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"Broadway Jones" Six-Part Aircraft Featuring George M. Cohan — Released March 26 — Reviewed by George W. Graves
GEORGE M. COHAN'S first appearance on the screen is a triumph from all angles. First, the story lends itself most happily to screen restrictions and has plenty of dash and interest; second, the star's inimitable personality registers with smashing effect without the voice, which is largely made possible by subplay itself, has an enormous advertising value. The Strand theater in New York is giving special morning performances of the picture — rather convincing proof that it is a substantial boxoffice attraction.
titles that have the spontaneity of conversational repartee and the true Cohan touch of humor ; third, Joe Kaufman's direction is that of a talented hand, making use of all comedy chances offering themselves ; and fourth, the suporting cast helps at all times to make the picture realistic, lifelike. Mr. Cohan screens excellently under normal conditions, but when lighting is injudiciously used his rather light colored eyes lose for the moment their pictorial entity. This does not mean, however, that the actor's eyes are unsuited to picture work. The Cohan walk and the Cohan gesticulations lose none of their essential comedy power in the picture, while the irresistible Cohan facial expressions are brought into much more intimate view, revealing splendid subtlety necessarily lost in the distance on the legitimate stage.
Incidental to the production arc some well-handled cabaret scenes and some remarkable interior night effects, showing New York's dazzling White Way. The usual lettering was cleverly replaced by that blazing forth the merits of "Chu-Chu" gum. The story provides for a little sympathetic work by Marguerite Snow, which is very delicately handled and very useful in keeping the action within the bounds of human appeal. Miss Snow was a happy choice for the part. Russell Bassett is splendid, as one by this time has grown to expect, as the old-fashioned gentleman with equally old-fashioned ideas in business, while Crawford Kent's work is entirely adequate.
- From the moment "Broadway" sets out for the street he was named after, the story is thoroughly entertaining. There are any number of comedy "gags" — among them Broadway's having himself paged at the hotel purely for the advertisement — which are all sure-fires. This theme of "It pays to advertise" forms the groundwork of a number of ludicrous situations. The tale runs on, telling how Broadway makes friends with fashionable New York and entertains it at all the restaurants and cabarets, finally overdrawing his steadily depleting bank account. Not too proud to marry for money, he prepares to wed the corpulent Mrs. Gerard. The latter, however, is herself out of funds. She thinks that in Broadway she has access to all the cash she can spend. How the young spendthrift is led to see the light, how he returns to his home town and makes up with his disappointed sweetheart and how he saves from the hands of enemies the chewing gum factory which was his father's before him and his father's before him — the family ownership that the subtitles take pains to bring out — provides a very satisfying climax.
"Broadway Jones" is the kind of picture that the public cannot seem to get enough of. It is a sure dispeller of "the blues." George M. Cohan's name, coupled with that of the well-known
(Motography, April 7, 1917, pg 743)
(George M. Cohan, the original Yankee Doodle boy (in center), Marguerite Snow, his leading lady, and Joseph Kaufman, his director, discussing the script of the first Cohan Artcraft feature, "Broadway Jones." )
THE progress in Artcraft circles since the last issue of Motography is seen in the facts that George M. "United States" Cohan, the premier musical comedy genius of America, is hard at work before the camera, and the exceptional cast for the next Mary Pickford feature, "The Poor Little Rich Girl," has been chosen.
"Here he comes !"
'"Ats him awright, lookit 'at walk!"
"Some swell gasoline consumer!"
"Is everything ready?"
Such were the nervous ejaculations among the property boys, carpenters and other studio employes as George M. Cohan drove up to the studio for his first day's activities before the motion picture camera.
The wonderful George M. Cohan had arrived ! Every person at the studio was up on his toes in a state of excitement over the presence of the famous actor author-producer who at last had succumbed to the lure of the silent drama. Everyone except Director Joe Kaufman, for he knew George M. from way back in the dark ages when they were associated in many of the Yankee Doodle Boy's stage enterprises. Director Kaufman knew there was no cause for nervousness and endeavored to re-assure his co-workers of this fact before he had reached the studio. No one realized the fact that George M. Cohan, although one of the greatest theatrical celebrities, was a "regular fellow," a man whose head had not been turned by his wonderful success, more than Joe Kaufman and it took exactly three minutes by the studio clock, for everyone to realize the truth of his statements concerning the famous favorite of the stage.
