Variety (March 1919)

iim:mmr wimm&mrx^mm'n^^^^ «^;.' i**/t'-»»»vi" 9S !?r~:" RIALTO. vlUis more or less a queatlon jvit wb«t aort )t as Impresalon the nutnagcmeDt of tbe bouse jfU trying to convey to tbe publio ^or tbe liMl ebow Sunday nlgbt. At 0.40 tbe «t- lUidADt at tbe box office and tbe ticket chopper it tbe door were announclDg do Beats and tut tbere was. "stan^lflg: room only for a trblte*" Inside of tbe tbeatre were fully 800 racant seats. Tbe overture was on, tbe bouse brllllftotly llgbtfd and one could see tbe Tacant cbtln most readily. There were no standees. Tbe featui^ was. rac«d through projected wllb a speed remiadlng' one of tbe "old days." n» subtitles at tlm^s could not be fully read l)e(ai(Be of the speed. ■ Tbe sbow^eld as Its feature Pauline Fred- erick In tbe Qoldwyn feature, "Tbe Woman ea tbe Index," a rather Interesting story; also a Bruce scenic which followed tbe overture; tit Rlalto Magaztae, which held Patbe, Qau- aoDt, Klnograms and Universal Current ftrents excerpts, aa well as a couple of outs aim tbe Photoplay Screen Supplement, sbgw- bf J. Warren Kerrigan and William Russell. Tbe comedy was a Bennett-Paramount oiferlng jritb Chsries Murray, entitled "ReUly's Wash Cay." Tbe latter won laughs, A Bruce |t«n|c, "An Essay of the UlUs," waa sbown following the overture. The muBical program served tbe final move- . nent from "Scbehera^iade" as tbe overture, nils was applauded. Just previous (o the news reel tbe male quartet, placed down wltb tbe Qfcbestra on this occasion, sang "Tbe Lost Chord." The quartet was down for another selection after tbe feature, but failed to deliver on tbe Snal show. Between tbe news reel and the feature a short musical selection, unlisted, wu played. This seems rather £" good Idea for It gives those who wish to leave an oppor- tuolty to get out of their seats without ob- (tructlng the view of tbe remaining audience - just as tbe feature starts. Fred. TBE WOMAN ON THE INDEX. Sylvia Martin.....*..., Pauline Frederick David Maber '.... Wyndbam Standing Hugo Declasse Wlllard Mack Jcbn Alden ....Ben Hendricks Louis Gordon Jere Austin Pauline Frederick Is tbe star of this five red Qoldwyn feature wUlcb is a screen adap- tion of tbe play of tbe same title wblch was produced in New York early this season. It is a timely little mystery subject In wblcb Miss Frederick gives a corking performance. The original was by Lillian Trimble and George Brosdhurst Hobart Henley directed the picturallzatlon. Tbe story carries a touch of tbe underworld, a bit of society and a Washington touch wltb the Secret Service and tbe Dlplofiiatlo Corps, uid gives suinclent thrill and suspenso to sat- lify the moat hardened movie fan. Miss Frederick plays tbe role of tbe girl who first becomes tbe wife of a crook, and later, having lUed down ber brief career In that capacity, weds a member of tbe Qovorument's service. : Wlllard Mack has the role' of the heavy opposite ber; bis performance as a villain IS just about on a par wltb bis usual por- trayal of more berolo coles in the past. IWyndbam Standing is the leadipg man and, :Kblle not having very much to do, gives an entirely satisCactory performance. In tbe role sf tbe crook, Jere Austin gave a splendid performance aa did alao Ben Hendricks as tbe chief of police. Tbe direction is exceptionally good and Henley Is to be congratulated on handling tbe story in tbe manner which be did. The lilbtlngs are unusually good throughout the picture. FnO. |;p CALIBRE 38. ^ Tlils la a Montana story, produced by Bdgar Lnrla, lu which Mitchell Lewis Is starred, Wportcd by Hedda Nova. A ilve real iTWestcru." There are the elements of love, Vttery, suspense, and the end is not a "ellncb," which is strongly in Its favor. The Ktflarlo has been written from a story by !Rpy Mlddloton. ' It begins in a WeMem mining town where an Eastern capitalist and bis young ■on have gone to look into some investments <i tbt elder man. A gang of desperadoes de- udes to Blay the elder man for hla money md to saddle tbe blame on bis son. This is KcompUshed, and at first the son is blamed tor tbe death of bis parent It Is not until near the end of tbe