As with SHAKEDOWN and THE GIRL ON THE BARGE a couple of months ago, tonight's films are drawn from a unique private collection in Connecticut. The prints are delivered to us only an hour or so prior to the show, so there is no chance for pre-screening to examine the prints physically, to appraise them via program notes, or to work out musical scores. Tonight's presentation therefore has to be very much of an ad-lib affair, without proper notes and music that is largely guess work. We hope you'll bear with us in these difficulties and agree that the rarity of the subjects (reportedly, they are fine original prints) makes them well worth seeing despite the lack of showmanship in their presentation.
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THE BLOOD SHIP (Columbia, 1927) Directed by George B. Seitz; scenario by Fred Myton from a story by Norman Springer; photographed by J.0. Taylor; 7 Reels
Starring Hobart Bosworth and Richard Arlen, with Jacqueline Logan, Fred Kohler, Walter James, Arthur Rankin, James Bradbury sr., Chappel Dossett
From recollection (I saw the film once, some eight years ago), The Blood Ship is a fine, vigorous tale in the Jack London tradition, a really gutsy story with Bosworth in fine fettle as the vengeance-crazed seaman. Its story is extremely raw meat, but although it has plenty of physical action it doesn't seem as "overly brutal" and as "shocking to women" as 1927 reviewers claimed. George B. Seitz was a whiz at classy actioners, and this film is typical; incidentally, he remade it in '31, also for Columbia, as Shanghaied Love, with Noah Beery, Richard Cromwell and Sally Blane.
BAD BOY (Hal Roach-Pathe, 1925) Directed by Leo McCarey. 2 reels.
Starring Charlie Chase, with Martha sleeper, Evelyn Burns, Noah Young, Eddie Borden.
This is a Chase that is completely new to us; reports are that it is one of his best. Since even the average Chases are usually delightful, it promises to be quite a find.
-- Intermission --
THE TRAP (Universal, 1922) Directed by Robert Thornby; written by George C. Hull; photographed by Virgil Miller; 6 reels.
Starring LON CHANEY with Alan Hale, Dagmar Godowsky, Irene Rich.
Universal, taking big ads that made liberal use of the "Man of a Thousand Faces" tag, obviously regarded The Trap as one of their most important films of '22. "Photoplay" was disappointed, commenting that it was hardly up to Miracle Man standards, but this seems an unfair comparison. All other reviews were generally most enthusiastic, praising Chaney's fine performance, the excellent exterior photography, and Robert Thornby's direction. All seemed agreed that the original story was unremarkable, but that the directing, camerawork and acting really transformed it into e vibrant and exciting picture. A story of the timber country, it's an action melodrama that presents Chaney with a very typical role (a la The
Penalty and sundry others) -- a kindly man who, betrayed, seeks and plans a diabolical revenge. It certainly seems to be a colorful mixture of melodrama and action, and has as its highlight a battle between Chaney and a savage wolf.
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Program notes for the rest of May will be mailed out during next week. Our next program, on May 15th., will include THE MAN WHO PLAYED GOD (1931) with George Arliss, Bette Davis, Donald Cook, Ray Milland, and BUZZIN' AROUND (1933) with Fatty Arbuckle and Al St. John.
In all probability, we will be closed down during June -- not for Summer vacations, but because the New Yorker will be in the midst of a mammoth Warner Bros-Early 30's cycle. Two films per program, new program every day - films like Pabst's A MODERN HERO, CABIN IN THE COTTON, LAWYER MAN with Wm. Powell, all sorts of Cagneys, Chattertons and what have you. It'll be tough enough getting to all of them as is, without having the Huff to contend with as well! Actually, it'll be like 30 Huff shows anyway, and we imagine that most of us will be there every night anyway!
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Wm. K. Everson, Schwab House, 11 Riverside Drive, New York City 23, NY
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EXTRA: A late phone call informs us that another two-reel silent is en route from Connecticut for tonight's show -- a melodrama, origin unknown (at present) with a plotline a la The Most Dangerous Game. Sounds promising!
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