TELL IT TO THE MARINES
Starring Lon Chaney, William Haines and Eleanor Boardman
HARRISON'S REPORTS
January 1, 1927
Excellent. It is, in fact, a better picture than any Mr. Chaney has ever been in. There are laughs and thrills, and in many situations, deep emotional appeal. The laughs are caused by the "fresh" conduct of the heroine's young sweetheart and by the treatment he receives at the hands of the hard-boiled Marines. The appeal to the emotions is directed by the young love's wronging the hero; the hero loved the heroine, too, but because he was ugly, he had given up the idea of proposing to her. Because, however, he knew that he heroine loved the young Marine, he did all he could do to protect him for the sake of the heroine. But the young Marine thought that the hero was "feathering his own nest." This makes the spectator feel warm sympathy for the hero. The thrills are caused by a fight between U.S. Marines and Chinese rebels when the American Admiral had sent a detachment of Marines to protect the United States nurses, besieged by Chinese rebels in a town in China. The scenes of the fighting are such that should cause picture-goers of the rank and file to cheer. There are many scenes where the spectator is thrilled, made to laugh, and to feel sympathy for the hero, the heroine and the young Marine the heroine loved. The plot has been founded on a story by E. Richard Schayer; it has been directed most skillfully by George Hill. William Haines makes a very good hero; Eleanor Boardman a charming heroine; Mr. Chaney's work is excellent. Eddie Gribbon, too, deserves mention for his comedy work; he is a very good comedian and should be given comedy parts in pictures oftener:-- (sic)
A young man joins the Marine Corps in San Diego, California. He soon finds out that being a Marine is not child's play. He meets the heroine, a nurse, who falls in love with him, despite his "freshness." The hero, a corporal (SAG note: Chaney plays a sergeant), loves the heroine, too, but knows that his love for her is hopeless because he is too ugly. As he knows that the heroine loved the young Marine, he protects him whenever his life is in danger. The heroine learns that the young Marine had had a disgraceful affair with one of the native girls in an island where the U.S. Fleet had called and writes him a letter breaking her engagement to him. Among a detachment of nurses sent by the United Sates to China is also the heroine. Along with other nurses, she is sent to a Chinese town. Chinese rebels surround the town. The leader gives orders that no one be allowed to leave town. The Admiral of the United States fleet receives the news that the nurses are in danger and sends a Marine detachment to take them and all Americans out of the besieged town. In this detachment is (sic) the hero and the young Marine. The U.S. Marines rescue the nurses but not without a stiff fight, in which the hero had been wounded and several Chinese rebels killed. After serving his three years with the Marine Corps, the young Marine marries the heroine. The hero re-enlists. (SAG NOTE: He does not re-enlist but marries the heroine and leaves the Corps to run a ranch they have bought.)
This picture has been produced with the co-operation of the United States Marines and of the Navy. While it is an excellent entertainment, it is not a $2 picture. Read editorial in next week's issue.
TELL IT TO THE MARINES
Starring Lon Chaney, William Haines and Eleanor Boardman
PHOTOPLAY
March, 1927
No, it doesn't tell about the Marines at Belleau Wood. It doesn't touch the World War. But it clicks as a story of the making of a marine. Skeet Burns is a race track tout, and a fresh one, until he wanders into the service. The hard boiled Sergeant O'Hara moulds him into something else again. The high spot of "Tell It to the Marines" is a fight between a handful of leathernecks and Chinese bandits. It's a thriller.
This picture is going to do a whole lot towards making a star of William Haines. He does very commendable work as Skeet Burns. Lon Chaney, sans grotesque make-up for a change, proves himself as an excellent actor by his playing of O'Hara. Indeed, his O'Hara has all the authentic earmarks of a real, honest-to-Tunney marine.
TELL IT TO THE MARINES
Starring Lon Chaney, William Haines and Eleanor Boardman
PICTURE PLAY
April, 1927
The training of the United States Marine is the reason behind the picture aptly named "Tell It To The Marines," as one might have guessed, and the result is straightforward, melodramatic entertainment of the "cheer, boys, cheer" order. It will delight admirers of William Haines, for the role of Christopher "Skeet" Burns puts over his ingratiating impudence in fine style, and Lon Chaney as the hard-boiled Sergeant O'Hara proves to those who doubted that he can create a convincing character quite as well without a particle of make-up as he has in the past when masked by a baffling disguise. However, "Tell It To The Marines," with all its stirring fights and gun play, is hardly a world beater for heart interest or imagination. But if you accept it as propaganda for the Marine Corps and just that, you will give it a big hand.
Skeet Burns begins as a flippant youth who has applied for
enlistment in the Marine Corps for the purpose of getting a free
trip to California, expecting to pass up the barracks and go on
to Tiajuana and follow the races. He ends as a full-fledged soldier
of the sea. But the way has been hard and his setbacks may, his
discipline coming chiefly from Sergeant O'Hara and his recompense
from Norma Dale, a beauteous nurse in the person of Eleanor Boardman.
On the whole, "Tell It To The Marines" is well worth
a place on your list.
For more information, see "Tell It to the Marines" as our "Feature of the Month"