Variety (June 1914)

20 VARIETY will prolong the life of a confirmed coniump- tlve, that Is likewise commonlj underatood—> If thoy remain where the conditions are help- ing them, and threatened approaching con- sumption, taken In time, may be turned aside bjr life In the open, with the afflicted able to return to his or her former place of residence, but to make a poiltlTe statement of "The only real cure" Is calculated to do as much harm to those unable to leave for the bene- ficial (and expensive) "lunger" resorts, as this picture can possibly do good In telling everybody what everybody knows. Accepting that many who see pictures seek the enter- tainment through Its cheapness of admission, and that consumption necessarily ravages the poorer classes the most, that caption "The only real cure" will cause untold misery and resentment among those who sit In front of it. and realize that through poverty they must die of consumption, whereas "money" would restore health by a trip away. "Where there is life there Is hope" Is a proverb that would have covered this entire film story be- fore It was produced. All the pamphlets, lec- tures and moving pictures in the world will not stop a man or woman from taking any desperate chance to cure or relieve themselves after having been Informed they must go sooner or later. The Excelsior Co. could have done its greatest duty to mankind (If that is what it Is after—rather than profit through the box ofHce) by sending this film to Carnegie, and telling him to trade his libraries for some square miles In Arizona. As a picture "The Toll of Mammon" Is depressing, slowly and poorly acted, with but one "'picture scene," that of an explosion of a motor boat In a chase, although the man driving the boat (and directly over the engine) was the only one saved, according to one of the innumerable captions in the film. The rest of the tale is of a young physician with an ambitious wife, she leading her husband into "standing" for a fake consumption cure concern, he fln< ally landing In prison, and contracting while there "the con" as his child had before ulm, (be little girl having been taken by the mother to the quack place for treatment. It isn't much of a picture In any sense, excepting that the photography Is not at all bad, and that its "moral" has a kick-back, one strong enough to have anyone say that unless these "humanitarlana" in picture making are on the level, they had best leave this kind of stuff alone, for in the attempt to collect the dollars from a film of this sort, they do not advance much above the grade as an effort of the "vice film." When It Is necessary to trade upon the aliments of the masses (as a vice and this one do), either the maker should be sure of his ground, certain he has a "great" picture (which "Mammon" Is not) or pass it up. As a personal opinion It would be better to leave It alone, and as another personal opinion, the Excelsior Co. will be Indeed lucky to get Its original Investment back from this film. Harry Handworth wrote the scenario and di- rected. Such minor criticisms as the players knowing more about posing than picture pan- tomime acting, and some of the different Interi- ors apparently placed in the same set, could be made. Bime. WORLD, FLESITaND DEVIL No Laura Jean LIbbey story has anything on "The World, The Flesh and The Deril," a five-part feature with a prologue to extend the agony of looking at a picture that could have been done In three reels and not arcompllah much at that. This bears the old Urban trademark and is being handled by the World Film Corporation. It's a foreign story with a million and one captions, rushed together and a lot of cheap melodrama one was accus- tomed to reading about in the olden days when the Fireside Companion teemed and sizzled with that stuff. An old nurse falls to carry out h^r agreement with a womam who had evil designs on life in gen- eral and, instead of changing two babies, so one would be rich and the ether poor, she permits them to remain as they are. Robert Hall, the rightful heir, is ousted by the other baby, grown to manhood, who Is told on the deathbed of the woman who was Instrumental In the deed being planned, takes what really belongs to Robert. Now Robert's in love with Beatrice, but Just the same Bob ducks out and leaves the other chap on the