Pidgin Island

The screen version of Harold MacGrath's novel, "Pidgin Island," picturized in five reels by the Yorke Film Corporation for release on the Metro program, is destined to please many more thousands of persons than were pleased with the book. With Harold Lockwood and May Allison in the leading roles, and with beautiful and true-to- the-story exteriors, Mr. MacGrath's absorbing story has been given a fitting visualization. The five reels embrace many surf scenes, and these have been photographed with a fine eye for the artistic. The action is not allowed to suffer, however, through their amplitude. There are also some good Chinatown scenes, photographed at night. Mr. MacGrath s story is one of smugglers, customs inspectors and romance, and the cast for the picture has been selected with care enough to have suited the author himself. The underworld types are convincing. Mr. Lockwood and Miss Allison are seen at their best in the more romantic scenes. Despite a tendency to resort frequently to titles, the story is unfolded smoothly enough on the screen to hold the spectator's undivided attention. On the whole "Pidgin Island" is an acceptable offering. – The Moving Picture World, January 13, 1917