Variety (November 1918)

MOVING PI C T U RES -■.. •l^!'"-.'.*-^ ■**.-' B ^ ft- -ft- HER COUNTRY FIRST. iTanklln Grauc Joba OoHsar Mrs. Grant Ploreoce Oberle laabelle Orant ....Brydlne Zub«r Crals Allison J. Parks-Jones Dr. Baroes L. W. Steers William Lewis Wlllougbby Henry James Farley Lena Lillian Lelgbton Mary Roberts Rtnebart's story wblcb ap- peared In tbe Saturday Evening Post several montbs ago, under tbe same title, bas been converted Into a five-reel feature by Para- mount, witb Vivian Martin starred. Tbe pic- ture version hns been veil done, yet It lacks tbe puncb vrblch Is conveyed In tbe story. Miss Martin as Dorotby Orant, a patriotic girl wbo wants to do ber bit. Is good In streaks, but Bbe frequently falls to grasp tbe blgb spots, and consequently tbe picture loses mucb of Its dramatic power. Supporting tbe star Is a well balanced com- pany. Tbe settings are extremely bandaome and tbe pbotograpby could bsrdly bave been improved, tbe only fault being tbat tbere were too many close-ups, many of tbem being un- necessary. Many of tbe minor faults of the picture will never be noticed unless tbe spec- tator bas rend tbe story. Dorotby Grant, just released from a "flnisb- Ing school," is imbued wItb the Idea that ber country needs her, or ber' assistance, so she decides to form a Girls' Aviation Corps. Tbe wealthy parents of tbe young women do not take their efforts seriously, and although tbe girls obtain their uniforms, they have great dU<1cuIty <n finding a place to drill. They finally go to a meadow, where a farmer, who is an ex-soldier, oilers to teach tbem drill tactics, and tbcy gladly accept his offer. Tbe "wig wagging" taught the girls by tbe old soldier, stands tbem In good stead, when Dorothy's home Is Invaded by German spies and her father's munitions factory Is about to be blown up. "Her Country First" will make a pleasing and acceptable program feature. • WOMAN. ^ PROLOG. The Woman.....* Florence BllllngB Tbe Man Warren Cook FIRST EPISODE. Eve rabel Rbllor Adam. Henry West SECOND EPISODE. Messallna ..Flore Revalles Claudius Paul Clerget THIRD EPISODB. Helolse Diana Allen Abelard Escamlllo Femandei FODRTH EPISODE. Ojrrene. Gloria Goodwin Tbe Fisherman ..Chester Bamett FIFTH EPISODE. The Oirl Fair Binney The Offlcer. Warner Richmond BPILOQUB. The Woman Florence Billings Tbe Man Warren Cook The eternal feminine Is treated In a novel manner by Maurice Toumeur in. his latest super-production, "Woman." The scenario was written by Charles Wblttaker, founded on a chapter from Moore's "Memoirs of My Dead Life," the gist of which is tbat woman Is the legitimate subject of all men's thoughts. The picture is divided Into a prolog, five epipodes and an epilog. In the prolog a woman is revealed nagging ber husband, who takes it quite good-bumor- edly and continues to smoke contentedly. She leaves him In a huff and be picks up a dic- . tlonary, or encyclopaedia, and proceeds to read upon the definition of "woman." who is de- scribed in a sinister vein. ~ First tbere is flashed a series of contrasting types of women In all walks of life, then five episodes, all visualizing vnmplrcs of history, myth or Ac- tion, one of tbe epieodee going so tar as to state tbat more men are led astray by "pure" women tbnn sirens. Each Eden In turn loses its Eve. Just about this point it begins to get on your nerves and you resent the imputation that all women are bad. Despite the magnifi- cent and splendiferous stage settings, tbe ex- cellent acting and Inimitable direction, not to mention the dissolves, double exposures, etc., you grow indignant at the deliberate Insult being offered to the fair sex. That's where Tounieur proves himself the wonderful psychologist. He figures you can stand just about ono hour of this, which, witb the prolog, occuplRs about 70 minutes. Then comes the epilog defense of women, In which ho proceeds to explain the reason for it all, . 