Wid's Filmdom (1921)

12 ghiel DAILW Sunday, July 17, 1921 -ORES SS) PR ee? er eT Star Does Good Comedy Work In Mild Story Will Rogers in “AN UNWILLING HERO” Goldwyn DIRECTOR: . . . ..eeeee. Go ces Clarence Badger BUTHOR ©. c0:0..9.., opened ee ee O. Henry SCENARIO BY cv .2e eee Arthur F. Statter CAMERAMAN .~..-.eere eee Marcel Le Picard AS A WHOLE...... Pleasing comedy and character-. ization which could be improved by cutting rT ber et ee Adapted from O. Henry’s “Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking” DIRECTION ¢ .):eeyee een Good, but very uneven PHOTOGRAPH Ye eee eee Fair LIGHTINGS... e242 eee ry ee Ordinary CAMERA WOKKeaa eee Dine: vase r eee Plain peek re tae eS Holds attention throughout entire production. Apt to overact and overdo his sly humor SUPPORT >. «cope en ier ene oe Fair EXTERIORS). . See ents ae Ordinary INTERIORS. coe ee er Few but good DETAIL 22.5 22 eee eee Enough. Titles good CHARACTER OF STORY...... Honest hobo saves estate from robbery at Christmas time; avoids bath and attentions of grateful family LENGTH’ OFsPRGRUCTIONI a 4,759 feet Although ©. Henry’s story “Whistling Dick’s Christmas Stocking,” from which this production has been adapted, makes very mild screen material, it nevertheless allows Will Rogers to carry on in his own sly and humorous way. As the entire producabout the star, a character This Will Rogers succeeds in doing in an easy, slow.and indifferent manner that is similar to the work he did in “Jubilo” and “Honest Hutch”—only better. This is certainly Will tion and interest center rather than a plot is creaved. Rogers’ best for it allows free scope to his whimsical nature. A great many of the chuckles in this production come from the light touches and carefree manner of the star, but most of the laughs are produced by the titles, which were written by Rogers himself. O. Henry figures very little in this regard, and while his story is very slight, it nevertheless has retained its flavor, if not its detail, in the film version. It seems as though neither the story nor scenario made much difference to Will Rogers; he didn’t allow them to influence or hamper his breezy idea of a hobo. It is a long while before this production gets under way and a good deal of footage is used up in creating an atmosphere and bringing the “Unwilling Hero” to — New Orleans. Here he meets a gang of tramps who are planning a Christmas eve job on a manor. On his way to town he is given a lift by the girl of the estate who admires his whistling. Upon their return she gives Dick, the hobo, a Christmas present, which turns out to be a pair of ladies’ stockings. In the evening the tramps capture Dick and start upon the robbery but Dick warns the household by a note that he slings through the window. This is done by placing a stone in one of the stockings. The tramps are captured and Dick given a Christmas dinner. Later he avoids the bath in a remarkable manner by making all the noises and reproducing the actions of the real thing. There is a lot of funny work in these shots. Fearing the comforts of a home and possible work, Dick makes his escape in the morning and returns to the open road. Molly Malone does the girl in this production, and Nick Cogley stands out as the colored servant who insists upon the hobo’s bath. The production as a whole is light and amusing and could easily be improved by a little judicious cutting. Will Rogers Will Please And Satisfy Your Audience Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor You have two good names to advertise; Will Rogers Both are drawing cards. Besides this you can safely promise’ your people a likeable and ] and O. Henry. musing production. Don’t promise anything big, hut also don’t hesitate to say that the star will amuse. Talk about the clever titles and you might also mention the fact that Will Rogers wrote them. Tell them about the funny way the hobo avoids the bath, and say that he could whistle Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song” but always passed a wood pile. A whistling tramp in your lobby would attract attention. The Goldwyn press book will give you some advertising ideas and catchlines that will all help put this over. Tell your folks that Will Rogers is better in this than he was in “Honest Hutch” and that he has a humor that is all his own.