picture t)efore the mttr- ««r»r la discovered. . MIm Nova takes tbe part of Jean Brandt, ■f joung man, who has not been contaminated y her surroundings, which include the usual usee halls and low diveg, supposed to have existed In the time of the story. Miss Nova ■aslies a handsome Weetern heroine, shots and rides well, and has all tbe attributes wblch »«ewUy. go with tbe type. The plot has been well carried out with a TOccesflion of gripping incidents and a suf- ocient number of strong situations to hold tbe ,"tentlon through the flvs reels. -Calibre 88" should make a good program Wure, as tbe film enthusiast seems never Ure to this sort of photoplay. .?? (i CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer Robart Bmtm uLum, hm AacalM 'hmmt Bsleaasa for BanlMalik K< Olaaa mi K«nl«aa THE STRAND. The Strand has but one Tocallat this week, due to tbe length of tbe Qrlfflth feature, "The Otrl Who Stayed at Home," which runs 80 minutes. Card Edouarde'a orchestra played "Dance of tbe Hours" from "La Oiooonda" for an overture. Then comes the Topical Review, made up of excerpts from tbe UnlTersal and Patbe weeklies and tbe Bray Pictographs. While "Topics of tbe Day," humurous sayings selected from the world's newspapers and published in the Liter- ary Digest, was progn^inmed. It wasn't sbown at tbe first performance Sunday and may have been, omitted for the week. Malcolm MacEacbem, the Australian b^sso, who scored, a big bit during tbe week he sang, when "The Better 'Ole" was shown at tbe Strand recently, is back, and whileiHllown for two numbers, only sang one at tbe Initial performance. It Is entitled "Tbe Floral Dance," a rollcklng sort of comedy ditty. He is clad in modern garb and stands in front of tbe orchestra this week, thereby overcoming the previous handicap of having tp project his voice against the mammoth orcbeatra. Aft^ tbe feature (reviewed elaewbere), came a Mack Bennett comedy, "RelUy'a Wash Day," wblch tbe reviewer missed. Jolo. THE pIRL WHO STAYED AT HOME. Monsieur Le France Adolpbe Lestlna Madamolselle piossom Carol 'Dempster The Chum....... Frances Parkes Ralph Grey Richard Barthelmess Count de Brissac ....8yn De Conde Jim Orey Robert Harron Tbe Elder Orey......; Qeorge Fawcett Jim's Mother .....Kate Bruce The Turnverein Terror Edward Pell Cdtie Beautiful Clarine Seymour Ci'tie's Old Friend Tully Marshall August Kant. David Bltler After sitting through a full ebowlng of D. W. Qrlffltb's latest Artocatt feature at the Strand last Sunday afternoon, in full poses- slon of bis faculties, Variety's reviewer ,1s unable to give any sort of a clear impression of what tbe story of "The Oirl Who Stayed at Home" la all about. This may sound sacrl-' legiouB, especially about tbe "wizard of mo- tion picture directors," but tbere It Is. Never- theless here goes for a try at It: A Confederate officer refuses to surrender to the Federal army and escapes to France a here he spends tbe remainder of his days, e Uvea with bis granddaughter, who Is formally betrothed to a Frenchman. The war breaks out, and tbe man to whom sbs ii> b*etrotfaed goes to war. Eventually tbe U, S. participates in tbe war and two Amer- ican youths join up. They are brothers and their sister Is a school chum of the little French girl. Tbe elder falls in love with tbe Mile., and tbe younger is stuck on a s cabaret dancer in this country. Then we have battle scenes, the Frenchman is killed, the American boys get tbe girls they are smitten with. Carol Dempster enacts the role of tbe lit- tle Ma'selle wltb rare art. She has tbe gift of expressing pantomimically without acting or action. While, not suggesting anything done before tbe camera by Theodore Roberts, her work belongs to tbe same "school" and she gives promise of doing something great in fllmdobi. She has beauty, charm and talent Ciarlno Seymour, aa the cabaret dancer, is also exceedingly clever, giving a cbaracteriza- tlon that is very fetching. Robert Harron plays tbe younger American boy and reveals bltborto unsuspected comedy artistry. The entire cast. In fact, >is brilliant, wltb such good actors as Oeorge Fawcett and Tully MarEball playing bits. There