1. e.. that woman was a slave before slavery existed—that It needed the present war for us to realize what women are and to appreciate them—that if women who are winning the wnr, and BO on. with Inserts from the ofSclal week- lies showing the v.irlous kinds of work tho women arc doing to help In this war, from Rod Cross to indnstrlnl occupations, flnl<;hlng wltl> tho sacrincp of Rdlth Cavell of her life for the caUKo of humnnlty. .-..J.I'b ..tfee. kiud .of- a>supcr:nlcture,.people ..will... Talk dboiit' after "they loiivo The tlicatrp^anil comment on most favorably. The production is not only massive, but artistic. JoXo. THREE MOUNTED MEN. "Three Mounted Men" (Universal) Is a combination of Western picture and love story, well interwoven- and fairly interestlDgr. Cheyenne Harry and Buck Masters are coo- , ,.Tl,c<fl, ,.Jn,„fl ..prJspn. and are Wtter enemies,. Masters Is doing time for forgery. .Tbe war- den's son, knowing this, gets Masters' help in fixing the figures on the books and makes a great deal of money, promising to pay Mas- ters a fair share. Masters is finally par- doned, however, to the great regret of the warden's son. When he leaves the son gives him what be considers too smcU a sum of money for ths work he has done. Afterward be commences to hound the son, and to write him threatening letters. Bo the man decides that the safest course to pursue is to causa Master's rearrest. He tells Cheyenne Harry that he will effect bis pardon If he will do the job. He agrees and sets out 10 search of Masters. He goes to a town where he knows Masters will come, and waits to get' some- thing "on" htm. Here he meets Lola, a dance hall gtrl, who Is there to earn money to sup- port ber old mother. Harry falls. in love with her. Learning that Masters Is planning to rob the stage Harry and his two brothers, the three mounted men, notify tbe warden's son. and lie sends deputies to arrest taim. Mas- ters is caught red handed. Lola comes la great grief, snd Harry discovers that she is Masters' sister.- So the three mounted men ride after the automobile, carrying Masters back to prison, rescue him and take him back to Lola and her mother. Masters promises to reform and Lola and Harry decide to bit it off together. The story is well told and holds the atten- tion. Hnrry Carey Is a forceful, manly foung fellow and screens very well. Joe Harris as Masters Is also a good type. And Meva Qerber makes a handsoife Lola. "The photography is particularly happy. ROSEMARY CLIMBS THE HEIGHTS. Rosemary Van Voort Mary Miles MInter Rlcardo PItzmaurice Alan Fonest Wanda Held Margaret Shelby Mile. Tbnmar Fedoreska....Charlotte Mlneau Godfrey Van Voort George Periolat Hilda Van Voort Nanlne Wright Jarob Lowensteln Jack Farrell Andrleff Carl Stockdale Cornelius Simpson Lewis King Mrs. Preston-Carr Roslta Marstinl Rosemnry Van Voort as impersonated by Mary Miles Mlnfer Is a very winsome little (tirl. Rosemnry figures nutte consldernbly In "Rosemary Climbs the-Heights." a Vltatrraph ff'Bture which telle first of Rosemary's life In the country with her old Dutch parents where she makes wonderful dolls for her own amnse- ment and the joy of the children In the neigh- borhood. Then a party of motorists come along and stop to picnic n/iar Rosemary's house. They see Roaemsry and her dolls, and one woman, TVnnda Held, an artist, realizes the beauty of Rosemary's work and promises to look for an opening for her wares in New York. The opening romes and Rosemary takes her abode with Wanda and her bohemlan set, and quickly wins fame and a full pocket- book. Rlchardo in a violinist and he plays Rose- mary's heart away Just as she has won his. But Thnmnr Is In love with Rlcardo and Is bit- terly Jealous. Tbamar Is a Russian, and she smokes cigarettes and drtnlks too .much. One . nleht a strange looking man enters Tharaar's npartmfnt lust sffer Rosemary has left. There is a struggle and Themar Is shot. Rosemary Is suspected and'brought back from her home where she bas gone for a rest