The New York Clipper (April 1916)

36 THE NEW YORJC CLIPPER April 1 PICTURE PLAY REPORTS. "THE H1V0C" PRODUCED BY ESSASAY. FIVE REELS. Released March 27. By V. L. 8. E. STORY—Adaptation of H. S. Sheldon's play of same name. SCENARIO—Technically floe. DIRECTION—Good.. ACTION—Always Interesting. SITUATIONS—Intensely dramatic and; beautifully acted. ATMOSPHERE—Correct. CONTINUITY—Evun. SUSPENSE—Finely maintained throughout. DETAIL—Great. COSTUMES—Bight. ACTING—Lewis Stone, Bryant Warfhtmrn and Gladys Hanson offer marrcloualy accurate In- terpretations of three most difficult roles. PHOTOGKAPHY—Fine. LIGHTING—Excellent. I'XTBBIOKS—Convincing. INTERIORS—Good. BOX OFFICE VALUE—Should draw well In the better houses. REMARKS. ' "The Havoc/* as a stage drama, was presented on, Broadway for a season, and on tour for an additional two seasons oy Henry Miller, with un- qualified success. m, visualized form this well constructed sex drama proves particularly Interesting, not only . through the appeaj of Its excellent story, but also In the manner the tale Is unfolded by an unao- Vfoacnable cast of players. The fact that three principal* practically hold the attention of the spectator for five reels is unusual In Itself. "The Havoc," on the 'whole,, can be classified a* as feature film of the very best grade. Rlk. are examples of first class showmanship and skill tn direction. Lenore Ulrlch, as Paula, proved a revelation In, screen acting. This 'blue-eyed young lady of the graceful carriage and expressive face played a try- ing role,, which called for every conflicting emo- tion possible for a human to exhibit and that she scored a distinct triumph goes without saying. If there be others who -can act the role of the pas- sionate big hearted love-craving Spanish girl with- out sugoeutlon, let them step forth. For therein lies the secret of Lenore Ulrlch's art. That Howard Davtes, as Facheco, Is an actor of merit cannot be controverted, and his worth throughout was of the highest order. In the "close ups" every fleeting expression of h's face was depicted in a manner which left no doubt as to his qualifications. Forrest Stanley, as Bruce McLean. pHyed con- vincingly as did velma Lefler as Claire. The re- mainder of the cast was very good, and the- "types" -were excellent. All In all a gripping screen play that will hold the Interest of anyone. Jem. "THE BLINDNESS OF LOVE. »» REMARKS. While this feature lacks several essentials in story anfl production, it is-nevertheless Interesting. The various roles are excellently played and the character sketches true to type. Robert Warwick, as the chap -who sacrtflcca so much for his friend, plays -with his usual sin- cerity, and Vernon Steele, as the vacillating min- ister offers a fine conception of a rather duBcuit role Anna I. Nlllsoo Christine Mayo and Jessie Lewis otp all happily cast "The Supreme Sacrifice" is never great, and has more than one or two techni- cal faults, but on the -whole should please the overage audience. Rik. PRODUCED BT ROLPE. FITS! REELS. Meleaied March a. By Metro. SBQRY—A story of domestic life and filial devo- tion, carrying a genuine appeal. 8CBKABIO—Good. DIBBCTION—Excellent. ACTION—Interesting. SITUATIONS—Convincing. % ATMOSPHERE—Proper. CONTINUITY—Even. SUSPENSE}—Nicely maintained. QETAIL—Correct. COSTUMES—Right. ACTING—A fine cast enhances the appeal of tbs story. PHOTOGRAPHY—Good. IilGHTING Good. EXTERIORS—Excellent. INTERIORS—Well photographed. BOX OFFICE VALUB-JuBui Steger is known throogfaont the country through his numerous vaudeville tours. The feature should draw In almost any class of bouse. REMARKS. The Blindness of Love" is a pretty little story of fatherly devotion, nicer/ directed, competent y ccted and properly mounted aa regards scenic acces- arlea, etc Geo. Le Guerre scores aa th» head- rong, spoiled son of the rich man, and Graca