The Bioscope (Mar-June 1914)

IT, BloscoPe, ve NE THE ives L ray THE VITAGRAPH PICTURES. A NEW SERIES. Among the most important of the Vitagraph Company's forthcominy releases is) a new monthly series, of which * Chanler Rao, Criminal Expert.’ is the first number. If, as we understand, the succevding numbers are continued on the same ling, we hive the promise of of more than usual novelty and interest. oSorpes Chanler Rao is a Hindu hypnotist and magtqian, who visits a well-known doctor, am the full regaha of his profession, sutfering from the sheht iletfects of a sword he has swallowed the ordinary business. Dr. Browne treats the accepting no beyond a trifling exhibition of Indian magic. Chanler Rao erateful for the doctor's services that when Mrs. Thornton, Dr. Browne's sister, loses a valuable ring, the magician arrives at the house and announces his intention of recovering the property and bringing the culprit to justice. This he accomplishes in a manner which is decidedly ingenious and sufficiently mysterious and effective, letung Dr. Browne and the spectator into his confidence at the end of the film, and showing that his magic 1s mercly the result of commonsense, keen observation, and theatrical effect. The treatment is novel, and the story is more ingenious and much more plausible than many detective films, and if the interest 1s as) well maintained in subsequent issues the series should have a very wide popularity. course of case successfully, fer Is SO Mr. Ned Finley, with a very excellent: makeup, is quite impressive as the wily) Oriental, and Mr. Charles Wellesley’s pleasant personality is well suited in the part of Dr. Warren Browne. The feature films of the week are both strongly dramatic, the first, ‘ Her Husband,” showing the evil consequences of an ‘]l-considered and imprudent marrage. Dora Allen, a young girl boarding school, allows Tom = Harcourt, a military cadet, to forge a letter of excuse from her father in order that they may pay a visit to the theatre. She arrives back after the gates are closed, and to avoid discovery of the trick, she is persuaded to marry Harcourt by ths method which is rendered so fatally easy in the States. Disowned by her father, Harcourt employs his talent in penmanship to replenish his exhauste : funds, but his fraud C3O red | oo and term of imprisonment is his punishment. Rather than apply to her father, his wife finds employment under another name as typist ino a city office. Her husband follows her on his release from prison, and finding her locking up the safe, helps himself to) some notes and attempts to escape. Tle has been traced to the office, however, by his wife’s father, and in endeavouring to escape he falls down the shaft of the lift and is killed. Dora rs reconciled to her father, and the story concludes with the suggestion of her future happiness in the love of her cmployer. It isa well-constructed and interesting drama, adnurably played by Miss Kimball Young as Dora and Mr. Darwin Narr as the degenerate Harcourt. Mr. James Lackaye contributes a fine piece of character as Ilenry Allen. and Mr. Earle Wilhams plays John Darrell, Dora's employer, with his usual distinction. “Fis Mother's Portrait’ is a pretty story of sentiment dealine with art student hfe in New York. A vouny painter, Ralph Dryden, enters for a portrait competition, and selects as his subject an old Jidy from whom he receives some kindness during an illness caused by an accident during a holiday trp. During the sittings he learns that her son, David Blair, 1s also an art student, but has not been doing well, and his mother is deeply grieved at Ins long. silence. Dryden promises to do what he can to find the boy on his return to New York. Blair is in very reduced circumstances, and falling into the hands of a rival of Dryden’s, he is induced to destroy the portrait which Dryden’ intends for the competition. He enters the studio at meht, and uncovering the canvas, is amazed to tind the portrait of his own mother. Overcome with remorse, he is discovered by Dryden, who, for the sake of his mother, forgives his premeditate< crime and offers to help him in the future. It is quite a charming story, and is illustrated by many picturesque scenes, those — depicting David's life as a boy in the country being speci ally beautiful and fine examples of photography. The principal parts are taken by Miss) AMlary Maurice, who gives a pathetic picture of the mother, and Mr. James Morrison, who extracts some sympathy for his fiae performance of the unsuccessful art student. The other parts are in excellent hands, and the whole production shows that careful attention to detail and. draInatic effect which is) always a distinguishing feature of the VOrtiagraphonstudiy.