Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1912)

144 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD "TWO WOMEN" (Powers), Oct. 4— Florence Barker has the role of a widow struggling to support a child and Fritzi Brunette that of a woman with a husband and accepting attentions from another man. The work of both is good; that of the latter once or twice inclines to the melodramatic. Still, 11 i an emotional part and the question may easily be a matter of opinion "BOB'S DECEPTION" (Rex), Oct. '3.— A story that grows on you as the reel unwinds. It is carefully thought out and intelligently executed. "ZIGOTO KD THE RESCUE" (Gaumont), Oct. 3.— Fantastic comedy and amusing. It is a burlesque on a well-known sleuth of modern fiction. "THE WARNING" (Thanhouser), Oct. 4.— A pretty story, in which the chief characters are a father and son, the latter of whom is portrayed by the Thanhouser kid. There is a fishing scene in which a fish drawn from the water l>y the youngster seems to be hardly "animated." There is one particularly effective picture, however, where the father, dreaming, sees on the dark face of the water the figure of his son and his wife. It Is a fine bit of brief double exposure. "A SIXCYLINDER ELOPEMENT" (Thanhouser), Oct. 6.— Good comedy. Kilcy Chamberlain has the part of the daddy who interrupts the elopement, only to be beaten out in an ingenious situation. "LOVE WILL FIND A WAY" (Comet), Oct. 5.— While the settings were carefully arranged and the photography is good, the plot is not strong; it is hackneyed. The work of the mother of the young man was good. "THE LAUNCHING OF THE IMPERATOR" (Gaumont), Oct. 5.— As the title indicates, these pictures were taken at the time of the launching of the greatest ship in the world. There are supplementary scenes showing stages of construction. It all will interest. "TIME AVENGES" (Reliance), Oct. 5. — There is nothing particularly new in this story either in plot or situation. The only feature that will attract attention is a launching of the lifeboat, but the crew of this were so unconscionably slow in getting it away that the villain might well have drowned. ' "THE CRUEL STEPMOTHER" (Imp.), Sept. 30.— Two little children, playing the principal roles in this sentimental drama, are excited by reading a fairy story of a cruel stepmother and run away when they hear that such a person is coming into their home. But in the end they find out that their stepmother is not at all like the one in the book. The story is clearly set forth and has a particularly strong appeal for women. "THE CONVICT'S RETURN" (Gem), Oct. 1.— The convict in this pleasing drama makes an attempt to take vengeance on a faithless pal when the latter's child interferes at the critical moment. The story has a good dramatic quality, is quick to catch the attention from vigorous action at the beginning and the interest is uniformly sustained. The characters are clear cut and the acting is good throughout. "WHEN UNCLE SAM WAS YOUNG" (101-Bison, N. Y. M. P. Co.), Oct. 5. — This two-reel drama of the Revolution, covering the period from the protest against "taxation without representation" to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, affords an intensely interesting succession of brilliant scenes, including the Indian troubles of the time, the universal protest against English oppression, the drilling of the Minute Men, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the making and unfurling of the first American flag. In this background is woven an exciting story of a British officer's double dealing with a loyal Colonial girl and an Indian maid. The destruction of the tea in Boston harbor is particularly well done, as is the Battle of Bunker Hill. Much care has obviously been exercised to make all settings true in their details and the effort has had praiseworthy results. There is no doubt that the film will have a cordial reception in any playhouse. "THE LUCKY LOSER" (Eclair), Oct. 3. — Some amusing situations in this domestic comedy grow out of a girl's whim in promising that the one of her lovers who wins a certain race will win "a wife." The "lucky loser," losing the race through the foul play of one of the rivals, nevertheless wins the girl. Lovers of the quiet smile will enjoy this film. "HER WHOLE DUTY" (Champion), Sept. 30.— A girl reporter's father, an ex-judge, is, in this drama, locked up for drunkenness and her city editor unwittingly compels her to get the story of her father's disgrace. The girl's struggle between a desire to shield her father and her duty to the paper is well depicted. Docks on the Hudson at New York give an added touch of interest to the film. "HEARTS AND SKIRTS" (Nestor), Oct. 4.— This is a good comedy of two young people who, to begin with, have no desire whatever to comply with the conditions of a will by marrying. The ruses of each to cure the other of the notion of marriage bring about several genuinely funny situations. The humor is broad and will be widely appreciated. The scenes in which Billy, a cowpuncher, the pal of the reluctant bridegroom, appears disguised as the latter's wife, are extremely laughable and deserve special commendation. The story begins in a drawing room in New York and winds up on a ranch in the West. "THE BOOMERANG" (Nestor), Oct. 2.— Howard Davies, as the employer of an outfit of cowboys whom he starves on bread and water while he himself eats like an epicure, is well rendered and the theme of this comedy which he sustains is very refreshing in that it proves the gunmen of the West to be eating as well as fighting human beings. The boss comes to grief through his meanness in trying to get rid of some guests by feigning smallpox. Out of this ruse grow a succession of laughable incidents. "LOVE AND SCIENCE" (Eclair), Sept. 29.— This presents a strictly motion picture story, dealing with a scientist whose interest in perfecting a seeing telephone grows so great that he neglects his sweetheart. He succeeds, but while receiving his first call his girl plays a trick on him, which, innocent though it is, unseats his mind. In order to restore it the scene of the prank must be reproduced and for this purpose the services of a motion picture company are employed. The novelty of the plot and the mechanical properties used in this film recommend it highly. "THE HIDDEN BONOS" (Rex), Sept 29.