r/TrueSilentFilm

As usual, Lovecraft speaks clearly for himself, but here’s some context:

He won $25 in 1917 (which was a LOT at that time) for a review lambasting a recent film 🎞️ — there was a ‘best review’ contest, and he wrote FOUR PAGES about what a slipshod piece of garbage it was.

Tragically, I cannot yet locate this review itself, but the outline of it pretty clearly dismisses the film as overrated, inaccurate, mawkish, and altogether dull.

🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶

“Last week a local emporium of amusement known as Fay's Theatre offered a cash prize of $25.00 for the best essay or review concerning a "feature picture" displayed by them—a widely advertised picture entitled The Image-Maker of Thebes (Thanhouse Pathé release.)

Having something of a critical nature, I resolved to witness the great five-reel film spectacle, & to participate in the competition. The picture was even poorer than I expected—a rough-hewn amateurish affair dealing with reincarnation in a pitifully feeble & hackneyed manner, containing not the slightest subtlety or technical skill in plot, directing, or acting. It was a hopeless relic of the time-honoured
“10-20-30" melodrama.

I gave up all hope of winning the prize, since I thought nothing but a favourable critique would be acceptable; but in a spirit of semi-humour I sent the management a genuine criticism covering four typewritten pages—an essay in my customary U.A.P.A. manner—which would, in colloquial parlance, be designated as a "roast"!

Imagine, then, my surprise at receiving yesterday a cheque for $25.00 as winner of the prize—a cheque accompanied by a letter of exceedingly flattering nature!! Which goes to show that the best method of eliciting praise from a motion-picture exhibitor is to ridicule, satirise, & condemn the pictures he displays!!”

Finally the first still has been found(by me).