and Is put on trial, The night of the murder a little boy had strayed into Ricardo's apartment, across the hnll from Rosemary's and under Tbsmar's. Rosemary was there too, as she had left Wanda, with whom she lived, at a donee and had forgotten tbe key. The three sit tbere all night. During the trial the same little boy rushes Into the court room and tells through an in- terpreter, for he Is Russian, that his father hns just died alone nnd in a lonely spot. Rosemary recognises blm and be Is questioned further. He ssya that Tbamar was his mother and had deserted his father years ago In Russia, that together they bad followed her to America and bad gone to Thamar's apart- ment. Frightened nt the struggle the little boy had run out and sought refuge In Ricardo's apnrtraent. As he spoke only Russian they had been unable to understand him. So Rose- mary Is free to marry Rlcardo. Miss Mlntcr's delightful work Is again to the fore. Her support Is of the greatest ex- cellence, each character, with one exception, being uncommonly well chosen. The ex- ception is Roslta Marstini, who,^ while a woman of extraordinary charm. Is for too foreign In every look and gesture to be an American woman named Mrs. Preston-Carr. Charlotte Mlnenu Is a commanding and beauti- ful Thnmar, and Margaret Shelby as Wanda and Alan Forest ns Rlcardo stand out. If that 1b nosslble, from such an excellent cast. Tho dir^etlon and photography are very' good and the r»hoIe picture of a high order. swatItiespy. .lane Sheldon .Tane T.ee Kntherlne Sheldon Kntherlne Lee ^nrt^cw Sheldon Oharl»9 Slattery Krirl "Sfhfiintl/'.vvn-iV.v.'rT.-.T.^a rrnrfiCTn I.,rna Miillnr Florence Ashbrooke In "Swnt the Sny," a Fox production, headed by the Lrp children, there Is much that la nrKlnnl nnd refreshing with an orlglnnllfy and freabnesa that only these children can bring to tho screen. It Is a spy play with n comic twist, yet with nil the fun there Is a good element of excitement First and fore- most and all the time it Is the Lees «ltb their pranks and tricks and winsome little ppRfpnalltJes. Interwpvjfn in ,fhfl> .j>!ot, «K though It Is moro a string on which to hang the various exploits of the children. The father of the girls bas Invented an ex- plosive which is intended to be of great usu in the war. This has become known, and ag a result Mr. Sheldon Is under aurveillance by German agents. The most active of these are in his own borne, in the persons of a butler and cook. They are endeavoring to thwart Mr. Sheldon In bis efforts and also to get hold of tbe valuable Invention. They are mucb hindered by the children. In tbe mean- time the father bas told tbe girls that he has written for a baby brother for tbem. This docs not plcoso them at all and they de- cide to stop the delivery by appropriating the letter. This they do—as they tblak. Some time later their father misses hie plans for the great invention. In the excitement the plotting servants bolt for the laboratory, seize tbe invention itself and escape—only to be caught by the secret service agents. The let- ter which was purloined by tbe children pttives to be the missing plans. It is a joy to watch these little girls be- cause they are lovable and sweet, and real children—not tbe little old women, self-con- scious and mincing, one so often sees In stage children. As a box office attraction they are of tbe highest value as tbey attract grown- ups as well as children. Notable In their support are P. C. Hartlgan as the butler, and, always Infallible, Florence Ashbrooke as the cook. Both direction and pbotograpby are of a high order. . THE TEMPLE OF DUSK. Akira Sessue Hayakawa Ruth Vale Jane Novak Edward Markbam Louis Wlllougbby Blossom Mary Jane Irving Adriene Chester Sylvia Bremmer Pembroke Wilson Henry Barrows "The Temple xtt Dusk," made by Haworth Pictures, is interesting chlefiy that It exploits tbe unusual personality of Sessue Hayakawa. Ruth Vale, an American girl, baa been brought