Is the usual high class OrlfStb direction and som^ wonder- ful ' pbotograpblo sbots. Everything ' Is all Tight excepting the story, which Is sketchy, unblended and lacking in cumulative denoue- ment. Jolo. THE LITTLE INTRUDER. The Little Intruder Louise HuS Qeo. Conklin Oeo. HacQuarrle Virginia Conklhi Christine Mayo "Billy" Kent John Hlnea Henry Harding... Stuart Holmei Bob McCarthy Albert Hart A World nlcture from the atory of H. 8. Sheldon of which the scenario was«written by Clara S. Beranger. directed by Oscar Apfel and photographed by Alfred Oodolphl. It is a long time since the World has put out as good a picture. It has several twists. Tbe acting is fair all through with but one or two lapses, and these are but of short duration. Louise Huff is starred and gives a dellghtfur performance. > Stuart Humes seemn to have Improved upon bis work. A polisbod actor, his work never Jars and be is always an addition to any screen ofsrlng wblcb calls for a heavy of straight or cha- racter linos. There Is enough comedy In "The Little Intruder" to keep the audiences aralling through tbe picture. Tbe story deals witn a girl supposed to be a crook. She enters a bouse, which entry coincides wltb tbe departure of tbe owner's niece. He Is unhappy in bis marital gelations. Ho catcheB tbe crook in tbe house and saves her Trom the clutches of the police by saying she is his niece, but demands In return that she watch and report on bis wife, who Is falling In love wltb one Harding. She agrees and then, when the wife Is about to run away with Harding and sends him ber jewels, the Intruder steps In and transposes oandy for the jewels, saves tbe day, and finally proves she Is Conklin's niece after alL Tbe plot Is cleverly worked out and It a some- what Improbable, doea not loaa in baiac so. THERIVOLI. An appreciative audience foVowed the ren- dering of Abbe Liszt's First Hungarian Rhapsody, which was tbe overture at the RivoU on Sunday. Tbe program for the week ' has been chosen with care and tbere is quite a diversity of entertainment Outside of the feature, William 8. Hart in "Tbe Poppy Girl's Husband" (reviewed in this issue), one of the most pleasing numbers on tbe bin was tbe Silhouette Danoo, arranged by Adolf Bobm, wltb the music by Victor Herbert Tbe dancers were Margaret Leeraas, Vanda Talanova, Erma Sels, Alexandra Umansky. The act Is artistic with tuneful musto and plturesque setting, which waa done by John Wenger. "A Sammy in Siberia," a farce with Harold Lloyd fumisfaed plehty of laughs, at times It Is screamingly tunny, along the usual rough house lines of the Patbe star, and he does not spare himself or those playing wltb him. Selections from Ivan Caryll's "The Pink Lady" were played by tbe orcbeetra and en- thusiastically received. Tbe RlvOli Pictorial nevrs and Prizma Included the reviewing of the "Pats" In London by the Princess Patricia of Connaught, who Is their honorary colonel, and also her wedding; which followed a few dsys after the final review. The Prizma views were natural color pictures of trout life. An organ solo by Professor Flrmln^Swinnen was tbe last number on the program. THE POPPY GIRL'S HUSBAND. Hairpin Hari7 Dutton William 8. Hart Polly, the Poppy Olrl Juanlta Hansen Big Mike McCafferty Fred Starr Montana Kid David Kirby William S. Hart lays aside chaps and som- brero for prison stripes In bis latest Artcraft picture, directed by tbe etar himself In col- Ifiborsitlon with Lambert Hillyer. Tbe story, which deals wltb underworld life in the Bar- bary Coast of old San Francisco, was <Arrltten by Jack Boyle and adapted to tbe screen by C. Gardner Sullivan, Joe August did the photographic work. Technically, the picture leaves little to be desired, but it is a gloomy subject, and there Ic hardly a smile in the whole six reels. The story is a dramatic one and It shows the star In an entirely new character, that of Hairpin Harry Dutton, a noted burglar, married to Polly, tbe Poppy Ojrl-(Juanlta Hansen), a faithless creature. \ , The picture opens wltb Harry liv his prison cell, he baa served ten years and is about to be paroled. His love for his wife has sus- tained him