— In this melodrama, through some clever manipulations in Wall Street, a girl's guardian is compelled to deliver up some bonds which he has hidden in order to prove that her lover has stolen them. The unmasking of the rascally guardian and the exoneration of the hero are finally accomplished. The acting does muck to compensate for a none too strong plot. "THE OLD PROSPECTOR" (Nestor), Sept. 30 —This drama portraya the character of an old prospector who, in a fit of gold-madness, murders a young friend. The pal of the murdered man is convicted of the crime on circumstantial evidence and is about to be hanged when the old man confesses. He plays a difficult part and plays it well. The settings are very picturesque and the suspense at the finish is well sustained. "THE CALL OF THE BLOOD" (Majestic), Oct. 1.— Herbert Prior aa John Ford, a civil engineer, and Annie Lehr as a gypsy, his wife, play the leading parts in this well-acted drama. The gypsy wife, after some years of married life, leaves her husband to resume her wanderings with her people, and though she appears secretly in her home to see her sick child, she finally returns to her own people. Her wavering between the "call of the blood" and ber duty to her husband is admirably depicted. Scenes of the gypsy camp are interesting and interest in the story is well sustained. "THE MEDALLION" (Lux), Oct. 4.— This drama has for its theme the overshadowing love of a son for his mother. She is a very old lady and an invalid and her one pleasure in life consists in contemplating a very valuable medallion. The son losing a sum of money by accident is threatened with arrest and is tempted to pawn his mother's keepsake to save himself. But he decides to face prison rather than cause her sorrow. Meanwhile the money is found. This story is clearly and interestingly presented and the interest is maintained to the last. "LETTERS OF A LIFETIME" (Thanhouser), Oct. 1.— In this drama an old man, with only a month of life promised by his doctors, rereads a number of letters and they remind him of his wasted years. The scenes which depict his retrospections have been well chosen and show the most dramatic incidents of his life. People of a reflective turn of mind will like this film. "BROTHERS UNDER THE SKIN" (Reliance), Oct. 2.— Hector Dion handles the leading male part in this drama to good effect. It serves to prove the truth that, when all is said and done, the capitalist and the laboring man are "brothers under the skin." The action proceeds vigorously with some admirable touches of pathos and tense feeling. The scenes in which Adams, a starving striker, seeks revenge on his onetime employer are particularly commendable. "THE WORTH' WHILE WEDDING" (Comet), Sept. 30.— A spirited comedy in which three hoboes rob a bridegroom of his clothes, thereby compelling him to get married in a barrel. This will be viewed with a smile. "THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD" (Comet), Sept. 30.— On the same film as the above appear these views of. Waldorf Miller, who has been living for the last two years with a broken neck. He was injured while diving at New Rochelle, N. Y. We found the picture very interesting. "RILEY AND SCHULTZ" (Keystone), Sept. 30.— This is a short, laughable farce comedy of three policemen and an escaped convict. The film is intended for friends of the burlesque. "THE NEW NEIGHBOR" (Keystone), Sept. 30.— Following the above on the same film is this comedy of errors in which a young husband is obsessed with much groundless jealousy of his wife and comes to amusing grief for his folly. The Tun is extremely lively. "FOR THE HONOR OF THE 7TH" (Broncho), Oct. 2.— This drama of Indian troubles on the frontier gives two well-presented battles between a stockade garrison and the red skins. The story is that of two officers, rivals in love and honor, and both officers of the Seventh, which boasts a high record for honor. The action is vigorous and occurs in a picturesque mountain country. Considerable care has been taken to make the fighting convincing and the film lacks nothing in that respect. As the whole, the production is highly commendable. "I'M GOING OUT FOR A SHAVE" (Great Northern), Oct. 5. Five or six men go on a spree together and do many things that will make people laugh in spite of themselves. It is well done and, for this sort thing, is astonishingly funny. INQUIRIES. NOTE — No questions ran be replied to by mall. Look for your answeli here. A list of studio addresses, kept up-to-date, will be sent if a sta and addressed return envelope accompanies the request. A. D. — The question of theft of another's idea Is too delicate to be broadly decided. If you take the main plot it is a theft. If yon take some situation and make another and entirely different story It Is not. If you get a suggestion from the work of another it is not dishonest. If you get a plot it Is. B. C. W. — Blogrnph and Keystone films have no business connection. \\ hen the Biograph company eame east last summer most of the comedy company remained In Los Angeles. They went to the Bison and now appear In Keystone brand films. Biograph photography Is so clear because they have their laboratory force so well organized. We do not know what their idea is In trving to run one foot scenes. "The Fatal Chocolate" was released February nineteenth of this year. The Biograph players are still In New York. W. I. G. — Several companies have made 'Tnele Tom's Cabin," but you probnblv have reference to the Vitagraph production of about three years ago. Republi. released "A New Lease On Life" last Spring. We cannot search for a play the story of which Is given. It might take an entire day to locate it. J. S. N. — If you cannot get your stories back or get any reply from the companies, notify them by registered letter that you withdraw the script, copy the ( nrbon* and send It out again. This does not apply to the story you sold, but which has not yet been paid for. To save trouble send only to those companies having an outlet for their releases. A. W. — We have not the names of the characters In that Biograph. but Kdwln August and Miss Blanche Sweet had the leads In "The Lesser Evil." In Nestor's "When the Heart Calls." Lee Moran was the city man, Russell Bassett the rancher, Miss Louise Glaum was his daughter and Miss Victoria Forde Lee's fiancee.