The Film Daily (1918)

Sunday, July 21, 1918. Tsjij^ DAILY 11 outine Treatise on the Haunts and Habits of "Snow Birds" Catherine Calvert in "A ROMANCE OF THE UNDERWORLD" Frank Keeney Productions — Wm. Sherry Service DIRECTOR James Kirkwood AUTHOR Paul Armstrong SCENARIO BY Mildred Considine CAMERAMAN Lawrence Williams AS A WHOLE Routine underworld meller with dope fiend trimmings, given fair production STORY Hero saves Shero's brother from the drug=habit and clears her of false murder charge. DIRECTION Satisfactory for this type of offering PHOTOGRAPHY Good straight stuff with little attempt at artistry. LIGHTINGS Not particularly good on star. Little attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Routine STAR Acceptable; nothing startling SUPPORT Some very good underworld types; Eugene O'Brien pleasing Hero. Sybil Carmen good. EXTERIORS New York's East Side INTERIORS Satisfactory DETAIL Acceptable CHARACTER OF STORY Should not offend those who are attracted by this type of play. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6,500 feet AS the title indicates, this is a. story of New York's underworld : contains the usual amount of dopefiend characters, murder, rape and sech, and will probably appeal to the sensation lovers who are attracted by this type of offering. It is not a vice-crusade picture and points no particular moral except that the willun ucts his'n, the same is in the average routine "movie." The story has been handled in a way that keeps it from becoming objectionable, that is, to the element that is attracted by the title, and certainly the title is sufficient description of the nature of the subject to tip off the folks who don't relish seein' a treatise on the haunts and habits of "snow-birds." Miss Calvert, the Shero. is just out of a convent and comes to live with her brother, a member of New York's underworld, who. unknown to her, is engaged in the drug traffic. The political boss, who is in on the unlawful practice, tries to start something with Shero but the brother warns him to keep away. "Dopey Jiminie," a member of the gang, also Lives with his sister who works in a department store. Eugene O'Brien, a young lawyer who is conducting a vice crusade, meets Shero while searching the district for the hiding place of the "coke", and tries to induce her brother to go straight for his sister's sake. Shero learns from "Dopey's" sister. Sybil Carmen, about the dope habit and later catches her own brother using it. Later, on pretense of helping her to find her brother, O'Leary, the boss, lures Sybil to a hop joint and dopes her. An enemy of the boss, Slippery Jake, has followed him and learns what has transpired. The boss leaves Sybil unconscious after accomplishing his purpose and goes to Shero's apartment, where he attempts to further satisfy his lustful craving. Jake has followed him and tells Shero's brother, who comes in time to save her from the boss. The lights are turned out, there is a shot, and O'Leary is seen to fall dead. Shero hides her brother in another room and she is found with the revolver in her hand when the police arrive. She is taken to prison and during the trial, after Hero, who is pleading her case, has shown that Shero's revolver did not fire the bullet that was found in the body. "Dopey", who is present, confesses to the murder, after which he drops dead on the stand. Shero and her brother are vindicated and we cut to two years later. Shero and Hero are married and Shero's brother has wedded "Dopey's" sister. In the scene where Sybil arrived at the scene of the murder, the policemen in the room conveniently left while Shero told Sybil Avhere her brother was hiding. Cecil Chichester as "Dopey" was a characteristic "snow-bird": David Powell was Shero's brother: Edwin Forsberg was the boss and Harry Lee played the role of the gangster who saw the boss dope Sybil. HOBART HENLEY M.P.B.A. Divoctor 0 "PARENTAGE": Directing' MAE MARSH iorGoldwyti Current and &vtticomin3fVeteayes': "!>& Face in the Dai-k:' 'AUVomfctf-'rXe Odd Peaif nr^5fe Glorious A.dVenttii'eT'