Motion Picture News (Oct 1913 - Jan 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE XEWS 23 THE "THIRD DEGREE" ON THE SCREEN THE first of the Photoplay Masterpieces which the General Film Company will release by the new service which it will soon inaugurate has reached the screen. The first public exhibition of the Lubin five-part production of Charles Klein's famous drama. "The Third Degree." was given last Monday at the American Theatre. Forty-second street and Eighth avenue. Xew York City. Taking this production as a cri Bernstein. Others in the cast are George Soule Spencer as Richard Brewster. Robert Whittier as Robert Underwood. Robert Graham. Jr., as a bellboy and Bartley McCulIum as the police captain. McCulIum had a difficult part. The police captain of the play possesses a strong, hypnotic will. This idea of forecfulness McCulIum tried hard to portray. The action of the motion picture parallels that of the play, which so ADMUnSTEKIIXG THE THIED DEGREE terion. the new service, which will endeavor to supply films long enough to furnish an evening's entertainment at the rate of one a week, will be enthusiastically received. The Lubin production of "'The Third Degree*1 is meritorious enough to compose a satisfactory evening's entertainment in itself. Settings ard Players Good This motion picture is the result of considerable work. For a long time the forces of the big Lubin plant were concentrated upon it. It was produced by Barry O'Xeil. then head director. The settings, without exception, live fully up to the demands of the story. Interiors of the house of Jeffries, Sr.. of the courthouse and police station and an exceptionally good courtroom set were noticeable. To secure the players, actors and actresses were carefully picked from the Lubin forces. Gaston Bell, late of Kinemacolor. plays Howard Jeffries. Jr.. while Carlotta Doti is Anne, his wife. Robert Dunbar is well cast and does some fine work as Howard Jeffries, the father, with Lillie Leslie as his wife. Bernard Siegel is a perfect type and a good actor as Dr. gripped audiences for a long time, but the picture has more material in it. The action starts before the action of the play did. The opening of the picture shows young Jeffries and L'nderwood chums at college. Some very good campus scenes are shown. Young Jeffries, feeling too good, hurts the feelings of a waitress. Annie, in a college cafe. The next day he goes in and apologizes. Incidentally good scenes of a college football game are shown. Young Jeffries gets to gambling and is finally expelled, but not before Underwood has borrowed money from him. Howard and the waitress, now fast friends, are married. Meanwhile Howard's father, a widower, marries again, the lady being an old flame of Underwood and his patron as an art student. When Howard brings his wife home his father disowns him. Underwood has opened a studio, using the name of Mrs. Jeffries, Sr.. to draw patronage. But he is caught in shady deals with spurious masterpieces. She withdraws her support and things go ill for Underwood financially. Underwood makes a last appeal to Mrs. Jeffries, threatening suicide if she does not come to his aid. The "Third Degree" Is Inflicted Meanwhile things have been going from bad to worse with Howard and his wife. He takes to drinking again. She gets a Job as a waitress in Childs' and takes in washing. One night Howard is too convivial. He goes to L'nderwood's studio to ask for the money owed him and falls asleep on the sofa. At this time Mrs. Jeffries comes in. L'nderwood throws a screen around the sleeping Howard. After a stormy interview Underwood makes good. He shoots himself. When the police arrive Howard is naturally held for the death. Captain Clinton, in an impressive scene, puts him through the "third degree." Three men, Howard, the captain and a stenographer, sit in a dark room under a dome light around the table across which LTnderwood fell when he shot himself. Howard finally collapses and a signed confession is extorted from him. In police court he is held for the murder. Both scenes are strong. The accused man gives way and falls limp; he is boosted up and made to go on with the '"confession." This happens repeatedly. Jeffries, Sr.. not only refuses to befriend his son. but will not allow his lawyer, Brewster, to take the case. Then Annie, the wife, gets in her good work. After repeated efforts and overcoming heart-breaking discouragements, she gains Brewster's ear. "I am not a criminal lawyer," he says. "My husband is not a criminal." she replies. Finally he is persuaded to undertake the defense. Reconciliation Ends All At the trial the scene is intense. Dr. Bernstein goes on the stand and rigorously confounds the testimony of the police captain. Annie, to save the name of the other woman, says she is the Mrs. Jeffries to whom Underwood addressed his letter. The police captain fights in vain to hold to his methods, but Howard is freed and he and his wife rush happy from the court room. Then the wife of Jeffries. Sr.. rises to the occasion by confessing to her husband that it was she who visited Underwood. Jeffries, Sr., shows his high calibre by forgiving her, and a general reconciliation follows. The whole picture maintains a high plane throughout. It has the weight of the Klein name and the success of the drama from which it is adapted. The adaption is excellent. The picture is one which, per se, is of great value. The sets and acting are good, the cast pleasing. In addition that good Lubin photography and excellent direction prevail. There is nothing more to say. nor is there any need to say more.