up in the home of Aklra, In Japan, ever since the death of her fatber, years be- fore. He was an American missionary. Akira bas long been in love with her, and Riith re- turns the sentiment until Edward Markham comes along. Then she forgets Aklra and mar- ries tbe American. In a few years she dies, lonely and neglected, begging tbe faithful Akira to look after her baby girl. The fatber soon marries again, and the family goes to America, talcing Aklra along that their small daughter will not Iw too much on their bands. Here the new wife discovers an old lover and soon an intrigue has started which Akira tries to conceal. But tbe husband comes bone early one night, in the good old way, and discovers his wife under compromising circumstances. So be stabs her lover. For the sake of the child Aklra assumes the blame and Is put in prison. DuHng a blinding thunder storm In the dead of night Aklra feels that the child Is In trouble, so he breaks through the bars at his window and escapes over the prison wall. He Is shot by the guards, but gets away. Arriving at the home of bis friends, be finds the child's bed empty. Going out again Into tbe rain he finds ber drenched, trying to get to him In prison. He puts her back In bed and plays with her, getting weaker every minute. As the guards arrive at the bouse be falls across the bed, dead, and the child, thinking him asleep, strokes bis hair. Slight though the story Sessue Hayakawa brings much pathos to the little recital. He is an artist to bis finger tips. He has been given good support. The photography is very beautiful. "Tho Temple of Dusk" will make a good program feature anywhere. MAY BOYCOTT MANITOBA. Winnipeg, Oct. 30. A new bylaw imposing another tax on the film exchanges and containing a provision requiring all film ex- changes to occupy one-story brick structures with no other offices in the buildings may bring about a boycott of the entire Province by the members of the picture industry. The provisions of the new law have aroused the local Screen Association members to such an extent thely are threatening to refuse to supply any theatres in the Province with film if the law is passed. The City Council of Winnipeg now has the law under consideration. All of the exchange managers here have pledged themselves to movfe out and to supply no theatre in the terri- tory refusing to move to a nearby city, as was suggested, stating they will do business where they like or not at all. The situation has roused a storm of comment, but the Fire, Water and Light Committee, which is fostering tb« bUl...aj:e,J:rJvinK=^y?J^y •h.a^d.^tcvivresA^ it through the Council. THE WOMAN THE GERMANS SHOT. ■ ,- ., BROLrOQUE, ----^ -. - : EMith Amy DennU George Brooks George La Quare STORT. Frank Brooks Creighton Hals George Brooks Thomas Brooks Joan demons Joyce Fair U. S. Minister to Belgium J. W. Johnston C. S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Fred Melville Secretary, American Legation. ..Marty Fnuit Belgian Lawyer George Dupree Spanish Minister to Belgium. .George Majeronl Gen. Von Bisslng William H. Tooker Captain Von Baring Fred Kalgren M. Klrschen Louis €tnrs Mrs. Cavell Sarab Alexander Nc.-se Edith Cavell .....Julia Arthur - "Tbe Woman tbe GTermans Shot," at tbe Strand. Is the story of the life and tragic death of Edith Cavell. The picture was produced by Joe Plunkitt and Frank Carroll, plcturlzed by Anthony Paul Kelly. Its filming Is the occasion of the screen debut of Julia Arthur as Edith Cavell, and tbat alone should make for Us success. MIsa Arthur screens admirably and has the poise and repose so necessary in a really good screen actor. She should prove a decided ac- quisition to tbe silent drama. The picture In Itself Is quite remarkable In tbat It holds with unrelenting grip to the end, altbougb, while there Is plenty of action, it It not particularly thrilling, and there is onUf a faint thread of plot running through it. Miss Csvell's life