Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

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JulyIS, 1916 )• ^; M O Trl p N, C T U R E>: «JJ Er W S. i The . Kgh, lights ^of the story are registered with case by Air. Farnum, assisted by a large cast which includes Betty Schade, Betty Hart, Ogden Crane, Charles Whittaker, H. A. Barrows, Harry De Vere, William Burress, and Harry J. Herbert. Miss Hart is especially good as the woman who aids Burt to clear himself of the charge of insanity ; and Burress, assigned a semi-comic character role as a Chinese cook, is excellent. Director Apfel went to considerable pains to get correct atmosphere, and succeeded notably in the case of a snowstorrn, which seems to be the real thing. The fire at the electric plant is quite effective, although the photography could have been better. The continuity is good, and the sfory sufficiently involved to compel interest, despite one or two coincidences. As a whole, this picture will register well with any audience, and will appeal still more strongly, of course, to Farnum fans. "JAFFERY " (Frohman Amusement — Six Reels) REVIEWED BY HARVEY F. THEW MOST of William J. Locke's stories are difficult to picturize ; they appear to lack several of the essential elements of drama. They are, however, intensely human narratives, and this same description applies to " Jaffery," the picture, produced under the direction of George Irving. "Intensely human narrative " calls for careful production, accurate settings and a good cast; these have all been provided, and the net result is a film of more than usual importance. The cast includes such prominent and capable people as C. Aubrey Smith, Florence Deshon, Eleanor Woodruff, Paul Doucet, Ben Hendricks, and, by no means least, George Irving, himself. " Tony " Kelley made the scenario ; he and the director seem to have worked with an unusual sympathy with each other's ideas and objects, and this kind of team work cannot help but be beneficial. All in all, an elaborate production has been provided ; considerations of trouble and expense evidently have not weighed heavily. " Jaffery " is a war correspondent ; he is a confirmed bachelor, and spends his life roaming about little known corners of the earth. Nevertheless, he is generally beloved, and has many friends. On a Balkan trip, his companion meets Liosha, the daughter of a Balkan chieftain ; the two fall in love, are married, and the bride becomes one of the party. Her husband dies, and Jafifery inherits the care of the girl, whom he brings to England, and places in a boarding house, where her volatile and unEnglish ideas make trouble for everybody. Jaffery meets, and for the first time in his life, falls in love with a girl who is to marry Adrian, an unsuccessful young writer. Jaffery again goes away, and when he returns, the two have been married, but Adrian has died, and died famous. He won fame by putting out, in his own name, a novel, the manuscript of which was left in his care by a noted novelist who left on a voyage from which he never returned. His widow adores his memory, looks upon him as a genius, and in order to perpetuate this memory, decides to have published a second novel on which he was working at the time of his death; she gets Jaffery and another friend to get this in shape. The two, on going over Adrian's papers, discover that the first novel was stolen, but they keep the fact from the widow. The second novel is found to be hopeless ; Jaffery, however, substitutes a work of his own, but the widow accuses him of having spoiled the work of her late lamented genius. Only when going through Jaffery's desk, in his absence, in search of the original manuscript, does she learn the truth about her husband. Later she is inclined to look more favorably on Jaffery, but it is too late: in the meantime he has learend to love Liosha, who has long been in love with him. One of the most striking scenes is that in the hold of a sailing ship in a high sea, when the cargo breaks loose, and Jaffery and Liosha lend a hand in helping the crew prevent it from breaking through the ship's side. "THE WOMAN WHO DARED " (California Motion Picture Corporation — Eight Reels) REVIEWED BY HARVEY E. THEW A N elaborate production has been made from the story by C. N. and A. M. WilHamson; it is a story of intrigue, love and ad-venture in European political life, and the action takes place in Rome and Paris. "r T^he settings -*av« been elaberat'clyT-TandT -ea#ef ul%^ ,,apraaged;„ .Where exteriors are shown, caFe-°has tfeen used t6 sfe' thaf'"noth;ing came before the camera which would mar the Eurdpeati ;at-^ mosphere, and the interiors, dress and manners are all distinctively European. Several views are given of outside and inside of railway trains, and these are especially good. The picture, however, from the dramatic standpoint, hardly justifies the use of eight reels in the presentation; there are several places where film could have been saved and at the same time made the story more compact. Beatriz Michelena plays the role of the princess Beatrix, of France, singing in opera in Rome; she is loved by Noel Brent, a young American, by the Duke de Grozzi, of the Italian foreign office, and by a Count, who is concerned in an international intrigue, which involves a scret treaty between Italy and Russia, to the detriment of France. The princess is led to bestow her affections on the Count, to the anger of the Duke, and the bitter disappointment of Noel, who goes away to Paris. The French ambassador learns of the secret treaty, and appeals to the patriotism of the Princess to steal it and send it to Paris long enough for the foreign office to peruse it. The treaty is in the safe of her fiance, and the princess manages to get it, and deliver it to the messenger, who starts for Paris. On his return, the messenger is waylaid by the Duke's agents, who seek to recover the treaty. Noel comes on the scene in time to get the document, and learning that the Princess' reputation is in danger unless the treaty is returned, hurries with it to Rome. He is in time to save the Princess from an attack by the Duke, who has lured her to his office, and after numerous complications, the treaty is restored to its place in the safe, and the Princess comes out of the deal unscratched. She is quick to break her engagement to the Count and marries the American. The scenario which was made by Captain Leslie Peacocke, brings out the best drama of the story; Captain Peacocke himself plays one of the roles. Miss Michelena does some sincere and effective work as the Princess ; assisting her in the cast are Andrew Robson, Theodore Pike, Albert Morrison and James Leslie. The picture was directed by George Middleton. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii I THIS TELLS ITS OWN STORY | M "Motion Picture News," H g 110 So. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. J M Dear Gentlemen: We have now disposed of the rights for 1 " WAS SHE TO BLAME? " for practically the entire coun 1 a try and our next feature is not yet ready to be announced. M M Consequently we shall discontinue advertising for the g 8 time being. M g As soon as we are ready with the next feature, we will B g certainly take the matter of advertising up with you, as we g M were more than satisfied with the result that our four one g g eighth page advertisements in your paper brought. g M We received 48 inquiries from this ad, while our ads in g g corresponding issues of other trade papers brought us 12 g g inquiries in all. g g Bids from every territory in the U. S. A. resulted from g g these ads placed with the " News." g g We remain g g Yours very truly, g g Linick & Melchior, g g Ludwig L. Linick. g .iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^