The Moving Picture World (July 1907)

284 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. Film Review. DIABOLO, THE JAPANESE TOP SPINNER. URBAN. This film opens with a view of Diabolo and his marvelous top, which he spins and places on a wire, making it perform won- derful feats. It seems to leave his hands, gyrates around and around on a wire loop. He next places two tops on the wire, and afterwards a third, showing some mar- velous sleight of hand work. He is now joined by his assistant and the two ad- journ to a tennis court, where they utilize several tops continually kept spinning to and fro, from one to the other, on a thin flexible wire. A panoramic view of the two is shown, fully illustrating the expert manner in which they handle the marvelous tops. THE UNION WORKERS SPOIL THE FOOD. GAUMONT. A meeting of workers is seen, with flags waving on which is painted "Vive la Sabotage.'* Speakers harangue the assem- bly, some for and one against and he, for his temerity, is thrown off the platform. The assembly march off in procession with bands and banners, through the streets. A baker is seen at work and, fired with his oath, he spoils the dough by dropping his pipe and sprinkling tobacco over his work, then making it into bread. A couple are seen at breakfast, and in cutting the bread discover tobacco; from the soup they take out a stocking. In disgust they go out Calling on a barber the man receives a cut, a la Sabotage, and rushes screaming from the shop. His wife joins him and they proceed to a cafe. The attendant taking man's hat and coat to the tailor to be pressed and ironed; the workman smashes the silk hat. Soup is served and they are about to enjoy their meal when a rat is produced from.the tureen; the couple flee from the place, a boy brings the hat which is mutilated. In despair the couple go to a park and plan to end their lives, which seem not worth living under such circum- stances. They first attempt to drown, but, owing .to the stench of the pool, turn away with nausea after being got out. They next lie down on the railroad tracks, but the engine driver refuses to go over them and drives them off. Deciding on another method, after consultation, they go to a store and purchase charcoal. They are now seen in their bedroom, busily stopping up all cracks and crevices. Bidding each other an affectionate farewell, the wife throws herself on the bed. The husband lights the charcoal in the brazier, throws himself into a chair to sleep and await results. Suddenly they are aroused by a knocking at the door and are surprised to find them- selves alive. The cause is soon evident when they find the charcoal has been treated to a dose of La-Sabotage. Another knock- ing at the door startles them; on opening it there appears a messenger with a large box, from which they produce food and fruit in plenty. They vigorously attack the loaves and bless the charcoal that they are still alive to enjoy the good things sent by a "friend in need." the husband's comes in and joins them at the meal. The visitor persuades the hus- band to join him in a gambling game. The wife tries very hard to persuade the hus- band not to give way to the solicitations of the false friend. Finding her efforts in vain, she goes out leaving the couple to themselves.. The husband informs his friend of his inability to obtain money and is persuaded to rob the wife. They leave together for~the gambling house. The wife returns and finding her husband gone to- gether with her savings, follows him and arrives—while he is gambling her hard- earned savings away. She urges him to come home, but he repulses her. A quarrel arises, over the cards, during which the husband gets the worst of it and is carried home, accompanied by his tempter. The false friend makes advances to the wife, who repulses him and he goes off vowing vengeance. A scaffold with workmen is now seen, and during a quarrel and fight the husband is thrown off the scaffold by the false friend. He is taken up and is carried away to the hospital, where he accuses the other of throwing him to his death. The stricken man, before dying, receives the forgiveness of his wife. gives him no relief, he starts away, sbakb himself to get rid of the sensation. Ape of steps, on which a man is standing dejj. ing a window, forms an itching post fe. him to rub against; by rubbing too vigor. ously, he knocks down the steps and t£; man. Going on his way, he meets a nm and a woman in earnest conversation whicl he interrupts to ask the man to scratch his back, but receives a pounding instead. As this gives some relief, he accepts it with stoicism. He again starts on his jouratj and sees a carriage waiting by the curl His -back again needs soothing, and to ob- tain this he rubs against the wheel, but the carriage starting off leaves him sprawli™ in the gutter; next he rubs