The New York Clipper (March 1919)

34 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER March 19, 1919 "ALIAS MIKE MORAN" Fir. I Larry Young Wallace Reid Blaine Debanx Ann Little Mike Moran Emory Johnson Peter Young.. ©»«*,, Opts Jfo Young ■ .Bdytke O k a pm e n Mr. Vandecar Winter HaU Wm fmmmr j«a» n mmm Jim Day ;.......Omr OUver story-—Dramatic. Written by Frederick Oron. Birtiett, adapted by Win -IL Blteber, di- rected by James Oraze, featuring Wallace Held. In "Allot Hike Koran," the Famous Play- ers have produced a film that is sore to go over the top. The plot U excellently worked -up and the technical work la line. Larry Young is a young man working in a department store and, in spite of a small •alary, dresses and acts like a millionaire. While walking through a park he Is stopped, with a lot of other men. for his registration card. He produces it and. later, gets into conversation with a rough-looking character whose name is Mike Moras, an ex-convict. The conversation shows that Moran has tried to enlist bat was tamed down because he bad "done time." Larry, on the other hand, does not want to fight and fears the draft, although his father is a veteran of the Civil War. They part and Larry walks on. In front of a wealthy mansion he catches the runaway dog of Elaine Debaux. who ia • topping with the Vandecars, millionaire : owner- of shipyards. They atari a conversa- tion and meet again, when Larry takes her oat to dinner. On the way home from the restaurant they are held ur> by a gang of thugs, but are saved by one of them, who turns oat to be Mike Moron. Larry takes the girl home and then turns - back to and Mike Injured. He takes him to his boardinsT house and patches him np. The next day Larry finds he is drafted and pays Mike to go in his place, as they both look . alike, ana the papers soon carry glowing ac- counts of Larry Young being the first to waive exemption. Mike, as Larry, goes to France, and Larry, after finding that he is in love with Elaine and that she loves him, works in the ship- yards under the name of Mike Moran. The real Mike, however, -dies-bravely in action. and Larry can no longer stand the suspense. So he enlists with the Canadians, leaves for France and la wounded while rescuing an officer. In the meantime, Elaine, broken-hearted at the news of Larry's death, leaves for France to care for orphans. She bean of a soldier by tfte name of Moran" who bad bis right arm cut - off and, thinking; lie is the thug who saved her and Larry, goes to the hospital and there meets Larry, who confesses all. and they leave for home to be married. He also confesses the deception to his father, who forgives him. The army officials also wink at the'breaking of the rules, and the film ends with a general saying; "How in hen can yon arrest a man who left his arm In Flanders." " Box Office Value One day. "NEVER SAY QUIT* Fox. Five Reels. Cast- -. - - : Reginald Jones...............George Waleh Helen Lattimore Florence Dicoa. ■Profeeeor Lattimore .Henry Holland Captain of Ship William Frederic Mate of Ship Frank Jacobs Reginald's Uncls Joe Smiley .Story—Comedy. Written snd scenarioixed by Raymond Schrock, directed by Edward Dillon, featuring George Walsh. In seeing this production, one will be wondering; if he Is really looking; at a motion picture or a lot of attempts at humor by some one who desires to be a future Hark Twain. Of the five reels, there seems to be more film footage used in captions that are supposed to be humorous than in portraying action. Some of them are witty, bat too mach of a good thing always soars oa the And that Is the consumer's stomach. fault of this film. Reginald Jonea is a young man who has been pursued by a Jinx all his life, and some- times it was ahead of him. Finally, good luck seems to he in sight when his aunt dies and leaves him $1,000,000 with the proviso that he attend her fan era I. His uncle, with whom he lives, gives him a roll of money for expenses, of which he Immediately gets "trimmed" by a gang of blackmailers. His uncle, thoroughly disgusted, then sends him oat to make bis own Irving'. Reginald goes down to the docks and secures a Job as deck hand on a ship that ia supposed to hunt -for treasure. On it are a millionaire and his daughter and between the girl and Reginald there springs up a close friendship. The captain and mate then, show how they hunt treasure by forcing Che millionaire to give them $100,000. and hare It delivered to their representative, by wireless. Reginald has overheard the plot and. waylaying- the wireless operator, forces him to send an vs. o. a." Helen, the daughter, has been placed In a hatchway by the thieves, and Reginald hunts for her. He finds her In time to save her from the mate, beats