Wid's Filmdom (1920)

@ _————— Sunday, August 15, 1920 whet a AT PR LTE IP LEY CSET RAE ITS OLE, J, ; DAILY e A Radical Step on Untrodden Ground—Destined to be Showered with Attention Basil King’s “EARTHBOUND” Eminent Authors—Goldwyn DIRECTOR® <item ila. eee T. Hayes Hunter AUTHORS... Some. <5 shi epee oe wae Basil King SCENARIO BY@ia.3 . cca vstew ee Edfrid A. Bingham CAMERAMAN is isos ve eee Andre Barlatier AS. A WHOLE’ ]..... A Picture that gives shape to an indefinite idea over which everyone has pondered—will doubtless create tremendous discussion STORY Largely discoursive in character; too slow at beginning but riveting attention during latter half be fol b, oe DIRECTION Seer. ee. Splendid as regards technical details and handling of murder and court-room scenes PHOTOGRAPHY?) 2.228 each bee + cts hein Fine LIGHTINGS ge.2 tn eee eee Excellent CAMERA WORK ...... Perfect; double exposures wonderful LEADING PUAY ERS wok f. ste All very good EXTERIORS ie irtess ce cee cokes sae ee See Pretty INTERIORS Wipeue. nee © ess sts: Quite perfect DETAIL Generally satisfactory Concerns the influence of a departed spirit on the living. LENGTH ORE RRODUCTION: =: “eee 8,000 feet “Earthbound is destined to be showered with attention because it makes a radical departure from the usual picture and delves into spiritualism. Its central character, a man who has lived according to the creed, “No God, no sin, no future life,” is murdered. By technically perfect processes of double exposure his “spirit” is seen mingling with the living characters, endeavoring to communicate with them, trying to bridge the gap between. Slowly he makes his presence felt coer er eee eee eee ee see eeeeee on the rest, and, this accomplished and his earthly sins atoned for by those he has left behind, his spirit is unleashed from its earthbound state to depart for a Hereafter. The cue of this work of Basil King’s is found in one of the subtitles which suggests that a man’s conscience may be, instead, a voice from the “other side,’ strugeling for the expression of the right. Thus the spirit of Desborough so effects Mrs. Daisy Rittenshaw through her conscience, that she takes the stand in her husband’s defense, revealing the sordid truth as to why Rittenshaw killed—her lover. T. Hayes Hunter, in his capacity of director, has revealed himself as exceedingly skilful in the main. The technical perfection of the double exposures are doubtless due to his efforts as well as his cameraman’s. There is a wealth of suspense preceding the murder scene and this scene particularly is handled in a masterly style. The final half of the production holds strongly. Scenes between the Desborough spirit and the living characters are handled with fine regard for their effect. The first part of the picture, that is, that action introducing the characters and preceding the murder is, undoubtedly, possessed of superflous footage. This action is neither physical nor spiritual but largely con. versational. Wyndham Standing as Desborough and his double exposed spiritual outline succeeds in creating first a character of more or less timid swagger and later a suffering soul that could-almost be termed realistic. Mahlon Hamilton as Rittenshaw and Flora Revalles as Daisy are well cast and perform unusually well. Naomi Childers gives a deeply sympathetic performance as Desborough’s wife while Lawson Butt and Alec Francis as Desborough’s friends are entirely satisfactory. See This Yourself and Consider It Carefully from All Angles Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor First of all go and see “Earthbound” yourself. See it and then think it over carefully. It is a picture so unusual and marking such a radical departure in idea, that you can’t possibly accept it on somebody’s word the way you can a good melodrama or a comedy. Then consider these facts. Never before have the questions of spiritualism and an after life been so prominently before the public. The papers daily carry news and special articles concerning these and related subjects. Everyone is interested. Also bear in mind that there are thousands of people suffering bereavement who entertain ideas of communication with the departed. These ideas may be indefinite, but such a picture as “Earthbound” tends to shape them. These things considered next turn to your advertising. Senationalism might offend. Dignified arguments will attract attention because of the idea. That idea is the big point for you to feature. a