Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1915)

o34 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 23, 1915 THE SPIRIT OF THE VIOLIN (Selig). "The Spirit of the \iolin," a story of John Graham's vindication, has been termed one of those unusual stories which are released so frequently by the Selig Polyscope Company. It is an appealing and virile tale, in two reels, written by James Oliver Curwood. Edward J. LeSaint directed this entertaining pictureplay. How the spirit of the violin came to Mary, just as she was about to marry an adventurer, is graphically shown. As the shades of night were falling "THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER" IN PICTURES. That the F. C. Whitney film production of the "Chocolate Soldier" will be handled by the Alliance Films Corporation is the latest report in film circles. The screen version of the photoplay is taken from the libretto of the light opera of the same name, which in turn was adapted from the famous drama, "Arms and the Man," by G. Bernard Shaw. All of the principals of the opera were engaged for the picture and appear in the parts they created before the footlights. Among them such names appear as Tom Richards, Alice Yorke, George Tallman, Francis J. Boyle and several others who have large followings among music lovers. The production was staged under the direction ol Stanislaus Stange, the original producer who left nothing undone that would add to its attractiveness and merit. Scene from "The Spirit of the Violin" (Selig). Mary, who through the spirit of the violin, escapes the toils of the plotter, hears again the plaintive strains coming from the cherished instrument. She believes the spirit of John, her long-lost husband, has returned to play for her. With her baby she staggers back to the little cabin. There she meets John, her beloved, in the tlesh, and their reunion is intensely dramatic. "The Spirit of the Violin," released Monday, January 25, is a graphic portrayal of life among the lowly. Beautiful photography and scenery, convincing acting by an all-star cast, and a plot that grips the heart-strings, makes this feature release one that will be anticipated with pleasure by the pictureplay public. The story in brief is that John and Mary and baby Lillian live in poverty but hapoiness. John is unjustly convicted of a crime and imprisoned. He leaves the cherished violin in the cabin. Mary struggles along alone. The adventurer comes. He makes it appear that John is dead. Before a mock marriage is consummated the old violin falls to the cabin floor. It awakens Mary to her hidden danger. John is found to be innocent, comes home, and with his violin brings Mary and Baby Lillian back into sunshine and love. LUBIN PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT. Beginning January 21st the Lubin Manufacturing Company will release each week on its regular program a three reel photoplay — the same type and quality of picture that has heretofore been sent out as a special feature. This interesting announcement was made this week by Ira M. Lowry, general manager of the Lubin Company. Another interesting announcement by Mr. Lowry is that beginning the first of February the company will release each Tuesday and Saturday on the regular program a highclass, one-reel comedy. On one of these days Arthur Johnson and Lottie Briscoe will be featured iri one of these comedies and on the other Joseph Kaufman and Ethel Clayton will be starred in one of these laughable plays. The popularity of the three reelers has been so great that Mr. Lowry determined to release one each week on the regular program. These pictures will be of the same high quality as the special releases and will be shown each week on alternate Wednesdays and Thursdays. A number of these three-reelers, written by well-known writers and enacted by specially selected companies of Lubin players, have been completed and others are being made. The new comedies will undoubtedly attract wide attention and interest. Arthur Johnson and Lottie Brisco have already completed a number of screamingly funny one-reelers and the two Lubin stars have demonstrated that they are just as clever along comedy lines as in more serious parts. Joseph Kaufman, who is also to be featured in a comedy each week, has already achieved a wide reputation as a light comedian, and Miss Ethel Clayton, one of the best known of the Lubin stars, has done some of the best work of her career in the comedies with him. MARY PICKFORD AS "MISTRESS NELL." For the first time since her connection with the Famous Players Film Co., which dates back to more than two years ago, Mary Pickford is seen in the costume of the romantic period of English history, in a five-part film adaptation of the celebrated historic drama. "Mistress Nell," the former starring vehicle of Henrietta Crosman, by George C. Hazelton, Jr., released on the Paramount Program February 1. "Little Mary" invests the role with a dynamic force and a tender charm unequalled in any previous stage portrayals of the piquant and daring "Nell," of whom it has been said, "England would not be as great without her." In this noted drama of the days of gay King Charles II. dominated by the heroism and gallantry that marked that brilliant period, Mary Pickford plays the role of pretty Nell Gwyn, the favorite of the public and the monarch of England, whose bravery and wit save her royal lover from treachery at home and abroad, and frees him at the same time from the toils of a designing woman, who tries to steal his heart from Nell, as well as to wrest his kingdom from him, to give to France. It is Louise, Duchess of Portsmouth, who undertakes this double plot, but little Nell cleverly detects her treacherous plans. After angering and baffling Louise in a score of counter-plots. Mistress Nell, from a hiding place, sees the signing of certain papers which are to place England in the hands of France if they reach their destination. This, Nell determines, shall never be, and in the guise of a young blade of fashion she wins the confidence of Louise, and is herself given the important documents to deliver. Needless to say, the papers are never delivered, e.xcept to Scene from "Mistress Nell" (Famous Players). the King of Iingland. together with a missive from Louise, which, intended for France's monarch, plainly reveals her duplicity. How Nell further outwits the vengeful woman and wins back her royal lover's heart is dramatically developed in this dashing romance of the gallant days when hearts were won with the sword. Throughout the story. Miss Pickford wears several changes of costume, first as the actress, Nell Gwyn, then as Mistress Nell, the sweetheart of the king, and finally as the cavalier, in which disguise she. circumvents the plots of the king's enemies, and which provides the first opportunity in many years for Miss Pickford to appear on the screen as a boy, and the creation is as artistic as it is novel. The settings are elaborately commensur;.te with the requirements of the subject.