Motion Picture News (Oct 1914-Jan 1915)

October 24, 1914. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 47 "THREE WEEKS" (Eelialjle Featuie Film — Five Heels) EEVIE^^ED BY PETEE MILNE it-T-HREE WEEKS!" It's here at last, the much-debated A novel by Elinor Glyn has now been put on the tilm, and there won't be much of a chance for Anthony Comstock and his partisans to raise such a hue and cry, after all. Those who visited the Maxine Elliott Theatre in New York on Thursday, October 8, when the picture received its initial showing, for the avowed purpose of unfavorably criticising it, were undeniably disappointed. Those who have read the novel, will notice that the picture follows it, almost without variation, except perhaps in one or two places, where certain periods of time have been skipped over lightly. The principals of the cast are exact duplicates of their famed forerunners in the book. But the somewhat questionable bits of dialogue which were prominent in the novel have been left to the imagination. As it stands by itself, it is an exceptionally entertaining production, entirely original, and acted and produced splendidly by_ actors and a director who knew what they were about. The story lends itself to screen adaptation remarkably well, the situations have been well put together, and never for one moment does the picture lose the inspired interest of the spectator that it gained when the first scene appeared on the screen. These merits, coupled with the great publicity that the novel has enjoyed, will cause the picture to have a very big success. In regard to the story, it is so well known that it need not be told here. It is enough to say that it is absorbing from start to finish. Madeline Traverse gives an excellent characterization of Queen Sonia. She is well suited to the part, and never overdoes a scene. Mahlon Hamilton is equally as good as Paul Verdayne, the young Englishman, who, it develops, is of royal blood. Arthur Donaldson is very good as Dimtiri, the faithful bodyguard of the queen; his fight with the king and Pavlovitch is most realistic. PAUL AND QUEEN SONIA George Pierce does well as the slovenly and debauched King Stefan, and his boon companion, Pavlovitch, as played by John Webl) Dillion, is an excellent second heavy. Pauline Seymore plays the queen's companion, and Joseph C. Fay appears as the Prime Minister. Claude Cooper is a spy. The characters of the prologue are H. J. Smith, Baby McGrath, R. J. Barrett, Joseph Moore, T. Curran and Pauline Seymore. Perry N. Vekroflf, who adapted the story for the picture, and who was also director of the production, deserves great praise, which he will surely enjoy when the public has once seen the picture. CLARA KIMBALL YOUNG IN "THE BUTTERFLY" THE World b'ilm Corporation announces that Clara Kimball Young's second feature is to be based on Henry Kitcheli Webster's story of "The Butterfly," which is one of the ni;st pcpular current works of fiction and which enjoyed great popularity when it appeared as a serial story in "The Saturday Evening Post." Clara Kimball Young is just finishing the work on "Lola." Captain Leslie Peacocke is writing the scenario of "The Butterfly.'' "LENA RIVERS" (Cosmos — Five Reels) EEVIEWFD BY CLIFFORD H. PANGBURN iil ENA RIVERS'' is a play which has a rather unusual ••— ' history. It was written by the woman who has played the principal part all over the United States. But if such a combination is unusual it is a good one. The theatre-going public has liked the play, and long before its appearance it had become fond of its star. As a result. Miss Poynter's popularity was increased by her NANCY TALKS OF MEN appearance in a play which proved to be a favorite. Now the play has been produced for the screen, and is certain to "be popular among all who formerly enjoyed it on the stage, as well as among many others who were unable to see it in its original form. Beulah Poynter by reason of her familiarity with the play, both as the author and the principal for many performances, knew exactly what was necessary in preparing the production. This has enabled her to retain many of the comedy features which are difficult to transfer from the spoken to the silent drama. It has also resulted in a presentation of the story almost exactly as in the stage version. The role played by Miss Poynter is a double one. During the first part of the picture she is seen as Helena Nichols, a country girl. Later she appears as Lena Rivers, the daughter of Helena. The two parts naturally resemble each other, but the latter one is the more important. Charlie De Forest, as Joel, a country bumpkin, supplies considerable comedy of a rural type. Caroline Rankin as Nancy Scovendyke gives a most remarkable portrayal of an old but hopeful spinster. The story opens with the departure to the city of Helena Nichols. She marries Harry Graham, a young southerner, who has adopted the name of Rivers. They are very happy until the young husband is falsely accused of murder and sent to prison. As he is tried under his right name his wife does not know of his trouble, but thinks herself abandoned. Later the husband escapes from prison with another man. His companion is killed by the guards, but Graham is reported as the one dead. Helena dies and leaves her child Lena with her grandmother. The grandmother goes to live with Helena's brother. Little Lena's cousin makes life miserable for her, especially after learning that Durward Belmont, a man she had marked for her husband, is in love with Lena. Graham has regained his position in life and has married Belmont's mother. When he meets his stepson's fiancee he knows she is his daughter because of her resemblance to her mother. When he is seen embracing her his motive is of course misunderstood, but everything finally comes out all ri.ght. ■