Wid's Filmdom (1919)

Sunday, December 8, 1918 OE ee we a DAILY ‘SCENARIO BY “East Lynne” Theme With Variations. Mary Boland in “THE PRODIGAL WIFE” Screencraft PEATEs G1 () ix Meena hn ene ee aicate Frank Reicher PAM aE TC) eee et eA eee eh ss tS fa Margaret Delano BPE SP SI ce thn Aris cecete Eve Unsell RVD ie Ae VEACN rye sees Se ey bans ake we Ira B. Schwartz AS A WHOLE...... Rather interesting characteriza tion of mother saving daughter. East Lynne with variat.ons. Daria J, Holds fairly well with ideals as underlying theme. creation of SDIRECTION...... Occasionally permitted over-play ing, but generally sat.sfactory. PHOTOGRAPHY ...... Varied; something occesionaily too harch. LIGHTINGS.....:. Generally well placed, but sionally too harsh or too un form. CAMERA WORK...... Generally satisfactory, particularly artistic. Gave convincing characterization Bi PPO RE ss i: Satisfactory, not particularly impressive. EXTERIORS Good PN TERTORS) 22.5... Carried atmosphere satisfactorily. DETAIL...Generally good, except makeup in evidence CHARACTER OF STORY ...... Presents good underlying thought. excellent, occa not fern GL OF PRODUCTION... 2... u8-.66.. Biggzarct. ” Based on the story “flaming Ramparts,” this presents a variation of our old friend “East Lynne” with an underlying thought that gives it d.stinction. The theme of the picture and the screen picturization is that we are helped by our ideals, and reduced to a _few words, the story consists of a situation where a mother who went wrorg is able to keep her daughter from making the same mistake, the daughter having been taught by the father to cherish an ideal of her mother under the belief that the mother was dead. The story is carried throvgh a period of approximately twenty years, which makes it necessary for Miss Boland to appcar as a young wife in the first of the film and afterwards as a grandmother, saving her married daughter from making the same mistake as she made when she left her husband. Done so that Interest is Miss Boland’s characterization is quite good despite the fact that the lighting was entirely too harsh in most of her closeups with her makeup decidedly in evidence in many of her scenes in the latter part of the film. The willun who convinced Miss Boland that she shovld run away from her doctor husband was quite “actory” being particularly inclined to roll his eyes most unnecessarily. The Doctor husband was well played except for his makeup being very much in evidence after he was presented as the father of a grown daughter. Lucy Cotton as the davghter of Miss Boland and the Doctor was a very god type for contrast against Miss Boland’s hard characterization, but she was so quietlooking that it was rather difficult to bel’eve that she intended to run away with the extra man type who appeared in a few: scenes, at the last of the film, as the tempter. Harris Gerdon as the young writer who married Miss Cotton had a certain enthusiasm which helped decidedly, brt occasionally seemed quite camera-conscious. Considered generally, I believe that the ardience will be rather interested in this because it is based on an ancient sentimental theme that has always been gond, and there is a minimum of jarring melodrama. The general atmosphere is not truly artistic and distinctive, but it is entirely satisfactory for this type of production with most of the photography quite pleasing. Just as “East Lynne” has always been good, the troubles of the mother who made a mistake will certainly have a definite appeal and the scenes in which she watches over her own daughter will undoubtedly register with most any audience. The fact that at the end Miss Roland walks away into the future to continue her work for the good of other daughters, thereby sacrificing a possible happiness with her husband in order to allow her own daughter to retain the cherished ideal, gives an ending that has. undoubted dramatic strength althovgh it may leave a certain sadness in the minds of the fans who favor a happy ending always. The very fact that this does end in that manner will cause your cash customers to talk about the film, which is always good business. Others in the cast were Ravmond Bloomer, Alfred Lappler, Vincent Coleman and Mrs Stuart Robson. Title Offers Ad Opportunities—Production Will Satisfy. Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor. While there is nothing truly big about this film it should be a very satisfying offering for most any house because it is sufficiently well-done to make it acceptable for the best theatres, and it is simple ) enough and human enough in its appeal to have it register well in the smallest of shooting galleries. _ The title should have box office value and you can amplify this title according to the type of community to which you appeal. If you have a clientele that may know something about the novel “Flaming Ramparts” J would certainly let it be known that this is a picturization of that novel. I would also dwell particularly upon the fact that this is a film which points out the inspiration g'ven us by the ideals which we create. ‘In doing this you can use such lines as: “Have you an ideal in life? Are you helped to do things: by your desire to do what is expected of you?” You might use this angle: “Is it fa’r to ‘lie in order 0 help create an ideal for your children?” If you are running a house which appeals to the rougher element, I would go after this from the angle of “Have you played fair with your wife? Is it circumstances or impulse which causes wives to leave their husbands?” The name of Miss Bolard may not be of particular value to you because she is possibly not well known to your film fans, but you should advertise her as a Broadway star and emphasize that in your advertising since it will mean prestige for the production even though your fans have never heard of her. I would not play up Miss Cotton particularly because her name will mean nothing, and it seems to me that it would be entirely advisable to concentrate upon the title and the cue lines that can be developed from it without making any rash promises as to the merit of the production itself or the work of those appearing in it. You can rest assured that this will not bring any complaints from your audience, particularly if you have not led them to expect too much.