In Englsnd with a girl- hood romance which she foreswears In order to become a nurse. Then she Is absorbed in her work in Brussels. Tbe war breaks out and Belgium is Invaded; Miss Cavell Is eeeo nursing both English and Germans. Inasmucb as the English are kept mostly In a foul cellar, MIsa Cavell does what she can to help tbem and those who <9fi escape are given every opportunity. She is put in prison, sub- jected to an unjust trial and finally shot. The treatment of tbe picture has been made with ths utmost reverence. Tbe scenes are depicted with tbe greatest care to detail and the life of tbe nurse made to appear as most persons imagine it. Tbe patriotic appeal la Intense. The mature beauty of Miss Arthur, with its strength snd nobility. Is admirable for the part of Edith Cavell. It Is difficult to believe It Is not she herself who has appeared on the screen. Miss Arthur plays throughout with a serene dignity, meeting her death with a simplicity and faltb deeply appealing. The other roles are well taken, the various German types being finely Indicated. A more convlnrlcg, appealing and dignified production is seldom s6en than 'The Woman tbe Germans Shot" FRAUDS AMD FRENZIES. A two-reel comic Vltagraph, with Lawrence Semen. The fun is fast and furious and at the end one is dizzy from watching the antics of the principals. Tbe scenes are laid In a stone quarry at the back of a prison and the ten or. twelve convicts are at work In charge of a number of keepers. Semon is tbe "bard egg" of tbe gang. His pranks are very funny at times. Tbe photography is excellent and there are a number of picturesque scenes out- side of tbe prison. Hflttlo T.nnc. In the leeitlmate. througlT her attorney, Hnrry Saks Hechhelmer, has entered suit for separation against ber husband, Arthur D. Lone, on the grounds of'Cruelty of trentmfmt. Her complaint asks ISO weekly alimony. THE WOMAN WHO GAVE. Colette Evelyn Nesblt Andrlen Walcott Irving Cummlnga Don Walcott Robert Walker Delia Picard Dorothy Waltera Rudolph Russell Thaw William Fox bas bnllt an Interesting com- edy-drama around Evelyn Nesblt and her son, Russell Thaw. While tbere is nothing un- usual about the story, It carries a certain human Interest and also a punch. Miss Nesblt has a part which suits her. She is the poor, misguided heroine, always on the verge of tears, who appeals to the sympathies. There are a number of scenes In which Miss Nesblt shows some dramatic power, but they were run off so quickly at the Academy of Music, the spectator did not bave time to grasp' their full significance and consequently many of tbe lights of the picture were completely lost. Irving Cumralngs as Andrten Walcott, the artist, who later went blind, pnt much feel- ing-into bis work. The mental anguish he goes through at the loss of bis sight, when denied the few more days of light which would have enabled blm to finish bis great masterpiece, was a fine piece of work. As Prince Vacarra, a Romelian nobleman, husband to Colette (Miss Nesblt), who bad nil the Instincts of a brute, with a thin veneer of Parisian polish, Eugene Ormond scored with telling effect and the audience showed their disapproval by hissing. Dorothy Wal- ters as Delia PIcord, a matronly housekeeper, supplied the comedy and received a number of laughs. The scenes were laid in the Latin Quarter In Paris nnd Greenwich Village. New York. In both the right "atmosphere" has been' caught. There are also a number of hand- some settings representing the home of Prince Vacarra In Romella. Much of the picture was taken in the Adironrtaoks and there are msny.- .. ■a** «H«»s of lb*' UidUElftlhs' wlta •plcttires.jujr--' log cabins. It was In these cabins that the final scenes of the story were laid. The pbo- tograpby Is excellKnt, with a number of ef- fective close-ups shown. The picture should make a good program feature, more particularly outside of New York, where the name of Evelyn Nosblt Thaw has not been forgotten.