against the curb. We next see him outside of a polks station, where two policemen are compar- ing notes. He rubs himself against one of them, who is indignant at such treatment, and hales him before the magistrate who, seeing his plight, orders the policemen to give him a good scrubbing with brushes. They begin scrubbing him. under the di- rection of the magistrate until they are ut- terly exhausted, to the great delight of the victim. THE SOLDIER'S HELMET. GAUMONT. A soldier and a nursemaid are seen seated on a bench in a park telling the old, old story which culminates in a betrothal. So interested are the couple in themselves that they do not perceive a mischievously in- clined workman who has a glue pot in his hand, with which he glues the inside of .the helmet of the soldier. Finishing their love-making, the maid goes off and- the soldier puts on his helmet and returns to the barracks, where, upon his arrival, he tells of his happiness and receives the con- gratulations of the troop. About to re- tire, he finds that his helmet is glued to his head and that the united efforts of him- self and his companions fail to remove it Finding that he cannot get it off, he goes to bed with it on. The officer of the watch appears on his tour of inspection and, see- ing the soldier sleeping _ with helmet on, demands the. reason, which is given, and seeing the plight the soldier is in, he orders the guard to remove it but they also fail Finding all efforts in vain, he orders the man to the hospital where we see him seated with two companions, who, after being treated by the doctors, return to their berths. It now being his turn for exami- nation, he explains to the doctor that he cannot get the helmet off. Calling the aid of his assistant, the doctor tries to remove it but fails, and is about to operate on the man, who vigorously objects, and as an after-thought the doctor orders his assist- ant to go out and* fetch him a fireman. He orders the man to stand before the hose, which is vigorously played upon thehel- met; it becomes soddened and the glue softens. It falls off, to the great relief of the soldier and the eternal glory of the doctor. FATALITY. GAUMONT. A family of three, consisting of father, mother and a child, is seen at a noon-day meal. 'Ere they have finished, a friend of . SCRATCH MY BACK. GAUMONT. A man is seen seated on a bench in a park reading a newspaper, when two boys appear, full of mischief, and begin their pranks by stealthily going up to him and drooping down his back a oortion of itch pollen and' running away. The man begins to feel ,the prickly, irritating sensation caused by the oollen, and starts rubbing his hack against the bench. Finding that this THE BOOKWORM. SELIG. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and the acquisition of knowledge under such circumstances as our picture shows is difficult as well as dangerous and has been made productive of some very funny situa- tions ; in fact there is not a dull roomed in any part of this film, at which every one laughs all the time A gentleman is seated in his library, en- gaged in study, when he is interrupted b a messenger boy, who delivers a note which apparently calls him away for a time. Evi- dently much annoyed by the interruption, he seems to debate whether he shall com?'? with the message and leave his books or not, but at last hits on a compromise, and putting on his hat and gloves and takfcj with him the book he was reading, he leaves the room to keep his appointment Our student friend is seen coming Im the steps of his apartment, and, open boci in hand, is reading while he walks so as to lose no time unnecessarily; the "domestic worker" is sweeping the steps and a boj with a basket of groceries on his shoulder is going up; engrossed in his reading and entirely oblivious to his surroundings, he stumbles on the boy and overturns him. the steps becoming a mixture of boy, maid and mixed groceries, through all of which he pursues his way, unmindful of the dam- age he has caused. A janitor has set out his pail and mop to clean the sidewalk. Into the pail walb our literary friend, still reading and all un- heeding, but as he unconsciously takes the pail away with him he is chased by the irate janitpr and gets decidedly the wont of the chase which ensues. A photographer is taking a street scent and has just arranged bis camera to his liking when the bookworm, still reading. appears round the corner. In a moment nothing is seen but a confused heap ot camera, tripod and photographer, iroB which the bookworm emerges, book in hard and with his eyes riveted on the pages; fa» to notice some bricklayers, who are muon» mortar, into which he plunges head over heels, to their disgust and his discomntcrt The copper on the beat is having a W^ flirtation with his lady friend in front oi the house where she lives, when the 0