Wid's Filmdom (1921)

Sunday, July 17, 1921 a DAILY a Story Has More Possibilities Than Have Been Used Bert Lytell in “THE MAN WHO” Metro JOD 23 Ot OLS | a Maxwell Karger AUTHOR .....-.---sees reer eens Lloyd Osborne SCMNABRIOMENI .. 0. 000. +. 0s ane Arthur Zellner GAMERANANME, 0. . 5-5-3 oeu Arthur Martinelli AS A\WHGOEEG=.... Slow-moving piece that doesn’t get beyond the average line as entertainment SLORY ass 7 Certainly a unique idea of providing amusement, but hasn’t nearly enough incident DIRECTION. .2:.. Devoted altogether too much footage to minor business and unimportant detail PEO T OGRE LLY 6.2... 6... ths. ote enema 2 ae Fair Tat Ha PC os cic sce os so lana = 2s Fair GAME ReWVLOIRK oes ee. od Se Ordinary SLAR cae. No variance to his work, keeps repeating same expressions and movements SUP POs re eee aime Not prominent DARDS OSS no Oe ag All right TANI tees oe oes eo os os a ee Adequate DELTA. --.Given more attention than required CHARAGsEROF STORY.....% War hero tries to become famous by boycotting shoe manufacturers and going about without shoes LENGTH OF PRODUCTION..... About 6,000 feet Bert Lytell’s latest production is fairly feeble amusement. It takes fully two reels to get started and the story is told in a very dull fashion. The whole trouble is that the production lacks “pep.” Even the war hero’s decision to become famous by appearing on Fifth Avenue in a dress suit and high hat but without shoes or stockings doesn’t go over the way it should. The idea is good, but the presentation is poor. And this is the trouble throughout the run of “The Man Who.” The story has some pretty fair possibili ties and might have been made into a really amusing farce if properly handled. The opening reels aren't particularly timely, dealing as they do with returned war heroes, Red Cross workers and other business pertaining to the recently returned veterans. Even this wouldn't have been so disappointing had something happened besides the That's about Lucy Cotton as the society girl feeding a soldier ice cream, all that takes place in reel one. society girl “puts on” so extravagantly that she appears to be giving a burlesque. She overdoes it entirely too much. Bert Lytell is an adequate hero, but there is no variance to his work. His gestures and expressions register ditto, no matter what the occasion. The best thing in the picture is the hero's unique A fair share of laughs is deFifth shoes and stockings. There were far more opportunt idea of obtaining lame. rived from his appearance on Avenue minus ties for comedy business in this sequence than the dipector has availed himself of. A few of the titles will get laughs. Bedford Mills, returned war hero, meets Helen Jessop, a society girl war-worker, with whom he falls in love, but realizes she is far above his reach when Helen says she must marry a man who is famous. Mills decides that he must become famous and win Helen. An advertisement for shoes at $22 a pair gives the ex-soldier an idea. He will boycott the manutacturers by starting a new fad—going barefoot. 3ut the publicity that the stunt brings forth brands Mills as a “nut” and other uncomplimentary things, putting Helen further out of his reach. Mary Turner admires Mills’ nerve and joins him in his endeavor to bring down the high cost of shoes. Mary and Mulls fall very much in love with each other and even Mary’s father, who is president of the shoe manufacturers’ as-sociation, finally consents to the marriage. Offers Good Opportunity for Stunt Exploitation Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor A liberal amount of cutting will make a good deal better picture of “The Man Who” and give what comedy it does contain better play. As it is at present, there is so much footage allowed to each sequence that the comedy business is almost completely buried. You ought to be able to get your patrons interested easily enough by stunt exploitation, which is readily suggested by the story and the hero’s appearance in full dress, minus shoes and stockings. If you could eet someone to appear in the lobby or on downtown streets in this get-up, it should attract considerable attention. I{ Bert Lytell happens to be well liked by your folks use his name and recall his last production, oN Message from Mars.” Catchlines can be used and stills of the star in the make-up that made him famous might be employed effectiy ely for lobby display.