Cinema News and Property Gazette (1912)

December, 1912. FILMS.— Supplement to THE CINEMA. 63 her way through life, careless of the sighing and love-making o* the young men she meets. There is one who is more persistent than the others, and, in addition to telling Stella of his love, enlists the sympathy of her father. She will not listen to either of them, but laughs at her fisher lover's pretensions. One day, on her way from the shore with her basket of fish she is met by two young men who intercept her and attempt to kiss her. Her cries bring her lover to the scene, who quickly disposes of her assailants and guards her to her father's door. This incident causes a change in Stella's feelings and she begins to look upon her lover with favour, but he, having her previous refusal in mind, determines to play a trick upon her with the object of rousing her jealousy. He pretends to make love to another pretty fisher girl with such good effect that Stella becomes passionately in love with him ; and explanations being made, the final scenes end in the betrothal of the lovers. "HIGH TIDE." Released December 21st. Length 891 feetBelle and Blanche are two very pretty fishergirls who are as happy as the day is long in following their vocation. They attract the attention of Freddy, a young swell with plenty of idle time on his hands, while waiting the arrival of his fiancee. He commences a little flirtation with Belle, meeting her by the shore and in sequestered nooks, free from the eyes of onlookers. He manages to do the same with Blanche, and each believe that he is serious in his protestations of love, and for a time are happy. At last Belle discovers Blanche and Freddy together, and becomes jealous of her companion. She determines to watch them and ultimately ascertains the truth that Freddy is merely flirting with them both. As both girls arrive at that conclusion, they determine to pay him out. They invite him to go out for a row with them, and when out near some rocks, they get Freddy to step out of the boat on some pretence, and as he innocently obeys them, they row away and leave him stranded, with the tide rising rapidly. Gradually the rocks become submerged, and Freddy has to choose between drowning and endeavouring to swim to shore. He chooses the latter alternative and plunges into the sea. He swims until about exhausted, when he is picked up by a passing fishing smack and conveyed to land, completely cured of his flirting propensity, and the girls are satisfied with their revenge, when Freddy's fiancee arrives and sees the deplorable figure of her lover as he makes his way from the boat. "FLOWER OF LOVE AND FLOWER OF DEATH."— Released December 28th. Length 2,221 feet. ' In a romantic castle a count and his lady live in the midst of every luxury. Amongst their retainers is Renaud, a page, who waits upon his mistress in a faithful manner. His constant attendance begets in his heart an innocent love that engrosses his whole being. She is unconscious of the feeling the page has for her, but is curious as to the donor of a bunch of flowers she finds every morning on her window-sill when she opens the casement. She has no clue to the mvsterious gift, but one morning the count sees her with the flowers and compels her to explain how she has procured them. She tells him the story, and full of jealousy the count watches the next morning and discovers the page in the act of climbing up to the window with his usual gift of flowers. When Renaud descends, the count meets him, and, drawing his sword, wounds him fatally. He calls his servants and has the body thrown over a precipice. Renaud is not dead, and is rescued and carried to his mother's house, where he expires. His sister Elsie, over his dead body, swears to have a bitter revenge upon his murderer. She leaves her home, and, placing herself in the way of the count, enlists his sympathy, declaring that she is an orphan with no home. The count is at first interested in her and ultimately falls in love with her and suggests that she should dress as a page and take the place of Renaud and attend upon the countess. Elsie plays her part so well that her mistress falls in love with her, believing her to be a handsome boy. The count pesters her with his protestations of love, but Elsie keeps him at a distance, telling him she will not become his while the countess is alive. She plays upon the feelings of both and ultimately works each of them up to a pitch of madness, with such effect that the count slays his wife and meets his death through a bunch of poisoned flowers presented to him by Elsie, who thus in the most drastic manner avenges the murder of her brother. CLARENDON. 