during bis long imprisonment. But on benlng released he teams that she has di- vorced him and married McCafferty, a deteo- • tlve, who was tnstrumeiltal In having bim sent up. From now on bis sole thought is revenge. But in the meanwhile be seeks his little son and, without letting his child suspect his identity, plays wltb him and learns to forget tbe hatred In his new found love. Later be finds out be is being framed by the man who sent him to prison before. He escapes tbe frame-up and goes to punish bis ■wife ,who was In the plot to have bim.sent away again, He plans to brand ber indelibly and mar hor beauty. But while at tbe house htj hoard hla son crying and bis love for tbe cbllA ovemhclmes him, so. Instead of brand- ing hla wife, be. chloroforms her, gathers the child up in bis arms and they go into this bills together, wbcro they find a home—and happiness. ' Tho star's wonderful facial exprsBstons are brought Into play depicting sorrow, hatred and revenge. In one of tbe many close-ups be is sbown with'tbe tears streaming flown bis face, and one's sympathy goes out to bim. William S. Hart is nothing If not oon- vlnc(pg, and be makes the character of Hair- pin Harry very • real and lifelike. Juanlta Hansen, as tbe Poppy Olr|, has a pleasing screen appearance and gives a finished per- formance. Little Oeo.rge Stone, as tbe child. Is excellent; be is not a precocious youngster, but jusf a natural boy. The other members of tbe cast are well chosen and do fine work. It Is doubtful, becauee of the subject, , whether the picture will be 6.i popular as some of William 8. Hart's previous photo- plays, but this does not detract from It as a finished production. -^ THAfTcOOD. Jim, store clerk James McAndless Metro's March 24 release Is entitled "That's Good," adapted from a Saturday Evening Post story by Rlobsrd Wssbbum Child, scenario by A. O. Kenyon, directed by Hterry L, Frank- lin, photographed by Arthur Martlnelll. Hale Hamilton la tbe star, and bis leading lady is none other than Grace LaRue, of operatic and vaudeville fame, who appears under the name of "Stella Gray." The recent announcement from Los Angeles sbe would marry Hamilton may account for ber try at tbe pictures. She acquitted herself surprisingly well before the camera, photographing well and weaCrtng a large assortment of clothes to good eCTect Hamilton has the role of tho owner of a gentlemen's furnishing emporium In a small town, and Bradstreet credits bim with being worth $16,000. A band of crooks who ply the "wire tapping" stunt, pick him out ss being easy. Miss LnRue is a member of the band and Is recruited to lure bim on. When .it cpmes time to pluck him she reneges, having fallen in love wltb bim, and when nbe returns the envelopes supposed to contain tbe money he is expected to hand over to play tbe race on which they will hold back the result, he asks, her to open It, only to find It contains some worthless paper and a love note to her. Well played throughout and a very accept- able featur;;^or those exhibitors who find tbe Hamilton \ ures profitable. 7oIo. ■' • BROADWAY. The Broadway's abow for the current week > held a lot of pep. In addition to the feature there was an added attraction on the bill that must have had a box office drawing power. It . was billed as "The Heroes of the 2ith," mean< Ing the 27tb Division of tbe U. 8.-%., that be- ing New York's own military outfit, and coupled wltb the fact that this week was practically given over to celebration of the return of the men from France, the added started pull a play to the house. Tbe picture . is a composition of news reel material of tha past, with about a hundred feet In it of a re- turned Bollder telling his story. It got «Ter in good shape. The feature was one of the beet that has been shown in a month at the house. It la aivotber milestone in tbe progress that the Universal is making in turning out feature product. This production Is a Jewel, wltb Rupert Julian starred, and is entitled "Tbe Fire Fllngers," being an adaptation of a "Saturday Evening Post" story of the same title that appeared several months ago. In addition to that tbe program comprised a Lyons and Moran comedy that brought laughs, and the Broadway Topical Digest, the latter containing ezcluaively Universal Current Events scenes and Tbe Literary Digest, "Topics of the Day." Tbe overture was "Raymond," ond Uln Edwards, a soprano, sang ''For Your Boy and My Boy" very well Indeed. Tho rag pep that was given as tho musical accompaniment for the comedy was the best of tbe music of the entire program judging from the manner la which the bouse accepted It. fret.':.