Two Kinds of Women (1922) R-C Pictures. Director: Colin Campbell. Scenario: Winifred Dunn. Camera: Dev Jennings. Cast: Pauline Frederick, Tom Santschi, Charles Clary, Dave Winter, Eugene Pallette, Billy Elmer, Jack Curtis, Jim Barley, Sam Appel, Clarissa Selwynne, Otis Harlan, Jean Calhoun, Tom Bates, Lydia Yeamans Titus, Frank Clark, Bud Sterling, Elise Collins, Joe Singleton, Stanhope Wheatcroft. 6 reels. This film appears to be LOST
| Polly talks tough with Eugene Pallette while Tom Santschi looks on. |  |
Jackson Gregory's "Judith of Blue Lake Ranch" is the novel from which Robertson-Cole have supplied the latest film for Pauline Frederick featuring, it appearing under the title of "Two Kinds of Women," shown at Loew's State for the first half of the week."
It's a "western," but not the western of the old type, that of the roiling plains, the dead-shot sheriff and the types of the wild and wooly. It is set in the Sierras, with some picturesque long shots here and there and one lake scene that is a scintillating exception. That footage is a night scene, the lake surface being so softly pictured that it resembled glowing white satin.
Judith Sanford (Miss Frederick) arrives at Blue Lake Ranch, which is devoted to horse breeding, some time after the death of her father. She has traveled far and wide as surcease to her grief. But getting down to business, she has a pretty good idea that Bayne Trevors, the ranch manager, is not on the level. She believes with good proof that he has been selling colts to a favored company for a nominal price. So it's curtains for Trevors when she takes the reins. Some of the camp bunch vamp with the manager, but Bud Lee, the horse foreman, a college man by the way, sticks with the regulars.
Not being an old type western, this ranch house has most of the conveniences of a country show place. Judith's long residence in San Francisco makes it natural that she hold a dance, with guests from the coast cities. The ranch boys are invited, which permits a telling bit of comedy to be introduced. One of them writes to Sears-Roebuck for a mess of "evening dresses for men--assorted sizes--ages 20 to 50, everything complete from tail to horn."
There are three fight episodes through the five reels. One has Judith and Bud Lee hunting down some of the ex-ranch men, turned bandits at Trevor's orders. The payroll had been taken that, according to the story, is all important to Judith, whose men would walk out if not paid off on the six o'clock bell. Money is secured from the bank in the meantime. The battle with the bandits takes the couple up and down rocky crags, with a successful but not especially thrilling action.
The second scrap is one in which Judith battles against a bestial guard, after having been decoyed and hidden away by the Trevors gang. The third has Bud Lee handing the villainous Trevors a lacing and extracting the promise of leaving the country. Judith resting at the ranch house after the terrifying ordeal in a shack under guard is waiting--for Bud and happiness.
Emotionally, Miss Frederick's fire is not given the opportunity of some of her other roles. Her Judith is a somewhat tired girl, even though there is undeniable determination in the character. The early scenes between her and Bud show the flint of skepticism on both sides. He tells her there are two kinds of women. She answers "Some that can and some that can't." Thomas Santschi builds a strong Bud, but a rather solemn one. That in a way matches Miss Frederick's direct manner. Charles Clary as Trevors is smooth, but always working in the background, as called for in the story.
"Two Kinds of Women" is a different kind of western and interesting. Colin Campbell has directed well. There are no lagging moments. Apparently the picture was retitled plentifully, some of the titles only being illuminated and holding the R-C seal.
Last revised, September 24, 2005