New Pictures
Beware of Widows (Laura La Plante). Unfunny antics of a lady in love with a heart specialist who is pursued by all ladies. The principal pursuer is a widow with a bevy of husbands in her past. The lady in love breaks up the doctor's marriage and saves him for herself by shooting pearls at the bride, groom and minister from a garter-and-curling-tongs slingshot.
Seventh Heaven (Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell). Paris of the slums, of sewer cleaners, of War time. In this Paris live Diane the pathetic waif of the streets, Chico, the poet philosopher of the sewers, who takes her to his attic under the stars, Papa Boule who cares for Diane while Chico is fighting les Boches ק all the gay and pathetic characters of Austin Strong's play, as lovable as ever in splendid adaptation. Janet Gaynor as a little creature who believes steadfastly in her bon Dieu, Charles Farrell as blustering, "very remarkable fellow" Chico, are consistently true and natural. Imaginative direction is capped by superb photography that reaches its technical climax when Diane and Chico are shown slowly mounting the seven flights of dreary stairs to their starlit garret.
Rough House Rosie (Clara Bow) is moderately diverting nonsense about a hoyden from Tenth Avenue who wants to be a lady. She makes a hit in a cabaret, appears in society under the patronage of a handsome gentleman friend, distresses her amiable prizefighting boy friend. But the drinking, lovemaking, gambling of the upper crust disgust her tender soul so much— that she returns just in time to cheer her prizefighter on to championship. A luridly punning sub-titier adds to the fun. Thus the Czechoslovakian princess is said to have "married twice but her Czechs were no good."
Fighting Love (Jetta Goudal, Henry B. Walthall, Victor Varconi). A young Italian beauty marries her father's friend to escape a cad. The villain forthwith orders her husband to Tripoli. Following him into the desert, she falls in love with her handsome officer escort, marries him when her husband's death is reported. Her husband returns, only to commit convenient suicide. Endless shots of Miss Goudal staring vacantly into space between scenes of bloody Arab forays, slow up the action.