Variety (October 1909)

VARIETY 13 I EVEN WITH THE CRITIC. One of the local manufacturers of films lms decided to end the practice which has become quite general of giving film re- viewers nn advance view of their new sub- jects before release days. Every member of the Patents-Company has a private ex- hibition room, and it has been the prac- tice to give writers on film topics an advance view of new reel9. This worked out all right until one day a film reviewer gave an adverse opinion of a film before it was released, and when he again went 'round for a look at new films he was told that the Ann's exhibiting room was out of commission. It is a question in the mind of the critic whether his adverse notice put the room out of use, or whether it was really a fact that films were not being shown at the time he wanted to see them. These private exhibitions, by the way, are a good thing for the business, as it gives the employees of one firm an opportunity to "pan" the other fellow's subjects and pre- sents to a stranger in the film game an opportunity to learn a whole lot of things he would never even suspect. The Patents Company, it seems, has not been able to instill a spirit of brother- ly love outside of surface indications as displayed in the public prints. STREYCKMANS ON THE JOB. Chicago, Sept. 30. H. J. Streyckmans was named as pub- licity man of the National Independent Moving Picture Alliance as forecasted in these columns, and is already at work. He will not give his personal attention to showing fijms, but will send out five men, one to each district, who will act under his direction. The selection of Mr. Streyckmans for this position was a wise move. He is in every way qualified for the place. Enjoy- ing as he does a wide acquaintance among film men, he brings a thorough knowledge ot the film business along with an ability to talk and write, seldom combined in one man. His "tact" is often referred to and has frequently been in evidence in the last few months. OPERATORS ON STRIKE. Atlanta, Sept. .30. All the moving-picture operators in At- lanta were out on strike last week. They demanded a new scale of wages giving journeymen operators $30 for a six-day week and a thirteen-hour day. They also insist that theatre managers sign con- tracts with them holding life during the lease on the theatre. While the strike was on the city issued temporary licenses to operators in "Class H" (assistants to the licensed operators), and the theatres remained in operation. Ijiter new examinations were announced and new certificates issued to all who passed them successfully. The operators' union had been in existence for only two days when the strike was called. Tn San Francisco there are court pro- ceedings pending over the right to moving pictures called 'The Creation of the "World."' ST. LOUIS GETTING TOGETHER. St. Louis, Sept. 30. For the purpose of furthering municipal and State legislation, proprietors and managers of over thirty moving picture shows this week organized the Exhibitors' Protective Association of Missouri. Only owners or managers arc eligible to mem- bership. The first bill to be promoted, they say, is one to permit stages in moving picture shows. Both the Municipal Assembly and the Legislature will be urged to regulate the business, and the association will, on the other hand, see to it that its members conform to all laws and ordinances. The officers are G. C. Warner, Inde- pendent Amusement Co., president; M. E. Kaufman, Vaudette Theatre, vice-presi- dent; Samuel Lear, secretary; Frank Tal- bot, of the Gem and Lyceum theatres, treasurer. "Careless Tramp" (Path*). "A Careless Tramp" appears as though It were cut In ba!f, the finish of the celluloid coming midway in the story. A tramp goes to sleep In a hayrack on u prosperous farm. He la smoking a pipe and the buy takes fire. The farmer rushes to the rural fire fighters, an Institution unfamiliar to Americans. They have a curious apparatus. A bucket brigade Is forced, and while the water is poured Into the apparatus It Is again pumped by man-power through a hose line. Meanwhile the farmer's helpers pursue the tramp. They pre- pare to lynch him. Here a blank occurs lu the film, until be Is found gasping on the ground with a farmer maid leaning over him. She holds a scythe in her hand and the presumption la that she baa cut him down. The final picture showa the tramp shaking bis fist threateningly toward the farmhouse. In Its conception it la probable that the manufacturer Intended to show the tramp's vengeance, and the saving of the farmer by the girl who bad befriended the tramp. As It stands the picture is worth while only for Its exposition of a French rural fire department, and the usual beautiful scenic pictures characteristic of French films. RUSH. "A