Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-06
'MEIGHAN IS STAR
I, IN STANLEY COMEDY
Bachelor Daddy" Also Has
Clever Children in\cast-other
Films Shown for First Time

Z Otsnley--A film or play with cast
<, Of children is generally something to be
Viewed with suspicion and distrust. but
happily 'The Bachelor Daddy,
5 Thomas Meighan's latest picture. es-
4 ,6apes the pitfalls Of slushy sentiment or
saccharine playfulness, ana staims out
zone concerned seems TO be giving OF MS
best.
The star has had far stronger roles
than that of the man who adopts five
children of dying friend. but ne
has never worked harder. That work
Included dressing. romring with. hold
ing on to and generally amusing the
aforesaid FIVE children.
Charlotte Jackson. the eldest OF the
children, gets able seconding from the
Rriac Twins. Barbara Maier and tiny,
Bruce Guerin. all of whom, seem per
fectly at home and act as IL there was
no camera within twenty miles. except
when told to look at It, when they
y do 50 with proper nonchalance. Their
/. antics on railroad train constitute
the best part of this feature, and must
be seen to be appreciated
'"TheI'achelor Daddy starts off with
some thrills. consisting of battle be-
tween Americans and Mexicans over a
silver mine. It is in this fight that the
real father of the children Is killed
and turns over the motherless young
sters to Richard Chester ,Meighan). &.
The trip East in pullman follows,
and thereafter, the film is humorous
rather than dramatic, except in regard
Il the rather hGkneycd part in which
Chester's naughty society fianCee turns
up her nose at his foster children and
spurns him. There is a stenographer
(played by Leatrice> joy, who has
loved Chester all the time. and who
comes forward in time TO rescue the
love interest.
Karlton-Thcre is such magnificent
cast in 1.-The Beauty Shop. that some
very obvious defects must be over
looked. The whole trouble Is that
when this picture was taken from ,.ne the
former musical comedy success. 1t was
not taken far enough. 1t smacks too
strongly of the "boards.' and at times.
one is almost certain that chorus
will appear and join in song.
The story is of one DR.. Arbutus
Budd, who has beauty lotion and q
great many creditors. lie is persuaded
to go to the mythical kingdom of 30 &.
lognia where an imaginary fortune anu
title are said to be waiting for him.
There, he is embroiled in a feud, falls
IN love with girl with twin sister.
at last successfully applies his beauty
remedy. and sails for home in n row.
boat when things look darkest.
Raymond Hitchcock Is DR.. Budd.
and he is just the same as he is on
the stage. though one misses the fog
horn voice. Those who like him will
laugh at his work here though it Is
very broad. Even broader il the com
edy of Billy Il. Van in the role of an
Louise Fazenda is her
usual Gelf and one of the picture big
Features Is that it allows the fans Il
knomentaiy glimpse of the real Louise,
huite an attractive girl, at the end
AIontagu Love is simply immense AS
the villain. Maldonado. and the lovely
Fairbanks twins redeem the scenes in
4 which thy appear by their pleasing
personalities and clever dancing. An
idea of the absurd sort of subtitles with
which the picture is inflicted is shown
by the following:
Come, let us flea on donkey !;
since we cannot fly on horse"
Arcadia-Ghosts are generally either
nwesome or humorous. and in ''At the
Sign of the Jack O'Lantern' they serve
both purposes. The result IS that this
story of Myrtle Reeds is something OF
a screen novelty. and one of the most
entertaining films of the month. In
rage but strange to roIate its rather
novel nIot and Surprise climax are its
main features.
Harlan Carr (plavcd bv Earl
Schenck) and his yonnc bride OBetty
Ross Clark 20 to live in n house be-
longing to Henrys Uncle Ebenezcr. \
host OF unwclcome relatives pour in
and then the ghoStly manifestations Oc
eur. Naturally-what would haunteG
house be without it-there is hidder
treasure hunt.
VictOria-Here Is a comedy that il
one of those rare things for which tn,
fans wait and pray. 1t is called
t'RepOrted Missing written by Henr.
Lehrman and Owen Moore. directed by
the former and featuring the latter a
star. It's nothing but a hodge podg'
of thrills and laughs. but the action /!
10 fast, the comedy 50 infectious ant
the mechanical features SO perfect tina
the result is 30 per cent entertainment.
hydro aerGpianr is ,dG 6rn'nrS o and ,ner