Wid's Filmdom (1920)

eee nite Re A 9 eee ene a a an ‘Se WSS me =: pad aent perc ns August 29, 1920 a Wi DAILY Partial Indictment of Modern Economic cee in Fairly Well Handled Picture “DEMOCRACY, THE VISION RESTORED” Democracy Photoplay Co.—State Rights BRM fete 28 vaca Ps ae ooo ee William Nigh EF MEA PRS MEE ELT res aon kee a Nina Wilcox Putnam POremetOOB Yoo. i... ack ce Lee Francis Lybarger SPAR NVLALIN EG feds or od Bod oc ek cS Not credited re 4s Partial indictment of modern economic system—effective, though details of production are not skilfully handled. Se LORYVars;:: Is interesting and appealing and delivers its message of “cooperation” effectively. DIRECTION ... Satisfactory excepting details—continuity of action bad in spots. PmOLOGRAPHY..:.... Generally good; some only fair. Me TEIN CaS MeR pes tao 8c5 014s. cise) se oho eh emate Acceptable eENUEC IS BWV AO Kien che ic). ss 3 Yoh oe Satisfactory LEADING PLAYERS...... J. H. Gilmore, William Nigh and Leslie Austin do most of the work and are satisfactory. ENO) TC Mier Ney ereac sores eu k's als aft Reg Sat Scns e as Good Eee Lashed C) Wear tse its sis si6 weg le date tee ore Satisfactory PPM Nae Bad (2) Te OE A con) 5c. a ugera TSR Sis ed Very good POL ALIS Ae carcteites 6 ones Story detail quite poor at times BAAR ACTHRGCORSSTORY 47... . Delivers the idea that love and not force should be pre-eminent LENGTH OF PRODUCTION .... About 6,000 feet This picture is a partial indictment of the modern social system. It opens with a rather interesting discussion beween Fortune, an old autocrat and tyrant, and his two grandsons, one of which follows in his footsteps, the other being declared a dreamer. His attack of capitalism contains some of the arguments of socialism. The three argue economics, social conditions, etc. politics, It must be confessed that Fortune is rather childish for a powerful capitalist in his various arguments, but doubtless this obviousness was necessary for dramatic effect. David, the first grandson, elects to remain with his grandfather. John, the other, goes to the war, firm in the opinion that military autocracy must be overthrown. He returns to find David established in his erandfather’s shoes and a miserable autocrat in every sense of the word. Again it seems as if David were a bit too obvious in his remarks to be a success. The profiteer may think the way David speaks, but he usually has sense enough to hold his tongue. John opens David’s eyes to the futility of force. He says in effect that his six months in the trenches have shown him the absolute futility of war. Nevertheless, he proceeds to attack and beat David for stealing his wife. David, however, has learned his lesson and is the means of John’s reunion with his wife. His own eyes are opened as are also the eyes of everyone else in the cast. The final message is that cooperation and brotherly love should rule the world instead of force. The objective started for in the first reels is hardly attained in the conclusion. It seems lost in the shadow of compromise. However, the moral is certainly efThe getting together of capital and labor is right in line with what should be—a Utopia. The continuity of the picture is not of the best. There are several jumps and it seems there has been a little difficulty blending the conversational parts of the story and the dramatic sections. However, there are many sequences that provide real thrills. And the’ popular note the picture strikes should carry it over. The cast is headed by William Nigh as David, J. H. Gilmore as Fortune and Leslie Austin as John, the trio performing adequately. Maurine Powers gives a pretty picture of David’s wife, while others are Hal Brown, Albert Travernier, Franklin Hanna, Charles Sutton and Elsie De Wolfe. fective. Mixes Drama and Propaganda—Fine Exploitation Possibilities Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This isn’t straight entertainment. It is a mixture of entertainment and propaganda, but the blend is fat better than that seen in the usual picture of this type. Considering the fact that the mass public of this country, and for that matter of the whole world, is heartily sick of war, the message preached here should certainly strike.a responsive chord in all picture audi ences. There is a minority still living off the hate generated by the war who will doubtless be outspoken against the picture. These things considered, it is likely that “Democ racy” should go well in most houses. ‘The theaters that play just high-class dramatic and comedy attractions will probably sidetrack it inasmuch as the propganda will be considered out of place. hand, as a box office On the other attraction with appealing exploitation possibilities it ranks very high.