ground floor. This other brother is a regular devil In his own home town. At times a man In a devllsh makeup and a suit that re- sembles those worn by the contortionists of the old school bobs up to make his subject cringe and act as though the devil was there in human shape. There's another viUyun who styles himself "Hyde" and unknown to him he has a daughter, Gertrude, who works In a soda fountain and who is related to the nurse. Gertie knows too much and the bogus son and Hydle try to keep her a prisoner, after they force wine down her lips auw the B. 8. (bogus son) gives her a few hUgs and kiases. A de-veel ture enough. Bob and B. 8. agree to meet by the old mlllslde. Here a brigand- ish-looklng miller and Hyde waylay Bobble, who battles with toem in the mill loft and makes his getaway by the mill wheel. To make the picture more dIfDcult. Beatrice, knowing Bob's to be clugged, beats it to the mill where, secreting herself in the loft, she bursts forth on Bobby and gives him a sur- prise. It's she who suggests the mill wheel decent and which "thriller" was tamer than stepping into a subway car. Bob could have gone out the open door after knocking his two assailants over, but that would have spoiled .an effect so he tumbles through the loft window and lands in about three feet of water, where he and Beatrice sort of rest until the men make their way down a flight of stairs and again battle with Bob. But Bob is there with his dukes and later after Qrigg had been knocked head over appetite Into the mill stream and encounters the mill wheel, Bob and Beatrice go home to change clothes. Prior to this B. 8. had choked the old nurse to death with Bob's handkerchief or scarf, and on circumatantlal evidence Bob Is about to be sent up when Gertrude shows up and blows the whole works. Gertie and Hyde are none other than daughter and father. B. 8., who had been a barrister, has his locks shorn and Is accused of the murder of the nurse. Bob and Beatrice are welcomed with open arms by Bob's daddy, who had been taken In pretty easily by the B. 8. The actor doing the unreal son poses every minute and Is so stagey he spoils his best scenes. The fellow playing Robert was an ordinary looking chap to have fallen Into so much money. The women did fairly well. The picture will not make any great impression on either exhibi- tors or audiences on this side of the pond. They have seen too many real and realistic "mellers" to waste much time on one like "The World. The Fleah and The Devil." The laboratory work Isn't anything to speak of and many of the Interiors are streakisb, dim and ancient In toning. Mark. NEATH THE LION'S PAW. The Melies concern has tried to gather to- gether In this three-reel foreign picture all the melodramatic climaxes on the market. The story deals with some plans that are stolen and the thief Is followed by a man and woman. The three meet on a train and the man Is thrown off by the crook. Later the woman follows him to the roof of the car and there they grapple, the women falling over the side. The two are picked up and taken to the home of an explorer who baa a number of wild animals on his place. The thief Joins his pals. They hear the man and woman are at the home of the explorer. The three bandits decide to kill the couple. They go to the house as workmen and find that the girl Is the only one home besides the servants. They release the animals in the house and the girl is unable to escape. She fights them all off and is only saved with the assistance of her lover. The three crooks then are seen fooling with some explosives which they finally manage to Ignite and blow them- selves Into the hereafter. The stolen plans are found and the girl and fellow are married. The woman is evidently a lion trainer. It is a film that will appeal to an audience that eats up blood and thunder stuff. FORGIVEN, dTl'HE JACK 0' DIAMONDS. six Part Melodrama. Jack O'Dlamonds Edwin Forsberg WiUard Graham Frederick Burton Denver Dan Luke J. Lorlng Frank Popham Hector Dion Annie Dennlson Caroline French Aunt Cordelia Rlcca Allen Leonle Diamond Frltzl Bruennette Little Leonie Lois Alexander Mexican Daniel Bertona Many years ago when melodrama ran ramp- ant there appeared a play entitled "Forgiven, or The Jack -> Diamonds," the collaborated efforts of Frederick Bryton and Clay Greene and