Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

TORONTO, CANADA. character of the musician changes with the realization of his infirmity and gives Arliss an opportunity for some of the bits which made “The Devil” so outstanding. Outside of the musician’s home is a park, and one day, realizing that he cannot control his fits of rage, even in the presence of the wife he loves, he decides to throw himself from the window overlooking the park, but is saved by his butler, Simpson, who shows him how much happier he is than those who seek a few moments’ happiness in the park; who are satisfied for this bit of grace and thankful for the comfort of it. The musician who has learned to read lips takes the field glasses offered him by Simpson, the servant, and discovers that he can read the lips of those who come into this park. Interested at his discovery he uses these glasses frequently; and becomes concerned in the troubles of those who are strangers to him. Sending Simpson to give a cheque to one of these park visitors he wishes to help, he hears Simpson say, in reply to an inquiry as to where the help is coming from, “From One Who Played God.” This gives him the inspiration to take up the broken threads of his life and he “Plays God” daily and continually. His deafness becomes his greatest blessing, as it fulfills the richness of his character and radiates happiness upon all who happen to come within the radiance ot its glory. It is the best work Arliss has as vet done in pictures, technically. His other pictures show evidence of Arliss on the speaking stage, while the screen requires a more measured technique of its own. In this picture Arliss appears to have mastered the technique, and now we can look for choice characterizations from an artist of his ability and standing. As is always the case with a George Arliss presentation, his audience was composed of people who are connoisseurs of what constitutes art in the Drama. <Ann Forest, as the wife, was very good and registered that “hero-worship” attitude amazingly well. Effie Shannon, so dear to the heart and memory of the drama, played the role of Mildred, the musician’s sister. Miss Shannon could not help but be artistic in anything she did, and her winsome and irresistible personality even made itself felt in her rather “thin” role. It gave one a pleasant feeling to find her in a picture with Mr. Arliss. For houses where good work is appreciated and understood, where the patronage discriminates between quantity and quality, ““The Man Who Played God” should both please and get good business. Googl Page Nine’ Winnipeg Free Press Calls “The Masquerader” A Masterpiece Pure, compelling, absorbing, fascinating melodrama enacted with astonishing skill—that's “The Masquerader,” with Guy Bates Post in the greatest dual role the screen has ever seen; the feature at the Allen this week. <As a play its success is a bright chapter in stage history, and Mr. Post was with it then as he is now. “The Masquerader” is not only a powerful entertainment, a really big thing done in a big way, but it teaches as few sermons and no lecture could teach, the great lesson of self-control, as against self-indulgence, of manhood and honor, in contrast to the pitiful tragedy that lies in the path of the soft and ill-chosen life. The story might be called brutally real because its contrasts are so sharp and _ its truth-telling so direct, but it has the great quality of renunciation in the course of honor followed by John Lodger when he turns his back upon temptation presented by his great love for a woman to whom he has no right. The production is excellent and the photography brilliant. There are no silly titles. It is vital, even more than the stage play, which I saw more than once on its visit to the Walker ‘Theatre a few seasons ago. Mr. Post is not the matinee idol type; he would have failed in this picture if he had been, but he is so great an actor, so finished and so delightful a performer that he charms, pleases and holds fast the sympathetic interest of the spectator. I look for great results from “The Masquerader” this week at the Allen. Here is a screen production that will live, and the management must be felicitated in having such an offering to present to patrons.—J. J. Conklin. PICTURE THEATRE EQUIPMENT FOR SALE. Complete picture equipment, consisting of 410 chairs in good condition, two Simplex Machines, (motordriven), complete five Oscillating Fans, Wurlitzer Organ, original cost, $2,700; Wagner Converter, Fire Extinguishers, Photo Frames, Light Fixtures. Will sell at a sacrifice, must be sold before October 12th. A real opportunity to secure the best equipment possible. G. Floy, 3265 Dundas St. West, Toronto. Will ship to anywhere in Canada. FOR SALE. ‘Three Hundred Chairs, solid oak, good condition, a good buy for anyone who is interested. Address King’s Theatre, 565 College St., Toronto. c “The Storm” Has Ballyhoo Roof of Empire, Windsor “The Storm,” which opened the Empire Theatre, Windsor, Ont., September 18th, had an interesting exploitation stunt worked in advance of its presentation. A thunder sheet and a megaphone on the roof of the theatre, thundered “The Storm” announcement between 12 and 1 p.m. daily, and between 5 and 6. ‘Watch for the Storm” in conjunction with the manipulation of the thunder-sheet arrested the attention of the passerby and caused considerable comment. Street cars also carried “The Storm” cards, and reports indicate that the opening was big. Malicious Information Given In Order to “Get Even” Occasionally by oversight, or perhaps even through malicious intent, news that is incorrect is sometimes given to Digest correspondents, and with the best will in the world, it is often impossible to check up on these items until they have appeared in print. Of such was a recent story in connection with Mr. Irving Sourckes who was stated to have left the Montreal management of United Artists handling the Big Four Picture Artists, Griffiths, Fairbanks, Pickford and Chaplin. The fact is that Mr. Sourckes has not at any time entertained the intention of leaving the management of this exchange in Montreal. He reports that the prospects for an early release of pictures featuring one or other of the Big Four are very bright for this city. All Educationals To Play New Theatre in Honolulu Kahn and Greenfield, owners of a big circuit of theatres in and about San Francisco, have just completed a beautiful big picture house in Honolulu, and have signed the entire list of pictures to be furnished by Educational Film Exchanges, Inc., during the present season. This means that Educational will supply practically all of the short subjects for this fine house, except for a few special star productions. Many Out-Of-Town Exhibitors Visit Assoc. First The Associated First National had quite a number of out-of-town visitors at their Toronto office, among those we saw and knew were, “Bob Stevens of Sudbury, M. Pappas of Peterboro, C. Begg of the Classic ‘Theatre, Owen Sound; F. C. Astels of the Grand, Cobalt; Mr. Wowk of Kirkland Lake, Ont,