Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1914)

36 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS "TRAFFICKERS ON SOLES" IN view of the widespread publicity which has been given the so-called "white slave" pictures during the past few months, one of the most opportune of recent productions is "Traffickers on Soles," a travesty, written and produced by Sidney M. Goldin, which is to be released shortly by the Feature Photoplay Companv, 220 West Forty-second street, New York City. In "Traffickers on Soles," the ticklish question of "white slavery" is handled in an entirely humorous vein. To those who have not seen the real "white slave" pictures, certain points in this production may not be fully grasped. However, there are many good laughs in the three reels for everyone. AFTER THE NIGHT'S RAID From start to finish the picture is a riot of fun. There is plenty of slap-stick comedy in the film, but it is excused by the character of the subject. Two country lasses, attired in comic costumes, decide to see the "Great White Way." They make the trip to New York in a flat car and fall victims to two "white slavers," who use "injcctographs." The kidnapping is done in an automobile drawn by mules, and the victims are hoisted into the house of bondage through a second-story window by means of a block and tackle. Although the picture adheres closely to the regulation "vice" plot, there is no serious strain in it. It is just a succession of ludicrous situations and scenes. The police force is composed of Irishmen and Hebrews, with an Irish captain in charge of the Hebrew squad and a Hebrew captain in command of the Irish squad. The raid on the resort and the rescue of the two victims is accomplished in a most humorous manner. In the final scene the father of the two girls rewards the captains for their services by giving a ham to the Hebrew and a chicken to the Irishman "THE MOTHER PENITENT" Warner's Features ' I 'HIS picture probably surpasses anything that Warner's *■ Features have ever placed on the market before in the line of a "Western." Yet, strictly speaking, the "Western'' part of the picture is merely a background, for the story is more one dealing with mother love. It was made by the Miller Brothers on their ranch in tlie "real" West, and the atmosphere is practically perfect A large herd of cattle is used in the make-up. Thrilling scenes throughout tend to hold the interest of the spectator while several scenes of pathos arouse their sympathy. In the stampede scene it does not seem possible that the camera man will escape. The cattle go on every side of him, so close that they seem to enter right into the lens. Baby Early, a clever child actress, is featured in the first reel, the vivacious Elsie Albert taking her place when a skip in the time of the action calls for an older person. The story is as follows : A jealous father, believing his wife to be unfaithful, leaves for the West, taking with him his two daughters. The stage coach in which they are riding also contains a large consignment of gold. It is held up and in the attempt to escape is overturned in a stream. This is naturally a powerful scene. The two girls are the sole survivors. The youngest is adopted by a rancher and his wife, and is sent to a convent. The other, aged eleven, is adopted by the outlaws, and later becomes their leader. The heart-broken mother has also entered a convent, and here meets her daughter, who fails to recognize her. They become the closest of friends, the child never guessing the relationship. A period of time passes by and the two girls are again reunited through an old locket. The older girl experiences a change in spirit and with the aid of her sister arrests her former friends. They write to the Sister in the Convent and thus their mother hears of the miracle of the two, supposedly dead, sisters being reunited. She keeps her relationship a secret. "A WINTER'S TALE" Warner's Features A WINTER'S TALE," in three parts, released by Warner's Features, is a masterpiece made by the Milano Company which closely follows the original, as written by Shakespeare. The story is powerful and contains many very beautiful settings. In all probability it is the most beautiful production this company has ever made. The story, which is of course very well known, is as follows : Leontes, King of Sicilia, has invited to his court King Polixenes, of Bohemia, but after some time he imagines that his royal guest is paying court to his wife, Queen Hermione. Blind with rage, he orders Camillo to poison King Polixenes. But Camillo is horrified by such a proposal and goes to the visiting king and warns him of his danger. To avoid King Leontes' anger, Camillo accompanies Polixenes to his kingdom and becomes his confidential adviser. King Leontes, who belives his suspicion of the queen to be well founded, orders her imprisonment. While languishing in her dungeon, the queen gives birth to a baby girl, which the king refuses to accept as his child and which he compels Antigonus to abandon on some desert shore beyond his dominion. At her trial, the queen's honor is upheld, but, deprived of her babe, it is apparent that she is going insane from grief. Paulina, the queen's faithful consort, obtains a powerful drug which puts the queen into a sleep resembling death. She is buried with regal splendor and none but Paulina knows the truth. When Antigonus arrives in Bohemia to abandon the child, he is set upon by robbers and thrown into a burning sulphur pit. The baby is picked up by gentle shepherds and adopted into their humble home. Sixteen years pass. The king's daughter is now the lovely Perdita, with whom Florizel, the son of the King of Bohemia. is in love. At their engagement celebration, Florizel's father appears and commands his son to return home without his sheperdess sweetheart. Camillo discovers from proofs in the shepherd's possession that Perdita is the daughter of King Leontes and with King Polixenes restores her to her father. lo the surprise of all, Paulina draws back a curtain and they behold Queen Hermione awakened from her long death sleep.