Valentine is excellent as the boy's sweetheart. Julius Steger offers a particularly pleasing por- trayal of the self-sacrlflclng parents -whose confi- dence In his boy Is boundless. The picture play Is one that shouM appeal to all classes of movls patrons. Kit. -THE HEART OF PAULA." PRODUCED BT PALLAS PICTURES. KIVH REELS. Released Apra S. Paramount. erTORY—.Melodrama. Loeale. Mexico. SCENARIO—Good. DIRECTION—Masterful. ACTION—Interesting. SITUATIONS—Great. CONTINUITY—Even. SUSPENSE—Gripping. PHOTOGRAPHY—Very good. LI GHT ING—.l"ar excellence. COSTUMES—Correct. DETAIL—Almost perfect. EXTERIORS—Beautiful and natural. INTERIORS—Very good. BOX OFFICE VALUE—ShouM stand 'em up and repeat very well. REMARKS. At the Initial showing of the feature two differ- ent endings were shown. One with a happy sequel and the other rather dismal. It has been decided to use the happy finale, which in our opinion w&9 a correct decision. While the unhappy flnl?h con- tained all the elements of dramatic art. It would nave left a few questions unanswered, and been a trifle Inconsistent. The "happy" finale was the most logical. Inasmuch as it proves the hero of the story m. manly chap, whereas the "unhappy" ending leaves the impression that he has "missed Are." For dramatic results the gruesome finish was perfect, but for enfertaffimeat the chosen finale will prove more acceptable. As a photoplay it Is In the very first rank of --auctions, and a few trifling mistakes in tech- . may be excused under the cloakr. of "stage story Is carried out with a gripping inten- .llded materially by every trick of photoplay . and the splendid acting of the cast. The camp fire scene Is deserving of special mention, and a few other scenes In which, light effects are used. "THE STRUGGLE. tt i «A LEAP YEAR WOOING/' PRODUCED BV KALBBf. ONE HK1!L. Released March Z. Gen. Film Program. STORY—Very' tiresome farce. - •■ 8CENABIO—Fair. DIRECT-ION—Passable. ACTION—Soggy. . SITUATIONS—Particularly unfunny. ATMOSPHERE—O. K. CONTINUITY—Lacking. SUSPENSE—Lacking. DETAIL—Fair. COSTUMES—O. K. . ACTING—Ordinary. PHOTOGRAPHY—Good. LIGHTING—O. K. EXTERIORS—Good. INTERIORS— Studio stuff. BOX ■ OFFICE VALUE—Rose Melville,, of Hopkins" fame, is featured. REMARKS. The Kalem Co. has been making a sorlen of Hopkins" comedies, with Rose Melvillie, originator of the type in the name role. If the -above comedy is a fair sample of the series—good night. Of all the unfunny, tiresome attempts at laugh making, "A Leap Year Wooing" is about the limit. At that. Lubin has turned out some redder comedies In the past, but "A Leap Year Wooing" is a fair contender for cellar championship «omedy? honors. • Rlk. / "Sis "Sis THE BONDMAN/ hi is seen ax ms best as Jason, a g part calling . for virility and int ration. Hrjrry Spinglcr gives a formance. r/'s Sunlocks, a role wh PRODUCED BT WM. FOX FILM. FIVE /BBEU. Released March tt. Ify Fox Film. STORY—Adaptation -of Halt Calne's novel of same name. Melodrama, with -psychological interest. SCENARIO—Good. DIRECTION—Very good. Eilgar Lewis has turned ' out a, corking feature. ACTION—Picture teems with action. SITUATIONS—Several b'/g dramatic situations. All are well played and. contain the "punch." ATMOSPHERE—-Realist Jc CONTINUITY—Even. SUSPENSE—Strong. T DETAIL—Excellent- / COSTUMES—Right. ' ACTING—Fine cast. * PHOTOGRAPHY—C/bod. > L IGHT ING—Excellent. EXTBRIORS—.BeryfiufuL INTERIORS—Str/giDg. BOX OFFICE V.'ii.uE—Should prove a big drosr. / REMARKS. Win. FaTnura, one of tide best portrayers of Ftrong, prlpplr/g roles now before the picture lov- ing public. If/ the featured player. Mr. Fnrnum. Is seen at hie best as Jasojcr. a giant Icelander, a nterHgent Interpre- . an excellent per- .. which fits him like the proverbial glove. There are several flashes showing i.