htm np and comes on deck lust as the officers of a battleship that tare answered the 8. O. S. come on board and take charge of the ship. One day. FEATURE FILM REPORTS "THE WINNING GIRL" "TOTON" Triangle. Six Baals. Cast Yvonne } t # -' • .Oliver Thomas Talon i Pierre Frond* Mac Donald Lane .........:..Harmon Kerry Coretc .Jack Pcmn Story —Dramatic. Written by Catherine Can; directed by Frank Borsog; stars Olive Thomas; features Norman Kerry. In "Toton." Olive Thomas, who Plays the roles of Yvonne and then, later, Toton. is seen at her best. The story is an interesting one, bat much better in the first than the second part, where, in a number of places, it descends to the commonplace. Had the good work of the first part been continued, the picture would have been a great one. As it is, it is still a good film, bat It makes one regret that the author and players did not take advantage of all of the opportuni- ties presented. Yvonne, a beautiful girl from the South of France, meets David Lane in the Latin quarter of Paris. She agrees to pose for him. They fall In love and are secretly mar- ried. Following a happy honeymoon. Lone Is called back to his native country, the United States, because of the illness of his mother. Lane's father is opposed to the marriage and, taking; advantage of the oppor- tunity, haa his Paris lawyers annul it. ■ Despairing of Lane's return, and told by the older man's lawyers that he will not come back because be no longer loves her, Tvonne is heart-broken and, shortly after the birth of her child, dies.. Pierre, an Apache *who loved her. takes cure of Toton, the child. He rears her and teaches her to become the most skilled pick-pocket In Paris, operating most of the time as a boy. Carew, Lane's adpoted son, for Lane has never married again, comes to Paris and -To- ton becomes Ms guide. Lane then comes to Paris and completes a painting of the dead Yvonne. Pierre then becomes involved in an attempt to rob' the studio. He recognizes Lane while doing so and reveals to him the identity of Toton. He also learns of-Lane's Innocence of having deserted .Yvonne. - As a shell strikes a but In which Pierre and Toton are hidden, tor the war haa broken oat, Pierre ia mor- tally wounded and tells Toton-.the truth of her parentage. She In the course of time, becomes Carew'g wife.. - The concluding scene shows them clasped in each other's arms, Toton as a Red-Cross Nurse and Carew as an officer In the Anerl: can army. Box Office Vain* One day. ' , •'■'V- ',-■■■ "THE END OF THE GAME" Hampton. Five*. Racls. -. .' CM Burke Alllster J. Warren Kerrigan Mary Miller Lois Wilton Frank Miller... Alfred Whitman Dan Middleton Jack. Richardson Four-Ace Baker George Field Wild Bill Simpson ^Walter Perm Starr —Dramatic Written by George El- wood Janis. Directed by Jesse D. Hamp- ton. Features J. Warren Kerrigan. Remarks "The End of the Game" is a Western of tbe conventional type. It Is fairly well acted and filmed but has nothing novel in it. J. Warren Kerrigan and Dan Middleton engage in a very Interesting straggle in the end and, finally, the latter is tossed off a high cliff. Tbe way in which tbe dummy was thrown off tbe precipice did not look very natural. There are a few other places where improve- ment could also be worked- At any rate, it Is a fair picture and should secure bookings in the smaller houses. In the gold rush of IMP Burke A Ulster, of Virginia, goes West. Lured by chance, be becomes a sort of semi-professional gambler and sun-man. Mary MDIer and her brother, both from the East, arrive in Brazos, a bad town. Alllster spoils a plan of Mlddleton's to get the girl into his power by demanding an excessive price for lodging, and thereby wins her trust. Miller then loses all his money when he plunges Into the life of Brazos. Alllster wins It back, and, in order not to offend Miner, he screes with Faro Ed to allow Miller - to win it back himself. Faro Ed later shoots Miller snd Alllster. who sees the shooting, promptly bores Ed. Middleton, who controls everything in Brazos, attempts to have Allls- ter hung, but Is unsuccessful. Alllster. Mary and Wild Bill, facetiously called so because of bis timidity, escape together from Brazos and go to the neighboring town of Hard T*an. where Alllster and Mary fall in love. Middleton. by skilfal plotting-, manages to get Vary Into his power and Alllster in Jail in Brazos. The latter escapes, overtakes Middleton, and the two engage in a fight on the edge of a precipice. Alllster gets the best of it. bat Middleton suddenly- draws the former's gun and. as be Is pushing Mm to- wards the edge. Wild Bill, who has come to the rescue, hurls a rock at the- Brazos bad man and -righteousness reigns. There Is the usual happy ending. But