Moving Picture World

Tomatometer-approved publication
Rating Title/Year Author
Maudite soit la guerre (1914) W. Stephen Bush War being notoriously picturesque and spectacular, the element of color is vital and a portrayal of battles and military adventures in striking colors is an extraordinary attraction at all times. EDIT
Posted Dec 22, 2020
Shoes (1916) Margaret I. MacDonald The production rings true, and at no moment do the players appear to be acting. EDIT
Posted Dec 16, 2020
Hamlet (1921) Edward Weitzel It is a sacrilege to couple it with the name of Shakespeare. EDIT
Posted Dec 11, 2020
The Carpet from Bagdad (1915) James S. McQuade The scene on the desert, showing Mohamed kneeling on the sand beside his camel and making his devotions while the hungry animal feeds, is a fit subject for a great painting. EDIT
Posted Nov 19, 2020
The Fall of a Nation (1916) Lynde Denig For of an admittedly serious work the number of laughs in this production is unprecedented, and they are laughs having a legitimate place in the story. EDIT
Posted Nov 19, 2020
Queen of the Sea (1918) Edward Weitzel Queen of the Sea, the latest Fox spectacle to feature the famous swimming and diving expert [Annette Kellerman], is skillfully contrived to exhibit the aquatic accomplishments of its heroine. EDIT
Posted Nov 17, 2020
The Vermillion Pencil (1922) Mary Kelly If the story and drama had the same perfection that the production has from a technical standpoint, The Vermilion Pencil would be an unqualified success. The story, however, scales the heights of the fanciful and improbable. EDIT
Posted Nov 13, 2020
The Splendid Sinner (1918) Hanford C. Judson The spectator is held more by the playing of Mary Garden than by the story. She is a magnificent mirror for the moods of a passionate woman and she plays on them till the result looks like music sounds. EDIT
Posted Nov 12, 2020
The Flapper (1920) Louis Reeves Harrison Miss Thomas gives a highly intelligent interpretation of her role as a "flapper," a youngster trying to appear mature and experienced. In full appreciation of its meaning, she plays the part as if she loved it. EDIT
Posted Nov 10, 2020
Treasure Island (1920) Edward Weitzel The picture smacks of romance and the lure of hidden gold in the same wonderful way that makes readers of the tale stick to the book until the last page has been reached. EDIT
Posted Nov 4, 2020
Unpardonable Sin (1919) Lynde Denig There is a lack of smoothness in the advancement of the plot, a certain episodic quality in the scenes, a tendency to shift the interest too suddenly, and as a result the spectator is not apt to forget that he is watching a photoplay. EDIT
Posted Nov 4, 2020
The White Heather (1919) Louis Reeves Harrison Tourneur paraphrases and transforms these Drury Lane melodramas into visualizations of scenic charm by consummate skill in accomplishing fine picture effects. EDIT
Posted Nov 4, 2020
The Iron Claw (1916) Margaret I. MacDonald The flood scenes are tremendously realistic, and the entire episode is full of stirring action, giving promise of interesting developments to follow. EDIT
Posted Nov 3, 2020
Rolled Stockings (1927) C.S. Sewell There is the usual college stuff, but there is more story than usual and the situations have been handled well, even to the fight between the brothers in the roadhouse. EDIT
Posted Nov 3, 2020
Polly with a Past (1920) Louis Reeves Harrison [Ina Claire's] interpretation in facial expression, dress, movement and poise is perfection, a marvel of its kind. EDIT
Posted Oct 26, 2020
The Better Wife (1919) Edward Weitzel The plot has hardly any suspense, and the repetition of the scenes at the bedside of the sick child is another weak point. EDIT
Posted Oct 26, 2020
The Gray Horizon (1919) Margaret I. MacDonald The picture suffers rather from faults of production than from weakness of the story. The theme is interesting, but in the development of the picture what the final outcome is to be, is made too obvious. EDIT
Posted Oct 23, 2020
The Gaucho (1927) MPW Staff The direction of F. Richard Jones is a desirable combination of art and box-office angles... If [Douglas Fairbanks] is a hundred per cent in "The Gaucho", this new kid find, Lupe Velez, is scarcely less. She seems to have not only "it," but everything. EDIT
Posted Oct 21, 2020
Breakfast at Sunrise (1927) MPW Staff The fine hand of Mal St. Clair is evident throughout this frothy dish of cinematics. EDIT
Posted Oct 21, 2020
Double Speed (1920) Mary Kelly Sam Wood, who has directed this picture of racing and romance, has made the title an apt one by his skillful manipulation of scenes, events and characters. EDIT
Posted Oct 21, 2020
Brewster's Millions (1921) Louis Reeves Harrison Whatever caused it to win in fiction and stage presentation is preserved in the screen version with embellishments and the inimitable "Fatty" added. EDIT
Posted Oct 20, 2020
She's a Sheik (1927) MPW Staff Frankly improbable, it is clever foolery, with a well-spaced succession of laughs. EDIT
Posted Oct 19, 2020
An Arabian Knight (1920) J.M. Shellman Mr. Hayakawa and his supporting cast including all the extras, are superb in their delineations of the characters they portray. If anything, Mr. Hayakawa is better than usual. EDIT
Posted Oct 19, 2020
Cabiria (1914) W. Stephen Bush Summing up it may well be said that Cabiria ranks in the very first flight of the masterpieces of kinematographic art. EDIT
Posted Oct 16, 2020
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919) Edward Weitzel At the present time the world needs sane and helpful fiction; not allopathic doses of the morbid and the grotesque. EDIT
Posted Oct 14, 2020
