Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1914)

1076 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD "The Chimes" A Two-Reel Hepworth Visualization of a Humanizing Story by Charles Dickens. Reviewed by Louis Reeves Harrison. CAST: Trotty Veck Warwick Buckland Alderman Cute Tom Butt Meg Violet Hopson R chard Stewart Rome Sir Richard Bowley Harry Gilbey Will Fern John Mac-Andrews Lilian Miss Muriel Smith LIKE most of the Dickens' short stories, "The Chimes" has a ijftening influence and leaves an impression that all is well m the human heart. Great care has been taken to shadow forth the people and scenes in accurate costume and environment, hence it is a delight to the eyes, this picturing ot what the master described by means of his mar Scene from "The Chimes" (Hepworth). velous command of English. The sincerity of purpose behind Dickens' productions reflects his own character in a degree, and it is to be hoped that they will exert the same beneficent influence when visualized, cheering, encouraging and sweetening human existence. The story of Trotty Veck e-xtending the hand of friendship to a man in dire extremity, sharing his last shilling with Will Fern and sheltering him when he has just carried an Scene from "The Chimes" (Hepworth). order for his arrest from Sir Richard Bowley to Alderman Cuter is in itself a lesson, but the dream, that might well have been reality is another to be remembered. Will Fern is merely a vagrant driven by poverty and misfortune to the edge of desperation. The hand of organized society is against him, just as it is to-day. He is an "undesirable," a "defective." a tramp. To half frozen and half starved Trotty Veck this social outcast is a human being to be regenerated by kindness. But Trotty is in such depths of poverty himself that he would not be blamed for heeding the natural impulses such as that springing from the instinct of selfpreservation. "The Chimes" sounding in his ears, bringing their suggestion of good will towards men, rouses in him that warmth of heart that radiated during all-too-few years from the great novelist himself. The personality of Dickens, intensely sympathetic, broadly humanitarian, wondrously magnetic, reached out to all parts of the English-speaking world through his novels and short stories, and here, again, it is reviving through the medium of moving pictures, to be set before millions and again shed its sunshine on suffering humanity. The Hepworth visualization is both consistent and humanizing. Like the work of the master, it is done thoroughly, and it contains the message he sent forth in each Christmas story. It tells the selfish man to rid himself of selfishness, the just man to make himself generous, and the good-natured man to enlarge the sphere of his good nature. Its cheery voice of faith and hope carries pleasant warning to all, that if the duties of Christmas are lacking, no good can come out of its outward observances; that it must shine upon the cold hearth and warm it, and unto the sorrowful heart and comfort it. It must be kindness, benevolence, charity, mercy and forbearance. Mary Fuller Does Battle With Snake SOMETHING is always "happening to Mary." The latest thrill to be added to this girl's life is a battle with a snake in which said snake met his Waterloo. Mary Fuller, with director, Walter Edwin, and a company of some thiry-five players, is at present up in Blue Ridge mountains, Shohola, Pike Count}', Pa., putting on a threereel Universal feature, "The Heart of the Night Winds." The hotel people affirmed there hadn't been a snake in the "Crick," which comes down from the big falls at Shohola, for twenty years. But when Mary pulled ofi her white stockings and little black shoes and began t o "sozzle" her pink toes around in the water, a big water mocassin lifted its head from the moss across the stream and admiring beauty from afar, slipped into the water and swam quickl}' over to pay his respects to "our movie heroine." No, Mary didn't shriek or run, but grasped a hickory stick and waited. "I'll spank you, naughty snake." she warned. Mary Fuller. But with blood in his eye he darted at her leg. .\fter a series of terrific "Whacks," the big mottled black lay still, and Mary was safe to go wading. "DOINGS OF THE EASTERN SCENARIO DEPARTMENT." What with the big editions made in the production ranks of the Universal's eastern companies, the company's scenario department, under the supervision of Jack Bryne, scenario editor, has been burning the night oil in order to carry nut their work with the fullest amount of efficiency. Captain Leslie T. Peacocke during the past week has written a two-reel comedy entitled "The Friend of the Family." He just completed adapting the photoplay form "The Heart of the Night Wind" from the novel. It is being produced by Miss Mary Fuller's company. George Hall is the author of "The Man Who Is Misunderstood," a two-reel drama, that is under production with King Baggot in the lead. George Lessy is directing this picture. Stewart Paton is author of "Tempest and Sunshine," a two-reel drama that ic being staged by the Imp Company under the direction of Frank Crane. Mr. McClellan. Mr. Brenon, Miss Murillo, F. J. May and J. Frager are all engaged in special script reading, looking over magazines, novels and other material.