1135
"NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH"
(HOLMES-METRO)
Nothing Wonderful, But Will Entertain
WILLIAM COLLIER'S farce comedy which made all Broad way laugh during a long run, back in the days when it was necessary to have a regular show stay long on New York's Rialto, seems to have lost much of its mirth-provoking ingredients in being transferred to the screen.
In fact we are disappointed since the combination of a good basic plot and a clever comedian, well cast, held a promise of something really hilarious. But nothing out of the ordinary has been evolved in Nothing But the Truth." To those who are not familiar with the story, there will be curiosity to know what fresh trouble the hero's enforced telling of the truth at all times will involve him, but the scenes are not funny in themselves. They lack action or at least most of them do and it has been necessary to resort to titles to in form the audience what is happening.
The production so far as settings, properties and exteriors go, is excellent. There is every evidence that a considerable sum of money has been spent on it and that there was no thonght of stinting any thing which would help put the picture over. Therefore the film's failure to register as something unusual seems more the shame.
Mr. Holmes has done much better work and his supporting cast, while good types, and undoubtedly capable people, fail to make their roles impressive. Elsie Mackay of Clarence" fame makes her debut in pictures in this but does not register what may be termed a screen personality. She appeared somewhat camera conscious and also did not photograph well due perhaps to too broad lightings.-Length. 6 reels.-J. S. Dickerson.
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Photoplay Magazine 1920
page 105
TWO well-known stage people who are also known to picture-goers were united in marriage in Chicago, in February, Lionel Atwill, who is playing in "Tiger Tiger" with Frances Starr in the legit., and opposite Florence Reed in "The Eternal Mother" in the films, took unto himself a bride in Miss Elsie Mackaye, of "Clarence," the Booth Tarkington comedy, and "Nothing but the Truth," her first and so far only film ven ture.