- ' . 1^ THE FIRE FLINGER3. -• Chris Cottei^llI B. A, Wamo Benjamin Burley <.. .Clyde Filmtra Sergt Powers.'.... .....Fred. Kolstir. , Stoll ..........William Lloyd Winifred Oldweil....; Jane Novak Maggie Driver Fay Tlnobar Ellen .i .Frltiie Rldgeway This Is a seven reel Jewel production that is a corking feature picture. It Is so good .' that one marvels at the fact that it was pos- sible for Rupert'Julian to play two roles In It and atUl find time to direct tbe production. To bis credit It must be immediately said that ho has not only turned out a well produced picture, but that be gave a sterling Inter- pretation of the dual role wtaloh be played. "The Fire Flingers" was taken from tbe story of tbe same title which appeared In tbe "Saturddy Evening PosC' recently. In story form it carried tremendous suspense. In tha screen version nono of this has been lost The story la of two ex-convicts who are ' trying to go straight and are driven frem pillar to post finally winding up Id a small town In tbe Middle west Here they obtain employment In the Olwell Prens, but are dis- charged as soon as their identity becomes known. Olwell discbarges them and refuses to pay for tbe work they have done. That nlgbt they go to his borne to ask for tbe money due them, as tbey are hungry. Olwell Isn't there, but the wife gives them a meal. Dur- ing this time Olwell arrives on tbe scene. la a fight that follows, he is killed, and Richard Hatton, one of the ex-oonvlcts, decides to take Ills place because of the striking resemblence that tbere is between the two men. This leads to no end of oompllcations wblph are finally cleared up. Jane Novak plays the role of the wife and . scores decidedly. Miss Novak .shows in this production that sbe Is destined to eventually climb to tbe top in pictures. She Is a striking blonde that screens well, and sbe certainly knows bow to uae her eyus and Is every inoa a trouper. Fay Tlncher plays tbe role of a "vamp" end is "tbere" with that serious stuff just as much, as she is In comedy. ID.. A. Warren in the role of tbe other oonvict ' also gave a corking' performance. A<< did the man who played the role of tbe chief Ol police. As a production. "The Fire Flingers" sUnda out as one of the best of tbe recent Jewel reloaaes end as a matter of fact measures up ' with the best that some of tbe other big companies are turning oin. For genuine suspense 'there has not been a picture like it in a long while. /^i^.. THE WINNING GIRL " Rather a trite plot for a Paramount foa* . ture, yet made plausible by tho excellent acting of the principals. Jemmy, portrayed by the star, Shirley Mason, was a disappoint- mont to her father, tbe Major, wbo bad prayed for a boy. A second child, a boy this time, caused the death of Mrs. Mllllgan. Tbe Major re-marries a widow with three children, "rbe action of the [klot takes place several years later, when Jemmy is about eighteen yeSrs old. As a result of his re-marriage, several years ago, tbe Mllllgan fortune was wel^ nigh wiped away, tbe family being saved from pauperism only through Jemmy's, /and the other children's, employment In the neighbor- ing aircraft factory, tnelr father having bo- come shiftless and lazy. Tbere Jemmy falls in love wltb a young army aviator, whose mother happens to be the owner of tbe avia- tion works, captures a German spy In ths act of doing damage, does the heroine act In several trite situations and moraitr , and flnanclatly helps restore the family fortune, among other things, restoring fatber'a lore for application to work. Clinch on the finish leavse audience In good humor. ■•■;",^ .11 ■■M '■■■■'■00 -^ ■'■■.•: ■ ;--t M: /.: .1 T/."i?| m