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A picture called "The City That Never Sleeps" is only half as good as it ought to be, for if James Cruze could get that much out of the first three reels, he should have done better than he did by the last three. To be sure, Leroy Scott, who wrote the story, put every obstacle in his way, but he got able assistance from the cast with the exception of Virginia Lee Corbin who presented as annoying an ingenue as it has been oiur luck to see. She is the sort who wears her corn-colored hair well frizzed, slides down bannisers, and wears a lot of clothes which look as though they were made by loving hands. She is the sort who shuld be suppressed. Of course, we mean the characer, not the young lady who plays the part. Ricardo Cortez is excellent as a sort of sleek villain who wins he hearts of the spectators, as well as the ladies on the screen. Louise Dresser plays, with exceptional charm, the role of Mother O'Day, which is the title Mr. Scott chose for his story. Kathlyn Williams is attractive, too, as Mrs. Kendall, "one of the Kendalls of Fifth Avenue." Pierre Gendron is the hero, but, as usual, his activities are not as great as those of the villain. It's a pretty interesting picture even though we kept thinking it might have been better.
"The City That Never
Sleeps" (1924) Not Director Jame Cruze at his best and yet a slightly better than average photoplay built upon a Leroy Scott mother-love story. Mother O'Day puts her daughter completely out of her life that she may be brought up properly. Later she foils a fortune hunter and the two are reunited. Typical Cruze touches are here, such as an old fashioned corner saloon done in detail. Louise Dresser is admirable. |