap/ation of famous stage play; doesn’t match up with the force of the original, DIRECTION. .4 <5 Jerked the action to quite a degree; handled ship wreck-sequence wonderfully. PHOTOGRAPHY oa oe eee Excellent IAGHTINGS (6h ene cemeteries Always the best ‘CAMERA WORK...... One of the big things in the picture. PDL ALR grate pe eat ier ees Needs a little more assurance MBUPPORT. a Sincere in effort but roles required stronger personalities. HXTERIORS....:. Some of the most beautiful coast shots yet seen. INTERIORS .cc 6 3. 5k eee eee Correct DE TAL Ueie. &. ees. secede oe Satisfactory CHARACTER, Obso1 ORY See Lighthouse keeper bargains his daughter in marriage when his money is lost in speculation. (EENGTH OB PRODUGTION: (5. eer. 5,982 feet Sometimes there’s a whole lot in a name. Such is tthe case with Metro’s second Alice Lake production, for “Shore Acres” is a name that has not yet been forgotten. James A. Herne’s play of the New England coast lighthouse is still discussed by older theater goers hénce the interest with which the adaptation is probably being awaited. And, generally speak >», ing, the producer has succeeded in making a realistic and a truly beautiful “Shore Acres.” Perhaps the most beautiful shots of their kind that have ever been photographed will be found in the production. They are abundant and each more wonderful than the last. The picture is too long and the director has used up the earlier reels for a lot of unnecessary detail that naturally drags the real opening of the story. However, once he gets into the theme, he goes along. at an acceptable pace and when the climax is reached, , wastes very little footage in closing, which is very. much more to be desired than if he were to bring in: his detail here rather than at the beginning, Nat Berry and his married brother, Martin, have shared ‘the old homestead on “Shore Acres” for masmyy years and ’tended the light-house on the rocky coast, Nat, the older and wiser of the brothers, is deeply grieved when, through speculation, Martin loses, wir 4 he owns on the farm and it seems necessary t® 3 1], But the wily promoter who caused the hass; suga” .cts that if he can marry Martin’s lovely daughter, the gept will be overlooked. But Uncle Nat will not have his grandaw onhter’s life ruined, so he arranges for the girl and bys — youthful sweet heart to sail with an old sea-captai pf = Martin is enraged when he discovers his broth: .” . act and when a terrific storm breaks and the light | 4-4 the tower goes out, the father of the run-away oir] bars the stairs and refuses to let Nat ascend ’ 16 + eplenish the light that will guide the recently @eparted vessel safely away from the shoals. = The vessel jams on the rocks a” 44 the scenes on the wrecked ship and Alice and J ye, sweetheart being washed overboard are great. A+ qawn ‘Martin, now’ filled’ with remorse for sendir » pi, daughter to: death, and Nat find Alice and he + sweetheart adrift on a log. ‘The family is reunit 4 ‘and all e1 \ds happily. Pr Announce the Date That You Play It. That Should Be Sufficic:nt. Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor / There is little doubt but what you will have no trouble in getting a full house when you flash the title “Shore Acres” over your box office window. The name itself should be all you need to draw the crowds. For those who may have forgotten the name, remind them that it is an adaptation of James A. Herne’s famous play. That should be enough. If you played “Should a Woman Tell” you are safe in saying that they will like “Shore Acres” even better and promise them some beautif water shots. You can talk about the s quence if you need something to “thrill” is good. Catchlines could read: “See « a powerful drama of a quiet New En gland shore town.” Or, “A father refused to allow t he light that would save his daughter’s life to be lit. £ jee the story of the famous light-house keeper of the fa mous James ‘A. Herne’s ‘Shore Acres,’ ” al coast and hipwreck seover for this shore Acres,’ &»