Knight for a Night" (Edison). A portly, middle-aged English squire leaves a drinking bout ratber the worse for too many bottles. On his way home he runs into an ancient and dilapidated stage coach, which arouses in his mind the days when he was young and romance lived. He falls asleep in the old coach and dreams that he is the hero of an elopement in which single-handed be drives three villains to flight, runs away with the maiden in distress, driving the coach himself. Just as be la about to bare another thrilling encounter the picture fades away, and be is again the portly unromantlc and none too sober squire asleep in an abandoned stage coach. The story is Interesting throughout and extremely well done, the photography la ex- cellent and the settings, being all out-of-doors, satisfactory. RUSH. •T. F. Bilz, of St. Joe, Mo., who has the Bijou Drenm there, intends to erect another picture houm» in the eity at a enM oF SM.flflO. "The Winning Boat" (Kalem). This sporting-dramatic subject might easily have been lifted from one of the ten-cent libraries written for the juvenile trade. It Is well enough put together and without arousing any thrills Is mildly interesting. A prolog shows two young- sters sailing their miniature boats. Young Mas- ter Jack wins the contest and little Grace gives hint her childish affections. In youth the young men are boat builders apparently and their rivalry for Grace continues. Jack Is accepted by the young woman. lie builds a swift motor boat and enters It In a race for a $1,000 prize. The rival first tries t<» dynamite the craft and then, Just before the starting gun, knocks him on the head in n lonely spot on the shore and ties him hand and foot. (Iraco takes bis place at the wheel and the !>oat comes In a winner. The water scenes are rather pretty and particularly the motor boats in motion. ItUSFI. "The Naval Review" (Vitagraph). Monday evening at the American the Vita- graph gave a quite clear mid comprehensive picture of tho naval parade at the commence ment of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration last Saturday. Scenes all along the North River were shown, from the many foreign warships with the American cruisers, to the small craft, and in- cluding the excursion heats which seemed to make up the "parade" portion, the war boats re- maining at anchor. Pictures of the "Half Moon" In several |w<s|t|nns were shown, while the "Clermont" was shown at the launching of the reproduction. Outside New York and abroad thU film will lie highly Interesting ami Imgclv en- joyed, stimi:. -V- "Leather Stocking" (Biograph). There are easier ways of earning n livelihood than posing lie fore the moving picture camera, but few quite so exciting. In this newest release of the Itlngraph studios there are hair-breath escapes enough to make up another novel of the "leather Storking" tale*, from which It has been In more or less detail taken. One of the best things that has been shown on the animated sheet for a long lime Is the race and final victorious fight between the pioneer scout of friction and his pursuing In-, dlnns through raging rapid*. The series Is a capital example of the modern stage manager for mnvl-nr pictures. whos f . «tage Is the wide stretch of nature. Itl'SII. VARIETY'S OWN PICTURE REVIEWS "All for a Hiokel" (Oaumont). This is a preposterous Idea and a great sketch for comedy effect. In receiving change from a cabby, a man drops a small piece of sliver. He starts to hunt for It and one by one idlers Join In the search until twenty-flve people are worry- ing themselves about a nickel. Working men with picks and shovels come along and tear up the pavement. The search extends Into a sewer several blocks away from the original scene, and the whole crowd flounders around In the uil»v. searching for the five cents. After this goes on for u time, all return to where the coin was first dropped, and It is dually discovered on the sole of Its owner's shoes. WALT. "The Suitors' Competition" (Fathe). "The Suitors' Competition" is a conventional comic In general plot, although there are a few novel Incidents/ A young woman of more than ordinary beauty anuounces that she will select her husband by the test of physical prowess. Under her direction the several candidates for her hand arc put through all the most difficult tests. A foot race Is won by the biggest and handsomest of the applicants. The same physical marvel wins out In a weight lifting contest. In all the competitions the last and least successful entree Is a light-weight who can do nothing well. The big fellow Is finally selected as fiancee. But while the betrothal ceremonies are In progress the call of tire Is sounded In the bonse. The girl screams In anguish that ber pet lap dog la Im- prisoned In the house and calls