Wid's Filmdom (1921)

Sunday, July 17, 1921 Another Curwood Story Of The Northwest That Will Please James Oliver Curwood’s “THE GOLDEN SNARE” Associated First National Pictures DLR C Creme, ae ee ee David M. Hartford PTO Regios aren ns se James Oliver Curwood SCENARIOSBY «su. James Oliver Curwood and David M. Hartford GIVE, RA NEA Nie tee. eee tee Walter L. Griffin AS°AWHO aay... Of the same order as previous Curwood productions; plenty of atmosphere and one or two thrilling fights SLORY =. A bit of mystery about it that is worked up effectively into splendid climax DIRECTION... ... Very good particularly with regard to manner of telling the story, also handling of players PENS (Qa Ley eo 12 ee ea First rate eT Gy PELE N Geet osm cco sv one oe os ogee All right COA IVI: Fe Aa Bolte e os aie se os ss serene © ee Good PLAYERSiaa = Lewis S. Stone and Wallace Beery both give excellent performances EXTERIOR Sian... Many beautiful snow scenes LIN Dekel) ots se we ies ee cera Satisfactory TD) CTA) ee ons tye 5 vs to clean Suffices CHARACTER OF STORY..... Northwest Mounted Police sergeant sent after man whom he finds but never takes him a prisoner LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,900 feet The names of James Oliver Curwood and David Hartford have come to mean a story of the Northwest, with lots of good action and some fine snow atmosphere, and following as an adequate successor to “Back to God’s Country” and “Nomads of the North” comes “The Golden Snare,” which differs only in that a certain amount of mystery is contained in it and used as a basis upon which to build toward a climax. : Like the others, “The Golden Snare” has to do with an officer of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police Directer and his adventures in search of his man. Hartford has shown very good judgment in unfolding the story, which calls for several flash-backs. These are inserted appropriately and at the opportune moment in each case, and another feature of these flash-backs is that they are not long nor complicated, nor do they in any way confuse. There is no abundance of sub-titles, although in one sequence perhaps it would have been well to be a trifle more explicit. This is in the sequence in which the officer finds his man. He makes no effort to see that the man does not escape, which may strike spectators as somewhat peculiar. It isn’t until long after you are told that the outlaw is suffering from lapse of memory and for that reason the officer doesn’t find it necessary to use precaution. An excellent climax, probably a litte brutal—but no really objectionable shots are shown—is worked up in the last reel and the suspense which has been accumulating during the preceding reels reaches the breaking point and finishes the story to your satisfaction. Wallace Beery as the outlaw gives an excellent performance, and Lewis Stone is once more an officer of the N. W. M. P., and does his usual good work. Ruth Renick is the only girl in the film with the exception of a little baby who got a great many audible praises at the Strand. Beautiful locations and Northland scenery are again to be found in this Curwood production. Sergeant Raine finds his man, Bram Johnson, wanted for many murders, living alone with a girl he calls Celie, whom he fights to protect. Bram is suffering from loss of memory. Raine stays on at the cabin until one day Black Dawson, who wants Celie, injures Bram and then Raine, at the same time kidnapping Celie. Bram recovers sufficiently to follow the trail and overtakes Dawson in his cabin, where Bram is fatally wounded. He regains his memory, kills Dawson, and then explains to Raine that Celie is the only surviver of an exploring party, that he saved her life and brought her up. Bram dies. Exploitation Shouldn’t Be Hard If You’ve Played The Others Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It shouldn’t be necessary to give much advice in connection with Curwood pictures. Exhibitors know whether or not their patrons like red-blooded stories of the North, the kind that Curwood writes. Past performances in connection with this producer’s pictures, if you have played them, should be your guide in connection with “The Golden Snare.” The title comes from the fact that the outlaw made snares to catch rabbits from the golden hair of the girl he reared. Catchlines based on this fact might get them interested. Where exhibitors have been successful with such productions as “Nomads of the North” and “Back to God’s Country,” it should be necessary only to mention James Oliver Curwood’s name and promise them some fine action played against Northern backerounds. Stills in the lobby and a few feet shown prior to the regular booking date should be good ex ploitation.