Monday, Jun. 22, 1925
The New Pictures
The Manicure Girl. It all simmers down to whether or not you like Bebe Daniels. For, in these days of many cinemas, it is difficult to become burningly excited over the story of a poor girl, her poor but honest lover, her married pursuer. An impression of Manhattan life is offered for one who has never been there. There is some agreeable comedy; chiefly, there is Bebe Daniels.
The Teaser. The arrival of the country cousin (this one from Menominee, Mich.) and her methods of winning the hard hearts of her city relatives are recognized stock for cinema soup. This portion is seasoned sensibly with novelty and makes a fair dish of entertainment. The extraordinarily blonde Laura La Plante occupies herself genially enough in the title part.
Siege offers one of those rare rewards of persistent cinema attendance. It takes a psychological situation and preserves its drama. Usually drama in the cinema is a matter of steel and movement. Siege is concerned simply with the difficulties of a young bride whose vivacity outlaws her in a stern and antiquated household. The quiet tyranny of Mary Alden as the household head is conspicuously good. Svend Gade's direction is a minor miracle of imaginative and penetrating treatment.
Lying Wives. You probably know how this one comes out. The wicked woman is returned to the paths of truth by a little child. Even the triple presence of Clara Kimball Young, Richard Bennett and Madge Kennedy cannot save it.
Steele of the Royal Mounted. All
you have to do 'is take a glance at this title, imagine a handsome cinema actor in a red uniform "getting his man," picture the close-up of a lovely lady whose wave has survived even a train wreck. There you have it, no worse, no better, than usual. In fact, quite the same.
Stop Flirting. There are very few more unhappy spectacles than the full-length comedy that is not funny. This one attempts to show how a vast influx of suitors to his lady's hand will cure a youth of flirting with other ladies. There is a good deal of cracking crockery and three characters dressed like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.