upon volunteers for a rescuing party. Immediately the Joke of the athletic exercises comes forward and accom- plishes the rescue. The giant la straightway dis- carded and the weakling wins the band of the belle. There is not a little real humor In the series, but It Is not brought out In the pantomime with sufficient strength to put It over. RUSH. "Caucasian Customs" (Fathe). Another travel series from the French studios Is extremely interesting. The Governor of the district in the Caucasus Mountains la seen in the conduct of his official visit to a large village. The mountaineers gather in their odd native dress. Cossack riders go through a few manenvera and characteristic natives are shown in native dress. A dance Is part of the ceremonial of welcome as well as the portage of the distin- guished visitors on the shoulders of the people. The women are very pretty. Several are shown nt close range. The series sustalna Interest thor- oughly. RUSH. "Love and War" (Edison). "An Episode of Waterloo," adda a sub-caption. That's all it is, an episode. The scene of the big ball on the eve of the battle is shown, the arrival of the message to Wellington bearing news of the enemy's approach, the partings and a love scene between a British officer and his sweetheart or bride. There are no battle scenes. After the ballroom Is deserted the scene moves to a lonely room, where on a tapestry at the back Is shown the young officer dying amid the wreckage of the day's fight. RUSH. "Trained Birds" (Fathe). A picture of a vaudeville act -somebody's trained cockatoos. The whole act Is run through from Introduction to finish and makes a film of tame Interest, much below the rathe standard. WALT. "Servant's Good Joke" (Paths). French Ideas of humor stand forth In no enviable light In this film. Tathe herein becomes an of- fender against all the ethics In presenting a sub- ject which Is as difficult to write about as It Is unpleasant to look upon. There Is growing need for a censor committee which censors, and the sooner this fact Is t.iken home by the Patents Co. the better It will be for the motion picture business. The Tathe Idea of a "Joke" Is the mixing of a laxative oil lu a man's salad. He is going to the home of his promised bride to participate in festivities attendant upon the an- nouncement of the engagement. The servant seems to resent the fact that he Is going to marry, and hits upon a plan to doctor his salad, bringing him Into disgrace. The man goes to tin- party ami several times during the festivities Is -ceii to take on the manner of a very busy person, dashing the dancers right and left as he plunge- from the room. Finally his actions cause him to he thrown out and when he arrives home a not' Is there, stating that the engagement has I n declared off because of his conduct while under the Inlliience of the peculiar salad oil. 'lids Is alHiut as clearly ns the film can be explained. It Is an unnecessary hit of work ami should never have been released fur piddle exhibition. WALT. "Fantine" (Vitagraph). This N the third film In the "I.es Miserable*" series which this llrin Is putting out. The Inci- dents pictured ciuhrace the struggles of Fa nt lite to support her child. Co-cttc. The little one is placed In charge of the deceitful and mer- cenary Thctiadlcr and the mother's love lmp< Is her to make great sacrifices to support the child or to meet the demands for money which are con- stantly being made by Thenadhr. Famine sells her hair, her teeth ami does everything possible to provld" funds. She |s at last befriended by the disguised Jean ValJean. after arrest upon a trumped u;> charge. In ei urt she Is released, but Viil'e-m d|selo-cs bis IdeyJlfv when lie finds another man Is accused of being the escaped convict. 'I e Hugo series which the Vltagrapu I. now rebii-lng ere photographically u ,.|| done and well acted, but owing to the fact tlfat ■•■ few pcrsouH In an avcrago picture audience have r»ad the stories, they lack in general Interest and lose In effect. WALT. "Across the Divide" (Belif). A picturesque title here describes a western tale worked out with a skill and clean-cut sympathetic interest-worthy of Bret Harte'a characteristic California stories. The narrative unfolds Itself In convincing out-door surroundings. No better nat- ural settings have been shown In an American made dramatic picture. The reel Is an absorbing narrative and one to stand out from the usual run of the American product. RUSH. "Why Girla Leave Home" (Edison). This Is a good comedy subject, although it Is ratber long drawn out. A full thousand feet of film Is a good deal of space to develop a subject having comedy Incidents as Ita chief recommenda- tion. In tills case the story opens In the home of a clergyman. In his morning mall there comes ti