12, Charing Cross Road, W.C. house, where they watch him make arrangements to proceed immediately to Russia with an important despatch. They enter and attack Ware. While the two men are fighting, Pelly's accomplice makes off with the despatch. Sybil Ware's fiance enters, and runs out in pursuit. She catches the other woman and wrests the despatch from her, but at that moment Pelly, who has broken away from Ware, arrives on the scene, recovers the despatch, and gets away. Pelly leaps on a tramcar, holds the driver " up," and is hotly pursued by another tramcar, the driver of which has been ordered " In the king's name " to reverse his car and follow. Pelly manages to get back to his " lair," and he and his gang make a desperate " last stand." They are bombarded from all sides by police and civilians, who obtain shelter behind carts, until all but Pelly are shot down. He tries to escape by the roof, but is caught by Ware, and after a fierce combat overpowered and handed over to the police. The despatch safe, Ware and Sybil are congratulated by high authorities. " A WOMAN'S PLUCK."— Released December 15th. Length 505 feet. A farmer returns home from market. His money bags are full. Two brigands, having received news of his success, disguise themselves as man and wife and call at the farmer's house on the pretext of illness. The farmer is readily persuaded to drive the supposed husband to the doctor. No sooner have these two departed than the decrepit woman throws off her disguise and is revealed as an accomplice to a famous brigand. He compels the farmer's young wife to hand over the keys of the safe, but whilst he is searching lor the gold, she secures a revolver and shoots him. Meanwhile, the other brigand has struck down the farmer unawares, and as she turns she can hear him coming on the road. Without a moment's thought she rapidly disguises herself in the wig and shawl originally worn by the dead brigand. By this means she momentarily deceives the chief. A desperate encounter follows his discovery of her identity, but at the end, by sheer pluck the young woman succeeds in overpowering both the villains. At the conclusion of the picture her wounded husband returns in time to save his wife as she falls fainting to the ground. "NINA'S EVENING PRAYER."— Released December 15th. Length 735 feet. Nina has been accustomed to say her prayers at her father's knee. The father is faced with financial ruin and disgrace and, in a weak moment, steals money from his employer. His conscience is smitten by the words of his baby girl as she kneels by his knee, " Lead me not into temptation, but make me good, just like my Daddy." His action is brought home to him, and in spite of all difficulties, he decides at once to return the stolen money. It is late at night and he has just successfully accomplished his errand, when he is disturbed by an unusual sound — burglars are approaching. He succeeds in outwitting the intruders, and whilst holding them at bay with a revolver he telephones to the police. Later, he confesses to his employer, telling him the whole truth and explaining how he came to be at the office at that late hour. When the chief hears of the reason of his repentance, he rapidly grants his forgiveness. COSMOPOLITAN, Film House, Gebrard Street, W. " DR. BRIAN PELLY AND THE SECRET DESPATCH."— Released December 8th. Length 745 feet. Dr. Pelly and his female accomplice see Tom Ware, the secret service agent, enter the Foreign Office and follow him to his "JACK SHEPPARD."— Released December 8th. Length 3,200 feet. Sir Rowland Trenchard has a sister who is secretly married to Sir Cecil Trevor. Sir Rowland wishes to make away with Sir Cecil's child, which imperils his enjoyment of a fortune. He seeks an ugly ruffian, Jonathan Wild, and hires him and his associates, amongst them one Blueskin, to attack a house where Sir Cecil and his wife are, and make away with the child. They force an entrance, but the noise alarms Sir Cecil, who escapes out of the window, taking the child with him. Sir Rowland, masked, enters with the masked ruffians, and not finding their quarry, abuse the wife, then follow Sir Cecil. Mr. Wood, carpenter, hires a boat to row him across the Thames on his way home. He has just left the landing-stage when Sir Cecil, with the baby in his arms, jumps into an empty boat and endeavours to escape from his pursuers. They seize another boat and follow. As the boats draw level, Sir Cecil whips out his sword and seeks to defend himself, but he is pierced by Sir Rowland's blade and falls into the water. The murderer then picks up the child and flings it after his father. The child floats across to Mr. Wood's boat, and he picks up the babe and carries it home, where he induces his good wife to adopt