Reel Life (1916-1917)

PERILS OF OUR GIRL REPORTERS’ Helen Greene in a thriller story of revolutionists plot / / HE WHITE TRAIL,” fourth of the Edith ^ H * Sessions Tupper newspaper dramas, pro• ■ duced by the Niagara Falls Studios and is¬ sued under the general title “The Perils of Our Girl Reporters,” is one of the most exciting of the fifteen stories. In this play Rhea Fernol, portrayed by the clever young actress Helen Greene, is assigned to secure by any means in her power, the secret key to a Mexican revolutionary code through the medium of which ammunition and supplies are being sent into Mexico for the use of certain revolutionary bands. The plot is one that takes Miss Fernol to Washing¬ ton, and in the elaboration of which she is afforded an opportunity to display her clean cut conception of the behavior of a newspaper woman in certain crises. In a reception at which the chief of the revolutionary propa¬ ganda was host, Miss Fernol managed to Helen Greene in a scene from “ The White Trail. secure posession of the much sought key by the simple device of setting fire to a wastebasket full of discarded papers and thus directing attention in another way until she had rifled the drawer containing the desired document. The principal recommendation of Miss Greene’s acting in this cleverly constructed play is its naturalness. The young woman has studied newspaper methods and the behavior of newspaper women to excellent effect and in her representa¬ tion of the girl reporter she is convincing. In the opening of the drama when Miss Fernol receives her assignment from the managing editor of the great metropolitian daily which has employed her, the newspaper office is absolutely true to type for the simple reason that it is actually a metropolitan newspaper office, that the big fellow on the main desk is a famous newspaper editor and that the reporters seen about the office at their work are really and truly newspaper men engaged in their daily tasks. Earl Metcalfe, who plays the physician and fiance of Rhea, is a very satisfactory hero and he has a chance to do some active work in behalf of the intrepid young woman. In the course of the drama Miss Fernol is abducted by the Mexicans and confined in a house in Washington to which doctor (Kemble) follows and effects a sensational rescue. In command of a band of rescuers Dr. Kemble cuts through the wall separating two houses and there finds Miss Fernol bound, under the guard of two armed Mexicans. The situation is one calling for finesse and bravery at the same time. Miss Fernol manages to communicate her thoughts to Kemble by winking her eyes in dots and dashes according to the Morse code, and out of this remarkable message he plans his rescue. The scenes in a newspaper office in “The White Trail” were actually filmed in a large newspaper office, the editor is a well known newspaper man and the reporters some of the city’s best reporters. Synopsis of “DOUBLE REVENGE” American drama, featuring Warren Kerrigan. Stage Robber . J. Warren Kerrigan His Pal . Pauline Bush Another of the robbers .. George Periolat The young stage robber and his girl accomplice are dividing the loot from their recent hold-up when an older mem¬ ber of the gang comes upon them and demands part of the loot. They refuse to give it to him and the man tries to force the girl’s share from her. He is set upon by the younger man and then leaves swearing revenge. He sees a sign offering a reward of $1,000 for the cap¬ ture of the stage robbers and tells the sheriff the whereabouts of the other two. The younger man is arrested and impris¬ oned. The older man gets the reward and is proclaimed the hero of the hour. The girl meets the older man and sees him hide his money. She hides a stolen mail sack in the same place and after lib¬ erating the younger man she leaves a note telling where the real robber can be found. The sheriff and his party come upon the other man in the act of digging up his money and finding the mail sack arrest him. The girl and the younger robber cross the boundary line and deter¬ mine to lead a new life. * * * Synopsis of “ALMOST A FRIAR” American drama, featuring Warren Kerrigan The Man . J. Warren Kerrigan The Girl . Jessalyn Van Trump Her Mother . Louise Lester The old mountaineer and his religious son live near an old mission, where they see the friars wend their way over the mountains every morning. The father wishes the son to become a friar so the son packs his belongings and starts for the mission. On his way he meets a girl and not being able to concentrate his mind on the mission he feels the call of love and seeks out the girl’s mother and asks for work. Later he marries the girl and with their little baby they set out for the old mountaineer. The old man is furious when he finds out that his son has not become a friar, but when he sees his wife and little baby there is a happy reconciliation. * * * Synopsis of “A CIRCUS CYCLONE” Vogue comedy, featuring Paddy McQuire. The Artist . Ben Turpin The Girl . Gypsy Abbott Baron Moon . Arthur Moon J^sbo, the Dog-Faced Boy . . Paddy McQuire Ben, a struggling artist, is in love with the daughter of a wealthy widow. He is thrown out by the girl’s mother and Baron Moon, a fake baron, is received royally. Ben discovers that Moon is a janitor in a side show next to the con¬ cession where Paddy, as “Jasbo,” the dog-faced boy, works. Paddy quits his job, however, and gets one as a model with the living models. Ben puts in a one man circus. The baron steals a neck¬ lace from Gypsy’s mother and is finally caught. Then the mother gives Gypsy to the deserving Ben. REEL LIFE — Page Eight