We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
1074
THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD
"Chip of the Flying U"
A Breezy Western Comedy in Three Reels, by Selig, with
Kathlyn Williams and Tom Mix in the Leading Roles.
Reviewed by James S. McQuade.
NEARLY every one has read and heartily laughed over B. M. Bower's storv about "Chip of the FlyinR U." Bower's story breathed the very atmosphere of western cowboy life, and the characters were so cleverly pen painted that most of us had them well defined in our mind's eye; now we are shown in these Selig pictures the living embodiments of the prototypes, and follow them through all their mirthful and exciting escapades with shaking sides or with eyes that mirror both apprehension and amazement.
Colin Campbell has reproduced the scenes with the skill of a master, and the "Flying U" bunch has been picked with a nicety that defies criticism. The interior of the "Flying U" ranch kitchen, with Patsy in charge, has all the effect on one's risibilities of a clever cartoon, with this difference that the kitchen is not overdrawn, but real. The magnificent view, showing thousands of cattle grazing on the hillside,
Scene from "Chip of the Flying U" (Selig).
will soon be an impossibility for the camera to catch, for the great herds have nearly all disappeared. I wish the cameraman could have taken a still picture of this remarkable scene, and that an illustration of it could accompany this review. Millions of people will marvel at the view as seen in the pictures. The yard of the "Fying U" ranch. the sleeping quarters of the cowboys and the "Old Man's" one-story shack, which he calls home, are all in keeping with the West and the time of the story.
But these scenes, true as they are, would create little interest were it not for Chip and Delia and Weary and Patsy and the "Old Man," and the other members of this heterogeneous family. Miss Kathlyn Williams and Tom Mix divide honors in the roles of Delia and Chip.
The Delia of Miss Williams is one of her best photodramatic creations. The buoyant spirits of the girl are never permitted to carry her beyond the line of maidenly decorum; yet they are so sprightly and mischievous in their fun-loving flights that one's eyes follow her in her pranks with delight and laughter. .A.nd the tender woman's side of the girl's nature is revealed with delicate touches. Note how endearingly she fondles the head of the unconscious Chip 'and presses her lips to his again and again when he gets "saddle horned," although she had always tormented him with jealousy and uncertainty in his spooning moods. .\nd how artfully is Chip deceived into believing that her friend. "Dr. Cecil." is a man doctor and not a girl classmate of her own at coUe2-e. No wonder that Chip in the end had to take the citadel of Delia's heart by storm.
Chip must have been a famous cowboy, indeed, if he could have measured up to the outdoor attainments of our own Tom Mix, the undisputed king of the plains. We see Chip, as Tom represents him, in several neck-breaking stunts, in these pictures: but he performs a dare-devil feat that we have never before seen attempted. This is known as being "saddle horned." The rider has lassoed a wild bronch (not broncho, if you please), and is conducting him to the corral by means of the lasso fastened to the horn of Jiis saddle. Without warning, the anirnal rnakes a terrific dash (at right
angles to the course taken by the rider's mount) away from his captor. The saddle girth breaks and the dismounted rider, whose feet are entangled in the stirrups, is dragged along the ground at fearful speed — over rough places, uphill and down. It is amazing how Tom Mix comes out of this most dangerous feat with whole, or united, limbs. The pictures, according to the story, show him lying unconscious after the experience, and that would seem a very logical condition — dead, might be still closer to the expected result.
But still more credit is due Tom in these pictures than death-defying feats, on and off horseback. He can justly claim favorable criticism for an intelligent conception and a faithful characterization of Chip's mental and physical make-up. Chip's bashfulness and reticence before Delia are well simulated. That vault over the back of his favorite mount. Beaut}', to meet the dare in Delia's eyes, before she flees for safety from the avowal of his love, is only a symptom of his fixed determination to win her heart and hand there and then.
Frank Clark, happy in memory as Dextry in "The Spoilers," gives a strong comedy delineation of Patsy, cook of the "Flying U" ranch. Fred Huntly as the "Old Man," owner of the ranch, and Wheeler Oakman (the Broncho Kid of "The Spoilers") as \\'eary are commended for able character
7~ ^^'^>
Scene from "Chip of the Flying U" (Selig).
work. Our old friend Slap-jack (Jack McDonald), of "The Spoilers," will be easily recognized among the cowboys.
It will be interesting to many readers to learn that B. M. Bower, author of "Chip of the Flying U," as the story appeared in the Popular Magazine, is Mrs. B. M. Bower. Her stories of western life have afforded delightful reading to millions of readers.
Selig's "Chip of the Flying U" will be released August 29.
GAUMONT SUED FOR INFRINGEMENT.
An action to recover triple damages from the Gaumont Company on the ground that the film concern has been using a motion picture machine which embodies claims described in the Edison reissue patents controlled by the Motion Picture Patents Company is on file in the United States District Court.
John Robert Taylor, counsel for the Motion Picture Patents Company, has procured an order directing the defendant company to show cause why an injunction should not be issued restraining it from manufacturing, selling or leasing the kinetoscopic films manufactured with the alleged infringing machines pending a final determination of the issues raised in the suit.
The complainant alleges that the defendant company has been infringing on the claims covered by the Edison reissue patents which were recently sustained by Judge Mayer since Januarj', 1904. The novelty and utility of the inventions of Thomas A. Edison described in these patents have become widely known and recognized, the complainant recites, and as a result the patents have attained great value.
As a result of the alleged infringement on the part of the defendant the plaintiff alleges it has suflfered heavy loss in royalties which would otherwise have accrued to the company, but avers it is unable to accurately measure the amount of the damage. Consequently the complainant asks that the court compel the defendant to make an ac-. counting and pay triple damages,
^