Moving Picture World (Jun 1919)

1538 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 7, 1919 "There Are Two Sides to Every Question and Door," Says Alice Brady. And Alice seems to be taking sides in this view from Select's "His Bridal Night.' Lions Are Featured in Four Fox Sunshine Comedies OF THE GROUP of two-reel Fox Sunshine comedies which are being issued in reprinted, re-edited, second edition form under the title, "The Lucky Thirteen," four are constructed around the antics of the comical lions employed in the production of these comedies. These four are "Roaring Lions and Wedding Bells," "Hungry Lions in a Hospital," "Wild Women and Tame Lions" and "Roaring Lions on the Midnight Express." The Fox Company claims that "The Lucky Thirteen" Sunshine comedies are even better and funnier than in the original prints. The lions in the comedies are made to perform stunts which would be considered incredible if merely related, not seen. In "Roaring Lions on the Midnight Express" one of the lions is made to stand on top of a railroad engine glaring at a negro lad in the funnel of the engine. This animal pursues a party of passengers, who flee in ludicrous terror. In one of the funniest scenes the lions invade a sleeping car in which a number of colored porters are slumbering. In "Hungry Lions in a Hospital" two lions invade a hospital and come upon a couple of colored attendants sleeping in the same bed. The lion awakens the attendants and the run follows with lightning speed as the hospital is set into an uproar, and patients, doctors and nurses hustle for safety. Ford Sterling plays the hero in "Wild Women and Tame Lions," and is given ample opportunity to show his talents as a tailor and a lover — making a much greater success as the latter despite irate husbands. The lions are used in bedroom and parlor scenes. A fighting kangaroo is one of the features of the comedy. "Roaring Lions and Wedding Bells" has convulsed with laughter audiences from coast to coast. Laundry machinery is the medium used by the lions and the comedians in putting over the fun. Chased by the lions through the laundry, Lloyd Hamilton — known as "Ham" in Fox Sunshine comedies — and his associates find themselves on a treadmill. The lions follow. Of course neither men nor lions can make any progress on the treadmill. At one point the water from a powerful fountain raises and lowers one of the Comedians — who is always just out of reach of the forest monarchs. The titles of the remaining nine come dies are "A Milk-Fed Vamp," "His Smashing Career," "Damaged No-Goods," "Shadows of Her Pest," "The Son of a Gun," "Are Married Policemen Safe?", "A SelfMade Lady," "A Neighbor's Keyhole," and "A Tight Squeeze." Schedule "Fear Woman" for Release on June 8 JUNE 8 has been definitely decided on by Goldwyn as the release date for the next Pauline Frederick picture, entitled "The Fear Woman." Written by Izola Forrester, it is described as a drama of purpose and power and the colorful star is easily at her best as Helen Winthrop, a girl who is haunted by a fear that she conquers, with splendid dramatic effect. With everything a girl could wish for, she is miserable lest her father's weakness for drink manifest itself in her and destroy both her own happiness and that of the man she is to marry. Tortured beyond endurance, Helen breaks her engagement within a moment of her marriage and sends Robert Craig (Milton Sills), away from her forever. Subsequent episodes show the big sacrifice she makes for her friend Stella Scarr (Beverly Travers), and the curious situation in which Helen finds herself at a fashionable summer hotel. She is amused at the amorous attentions of a laughable boy, Percy Farwell (Walter Hiers), and when his parvenu mother (Lydia Teamans Titus), in alarm sends for her lawyer to save Percy from the clutches of the adventuress she believes Helen to be, no one foresees the turn affairs will take. For the lawyer is none other than Robert Craig. What happens then brings the picture to a startling, unique conclusion. J. Herbert Frank to Support Marion Davies J. Herbert Frank, who appeared on the legitimate stage in many notable productions, namely, with Richard Mansfield and E. S.'willard in "The Shepherd King," and Ibsen plays, and later starred five years in vaudeville in tabloid drama, has been engaged to support Marion Davies in her latest starring vehicle, "April Folly," which is -well under way at the Biograph studio, Robert Leonard directing. Next Thomas Four Star Is a Sociological Drama AUGUSTUS THOMAS has sounded the depth of human striving in his new sociological screen drama, produced by the Four Star Pictures Corporation, for W. W. Hodkinson distribution, with the author's personal supervision. The play is an extraordinay analysis of that huge problem which now grips the world, finding its main manifestations in the setting up of experimental governments, and the overturning of established order. The title of the picture is soon to be announced by Harry Raver, producer of Four Star Pictures. There are some interesting high lights in the new Thomas play. It deals with the efforts of a foreign clique, financed and directed from a European revolutionary centre, to fan the spark of discontent among the poor of New York into a flame of destructive madness. The conflict between the soldier returned from service, a patriot, and the pacific propagandist, who evaded his country's call is emphasized with the Thomas genius for dramatic contrast. There are great scenes in the picture. Action is so ordered that the sense of an ever present menace is conveyed by methods so subtle that it is impossible to analyze them , until the opportunity for calm restropection reveals the author's underlying motive, which is to present to American eyes the truth about terrorism. The production is declared by Producer Harry Raver to be a "stimulant to American patriotism." George Irving, director; and Leah Baird, star, are enthusiastic with regard to it. To Release Caine Novel as Paramount-Artcraft Special WIDELY recognized as Hall Caine's greatest novel, "The Woman Thou Gavest Me" has been produced for the screen by Hugh Ford, and will be released as a Paramount-Artcraft Special May 25. The scenario was written by Beulah Marie Dix, and the cast is headed by Katherine MacDonald. Theodore Roberts, Jack Holt, Milton Sills and Fritzi Brunette. Hugh Ford is the director. In the leading role of Mary McNeill, Katherine MacDonald is said to merit highest praise as an actress of real power. The role of Daniel MacNeill, father of Mary, calls upon Theodore Roberts for a repressed form of action. The character is that of a man of iron — unbending, a skillful manipulator of finance, proud and unyielding. A number of unusual and elaborate sets were utilized in the production, among them one representing the library of Castle Raa, with its walls hung with genuine old tapestries and paintings, a faithful reproduction of the famous Shepherd's Hotel in Cairo, an African desert oasis with a wealth of tropical foliage, and the interior of a Norman church. Joseph C. Boyle assisted Mr. Ford in the direction, and William Marshall was the cameraman. "Bishop's Emeralds" Get Private View. A private showing of "Virginia Pearson in "The Bishop's Emeralds," was given Friday, May 23, at Wurlitzer Hall, New York, to a selected audience of invited guests, by Louis Meyer, president of the Virginia Pearson Photoplays Company, Inc. Mr. Meyer expresses himself as delighted with the way that contracts are coming in through Pathe, thus early, as the date of the release of the picture is set for June 8. The old Triangle studio on the Clara Morris estate in Yonkers is buzzing with activity, getting ready for the taking of Miss Pearson's second feature picture.