Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

74 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 11. No. 22. EARLE WILLIAMS AND ANITA STEWART IN SOME RECENT CHAPTERS OF "THE GODDESS" (VITAGRAFH SERIAL) CELESTIA IN HER NEW DRESS TIMID AMONG STRANGERS A PLAYFUL MOMENT "THE GODDESS" (Vitagraph — Chapter Two) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE THE first two reels of "The Goddess" were practically preliminary in their entirety. Whereas the second chapter introduced Anita Stewart and Earle Williams, the stars of the continued photoplay, the two reels in hand find them on most intimate terms with one another. With a beautiful almost spiritual charm does Miss Stewart invest the role of Celestia, the girl reared in the lonesome woods, instilled with the idea that she is to reform the world. Her type of beauty is especially appropriate for this character, and with a display of versatility Miss Stewart has succeeded in fully adapting herself to the extraordinary characteristics of "The Goddess." On the other hand, Mr. Williams as Tommy Barclay is a most suitable opposite. As the worldly wise young man, who on a hunting trip encounters Celestia with all her unsophisticated charm Mr. Williams interprets a difficult role with his accustomed skill. Much of the action in this number is humorous, much of it almost pathetic, and all is fascinating. The situations that confront the girl, who has lived for fifteen years without meeting a man, when she at last emerges and encounters such an animal are fraught with moments of comedy that create spontaneous laughter. Little if any real consequence happens until the last few scenes when Stilleter, the hypnotist, is at last able to again bring Celestia under his power. He takes the momentary advantage created by Tommy who for a time abandons his charge and goes for a swim. When Celestia sees Stilleter approaching she calls for Tommy to come out, and then wonders why he refuses to help her. Of course Celestia is unaware of the fact that the iron clad laws of society forbid Tommy from emerging when his every article of wearing apparel is hanging on a tree. To date, the acting is not to be adversely criticised, neither is the story nor the production. The scenes in this installment are all wooded mountain locations pleasingly photographed. a mountain stream, as he is returning from the home of the minister who has performed the wedding ceremony. Thus he finds happiness at last, and the girl realizes what a hero he has been all along. The other members of the gang are captured by the sheriff's posse. "BRAND BLOTTERS" (Ideal — Two Reels) REVIEWED BY CLIFFORD H. PANGBURN FOUNDED on the novel of the same name, this is a stirring melodrama of cattle thieves in the old West. Effective scenery and rapid action add to the film's strength, with the result that the interest is well sustained throughout. The head of a band of cattle thieves and bandits is a suitor for the hand of a ranchman's daughter, who does not suspect his true character. Seeing that his rival is favored, he steals some of his clothes, and by appearing in disguise, leads the girl to think that the honest man is the cattle thief. Shortly afterwards he kidnaps the girl's father and an Eastern capialist as well as the girl herself. He holds them all for ransom. Several attempts to rescue them are frustrated, and finally the honest man is captured. The bandit is about to hang him, but agrees to let him go if the girl will become his bride at once. He goes back on his word about freeing his prisoner, but the man escapes, and after a desperate fight drowns the criminal in JACKSONVILLE COMPANY TO BEGIN BIG FEATURE Special to Motion Picture News Jacksonville, Fla., May 26. HPHE Reliable Photo Play company will begin work on a spec*■ tacular feature film within the next two weeks. They have secured several well-known artists who will be featured in coming productions. The staff is very large and the departments are complete in every way. The company will make dramatic features for the present but is going to form an extra stock to put on comedies shortly. The company has not decided as yet just where the new studio will be located and for the present is using a temporary one in the centre of the city. The commercial department is very busy making some advertising pictures. King Morse is business manager and Lucien Lambert is chief director. Charles Kelly has charge of the photography and Robert Stevens is the assistant director. The Lubin company left for Atlantic City on the 16th and will remain until the studio is remodeled. The Kalem company is quite busy taking exteriors, having been held up by bad weather for almost two weeks. TOPICAL FILMS SECURES FLEET PICTURES TTANS BAADER, general manager of the American Industry 1 1 Motion Picture Producing Company, 109 East Eleventh street, New York, has secured one thousand feet of interesting motion picture views of Uncle Sam's navy, which has been on review in New York harbor for the past two weeks. Besides close views of the United States ships Wyoming, New York, Texas, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Virginia, submarines and torpedo boats, Mr. Baader successfully photographed at close view, President Wilson and his staff at the head of the gigantic Naval Parade which was held on Monday and Tuesday, Mav 17 and 18. Intimate studies of Admiral Fletcher, Secretary of the Navy Daniels, show these great men reviewing 8,000 American sailors. The president's yacht, the Mayflower, is clearly shown and close views of scenes on board were successfully photographed. Remarkable motion pictures of the ships taken at night show the myriad of lights with which the fleet is illuminated, form a beautiful part of this topical release. The Topical Film Company has secured the exclusive American selling rights on this subject. WEATHER HOLDS BACK LOUISVILLE AIRDOMES ""THE Sanders Amusement company has opened a new airdome in 1 Crescent Hill, Ky. All of the airdomes in Louisville and vicinity have gotten away to a bad start this year on account of the weather during most of the month of May being rainy or cold, and the attendance, except on a few dates, has been light.