Motion Picture News (Oct 1915)

October 16, 1915. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 85 “SIN” (Fox — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY OSCAR COOPER IT was time, in the opinion of a good many persons, that the vampire crown should be lifted from the brow of Theda Bara, and replaced by another, not less gorgeous, but set with other jewels. She had worn the first so long that some of her admirers had begun to think she would have to wear it always. When they see “Sin,” they will find how far in error they were. In this picture she is not the lure, but the lured. A girl of Italy’s countryside, she meets on fete day Pietro, king of the Camorra, in Italy for a brief sojourn. He tells her of the glories of distant America (represented on the screen by the Statue of Liberty), and wins her heart away from Luigi, her betrothed. Her natural, but undeveloped propensity to evil aids Pietro’s de THEDA BARA AND WILLIAM E. SHAY IN TWO GRIPPING SCENES signs, and she goes with him to America. Luigi follows as her protector. Pietro does not think marriage necessary. Luigi continues to declare his love and his eagerness for the marriage. Taunted by her, he steals the Jewels of the Madonna from the altar. After this event, Luigi, overcome with remorse at having robbed the altar, kills himself on the altar steps. The girl goes mad after Pietro deserts her, and the last scene of all shows her rescue by the police from the crowd, angry at the desecration of their church. This sketch of the plot is necessary to an understanding of the difficulties it imposes upon Miss Bara. Accustomed to lead into temptation, she assumes the role of one who is led. Her extraordinary ability as an emotional actress is therefore somewhat limited by the very necessities of the part. But when she does have an opportunity, she takes possession of the screen in the full power of her peculiar genius. Herbert Brenon, writer and director of the piece, provides settings that are pleasing, and not over elaborate. Several glimpses are given of crowds at the Fete of the Madonna in New York. As Pietro, Warner Oland displays real knowledge of restraint. Next to the star, he is the most convincing of the principals, while William E. Shay shoulders well a role that sometimes borders on the impossible. Mrs. Louise Rial and Henry Leone, among the other members of the cast, deserve mention for capable work. Most of those who witness the drama will probably wish it had been possible to name the picture “The Jewels of the Madonna,” in honor of the central incident. And others will wish that the director had omitted the chase by the mob after the theft of the jewels is discovered. Somehow, the mob does not seem to be chasing anything or anybody in particular. BEVERLY BAYNE, QUALITY STAR, WRITES FASHION ARTICLES FOR NEWSPAPERS BEVERLY BAYNE, leading woman for the Quality Pictures Corporation, ha.s written a series of articles on fashions for the Newspaper Enterprise Association which syndicates matter to scores of big daily newspapers. The first of these appeared this week in all parts of the country under the heading of Beverly Bayne’s beauty hints. “ZAZA” (Famous Players-P^ramount — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY HARVEY F. THEW LONG before anyone ever thought of seeing the famous plays of the day on the screen, “Zaza” and Leslie Carter were one and the same to thousands of minds. The popular — the only conception of Zaza is Mrs. Carter’s florid and exotic portrayal, and the old school theatregoer will be slow to accept any other. If it does, this new Paramount offering will mark as great a single advance as has yet been made in the screen conquest of the stage. Pauline Frederick has created a Zaza in a lighter and more carefree vein. The heavy tragedy of the first Zaza would be an unpleasant thing on the screen, and it is Miss Frederick’s instinctive knowledge of where to stop that has made her such a pronounced success before the camera. Where one is denied the dramatic lines of a play, the temptation to overdo tense scenes must be powerful, yet there is no moment in this picture when Miss Frederick has failed to hold herself well in restraint, and register her emotions with clarity and dignity. In several senses Pauline Frederick is a carefully cut diamond; she shines superior to the most elaborate setting, and she is as many-sided as the kohinoor, and the whirlwind of change from girlish gayety to Gallic rage is as swift as the flicker of light on its facets. In the range from a ragged peasant girl, to the stately idol of the stage she never fails to convince. THE MEETING OF ZAZA AND BERNARD Julian L’Estrange, although sincere and careful, is a somewhat negative Dufrene. Mark Smith, as Cascart, does some really finished comedy work, and is ably supported by Maude Granger as Aunt Rosa. Ruth Sinclair, Charles Butler, Walter Craven, Blanche Fisher and Helen Sinnott complete an excellently balanced cast. “THE PERILS OF TEMPTATION” (Balboa-Pathe — Four Reels) REVIEWED BY HARVEY F. THEW. THIS story of a shop girl and the pitfalls dug for her, has been well conceived, but is not worked out consistently, or with a careful regard to the main theme. As a matter of fact, the introductory scenes are not at all necessary, and there is no need for the central character to have been a shop girl, as she casts off that environment forever in the middle of the first reel. The film could be shortened by this much without weakening it. “Jackie” Saunders, as the shop girl, who is suspected of theft, and who is taken up by the mother of the store manager and made her secretary, is pleasing and convincing. As secretary to Mrs. Pierce, she repels the attentions of a younger son, and another suspicion of theft is thrown upon her. She then becomes the secretary of a playwright, who also makes odious advances. She is saved from this situation by the man who really loves her, and who happens to be passing at the time. The stolen pearls, it transpires, were taken by Mr. Pierce, to tide him over a dangerous crisis in the market, and when he returns them she is cleared. It is the type of picture which will appeal to a large public. > ■ Table of contents will hereafter be found every week opposite inside back cover.