Wid's Filmdom (1921)

ai Sunday, November 20, 1921 Stage Play Provides Meighan With Very Weak Role Thomas Meighan in “A PRINCE THERE WAS” Paramount SDIRECTOR: =; 28. AX) Ae Be eS. F. Tom Forman PVE TL Oars ser eee re, Darragh Aldrich SCHNARIO\NB Yaseen nies. 2 as: . Waldemar Young CAMERAMAN wad, mii, boris). ees Harry Perry AS A WHOLE, ..:%. Feeble story for -Meighan and not suited to his personality; too much sentiment : SOR Ye ces. 3 From the George M. Cohan stage play; greatly padded for use as photoplay DIREGCLION so 45 Adequate but not unusual; some unnecessary and fairly irrelevant bits Bet OU Cri A PEAY We ea ea. one's Gc es «word bas Good IGEREINGS Stee A es... .... All right STAR....Seems lost for the want of something to do SUP EGR Try as Mildred Harris in the cast in “sob sister” role; “Peaches” Jackson cute child; types good ES th RMON OMe at MMe Pe Lo). ici ac. od oes vac 0% Few Ny FORGL CD Et Mt RRM EE Mth g clg.c'< (Ios Msc ey eee ae Good DP EGyL pueden te | epee meen PAS 8 Ie eek cow a ge oe Suffices CHARACTER OF STORY...... Rich young man urged to do something worth while rescues a struggling young writer and an orphan child eco OM PRODUCTION (3.....5. 0. 5,533 feet George M. Cohan might have been successful in adapting Darragh Aldrich’s story “Enchanted Hearts” to the stage, but the screen version is a mighty weak one and not at all a suitable vehicle for Thomas Meighan. There is nothing big for him to do and he seems to be quite aware of it for he appears quite “lost” at times. And he can hardly be blamed for there really is nothing for him to do but stand around, take a drink now and then, address his valet, and finally interest himself in Mildred Harris, who is trying to make a living writing stories. It has apparently been necessary to do a good deal of padding to stretch the story out to feature length and for this purpose “Peaches” Jackson is given quite a long role for a little girl, and just because she learns what “intercede” means she goes all the way from a dirty little East Side street, travels on the elévated, and goes to the office of prominent magazine and when she doesn’t find the man who is to do the interceding, she goes to the Hotel Plaza—a lot of improbabilities in this, but it is “cute” kid stuff, and the little girl is interesting in her attempt at assuming a grown-up appearance. Some more padding in the person of an old lawyer “who has spent all his life waiting for success” is superfluous and doesn’t add any amusement. Closeups and conversation also help to make it of feature length. Mildred Harris falls from stardom and lands in the supporting cast: She hasn’t very much to do. Charles Edwin Martin has loads of money but is discontented. His friend Carruthers, magazine, urges him to stop drinking and do somethig worth while in life. Martin’s attention is attracted to Katherine Woods, a young girl whose father has left her to earn her own living writing stories. which. Carruthers continually turns down. Martin becomes known to her as Mr. Prince and after accepting Carruthers’-suggestion of assistant editor on his magazine, Prince buys Katherine’s story. Carruthers refuses to publish it and Prince (Martin) buys the magazine and prints the story. Later Katherine find out what Prince has done and also learns his editor of a true identity. They quarrel but eventually make up. May Please Some But Not Star’s Admirers Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Thomas Meighan needs better stories than this to retain his reputation. most of all, something to do. He just stands around in “A Prince There Was” waiting for something to happen, but it never does and Thomas’ last act is providing a birthday party for the little girl he has adopted. There’s too much sentimentality and too little real opportunities for him, He needs virile stories and Those who have seen the star in some of his better pictures will be disappointed, but you may satisfy — others with “A Prince There Was,” The fact that it is an adaptation of a Cohan stage play may do to bring them in if that’s all you care about, ‘and the , title can be played up with catchlines. tale atmosphere will appeal to the kiddies, especially where the little slavey is given a big doll, The. fairy