Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Cay Sunday, September 5, 1920 é of A mm DAIL 5 Lack of Typical “Rayisms” Leave Much Wanted in Star’s First Independent Picture Charles Ray in “FORTY-FIVE MINUTES FROM BROADWAY” Arthur S. Kane—First National Joseph DeGrasse eer. epee hee sia tates a ae George M. Cohan Isabel Johnston and Bernard ie. 0. <6, (0: e McConville EEE AVA Bes os goris ot ool deme Chester Lyons AS A WHOLE Something different for star but fails to show appeal or story interest of former pictures wg) Te. Virsa, teats Very little to is as snown here—a long time in starting with various scen<s held too long DIRECTION iste ee Average PTA PEL Ys 24 cee. Satisfactory—Lyons didn’t get his usual chances Be LEA LEU Cr Meee. Shera Paty 5 eae Bact oh ats 8 a lee Good COURS IC Pre VV COIS As oer caert arine hy Mee an, Ge ies es All right oS TAs Benne Creates distinctive characters but the old appeal isn’t there SoA ee) IV ee Lec et cscs Saks Waa es os Average Pee ety LOM SME te Li 8dr dS oar aes oss koe Few HEIN cat GS) be meet toa. when bal CL acter Satisfactory OH edema em cas Os cho ye. a hale ahve ot All right Steer cate Enemies of new millionaire shown up by prize fighter LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,948 feet Probably the Charles Ray organization thought it advisable to start its hfe with a picture carrying a box Oincamutlem= iuesteason is not exactly clear.. The star’s name is better known throughout the country than any play title of the last six or eight years. He is perfectly able to stand upon his own individual merits as a popular hero and character actor of cer tain parts. And to top the argument “Forty-five Minutes From Broadway” failed to offer the producing organization with the satisfactory opportunities. While the star’s role in this is something quite different from everything he has undertaken before, the fine human story interest of his Ince pictures and the Furthermore the plot of the present work is undeniably weak for picture purposes. outstanding character appeal are missing. The star has just one opportunity to show the form which has endeared him to the public, and that comes in the romantic sequence which bobs up in varying degrees of prominence throughout the picture. These scenes radiate a warmth and human appeal that is undeniable. Ray appears as Kid Burns, a prize fighter, who has attached himself to an old pal who has inherited some millions. The plot concerns Burns’ activities in showing up the pseudo friends of his pal in his own romance with the maid of the house who at the end turns out to be the real beneficiary of the millionaire’s will but insists on denying herself her fortune so that she may accept Burns’ proposal. The scenes at the beginning when Burns, on his arrival in the village forty-five minutes from Broadway, is mistaken for the legatee are perhaps the funniest in the picture. The star is also the center of some good business in which he attempts to pass himself off as a model of sartorial splendor but in general the comedy effect of this and other sequences is spoiled by holding the scenes too long. Supporting the star appear Dorothy Devore, Hazel Howell, Eugenie Besserer, Mat Forster, Donald MacDonald, Harry Myers and William Courtright. A Fine Box Office Attraction—Not So Good From Entertainment Viewpoint Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This picture is probably going to draw the crowds in good numbers. The fact that Ray is to appear in a version of George Cohan’s popular play should increase the box office value of the star’s name if such a thing is possible. However, box office value or not, the star better get back to the stories containing the old human appeal and the sympathetic character. This one will doubtless be execused on the grounds that he can’t come through with a winner every time. Joe Plunkett at the Strand put this picture on in interesting style employing a special overture “Cohanthe themes that have made George Cohan popular as a esque Rhapsody,’ which utilizes a number of song writer, and using the “So Long Mary” song rendered by a male quartette immediately preceding the This method of presentation might well be copied by other exhibitors as the effect was very good. feature. In advertising this mention the fact that it is Charles Ray’s first independently produced picture and give the title and author’s name a good play.