Cinema News and Property Gazette (1912)

August, 1912. FILMS.— Supplement to THE CINEMA. XI. SELIG. Gerrard Street, V. "THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE."— Released August 22nd. Length 1,005 feet. The Watkins family consists of father, mother and son. The father is a railroad magnate and wizard of finance ; the mother is an indulgent, capricious social butterfly, and the son is an unguarded plant left to grow wild in the soil of luxury. When the inevitable day of reckoning comes, the boy, headstrong and defiant, rebels at his father's authority and leaves home. From being a gay young spendthrift, he descends the ladder, of poverty. The parents are remorseful and unhappy because of their lost son Accidentally Watkins Sen., reads an account of a great scientist who, wearied with the emptiness of wealth, went out to study and labour among the poor. The idea fascinates him, and he decides to emulate the scientist's example. Disguised as a common labourer, Watkins Sen., rubs elbows with the forlorn, weary, down-and-out wrecks of life. Among them eventually he finds his son, who. hopeless and desperate, has determined to end it all. A reconciliation takes place and the boy, having tasted the bitter dregs of the cup of folly, decides to make a man of himself. Each has learned the great lesson of life and are the better for it, and the two turn homeward together. "THE OLD STAGE COACH."— Released, August 22nd. Length, 1,007 feet. Frank Richards, driver for the Continental Stage Line in the early '70's, is given a new coach to drive. June Adams is a passenger and becomes Frank's sweetheart. June, in bad health, goes away in an effort to save her life, but in vain. Her death endears the coach to Frank, as it is a part of his life romance. The railroad renders the stage line useless, and the coaches are sold at auction. Frank tries to buy the coach he drove, but is outbid by a stranger. Broken hearted, Richards leaves, and years later, dressed in his old garb, is known as Dad Richards, and loved by all. One day he meets his old Superintendent, now a railroad president, at a " Wild West " show. They see a mock hold-up of an old stage coach and Frank recognises it as the one he drove. The president receives a telegram, stating that his wife is dying, and a wreck on the road causes him to get the old coach to reach her side. Frank again drives the coach. He races with a train and, upon reaching the station, it is found he has driven his last trip. Frank has gone to his last reward with a peaceful smile on his face. "THE MYSTERY OF ROOM 29."— Released Aug. 29th Length 976 feet. Two prospectors, Cardigan and Tiel, find a dead man. Searching the body they find the map of an unrecorded gold mine. They decide to keep it for themselves, and Cardigan puts it in his pocket. At night, Tiel steals the map and slips away. Cardigan, tracing his false partner, discovers him registered at a cheap hotel, in "Room 29." He secures the adjoining room. The next morning the chambermaid discovers Tiel is dead. Two detectives, Nave and Hardcastle, investigate the murder. Nave considers a door to the next room, which they enter and find Cardigan on the bed, pretending sleep. He is questioned and says he never saw' the man before They go to see a room across the alley. Cardigan gets his coat, puts it on, drops an envelope in doing so, and accompanies them. The policeman picks up the old envelope and hands it to Nave on his return. It has the name of the murdered man on it and also that of Cardigan. Nave confronts him with it, and Cardigan escapes and leads the officers a bewildering chase before he is captured. He confesses to the murder and also explains the ruse he employed to divert suspicion. SOLAX. J. W. Brockliss. " THE LITTLE SOLDIER."— Released August 21st. Length 1,550 feet. Tommy was a little soldier, and he thirsted for something or someone on which to prove his mettle. Being drilled by mother, or drilling the butler was very entertaining, but it soon lost its novelty, and as for Clara, the servant, she was always too cross either to be drilled or fought with. But when father came home, Tommy was in his element. Father, obligingly, threw off his every-day appearance, and became a dastard foe, who, armed with the drawing-room poker, fought a fierce but hopeless fight against the formidable Tommy, who eventually despatched his adversary with one powerful thrust of his trusty blade. One night, father had to go out, and the butler was out too, so Tommy was obliged to play upstairs with his little lead soldiers — stupid things that wouldn ' t mo ve and wouldn ' t fall down when you' d shot them . Downstairs, the servant who was always disagreeable, was letting in a man toburgle the house. Tommy's mother heard the noise and went downstairs to investigate. The burglar held her covered with a revolver. Then Tommy took a hand. He, too, had heard the noise. Here surely was a real foe at last. Donning his paper helmet and gripping his trusty sword, he went down and attacked the interloper, just as father came in with another gun pointed at the burglar. There was a struggle, and the burglar's gun went off. Tommy dropped, with a pitiful moan to the floor. . Imagine, if you can, the a<»ony of his parents. That poor brave little lad, full of his boyish fun, to be killed or wounded unto death in the very hour of his playful triumph. Tearfully they bore him to his bed, mournfully they sent for the doctor; but while those three were standing in anxious consultation round the bed of the sufferer, Tommy jumped out. " I'm not hurt," he said, " I was only pretending to die like father." And they were so overjoyed that their little one had been spared, that mother and father forgot to chide Tommy for the fright he had given them. TYLER. TvX.BR Film Co., Ltd. "GEORGE FETCHES THE MILK."— Released August 15th. Length 915 feet. George is henpecked, and when the servant, reprimanded, marches off indignantly, George is compelled by his female belongings to do the servant's work. He prepares tea, but there is no milk ; he is dispatched to get some. He arrives at the milk-shop, but coming out collides with a lady whose attractions fascinate him. With the milk-can on his arm, he forgets about wife and mother-in-law at home, and follows the lady to a cafe. There she joins friends, and George is made welcome in the jovial circle. Champagne passes freely, and the erring husband is very soon reduced to a deplorable condition. Finally he is turned out to make the best of his way home. Meanwhile, friends at home have called, and they are expecting George back with the milk every minute. Minutes and hours go, but no George arrives ; the police are sent for. After taking measurements of George's clothing and boots, and carrying out other humourous preliminaries, the police set off to search for the wanderer. They get on to one or two false scents, but finally discover George lying prone upon the pavement. Triumphantly they cary him home, when he proceeds to provide the party with the milk, but it has been so long on the road that by now the milk is sour, which, coupled with George's condition, brings upon him a severe matrimonial drubbing. URBANORA, Wardour Street, W. "THE GOLDEN CLUE."— Released August 28th. Length 1,395 feet. John Foster, an engineer, aided by his secretary, Philip Denman, is putting the finishing touches to the plans of his new invention. George Redmond enters with Lucie, the inventor's only daughter. It is quite apparent that Lucie loves George, and he whispers to her to be on the balcony at 11.30 that evening, as he wishes to see her. Lucie is romantic, and at the hour arranged leaves her room to keep the appointment with her lover. He hands her a note asking her to lend him the engineer's plans for a few hours, explaining that he will return them next morning, and no one will ever know of their removal. Lucie cannot refuse him, and taking the precious papers from her father's desk hands them to George through the window. Next day the engineer discovers the theft ; he questions the household and finally accuses the secretary. Unable to prove any facts, he sends for Nat Pinkerton who, on examining the desk, discovers a strand of golden har caught in the lock. He quickly satisfies himself that it is the colour of Lucie's curls, and arrests the secretary-, explaining to him that it is