The Bioscope (July-Aug 1912)

Supplement to The Bioscope, July 11, 1912. iii. FILMS—-WEEK BY WEEK. Pathe. The Mohican’s Prisoner. — The daughter of a ranch owner makes a devoted follower by protecting an Indian from the insults of her father’s hands. This girl is abducted by Mohicans, and the redskin traces the chief Mohican, and kills him. He penetrates into the Mohican camp, releases the girl from imprisonment and kills a sentry. The fugitives escape in a canoe, but are followed by the Indians. They are forced to swim for their lives. The chase is conEventually, when running across the tinued on land. plateau at the top, and when almost exhausted, they are met by some of the ranch hands, who worst the pursuing Mohicans. (Released July 17th. Length 939 ft.) Pete, the Village Idiot.—Most of it is seen through a pair of glasses, held in the hand of a trembling husband, who, out at sea in a smal] fishing boat, sees his wife pursued by the village idiot. Dropping the glasses, he seizes an oar, and bids the boatmen pull with him. The woman clambers over rocks and boulders, and behind her the poor idiot moves his twisted figure with relentless pertinacity. She reaches the top of the cliff as the keel of the boat grinds on the shingle. The idiot becomes the pursued of the husband and the boatmen, and, at the moment his arms close round the wife, the strong hands of breathless men push him away from his intended victim. The push is too great, and the idiot crashes over the cliff side. (Released July 17th. Length 396 ft.) Aboriginals of the State of Victoria.—These people are of a beauty not reconcilable with European standar They are the last members of a decayed race, and the men manage to give a very fair entertainment with their sword and shield dances. The women confine themselves to showing rush baskets of their own manufacture. Some of the men throw the boomerang. A picture of the open school ends the film. (Released July 17th. Length 412 ft.) The Judgment of Solomon.—From the moment it opens, the spectator is brought very close to the inwardness of the traditional story. He is able to admire the two women, one dark and opulent, the other fair and serene-eyed. The dark woman steals out at evening, and joins the pleasure ring of singers and dancers. She is soon fatigued, and 1s carried home by a burly slave. Half-waking, she drops on to the silken couch, and, gathering her infant to her, falls into a heavy slumber. Next morning her child is dead. She steals her neighbour’s babe. Mother love, however, is undeceivable, and the rightful mother perceives the substitution. She clamours for her child, and the disputants, both so beautiful, are led to the King’s Court of Justice. Solomon hears the plaint, and, taking the child, he hands it ot a near-by elder, whilst the words, “ Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other,” ring through the court. The dark woman smiles her triumph ; but the mother falls at the feet of the judge, and pleads to him to give the child to the other woman. Solomon takes the child. This time it is to hand it to the mother, who crushes it to her breast in passionate joy. (Released July 17th. Length 1,304 ft.) Wiffles, the Cubist Painter.—Wiffles, a pupil of Roundelvnes, becomes enamoured of the cubist conception of art. He applies himself to the study of triangles and squares. He invents magnificent costumes for himself and housekeeper. One cloud only mars his aah outlook. This Digitized by Go 3 e rae ae 4 ‘ is due to the indignation expressed by his master, who gives him to understand that he can no longer aspire to the hand of his daughter. Wiffles, however, is true to the new art, and eventually wins his bride. (Released July 17th. Length 757 ft.) : -His Society Debut.—A ragged tramp picks up a blank invitation card to a fanc Sess ball, and, filling in the name of Lady Chiffon, decides to be the guest of the givers of the ball. He gowns himself as an elderly lady, and, with a white wig, covers his head. He finds himself in the ball-room. is appearance causes a sensation, and his manners startle the guests. His host, however, is pleased to offer his arm to the new arrival, and to lay imself out to please “her ladyship.” But “her ladyship’s ” behaviour at the supper table brings discredit upon her, and the discovery of her disguise synchronises with her last draught of champagne. It is then the hour of the flunkeys, and the tramp is cast into the street. (Releaged July 17th. Length 445 ft.) | The Bread Carrier.—Labroue, a manufacturer, shows the plans of an invention to his manager, Jacques Garaud. He is interrupted by his son, who comes in playing with a toy horse. The horse is broken, and the boy stuffs pietes of paper from the waste-paper basket into a hole in jits side. Garaud is in love with Jeanne Fortier, the houkekeeper at the works. Jeanne is a widow, with a little girl, to whom her master’s son gives the broken horse. Garaud comes to make love to her, but a quarrel ensues. It! is heard by Labroue, who dismisses the housekeeper. Before she goes, Garaud makes a further attempt to see her. bce pushes a note beneath her door to tell her that, if she will accept him, he will make her a rich woman, as-he intends to steal the new invention. Jeanne tosses this note contemptuously on the floor, and the little girl picks it up and stuffs it inside the toy horse. Garaud goes to Labroue’s private rooms, and attempts to burgle the safe. Labroue comes into the room. Garaud kills him. Then he steals the plans, and sets fire to the works. He is seen by the night watchman, whom he forces to be his accomplice. When the alarm of fire is given, Garaud feigns a herpic act by entering the burning building. He walks through an inner yard and escapes, leaving the world to suppdse that he has perished in the flames. Labroue’s son: is rescued, and a discovery of the manner of the manufacturer’s death is made.. Jeannie Fortier is arrested, and her child is left with an innkeeper. After serving fifteen years of a life sentence, Jeanne makes her ‘escape from prison. She falls in with two baker lads, who give her food, and find her a place as a bread carrier. Garaud, known as Paul Harmand, is seen in wealthy surroundings. His chief care now is to marry his daughter, a tall, delicate girl. He has, however; not lost sight of Ovide, the night watchman, who has shared in his prosperity. Lucie, Jeanne Fortier’s daughter, is seen going over her effects after the death of her foster-mother, the innkeeper. She finds the old toy horse, and a mysterious envelope, bearing instructions that it is to be ovened on her twentieth birthday. Living in the same building is a young man, who, meeting Lucie, falls in love with her. This is Robert Labroue, the murdered-manufacturer’s son. The two young people also meet Jeanne Fortier, and become friendly with her. Labroue saves the life of Mary Harmand in a crowded street. He makes acquaintance with her father, who recognises him, and makes him assistant manager of the works. Harmand learns that Robert is engaged to be be married to Lucie, and he orders Ovide to find out something about her. Ovide discovers the whereabouts of her rooms, breaks into them. and finds the envelope. It. contains a letter from Lucie’s dead foster-mother, and tells her the story of her rea] mother. Ovide takes this letter