The New York Clipper (February 1917)

34 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 14, 1917 FEATURE FILM REPORTS "THE SCARLET CRYSTAL" Bed Feather: Five Heels. Released Feb. 5 by Universal. Cast. PrisciUa Betty Bchade Vincent Morgan Herbert Ratolinson Marie Delyt Dorothy Davenport Mayfteld Durant Nicholas Donaetc Peggy hovel Marie Hazleton Helen Forbes Gertrude Alter Billy Tan Duyn Dick Ryan Story—Drama. Written for the screen by J. Grubb Alexander. Directed by Charles Swickard. Action—Uninteresting. Continuity—Broken. Suspense—Lacking. Detail—Fair. Atmosphere—Will pass. Photography—Poor. Remarks. For the last word in conventionality "The Scarlet Crystal" carries off the honors. A country girl goes to a big city, falls in love with a rich clubman, marries, travels and still loves, but the clubman grows tired of her and shuffles down the primrose path of dalliance. In a crystal brought home from Egypt he sees the goal for which he is making and turns to his wife for forgiveness. It would take the most finished screen actors to raise this story to an entertaining level and its educational value even then would be nil. The three essentials of plot, suspense, sur- prise and satisfaction, have been over- looked and some big settings have been made to cover up the story, but the pro- duction remains badly pretentious. Box Office Value. One day. Smaller houses. "JIM BLUDSO" Fine Arts. Five Seels. Released Feb. 4 by Triangle. Cast. Jim Bludso ...Wilfred Lucas Gabrielle Olga Grey Breeches Georgia Stone Tom Taggart. Charle* Lee Kate Winifred Westover Ben ilerrilt Sam De Grasse Banty Tim James O'Bhea Joe Bowers Monte Blue Story—Taken from the play which was founded on John Hay's poems "Jim Bludso" and "Little Breeches." Directed by Tod Browning and Wilfred Lucas. Action—Forceful. Continuity—Good. Suspense—Strong. Detail—Correct. Atmosphere—Excellent. Photography—0. K. R em a rk* . This film is an excellent example of how more thrilling an episode will be on the screen than it is in the form of a book or the spoken drama. There were more sen- sational events in Jim Bludso's life than are usually found in the combined lives of ten men, and those events were of the thrillingly interesting kind. It is, there- fore, little wonder that this picture holds you with gripping force. Wilfred Lucas makes a manly Jim Bludso. He acts 'with keen discernment and never once oversteps the bounds of naturalness. Little Georgie Stone as Breeches shares first honors. James CShea, Olga Grey, Winifred Westover and Sam De Grasse give capital support. Box Office Value. Suitable for any house and sure to hold the audience. Advertise John Hay's name in connection with film and pictorials of the burning of the "Prairie Belle," the rescue from it and the flooded town of Gilgal. "HER GOOD NAME" Van Dyke Film Corp. Five Reels. Released by Art Dramas, Inc. Cast. Nan Floyd Jean Sothern Dan Floyd William H. Turner Vincent Schuyler Earl Metcalfe Ethel Schuyler Ethel Tally Bert Tyler Arthur Housman Agnes Gurnee Barbara Castleton Mrs. Raines Mrs. Parker Bpaulding Story—Comedy drama by Horace Hazel- tine. Geo. Terwilliger, director. Action—Convincing. Continuity—Even and coherent. Suspense—Sufficient to hold interest. Detail—Adequate. Atmosphere—Very good. The plot is superficial and at no time is a gripping tenseness displayed, but the story unfolds itself with just sufficient suspense to make an entertaining picture. There is no doubt that Jean Sotbem is the whole picture. As the innocent little country girl, her portrayal is delightful and natural. The little unconscious coquetries make you love the character and this is played up thoroughout the production. The story is not impressive, but Jean Sothern is. The others in the cast fulfilled what was expected of them. Box Office Value. One day. Smaller houses. Jean Sothern and not story featured. THE PRINCESS OF PATCHES" Selig. Five Seels. Released Jan. 22 by K. E. 8. E. The cast includes Vivian Reed, Charles Le Moyne, Frank Wee'l, R. H. Kelly, Violet De Biecari, Burke Wilbur, Hildor Hoberg, Cora Lambert and Boy Souther* land. Story—Melodrama. Adapted by Gilson Willets from Mark Swan's