Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-02
GOOD PROvIDER' IS A
SECOND'HUMORESQUE'
New Fannie Hurst Film Better
in Some Respects-other
PhotopIays

Stanley--That ever.reliablc tonic, a
good. hearty laugh, not only leaveni
the sentiment Of 1.-THE Good Provider." p"
but makes that picture one Of the most
entertaining and interesting films shown
here this spring.
Since author. director and leading
players are the same that made
"Humoresquc" the nation wide success
It was. comparisons seem in order. "The
Good Provider" Is in many ways the
better Of the two. That sense Of humor
is its best merit. ''Humoresque' was
the more pathetic. but tears do not fall
so easily at 1.-THE Good Provider, I"
which, however. is the more human and
in many ways the more evenly balanced
and artistic.
It's all about father. Papa Binswan-
ger. and the troubles he has because his
family look on him only as a good
provider' and not as n father. They
take him to the city which he hates,
they force him to take an apartment in
a fine, hotel which bankrupts him and
they keep bounding and pestering him
until finally he turns on them and calls
were) and blamcs them for his business
failure.
Fannie Hurst is on sure ground here
and the sub titles. couched In her well I.
known Hebrew phraseoloey. are one OF
the films high points. When his son
gets up from the table in the cabaret
and begins to dance, Papa Binswanger
says: There he goes. with the soup
he is lizard dancing; probably with
the boiled beef he will be ice skating. "
And when they turn the lights out for
speciality dance. he bemoans: "Is IL
that for $4s a day should have to eat
In the dark. -
To Dore Davidson as Papa must 20
n large part Of the films credit. He
more than fulills his promise in
"Humoresque. It is as .ccanly limned
and lovable a performance as the screen
has seen.
Vera Gordon is her usual reliable self
as Mamma Binswnnger: William Col
Her. Jr.. IL splendid 0s the petulant.
work as director is magnificent.
The Cambriah Choral Society piyes a
varied and entertaining program as this
theatres contribution to Music Week. A
short reel showing pictures Of President
Mckin'ey's Inauguration compares the
films OF twenty FIVE years ago and those
of today.
stanton 49,. AS its eighth anniversary
week feature this house hes Il picture
called Grand Larceny another of
those domestic problem films which
feature husband. wife and "other man."
Grand Larceny" is not original, and
it is not always directed with the most
perfect skill. but it is always good en-
tertainmcnt and probably stands some.
where above the present film average.
One of its greatest features is the
acting Of Elliott Dexter MS the husband
in the case. Here is a screen actor who
gives Of his best in every film In which
he is cast, no matter how small or un-
grateful the role. Here his part is what
would technically be called eat" but
he Is just as sincere. as dignfied and
as far from the customary film swank
and pose as he always has been. Hus-
bands in these "triangle' stories always
do assinin" things: Dexter makes the
acts of this husband less prepostcrous
by his unfailing good taste and discre-
tion.
KarltOn--''The Grim Comedian" is
story Of theatrical life which holds
the interest and never departs TOO far
from reality and common sense. 1t is
not the best effort Of it's author. Rita
Weiman. falling a bit short Of after
the Show and far behind Foot
lights but 1t is clearly evident that
tn" atmosphere is authentic. and that
helms a lot.
The plot concerns the efforts Of n
mother to shield her daughter from the
kind OF life which she (the mother) has
been forced to lead.
The philandcrcr in the case (theatri.
cal stories evidently must have one) is
Jack Holt. who since this feature has
graduated into heroes roles. Holt, as
ever. is excellent in his acting
Arcadia is one OF those many,
many films with a story that seems tc
have been taken from n conservative
womans magazine. The recipe is al
most always the same. but in the case
Of Too Much Life" excellent acting in
two cases at any rate lifts the film above
the mediocre.
The story of "Too Much Wife" /.
that of young bride who, remember
ing her own hen -pccked father. deter
mines that her hubb. shall always hav,
his own way and that she will share
all his amusements.
In the hands Of Wanda Hawley ant
r. Roy Barnes, the latter as capable
n funmaker az the screen possesses. tn,
main plot takes on added interest.
Palace-Thcrc is little of the author
Cynthia Stockley, in the picturizatiol
OF her wild Honey" because the film
! Is only too evidently a product of Cali
fornia and not Africa. but it ha
enough rough and ready thrills to max
up for that fact.
Starting on note of action an,
! mounting up TO climactic thrill tina
! introduces a food which sweeps dowl
a gorge upon some unprotected settlers
Wild Honey" is guaranteed to max
even the biasc glue their eyes on III
screen, Candidly, it is one Of the bcs
! mplOdramatic stories shown here i
inc. Is capable of surrounding all OBJ
staclcs and Drawing all perilS.
Victoria Of artists life al
ways seem popular for screen produc
ton. pcrhaps because they are suppose
to possess a piquancy and spice that d
not belong to more matter of fact puv
| s'IitN.
"Hpcdlcss Moths" whose plot
adequately explained by the title, is or
vi those many films. Artists an
models and studios take up most of Il
five or more reels, and there is Il fair
coherent il emotional story runnir
throughout the feature.
Audrey Manson, the featured playe
is far from acceptable. She ca
neither act nor pose naturally and IN