The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

\ 20 THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY — — Publicity for "The Daring Dutchess" FOR THE HERALD r-HARLES WILSHIRE, son of an English duke, renounces his title after a quarrel at home, leaves for America, buys a ranch in the west and severs all past family ties. Before his death, however, he leaves with his lawyer certain documents establishing the identity of his young daughter, Ellen, a typical western girl, who is left to superintend his At the death of her grandfather, the Duke of Wilshire, she is advised that she has fallen heir to an estate and a title and to come to England with the proper papers of identification. Her father's lawyer, having been outwitted by Ellen in a scheme to get possession of her ranch for a fraction of its value, plots to palm off a chorus girl as the rightful heir and denies that he has any documents belonging to the girl or her father. Ellen sails for England, followed on the next steamer by the lawyer. Her titled relatives are shocked at her style and manners, but at a reception the next evening, attired in borrowed finery, she becomes the centre of attention and wins the heart of Gerald Knowlton. The arrival of the lawyer with the fair impostor raises a doubt in the minds of Ellen's new-found friends; but the girl contrives in a very ingenious way to thwart the plans of her traducers, with the result that her aimt and cousin propose a trip to America to obtain positive proof of Ellen's identity. Arriving at the ranch all complications are cleared up, much to the satisfaction of Gerald Knowlton, who never doubted the girl's genuineness and who had decided to propose to her whether she was the real heiress or not. ADVANCE STORY ^N opportunity to display her skill as a horsewoman as the manager of a Texas cattle ranch and also to looking charming in pretty gowns as the heiress of a big English estate is given Edith ■ Roberts, the pretty Universal star, in her latest Universal picture, "The Daring Duchess," which comes to the Theatre on Miss Roberts established herself as an expert rider when she appeared with Frank Mayo in "Lasca." Later in "The Triflers," a society drama, she showed that she was equally at home in a drawing room and that she could wear pretty evening gowns in a most attractive way. In her latest Universal release, "The Daring Duchess," she appears to advantage both on horseback in Texas and as the center of attraction at an exclusive function in English society circles. Supporting Miss Roberts in her latest picture, which was directed by Harry Franklin, are other Universal favorites including Virginia Ware, Harold Miller, Stanhope Wheatcroft, Kathleen Kirkham, Ogden Crane, Hugh Saxon, Rudolph Christians, Leota Lorraine, Leonard Clapham and Henry Woodward. In "The Daring Duchess," a Texas girl is left an English estate by her uncle, the Duke of Wilshire. Her father, the Duke's brother, had come to America years before and severed all relations with his family. The daughter, played by Miss Roberts, established her identity after many complications. FOUR STUNNERS 'T'HE four principal feminine members of "The Daring Duchess," the photodrama announced for next at the Theatre, which includes the charming star, Edith Roberts, are all noted for their ability to wear beautiful clothes becomingly. Edith Roberts has the reputation of being one of the smartest dressers in the Los Angeles film colony and usually appears in the cafes or social functions in the newest Parisian models. Her modiste, in New York, is always on the lookout for fashionable frocks suitable to Miss Roberts' petite personality, and there is scarcely a week when the little star does not receive something in the way of a gown, coat or hat from the metropolis. Kathleen Kirkham, who plays the role of Lady Clara in "The Daring Duchess," has many opportunities in this photodrama to wear some stunning frocks. Miss Kirkham is the statuesque type and can wear the most daring creations. She has played leading roles with many of the screen stars, and supported Edith Roberts in a former vehicle, "The Triflers." Leota Lorraine was a Chicago society girl before going in the films, and her pretty gowns attracted much attention when she first flashed on the screen as the heroine of a number of the George Ade fables. Virginia Ware, who plays the dowager in this photodrama, specializes in roles of the "grande dame" type and is as well known for her modish attire as for her splendid acting. ABOUT EDITH por a little girl who is still in her teens, who is just five feet tall and who tips the scale at a trifle over a hundred pounds, Edith Roberts has made remarkable strides up the road to success. But beginning her stage career at the age of six, in dramatic and musical performances, and later touring the vaudeville circuit in a sketch in which she acted, sang and danced, she had a fairly good start when, at the age of fourteen, she came to California with the intention of adopting the screen as the scene of her future efforts. Edith Roberts came to Universal City first, and she has never left the film capital since, except for an occasional vacation. She required no breaking-in process. She was young, petite and, what was more important, she could act. One or two minor parts gave her camera wasdom and then she was given leading roles in Lyons and Moran comedies. In less than a year she was playing in dramatic features opposite every important Universal star, and two years ago she was promoted to stellar prominence. As a screen luminary she has appeared in such successful productions as "O'Connor's Mag," "The Deciding Kiss," "The Love Swindle," "Beans," "A Taste of Life," "Lasca," "The Triflers" and others. Her latest production is "The Daring Duchess," directed by Harry Franklin, in which she will be seen at the Theatre next £DITH ROBERTS, the Universal star, may be said to have two leading men in her newest feature, "The Daring Duchess," which is to be seen at the Theatre on The two players are Harold Miller and Leonard Clapham. While Harold Miller, in the role of Gerald Knowlton, a scion of British nobility, is the conventional leading man, winning the fair Edith in the end the role of Slim, the foreman of her ranch, played by Leonard Clapham, is just as important and, possibly, more colorful. Harold Miller is one of the youngest screen leading men, having acted in films for less than two years. He first gained the attention of producers by his work with Olive Thomas in "Upstairs and Down," and with Frank Keenan in "The World Aflame." He then came to Universal and has since appeared in leading roles in "The Peddler of Lies" and with Mary MacLaren in "The Forged Bride."