It was produced with Bdwin Forsberg In the role of Jack O'Dlamonds. The piece has reposed on the storage shelves until the call of the movies lifted It out and it now booms for- ward as a feature from the Stellar Photoplay Co. Forsberg, the same Forsberg, has been cast for his old role but in the picture has more work to do. The story of Jack and his love affair Is an old one. On a St. John's river stramboat are John Diamond, a big handsoino, goodhearted gambler, and his side kick, Denver Dan, a veteran of the paste- boards, who are looking for some loose change. Annie Dennlson and her aunt Cordelia, and a JEANETTE DUPREE :!?,"h?w sweetheart of Annie's, called Wlllard Ora- hadb, are alao there. A couple of card aharks trim Wlllard when Jack and Dan smeU a mouse and stack the deck against the other card wizards. Of course. Jack outwits them and wins all Wlllard's money back. They hand It over to him. Jack's parting shot being to be careful of the next man with whom he crosses cards and money. Wlllard. later, declines to Introduce Jack. Now Jack took a long plunge off the boat and saved a little girl's life and this made a hit with Annie. Annie and Jack meet and the old love bee Is out with his stlngaree and despite all of Wlllard's "under cover" methods they are married. All this time a tramplsh looking in- dividual named Frank Popham, whose wife had previously been lured away from his (Popham's) happy home by this same mus- tached Wlllard, takes to drinking and swears he will have his revenge. Well, sir. Wlllard hangs about and after Jack has sworn off on the gambling, Wlllard manages to have his new boss oust Jack from what looked like the flrat clean Job he ever had . Jack starts west, misses his train and returns unexpected- ly and finds Wlllard honeying about Mrs. Jack's face. Jack saya it's all off between him and his wife. No one will admire Jack at this Juncture for it will be recalled that Jack, after telling Annie the story of his life about winning at cards and making money with a racehorse styled Jack O'Damonds, An- ne said she'd stick through thick and thin. But Jackie was too peeved and he went west, where all the men of the east go if they don't take to drink afer a run-in with their wives. Jack becomes rich and would you believe It, Annie and her daughter hit that very same place, Annie getting a Job teaching school. Well. Annie has a deuce of a time. An ugly looking Mexican tries to hug and kiss little Annie, bat Jack happens along and drives the Mexican off. only to have the dark-skinned man turn around and wire Wlllard that Mrs. Annie Diamond Is at that place. The Mexican had read in a paper that a reward was offered for Mrs. Annie's ^hereabouta. It's the first tough-looking Mexican who would Just aa soon knife Jack as look at him that could read faster than a picture audience. In a long run, Frank Popham uses a shotgun and kills Wll- lard as he and Jack are about to engafe In a revolver duel and the Mez has had his pitch- ing arm dlaabled by a fly shot by Denver Dan, who saw the Mex about to Jab a knife into Jack's offside. Mrs' Annie and Jack and the little Leonle are reunited and all ends well. Something ought to end well In six reels. Four would have been enough for the story. There's entirely too much repetition of scenee, some entirely useless and only take up space. The photography is good in some spots aid bad in others. The best work waa done on the exteriors, although those showing the cattle are so dim one isn't sure that Jack and Dan are right in there driving them for keeps.- In one scene long-horned steers are shown while another has a different brand of cattle. Ther are shown to prove to the audience that there were real cattle In Jack'a possessioB. The picture slipped a few points in carrying out the lapse of years. Several of the players appeared to tack on wigs and lines to ex- press the advance of years, but there were a few who looked younger more than anything else. Jack wore a loose end black tie with a knot In the centre. In the picture that tie lasted him fifteen years. None of the char- acters paid much attention to dress aside from carrying out the Impression they finally landed from that boat, were in Florida and later were roughing It on the cow lands. A "thril- ler" which should have never gone beyond three or four reels at the utmost. "For- given" will absorb a lot of interest by the meller lovers once they are in, but the picture will not establish any box office records. Mark. Willie Hoppe Feature Picture. Willie Hoppe, the billiard champion, has been taken in tow by the Univer- sal, and is to be featured in a movie "special." A scenario is to be writ- ten by Captain Leslie T. Peacocke. CORRESPONDENCE Uelm Otbwwif —ted, At report! are for the cnrreat wetk. ''•"" fwv!;S?""