-bwds In action, all particularly well di- rected arid photographed. These ensemble scenes give the/feature au air of Llgness and dlsilnctlon. "The Pnadman" la a fine, entertainment for the screen, and on the whole a notable production. /"•♦THE SUPREME SACRIFICE." PRODUCED BY.' WORXD.FREMO. FIVE . J REELS. Released March 22. ■ By World Film. STORY—Melodran ta. Conventional plot woven about interest lag theme. SCENARIO Goot t DIRECTION—Fal r. ACTION—Interes tine. SITUATIONS—O rdinarily pleasing. ATMOSPHERE:— Underworld atmosphere very fine. CONTINUITY—C fcmid be better. Lacks sequence. SUSPENSE—Fal ft, DETAIL—Good i COSTUMES—Hi; rht. ACTING—Good PHOTOGRAPH? f—Good. LIGHTING—O. K EXTERIORS—i S/eil chosen. INTERIORS—C cmvlnclng. BOX OFFICE ^VALTJE—Robert Warwick's nam* wUl draw. PRODUCED BT WORLD-EaUITARLE. FIVE REELS. Released March 27. By rTorid Film. STORY—Melodrama, with sex interest and rather creepy pathological theme. SCENARIO—Good. . ■ DIRECTION—On the whole the picture shows com- petent dlnjmlou. John luce, director. ACTION—Interesting. ... SITUATIONS—rlmptesslve and convincing. ATMOSPHERE!—Wen suggested. . Especially good U Scenes /showing desert island. , CONTINUITY—Unbroken. SUSPENSE—Well maintained. DETAIL^-Flnle. • COSTUMES—Right ACTING^-GoiKl cast. - — • • \ PHOTOGRAPHY—Partly good and parts not so good. I • ■ ... LIGHTING—Not always good. •EXTERIORS—Very good. INTERIORS—Excellent. BOX OFFICE VALUE—Average drawing card. REMARKS. Frank Sheridan, who Is the starred player, offers a rather interesting character study, but Arthur Ashley's performance Is really the outstanding fea- ture of "The Stmggte." The story unfolded Is told in convincing fashion.- and the picture has che benefit of first class direction and good scenic ac- cessories. The Idea of a man committing suicide because he/thinks himself a leper, however, seems about the limit in suggesting the horrible. These two disagreeable factors will not tend to leave the average spectator in a particularly optimistic frame of mind. Ri*. ■ • . ' . Anna Luther, whose fragile daintiness accounts for the "refined leads.only, played by her when In, New York, for this reason Is a double surprise In her daring work In Keystone pictures. The girl with the Ted-gold hair and distinctive eyebrows, upon com- ing to tbe West coast & year ago, affected an en- tire change In her line of work when she signed with, her: present company, ploying opposite Fred Mace. Sfee seems perfectly at home In Keystone roles. Her last appearance was the Village Vam- pire, in tie picture of that name, being the final proof of her ability as a comedienne. William F. Russell motored from' Santa Barbara to Los Angeles for dinner lost Sunday. "Business, Bill?" asked A friend .upon an Incidental meeting with Mr; Bussell at a beach restaurant. "No, only dinner,' replied the American Film Company's lead, ns he gave a food order that' testified to the ap- petllng quality of a from-Santa Barbara-to-Los Angeles motor trip. Frank Borzage and Anna Little have been ap- pearing in a photoplay entitled "Tbe Awakening," in which Anno, la a dance hall girl who marries a man while he la under the Influence of liquor. In the end it la shown how she really enters his Hfe for good. The play 1» well written and splendidly acted. Frank directed It himself. H. B. Warner is to be starred in a feature photoplay at Incevllle. under the direction of Regi- nald Barker. It is to be a military production, and In it there is a very good port for George Fisher, who nag done such consistently good work at the Ince quarters. His admirers will be glad to see him in a part worthy of his efforts. . RACE SUICIDE THE 6 Part Motion Picture Attraction 6 part Witl ORMI HAWLEY aa. EARLE METCALFE - THE PROOF One week at American Theatre, Seattle, Wash. One week at Majestic Theatre, Portland, Oregon. One week at Cleveland, Ohio. BELU9U STATIC BIOBTI. JOS. V. FARKHAM, 220 V.42d St., New York City