Universal Weekly (1924-1936)

38 Universal Weekly Vol. 24, No. 12 "The Fourth Commandment" A Brief Synopsis of Mrs. Emilie Johnson's Story. A GREAT disaster reverses the fortunes of the Graham and Miller families. The once prominent and wealthy Mrs. Graham runs a boarding house to keep her son Gordon in college, while the Millers once poor, are now millionaires. A childhood love affair between Gordon Graham and Marjorie Miller is frustrated by the socially ambitious Mrs. Miller. After gratuating from college, Gordon is employed by an architect. He marries Virginia, the architect's secretary. A child is born to them. When he is four years old, Virginia, who longs to go back to work in order to add to her husband's small income, eagerly accepts her mother-in-law's offer to live with them and take care of Sonny. A year passes. Virginia is pained when she discovers that her little boy loves his grandmother more than his mother. In a jealous rage she flings bitter accusations at the old lady and threatens to leave unless her mother-in-law, who has stolen the affections of her child, goes away. The old lady prepares to leave while Gordon attempts to make peace. Virginia, insane with fury, takes the child into her room and locks the door. When they investigate some time later they find the window open and the room empty. Virginia marries her employer, who is wealthy. Sonny, grown to manhood, marries a high tempered little flapper. They try love in a cottage. Most of her housekeeping is done on the ukulele, but they get along. Virginia's husband is convicted of embezzlement and imprisoned. She is suddenly destitute. Sonny takes her in. ■ Jealous of Sonny's affection for his mother, the young wife attacks her furiously and slaps Virginia's face. The scene that occured in Gordon's home years before is repeated in Sonny's house. Sonny tries to patch up a peace between his wife and mother, but without success. They all move to Paris where Sonny has found a modest position. Virginia, discouraged, decides to end it all. She leaves a note on a bridge overlooking the Seine, telling her son that she thinks it best to go out of his life, forever. The police find it and deliver it to him. A convention of world renowned architects takes place in Paris. Gordon, now wealthy, is one of the leading delegates. Accompanied by Marjorie Miller, his boyhood sweetheart, now his wife, he rides in state through the streets of Paris with Sonny at his side. A decrepit woman of middle age is playing a street organ and beg "Honor Thy Father ayid Thy Mother" reads the inscription on the vase in which Sonny saves his pennies — b u t he forgets the "fourth commandment" when he is grown to manhood. ging. She looks up when the limousine passes. The woman is Virginia, haggard and weak. She recognizes her family in the brilliantly lighted car and attempts to reach them, but the car darts into the jam. Virginia feels a twinge of pain in her heart. A moment later the gendarmes pick up the body of the unknown street begger that is blocking traffic. Emory Johnson gives Mary Curr, the screen's greatest mother, a lesson in handling babies during the making of "The Fourth Commandment," and even the baby sees the joke. PROLOGUES AND PRESENTATIONS (Continued from Page 29.) the picture — "The 4th Commandment," or if you prefer — the words "Honor Thy Father ami Thy Mother." In the first section have a pretty young blonde girl of seventeen or eighteen. As the curtain rises, the orchestra plays a suitable theme which will be found on the music cue sheet. A spot comes on over her head, and as this blacks out. the next section showing the love scene is lit by a si)ot from below at the side to give variety. Each section is thus lighted, while all others are black. As the last section is lighted black all out. and then bring lights on all for a few seconds. Now come into "one" and back out as the old mother takes her seat at the street organ or piano. She sings "Mother o' Mine" as in the picture, and as she finishes the lights dim out with the last notes of the song. You may embellish this as much as you like — as, for instance, the singing of an appropriate chorus with the lighting up of each section. You will find music cues for each of these as the illustrations are taken from stills of actual sequences in the picture.