« CHICAGO TABIETT'S CHICAGO OFFICKt MAJESTIC THEATRE BUILDINO Chicago, June 24. Charles Beehler, formerly of Beeh- ler Brothers, booking agents, died at the home of his parents, 5012 Michigan avenue, Monday night, after a long illness. The cause of his demise was tuberculosis, from which he has been suffering for two years. He came back from Tucson about a week ago, after giving up what he felt to be a losing battle with the disease. De- ceased was 31 years of age and is sur- vived by his father and mother, his grandmother and two brothers, David and Louis. The funeral was held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock from the house. The pallbearers were Frank Rivers, J. C. Matthews, Sam Kahl, Ed. Mendelstein and Sylvan Kohn. Inter- ment was in the Free Sons cemetery, Waldheim. Charles Beehler was born March 20, 1883, in Manchester, la. He was Chi- cago representative of the Orpheum Circuit for six years, and, before that, secretary to Henry W. Savage. He went into business with his brother, David, in 1911. Deceased was a force- ful character, vigorous and had a great many friends. He will be missed much in Chicago, although away from active participation in events for the past year or so. Boyle Woolfolk has gone to Muskegon for a summer vacation. Dick Arnold, formerly of Taylor, Arnold and Taylor, has returned from abroad. Milton Kusel has been made Chicago sales manager for the Celebrated Players' Film Co. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Aldls will give three plays in their private theatre at Lake Forest. June 2i>. David Fischer. Chicago, has written a play called "The Master Violin," which will be put out this fall. Among the now players engaged for "The Elopers" at the Comedy are Clara Palmer and Silvia De Frankle. Mike Morris has taken his monkey cabaret from Riverview on account of lack of business during the cold spell. Vivian Martin, late of "The Call of Youth." has been engaged for a role in Lew Fields' "The High Cost of Loving." Mrs. Ralph Modjeska, wife of the son of the great Modjeska, is asking for a divorce. In- compatability appears to be the cause. Chapine, the Fifl in 'The Whirl of the World," made a distinct hit in the role when she entered tbe piece last Sunday night "By Right of Law,"^ suffragist play by Josephine Turck Baker, was offered Saturday night at the Princess theatre with Mrs. Baker In the chief role. Business In local theatres has been good CONEY "In the absence of novelty In Goney*8 summer parks, the crowds are tumbling Into the cabarets. PRRRY'8 BOWERY. "The Moulin Roo^ of Coney." New PreeeoMnB "The Deacers Pnmmoant." Wallaee nnd HntHeM. World's Orentet ffeea eheater, BlUy thnffcey. The Oeld Metel Melodleta. BroMlway "nrlo. Hmmimr, Um *nd ■aalth. Also Mnlsie I/BeCmln«e, Jeul Vernon, Charlc« BflUer nnd others, inolndlns Ban Jo Wallace and his orchestm. STVBKNBORD'8 SURF AVE. "At«rn«ttn« Crowds." Tbe Bine RIbben MelodlsU: Agnes Shirley, Billy Allman. Sopmno. Lend. Anita Bynn, e«or(« Penin, Contmlto. BnHtone. Marrmy Mi^^, Bflnnle HoiTnian, Open te Jkmg. Boprnae. Jack Onlvln. PlanHt. In n C-ontlnooDS Pot Ponrrl of all the Rare Hone HIU of All the World's Comlo nnd Sentimental Singers. MORGAN'S BOWERT. "Coney's Fact Cabaret!" The Big Ifovally, The FeoUsh Mtastrels. Introdnelng Tom Fraoklln Tabby Ball Lawreaoe, Harry Bfelleadry. Neetor, Broooe Bama, Jo Je mm and Others, laehidlng the Faoseas Morgan Braae and String Oreheatra Solo and Groap Speelaltles By Entire Company. '»— VARIETY June 12, 1914. WHITING'S (SURF AYR.) and "BrerytUag here gees over with a bang!" **!>• WhiU Faee Bert WiUlams," Lee Cepelaad. The Prlie Olae^->Fnuer, Moraa aad Baaee. Re fOver Teoe Marvel—Wm. Sehstfer. e BUea CeaMdlsBaa—Edith I^ Meade. The tlar Mmg ^laBls»--Lew Polleek. Aad Others, Ffussallng All the Lateal Pepnlar Seag Hlte aad Ensemble Nnmbers from Leading Breadway Prodnetli