With a good-natured smile George M. dodged out of the way of the fumbling property boy and with a display of democracy that has made him one of the best liked individuals both in and out of the profession, he lost no time in becoming acquainted with all hands.
Strange to say, not a single American flag was in sight as George M. faced the motion picture camera for the first time. "Here goes, with the best there is in me," said he, whereupon he plunged into his new work with an energy that was soon taken up by every member of the company.
Upon conclusion of his first day at the studio everyone was astonished at the amount of work that had been accomplished. (Motography, January 27, 1917, pg 187)
Anmerkungen : THE release date of George M. Cohan's new Artcraft production, "Broadway Jones," has been set ahead one week to March 26, according to an announcement by the Artcraft Pictures Corporation. By releasing the Cohan picture in March, Artcraft offers two subjects for the month, Mary Pickford's latest play, "A Poor Little Rich Girl," being presented commencing March 5.
In selecting the supporting cast for George M. Cohan's initial Artcraft picture, Director Joe Kaufman has assembled an exceptional company of artists of wide experience both on the screen as well as the theatrical stage. Each member of the cast portraying an important character in "Broadway Jones" is well known among patrons throughout the country and has achieved popularity as a result of individual merit.
Appearing opposite the famous stage comedian is Marguerite Snow, whose three years' experience on the speaking stage under the managements of various prominent producers of metropolitan successes fitted her well for the demands of the screen. During her six years before the camera Mis's Snow has acquired a large personal following as a result of her well-known portrayals in such subjects as "The Million Dollar Mystery," "The Upstart," "Second in Command," and others. In the role of "Josie," the sweet little girl of the country town, who shows "Broadway Jones" the path to success, Miss Snow registers what is expected to prove her greatest screen characterization in the first Cohan-Artcraft offering.
George M. Cohan, Marguerite Snow and several other players who were temporarily blinded recently, causing a few days' delay in the production of the picture, have fully recovered, and are again at work at the studio. The first scene to be taken following the return of the players was staged at Times Square, where Director Kaufman secured some real metropolitan effects. Using his auto as a shield and with his hand over his mouth so as not to attract attention, Mr. Kaufman obtained the desired material presenting George M. in the very heart of New York's theatrical district.
Although very much of a stranger to the workings of the silent drama, Mr. Cohan has given his new work great serious thought and study, with the result that he has proved an apt pupil. (Motography, March 10, 1917, pg 517)
General Information
Broadway Jones is a motion picture produced in the year 1917 as a USA production. The Film was directed by Joseph Kaufman, with George M. Cohan, Marguerite Snow, Russell Bassett, Crauford Kent, Ida Darling, in the leading parts.Literatur Hinweise - Exhibitor's Trade Review, 31 March 1917, pg 1180.
- Motography, January 30, 1917, pg 138.
- Motography, 7 April 1917, pg 743.
- The Motion Picture News, 23 December 1916, pp 3966-67, 4009, 4025
- The Motion Picture News, February 17, 1917, pg 1071.
- The Motion Picture News, March 10, 1917, pg 1557
- The Motion Picture News, March 17, 1917, pg 1609, 1701.
- The Motion Picture News, 15 September 1917, pg 16.
- The Moving Picture World, 18 November 1916, pg 990.
- The Moving Picture World, 23 December 1916, pg 1809.
- The Moving Picture World, February 10, 1917, pg 881.
- The Moving Picture World, February 24, 1917, pg 1187
- The Moving Picture World, March 17, 1917, pg 1794
- The Moving Picture World, 7 April 1917, pg 111, 160
- The New York Dramatic Mirror, 31 March 1917, pg 26.
- New York Times, 26 March 1917 p, 11
- Variety, 23 March 1917, pg 22.
- Wid's Film Daily, 29 March 1917, pp 198-99.
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