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The Purple Mask
(1916)
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Peter Milne
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Realism is served a la Ford and Cunard. With its fights, its Paris sewers, its abbreviated feminine costumes and its action which is furious if not always progressive, The Purple Mask looms up as a big box-office attraction.
Posted Mar 27, 2023
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Mickey
(1918)
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P.S. Harrison
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The picture is excellent. It contains comedy, pathos, suspense, in fact almost even-thing that could in anyway contribute towards making Mickey an entertaining picture.
Posted Mar 23, 2023
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The Black Pirate
(1926)
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George T. Pardy
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The prismatic shades, soft toning and artistic lighting are simply marvelous. Also, the story, a straight piratical romance, vibrating with tense melodrama, is a wonder of suspense and whirling action, with Doug at his best.
Posted Mar 22, 2023
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Safety Last
(1923)
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Charles Larkin
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Any human being that can sit through Harold Lloyd's latest and not find in it a barrel of good, old fashioned laughs, and real enjoyment -- well that person might just as well be like old Tut-Ankh-Amen-well embalmed.
Posted Feb 22, 2023
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Main Street
(1923)
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Laurence Reid
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Certainly the local color, atmosphere, and characterization are highly praiseworthy.
Posted Jan 26, 2023
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My Four Years in Germany
(1918)
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Peter Milne
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Stirring patriotic propaganda.
Posted Nov 16, 2022
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The Patchwork Girl of Oz
(1914)
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Peter Milne
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Trick photography, original ideas, the beautiful scenes, and the novelty of the entire production, all combine to cause the picture to be one that will be heartily enjoyed and long talked about.
Posted Sep 14, 2022
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Mutiny
(1917)
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Peter Milne
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Mr. Reynolds's latest is not so much on story, but it is fine on production. [He] gets his atmosphere whatever his subject. The old sailing vessel which he procured for Mutiny is a bark, the brine of which fairly penetrates to the screen.
Posted Sep 07, 2022
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The Secret of the Swamp
(1916)
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Peter Milne
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This offering is a gem, and in passing, there are few pictures about which such can be said.
Posted Sep 07, 2022
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The Greater Law
(1917)
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Joseph L. Kelley
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Myrtle Gonzalez is at all times an impressive, convincing character. She gives one of the best characterizations of her screen career.
Posted Sep 07, 2022
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The Girl of Lost Lake
(1916)
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Peter Milne
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Myrtle Gonzalez gives a likable performance as the girl who has been reared in the mountains.
Posted Sep 07, 2022
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The Chalice of Courage
(1915)
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Peter Milne
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Laid in the expansive mountains of our own west, the clear views are taken in the very heart of the untouched country. The snow scenes, over which play gorgeous light and shadow effects, are beautiful.
Posted Sep 06, 2022
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Southern Justice
(1917)
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Peter Milne
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Southern Justice is a comedy-drama of a sort that entertains more by the colorful bits infused in it by its author-director than by its plot.
Posted Aug 29, 2022
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The Galley Slave
(1915)
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Oscar Cooper
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Summed up, The Galley Slave, endowed with a theme that could not fail to interest, gains its strength of appeal on the screen from the care and ability with which it is acted.
Posted Jan 13, 2022
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Far from the Madding Crowd
(1915)
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Harvey E. Thew
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The pictures were taken in rural Wales, and they offer quaint glimpses of landscape highways and byways which are distinctly foreign to anything in this country. For this reason the picture has a distinct value aside from its story.
Posted Jan 10, 2022
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Salomy Jane
(1914)
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MPN Staff
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As the spectator sits in the darkened theatre, the days of '49 live before him. The illusion is so great that the audience shares with breathless interest the perilous adventures of this interesting type of heroine.
Posted Sep 07, 2021
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The Wishing Ring: An Idyll of Old England
(1914)
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Peter Milne
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There is something engaging, something fascinating about this pretty little comedy-drama that results in it being unusually attractive, even though the whole story could have been told in far less space than five reels embrace.
Posted Jul 28, 2021
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The Last Days of Pompeii
(1913)
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C.J. Ver Halen
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We went to criticise, but our pencil lay idle and forgotten in the wonder of the unwinding scenes before us. It is truly a masterly production, done by a big mind on a massive scale. It is a photoplay marvel we wish the whole world could see.
Posted Jun 04, 2021
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The Last Days of Pompeii
(1913)
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Thomas Bedding
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It is typical of Italian picture-making art, and above all it is of educational value be- cause, aside of its dramatic motive, it presents us with a very good aspect of life as it was probably lived in those times.
Posted Jun 04, 2021
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Upstairs
(1919)
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Tom Hamlin
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The star is at her best and has most capable support. This photoplay is not only amusing, but ridiculously funny. Both direction and continuity are above par in every detail for such a lively comedy offering.
Posted Jun 02, 2021
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Experience
(1921)
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Laurence Reid
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It is all very obvious and overdrawn. Success, failure, pride, disillusionment -- these come too rapidly to prove convincing.
Posted May 19, 2021
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The Dragon Painter
(1919)
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J.S. Dickerson
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We can only give the production the highest praise.
Posted May 18, 2021
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49-17
(1917)
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Peter Milne
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The scenes seem to lack a certain snap and sustaining power that, if present, would have welded them into a much more powerful whole. Even as it is, however... there are places where the originality of the idea carries it to stronger heights.
Posted May 11, 2021
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All Quiet on the Western Front
(1930)
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Walter R. Greene
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There is a gigantic sweep of the world war background -- plus a humanness and sincerity in characterizations perhaps seldom before equalled on the screen.