The Golem (1920) Edward Weitzel Again does a German-made picture disclose a new and novel brand of screen fiction. EDIT
Posted Oct 13, 2020
Faust (1926) C.S. Sewell Scene after scene reveals a setting that for composition and lighting has seldom been equaled. EDIT
Posted Oct 7, 2020
Old Ironsides (1926) C.S. Sewell Every man, woman and child in this country should see it. EDIT
Posted Oct 7, 2020
The Cat and the Canary (1927) C.S. Sewell Adding to the dramatic effectiveness of the picture is the distinct surprise regarding the identity of the mysterious figure... There is also quite a lot of fine comedy relief which relieves without destroying the necessary tension and suspense. EDIT
Posted Oct 6, 2020
The Devil's Passkey (1920) Robert C. McElravy The Devil's Pass Key plays upon the emotions of the spectator lightly. It reflects the gaiety and glitter of the Paris shops and boulevard. Watching it is like reading a typical French novel of the lighter sort. EDIT
Posted Sep 30, 2020
That Royle Girl (1925) C.S. Sewell Once the story gets well under way, the interest is held in a vice-like grip. EDIT
Posted Sep 29, 2020
Anne of Green Gables (1919) Edward Weitzel Mary Miles Minter has the youth and personal charm required for the part of Anne, and responds quickly and convincingly to the character's varying moods. Paul Kelly makes a likable boyish lover, and the cast is uniformly satisfactory. EDIT
Posted Sep 28, 2020
Your Girl and Mine: A Woman Suffrage Play (1914) James S. McQuade The near future, I firmly believe, will reveal to those who advocate equal suffrage that moving pictures, as shown in Your Girl and Mine, will accomplish more for the cause than all that eloquent tongues have done since the movement was started. EDIT
Posted Sep 28, 2020
The Battle Cry of Peace (1915) Lynde Denig It is more significant than an artistic masterpiece, more vital than a gigantic spectacle. EDIT
Posted Sep 28, 2020
The Dark Angel (1925) Sumner Smith The Dark Angel strikes a real human note. Highly emotional, it nevertheless is not extravagant. And it introduces [Vilma Banky] who, with very ordinary good luck, will become a really big star of the screen. EDIT
Posted Sep 18, 2020
Beggar on Horseback (1925) C.S. Sewell Unlike anything ever presented on the screen is Beggar on Horseback... so much so that it is next to impossible to convey through the medium of words a comprehensive idea of this production. EDIT
Posted Sep 16, 2020
Forty Winks (1925) Epes W. Sargent In all its phases it is good entertainment, and this somewhat peculiar construction of the continuity provides what is too often lacking in a farce: continuous acceleration. EDIT
Posted Sep 14, 2020
Ten Modern Commandments (1927) C.S. Sewell Miss Ralston not only gets herself over, but pulls the part after her, avoiding the invitation to become a rough soubrette. Dorothy Arzner has handled the megaphone very well. EDIT
Posted Sep 14, 2020
The Breath of the Gods (1920) Margaret I. MacDonald Tsuri Aoki is the featured member of the cast, and finds in the role of Yuki Onda many opportunities for the display of her talent. EDIT
Posted Sep 14, 2020
The Blue Mountains Mystery (1921) Eugene Carlton Balmy seaside air, mountains, society folk and an impromptu killing wrap a veil of uncanny interest about the story that will captivate most audiences that have an appetite for thrills. EDIT
Posted Sep 14, 2020
Inspiration (1915) Lynde Denig The picture is finely staged and contains many clever bits of photography. The cast is adequate. EDIT
Posted Sep 14, 2020
A Sainted Devil (1924) C.S. Sewell The character portrayed by Valentino suits him to perfection... This picture has been superbly produced and the Spanish atmosphere is excellent. EDIT
Posted Sep 10, 2020
The Courageous Coward (1919) Margaret I. MacDonald It contains several touches of comedy, and steps for a brief space within the pale of melodrama, evidently for the purpose of establishing its climax... Sessue Hayakawa does colorful work. EDIT
Posted Sep 9, 2020
Rough House Rosie (1927) C.S. Sewell Rough House Rosie is not high art, but it is excellent entertainment. EDIT
Posted Sep 9, 2020
Flaming Youth (1923) C.S. Sewell It is not a story which depends on one big punch situation but rather a character study of the heart of a modern girl, as you follow her problems, you become engrossed in them. EDIT
Posted Sep 8, 2020
Human Wreckage (1923) C.S. Sewell Produced with the avowed purpose of combating the drug evil which is said to be taking an ever-increasing toll in this country, Human Wreckage... is a picture that holds your attention and forcibly delivers its message. EDIT
Posted Sep 8, 2020
Remodeling Her Husband (1920) Louis Reeves Harrison The optimistic spirit of Dorothy and the sparkle of the author's lines, however, place Remodeling Her Husband... in the clean class of pleasing entertainment. EDIT
Posted Sep 8, 2020
The Alaskan (1924) C.S. Sewell The technical details of the picture are high class. In other respects, however, this production, in our opinion, fails to rise above others of its class, and we believe that many will expect greater things from Meighan, Curwood and Brenon. EDIT
Posted Sep 8, 2020
Ravished Armenia (1919) Hanford C. Judson It is so reverently done and so wonderfully true to humanity in all that it shows, that no doubt it will be kept for years and handed down as a historical manuscript in picture. EDIT
Posted Sep 5, 2020
Graustark (1925) C.S. Sewell Norma Talmadge is ideal as the fascinating and wistful Princess Yetive and makes this character seem very real. She seems the embodiment of the author's idea of the character, and her performance should thoroughly please her legion of followers. EDIT
Posted Aug 19, 2020