Melodrama. Directed by Al Green. Action—Quick. Continuity—Even. Suspense—Capitally sustained Detail—Nothing lacking. Atmosphere—Especially good. Photography—Excellent. Remarks. It is seldom indeed that credit for a firm is so equally distributed as it is in the screening of "The Princess of Patches." Mr. Willets furnished an excellent scen- ario. Mr. Green's direction would win him a name in the business if he had never done anything of the kind before, and Vivian Heed makes the most delightfully charming little heroine possible. She is Patches to life and her pleasing personal- ity seems to lend additional interest. The individual work of each of the other players is excellent. They make each character stand out well defined, and col- lectively they fit naturally in picture. This excellent work of adopter, director and players has the effect of sustaining the interest through the entire five reels, which are none too many for the develop- ment and carrying out of the story. Box Office Value. This picture should give the best results as it is calculated to please any audience. B'KLYN WOULD REFORM MOVIES A movement has been started in Brook- lyn to reform the movies through the formation of a society composed of rep- resentatives of various uplift associations whose chief aim in life is to keep the City of Churches free from baneful in- fluences. Mrs. Clarence Waterman, who played "extra" parts at the Vitagraph studios until recently, is one of the lead- ers of the plan to purify the films. "SKINNER'S DRESS SUIT". Essanay. Five Seels. Released Feb. 5 by K. E. B. E. Story—Comedy. Adopted for the screen from Henry Irving Dodge's story. Directed by Harry Beaumont. Bryant Washburn is featured. Action—Convincing. Continuity—Thoroughly consistent. Suspense—Well sustained. Detail—Good. Atmosphere—In keeping with story. Photography—Excellent. Remarks. Even the most captious critic would find difficulty in picking flaws in "Skinner's Dress Suit" as screened by Essanay. It starts with a capital story, which has been made into an excellent scenario. This has been well directed and well acted and the result is one of the best comedy pictures ever filmed. Besides its other good points it possesses suspense, comedy suspense, of course, bnt aa this quality is infrequently seen in a comedy film, this one is rather unusual. The story deals with Mr. and Mrs. Skin- ner, a newly married young couple. He has been refused a "raise" by the head of the firm and makes his wife believe ha re- ceived it. They then start on a career of social dissipation. He buys his first dress suit and she a new dress. He becomes a social lion and in spite of the fact that his bank account is running low because of the raise which he gives w4fey each week, they keep up appearances. His firm sus- pects him and. sends him on a business trip. Ftia wife accompanies him and be turns it into a social trip thereby winning back a former customer of the firm. And upon his return, his accounts having been O. EL, he is made a one-third partner In the iirmwniiiiiwmimmiiimnBuiMi^iiiiiflimmf!^ MARY PICKFORD PRODUCTIONS FOR THE EXHIBITOR WHO —Wants New Patrons .. —Wants Capacity Matinees —Wants Turn-away Nights —Wants to Build Up Business COMING "A POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL" From the play by Eleanor Gates Directed by Maurice Toomeur RELEASED MARCH 5TH IARTCRAFT PICTURES CORPORATION! 72t SEVENTH AVENUE—NEW YORK I MR. BENJAMIN FRIEDMAN WILL BE HONORED BY YOUR PRESENCE AT A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OP "A MORMON MAID" By PAUL WEST A POWERFUL PHOTODRAMA OP EARLY MORMON DAYS Presenting MAE MURRAY SUPPORTED BY HOBART BOSWORTH at the STRAND THEATRE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY FOURTEENTH, AT TEN A. M. CONTROLLED BY FRIEDMAN ENTERPRISES, Incorporated HILLER & WILK, Selling Agents SUITE 924, LONGACRE BUILDING, FORTY-SECOND STREET AND BROADWAY, NEW YORK MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION CORDIALLY INVITED WILLIAM A. BRADY In association with WORLD PICTURES Presents ROBERT WARWICK AND JUNE ELVIDGE «A GIRL'S FOLLY n Directed by Maurice Toaroem* Produced by Paragon Films, Inc.