Posted Apr 07, 2021
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For the Freedom of the World
(1917)
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Peter Milne
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[Director Romaine Fielding's] battle stuff, done at night with an army of lights and star shells, much smoke and only an handful c:f men is effective in its own way -- a great deal more effective than the usual picture warfare.
Posted Mar 12, 2021
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Damaged Goods
(1914)
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C.J. Ver Halen
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It may be considered gruesome in parts, but nevertheless this makes it so much more convincing. There is nothing left undone to pound home the argument which it sets out to give.
Posted Mar 12, 2021
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The Unchastened Woman
(1925)
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George T. Pardy
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It is unworthy of the talents of the star.
Posted Mar 10, 2021
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The Crucible
(1914)
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Peter Milne
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Less accomplished actresses than Miss Clark might have lost themselves in the rather sad and slightly gruesome story... As she interprets the principal part, its pathos, its charm, its goodness and its simplicity are al most equally predominant.
Posted Mar 08, 2021
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Romeo and Juliet
(1916)
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George N. Shorey
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Theda Bara, Mr. Fox's greatest leading woman, gives an interpretation of Juliet so far removed from the vampire type in which this actress is accustomed to be cast, that she has scored a signal triumph in versatility.
Posted Mar 05, 2021
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The Skywayman
(1920)
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Matthew Taylor
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We think [Locklear's] stunts are going to be a trifle disappointing to the public, who, knowing of the star's death, are likely to expect something absolutely reckless and look for a new record in screen daredeviltry.
Posted Mar 04, 2021
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Should a Mother Tell?
(1915)
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W. R. Andrews
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The photography throughout the picture delights with its exceptional clearness. Several blue-tinted scenes are notable for their pleasing effect.
Posted Mar 03, 2021
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The Jazz Singer
(1927)
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Laurence Reid
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It has many moving moments and some fine acting.
Posted Feb 24, 2021
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Wings
(1927)
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Laurence Reid
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It is spectacular in its appeal and the spectator should forget all about its weakly-built story and accept it as a frame for the projection of the airplane episodes.
Posted Feb 09, 2021
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Brewster's Millions
(1914)
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Lesley Mason
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Not often has so gifted, so eloquent a comedian, in the highest sense of that word, appeared on the screen. The artistry of Abeles' pantomimic performance as Monty Brewster will be remembered when the best of slapstick comedians has been forgotten.
Posted Feb 05, 2021
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The Bar Sinister
(1917)
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Peter Milne
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It never tires and the action always maintains the remarkable degree of suspense introduced by the ominous events of the prologue.
Posted Jan 25, 2021
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Turksib
(1929)
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Robert Hage
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Here's a picture without a story, a scenario or a cast, but it grips the attention from start to finish and, although it is not classified by its Russian producers as an "epic," It justifies that appellation more than many others ballvhooed thusly.
Posted Jan 22, 2021
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Maudite soit la guerre
(1914)
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A. Danson Michell
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Beyond doubt the finest film of its kind in existence. A more thoroughly interesting picture would be hard to make or imagine.
Posted Dec 23, 2020
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Shoes
(1916)
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Peter Milne
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If Shoes strikes an audience in the right mood the people are going to be greatly moved by it. If it strikes it in the wrong mood they are going to grow tired of it.
Posted Dec 16, 2020
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What Do Men Want?
(1921)
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Lillian R. Gale
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In this particular instance What Do Men Want, main title of a splendid motion picture, is really what women want to see on the screen. At least, the fair sex will enjoy every foot of it.
Posted Dec 11, 2020
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The Carpet from Bagdad
(1915)
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Peter Milne
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The exterior settings are as substantial as the genuine article, while the interiors of the palace, harem, hotel and other places bespeak of a minute attention to detail.
Posted Nov 20, 2020
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The Fall of a Nation
(1916)
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MPN Staff
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The picture is Mr. Dixon's plea for an adequate army, and in a combination of the spectacular and the interest created by a personal story he accomplishes his purpose with considerable clarity and force.
Posted Nov 20, 2020
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The Gulf Between
(1917)
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Peter Milne
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These faults can readily be erased and The Gulf Between will then not only offer a novelty but an entertaining story as well.
Posted Nov 18, 2020
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Queen of the Sea
(1918)
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P.S. Harrison
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It possesses few situations with heart interest, being an entertainment for the eye only.
Posted Nov 17, 2020
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The Vermillion Pencil
(1922)
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Laurence Reid
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The appeal is chiefly melodramatic -- the story is one of physical action and romance, but not drama.
Posted Nov 14, 2020
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The Legion of the Condemned
(1928)
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Laurence Reid
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There can be no complaints about the screen being surfeited with war stories just as long as they stack up as good as this one.
Posted Nov 13, 2020
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Paris
(1929)
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Red Kann
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The whole affair is a load of fun.
Posted Nov 13, 2020
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The Splendid Sinner
(1918)
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Peter Milne
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Miss Garden is the embodiment of the title role. She conveys the spirit of it and dresses it and suggests it in her bearings. At the same time she breathes exuberance and life into it.
Posted Nov 12, 2020
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The Flapper
(1920)
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Matthew Taylor
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The director, author and star are the trinity that have made this interesting little photoplay, which provides good entertainment even 11 h docs not attempt lo be a world-beater.
Posted Nov 10, 2020
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Deliverance
(1919)
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Frank Leonard
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This picture is lifted from the plane of mere entertainment by Miss Keller's portrayal of herself. By it is set an example which is an inspiration to those who falter when the way is hard.
Posted Nov 10, 2020
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Treasure Island
(1920)
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Laurence Reid
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The action on the pirate ship, the conflict on the island, the incidents which lead up to Jim's adventure -- these points ore what make the picture retain the vital quality of the story.
Posted Nov 05, 2020
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