handbill, advertising a play, "Why Glrla Leave Home," at the Opera House to-night. He Indig- nantly crumples It up and throws It Into bis waste paper basket. In turn nearly every member of the minister's household gets hold of the bill. They pair off, daughter and her suitor, secretary ami her sweetheart and even the cook and her male attache, and decide to witness the performance on tho quiet. They slip out of teh house, wkllo the minister Is taking his evening nap. The ani- mated sheet Is transferred to the theatre where the audience and stage arc shown alternately. On the stage a rough burlesque of a lurid melodrama is depicted, and the shifting views show the spirit lu which the audience received the mock-heroic* and nonsense of tho players. At the finish the three couples manage to get safely past the aus- piclons of the minister after the women have vowed to keep the secret of tbelr escaped. It makes an amnslng series and the Union Square audience on Tuesday gave a demonstration of Ita approval. RUSH. "Wife or Child" (Urban-Eclipse). Photographic beauty and excellent pantomime make up for the lack of a tense dramatic story In this subject. A prosperous farmer (presumably In the south of France) finds himself the cus- todian of a young son without a mother to care for him. He seeks among the maids on the place for a fitting helpmeet and selects the prettiest of them all, the girl having a good deal to do with the selection by working upon blm all her arts of coquetry. The child tskes an Instinctive dislike to the woman, but the father persists in his plan of marrying her. At length the couple set out to the minister's house where the marriage ceremony Is to be beld. As they drive through a lane the child suddenly rushes before the carrleg and Is knocked down. The father lifts bkn up tenderly, but the bride-to-be urge* haste, and In ber' anger nt the untoward accident attempts to strike tho child ns It pleads with the father to glvo up his wedding plan. Here Is the point of dramatic In- terest. Will the father give up his prospect of wedded bliss or bring to bis home a brutal step- mother to the youngster. The suspense lasts only for an Instant. Then the father turns away from the girl and leads his little one home. The story Is well told and the scenes of farming life most attractive. These, with the superlative acting of the characters, "make" tho reel. RUSH. "Breach of Promise" (Urban-Eclipse). A passable comedy subject from the French fac- tories. A young woman Is deeply In love with her suitor. She Is suddenly apprised by reading the morning papers that be Is about to wed another. She straightway makes her way to his bachelor quarters and after a violent scene locks blm In. As the hour of the wedding approaches the victim finds himself a prisoner In bis own home. He manages to escape by making a rope ladder out of the bedclothes, but unfortunately drops into a cart full of refuse. He buys n misfit suit of evening clothes to replace bis soiled attire mid hastens on. Meanwhile the wedding party Is walling In great anxiety for his arrival. lie finally reaches the home of the bride, but there Is no wedding ring In Ills newly-bought clothes. The wedding party works out Into a general rough h< use during which the bridegroom, raising hi* right hand In sign of "not for me," makes his e-en|.e. lie scries |s well worked out and con- i.iiis a goo*| proportion of laughter. Itl'SII. "Onawanda" (Vitagrapb). "In. tli» pi sir Indian" as a cinematographic sub- ject is t... Mining Just a bit tiresome. Among the releases fur the llrst two dajs of thts week lie appears as principal In three dra- matic s|,,ri(s. The Indian Is a good pic- turesque subject. tint there Is getting to he too much of him all at once. Why do not the manufactureis get together on these things and ■-ort of sca'*er their style of production) "Ona- wanda." in dressing, plcturcsquencss and panto- mime is by no means the equal of "Leather Stock- ing." simwji for Hie Hrxt time the day before. It tell* of an Indian suspected by the early set- tlors <.f haxlng been concerned In the. kidnapping • »f two children from a white mail's settlement. To prove that he has lieen accused unjustly, be undertakes the rescue of the missing eblldren. Trailing them to the camp of hostile redskins, he ii aniL'e- after a sorb's of hairbreadth escapes to ic-tei-i them to their parents. Hut Just as he regains the camp the Indians, who have been -liown In a llrst rate "chase" on his trail, get within gun shot and lav blm low. The Him must i-ave teen tjikcit In the winter time, for most of the sen,is are exteriors, showing pretty snow -••em s mihI forest* where v11*- tree* ; ire bnre of roilage. The -torv holds together and makes a l'c:isini:i|ih jiitt rcf ihtf little dr.ilea ItUSfl.