Ofte. VJat One day. - . i ■.; "THE CARTER CASE" Oliver—Jl Basis Cast Craig Kennedy Herbert BavUnson Anita Carter Margaret Marsh Cleo Clark . Ethel Gray Terry Ht Atbortsc tiCftcr Mason ..Coit Story—Mysterj- aerial in fifteen episodes. Written by Arthur B. Beeve and John W. Greene. Directed by E. Douglas Blnghan. Mechanical effects made by F. Le Boy Baker. Features Herbert B&wlinson and Margaret Marsh. "The Carter Case" is tbe usual serial; a mystery story that could be dealt with in five reels prolonged Into fifteen episodes, totaling thirty-one reels. Scientifically, the story is Impossible. As far as the plot is concerned, it Is so complicated that only a professor of mathematics could be expected to follow it. There are a number of plots, counterplots, duels, murders, love affairs, etc, in It, all put together into a grand Hodge-podge of mysteri- ous foolishness. Like some other serials. It will probably draw well In the five cent houses. Shelby Carter, owner of a big chemical works, is threatened by some mysterious avenging hand. On the eve of bis daughter's birthday, he is killed by a mysterious "Avion," a masked figure who lurks In a den and goes oat upon errands of destruction in an aero- plane that makes no noise. The death, ac- cording to Avion, was to restore to the "right- ful owner" Carter's fortune. The latter, it Is explained, has inherited It from his wife, who had previously got it from her first betrothed, murdered on the eve of bis wedding. Anita, who has enlisted the services of Craig Kennedy, tbe scientific detective, comes back to find her father dead, murdered, as Kennedy later finds oat, by a "phosgene" bullet which gives off asphyxiating fames.'Les- ter Mason, engaged to Anita, a distant rela- tive of Sbelby Carter, and several others, connected with the Carter household, all seem to be connected with a plot to kill Anita. "Avion," who makes attack upon attack upon Anita and the house, evidently bent upon wanton destruction rather than gain, is really Cleo Clark. But this is not cleared until tbe very end. She has learned to love Craig Kennedy, who loves A" ifn Cleo. seeing this, makes attempt after' at- tempt to kill Anita In order that her rival to Kennedy's affections may be put out of tbe way. •■■.-- Kennedy's shrewdest efforts are all eluded by Cleo.. lie finds her den and dying machine, bidden in the dunes, but she escapes him. Tbe secret of the deceased Shelby Carter's room of riddles, a bidden room in which the latter was wont to hide, are finally solved. Ken- nedy completely unravels the mystery, Shelby Carter's past, the murder of Carter's wife's first husband, killed on tbe eve of bis wedding after being successful in a duel. Cleo Clark fights bitterly to_pqt Anita out of the way, but, in the end, Kennedy finds her to be the mysterious ''Avion." She is conquered and Kennedy and Anita Carter's troubles are over as far as the mysterious attacker Is con- cerned. For anyone who has nothing else to do It is art Interesting puzzle, fed In weekly Instal- ments. All that one has to do to enjoy It is to forget that he has a brain. Box Office Value In small houses only full run. •«< «» BREEZY JIM' Triangle. Five Rests Ca« "Breezy" Jim. ,Crane Wilbur Patricia Wenthworth........Juanita Hansen (Other characters' name* not announced) Story i Dramatic. Written by Francis Don- bar. Directed by Lorimer Johnson. Pho- tographed by Barney McGlll. Remarks "Breezy" Jim is the conventional story of the rich girl who la bothered by an undesir- able suitor with a title and goes out West where she finds a real man. The conception of the West Is rather peculiar and tbe details are very poorly worked out. The film does not appear likely to hold its own except In the small houses, having something about it that makes it seem unreal. Patricia, goes West In search of a real man. - Jim, a mysterious stranger, who Is In reality from the secret Service, meets her on the stage and protects her from the Intoxicated driver. Jim is accompanied by an old man whom he has befriended and whom he calls Old Timer. In Cayenne Jim protects Patricia from an uncouth evangelist. The latter almost strangles Old Timer, who has gone on a tramp through the country. The preacher then digs np a pall of gold hidden away, Jim, who baa followed, rescues tbe old man, but tbe evangelist fixes tbe guilt upon Jim. Patricia aavea him from a lynching and Jim is put in JaB. The evangelist then attempts to abduct Patricia- Jim makes Ida escape, saves her, and secures the gold, which turns out to be the property of the Old Timer. Tbe evangelist is then shaved, and, when his mustache and beard have been removed, he turns out to be an escaped convict. All ends happily. -- Box Office Vahss One day. Cast Jemmy MUUgan Shirley Mason Major MUligan Theodore Roberts Jack MiUlgan. Harold GooduHn Percy MiUlgan Lincoln Bteadman Vivian MKUgan. ............. ..Clara Morton Gwendolyn Milligan Jeanne OalAoun It seems that, of late, a picture Is Impos- sible of production. without. Inserting a Ger- ms n Spy Into the scenario and making tbe hero an army officer. And "Tbe Winning Girl" is no exception. Even the old reliable attic is worked In. In fact, tbe whole plot ia older than most of the objects placed in the attic. Due to the cast, however, the work is well done and will please. Major Milligan is an easy going man who depends entirely upon his wife's advice to suc- ceed. He is disappointed by the birth of a girl instead of • boy. A year later bis wife does present him with a boy and dies. A few years afterward be marries a widow with three children. Tbe next scene takes place after the chil- dren are about eighteen years old and, due to the loss of bis flrBt wife's guiding band, the major faces being a pauper. Here bis first daughter. Jemmy, steps In and takes a hand. She saves tbe family from financial ruin by Butting herself and tee other children to Work l a factory making wings for aeroplanes. Jemmy's sweetheart is an aviator' whose mother owns the factory. Up to this point bis mother had objected to Jemmy because of her father's shiftlessness. She now begins to admire her and the girl wins her entire ap- proval by capturing a German spy in tbe act of doing damage to tbe material for tbe wings of tbe aeroplanes. Jemmy's sweetheart then returns from the war with his leg bandaged up and his mother sends for Jemmy. By this time tbe Major, himself, bad started working, which no longer made It necessary for tbe children to do ao. The picture ends In a love scene between Jemmy and her wounded sweetheart. "THE LITTLE ROWDY" Triangle—Five Reals This picture Is one in which Hazel Daly does some good work ss a comedienne. The story Is novel, however,' in only one way— tbat tbe heroine eventually marries her father's choice, seeing her parent s wisdom. There is nothing of tbe irate father ordering his daughter to marry a certain man and threaten- ing to disinherit her, etc. But that is all that can be said for it. The Bupportlng cast is not np to standard, -while neither of the two men between whom the choice of the heroine lays Is very likely to make a hit with the audience- Betty Hall, a mischief maker at a girl's school, breaks up the principal's love affairs and is expelled. When she arrives home' her father plans to have her marry Franklyn Winters. Bnt Betty decides to choose her own husband. When Franklyn proposes to her she ridicules him and flatly refuses. While out horseback riding Betty fails and is saved by Boy Harper, "Tbe literary mush magnate," a novelist who writes romantic stories. Franklyn, however, construes things incor- rectly when ■ he sees Betty in Roy's house, where the latter has taken her and rushes In. The two men engage in a lively tussle. Betty is very much angered and tells Franklyn that she detests him. -When Harper attempts to make love to her, however, her Interest changes to disgust and she suddenly realizes that Franklyn is the nearest man to her ideal that she haa ever met. The hitter bas Just prepared to go to an .officer's training camp, being discouraged, when Betty, after a'mad race in an automo- bile, Jumps on tbe train Just as it is pulling out with Franklyn on It. Betty has the train stopped by pulling the emergency cord, and the lovers get off. They are clasped In each other's arms as the picture ends. "CHILDREN OF BANISH- MENT" Select—Five Reels Remarks "Children of Banishment" Is a very poor . picture, the only redeeming features being the photography, which Is good, and one scene which shows Bream saving Mackenzie from drowning in tbe rapids. The story lacks continuity, the succeeding scenes being a series -of sketches, many of which are irrelevant and the omission of which would tend to give the picture more connectedness. The reason for the title is also not clear. Tbe central figure la Dick Bream, a rough logger who falls In love with Elolse, wife of Allan Mackenzie. Bream and Mackenzie se- cure a tract of lumber land and. when their success comes, Bream, because be loves an- other man's wife, leaves. Mackenzie goes after him and, while trying to persuade nim to return, tumbles into the rapids. Bream goes to bis rescue and saves him, but the task proves too great, as he la taken in with pneumonia and dies. If the picture bad been built solely upon this subject (Bream's love and sacrifice, a reasonably good picture would doubtless have resulted..- • Effective acting was Impossible because of the handicap placed on them by the author in his character drawing.