Cinema News and Property Gazette (1912)

66 FILMS.— Supplement to THE CINEMA. December, 1912. over Howe, who, on coming to, is dumbfounded to learn what has happened. The villain is quickly handcuffed and taken away, leaving Sir William and the remainder of the guests discussing the mystery of " The Missing Tiara." " PRIVATE HECTOR— GENTLEMAN."— Released December 26th. Length 1,345ft. Jack Hector's mother died when he was quite a child and his father had given way to him in every respect and had, on more than one occasion, paid his debts. Thinking a companion wr uld alter his ways, the father ad< pts the daughter of a very old friend, and the two grow very fond of each other ; but the old devil as e rts itself, and Jack is threatened with exposure by a moneylender unless his debts are met. The arrival of his cousin, Captain Dreen, on leave, brings matters to an earlier climax than he anticipated. In confidence, Jack shows his cousin the moneylender's threatening letter and a few days after, when he has cause to protect his father's ward from the offensive proposals of the captain, he betrays his confidence and determines to get possession of the letter, knowing quite well how determined his uncle is not to pay any more money but to disinherit his son. Entering Jack's room, the Captain finds him busy cleaning a sporting gun and, apologising, offers his hand in friendship, which is readily accepted, at the same time he notices his cousin's coat hanging on a chair and, diverting Jack's attention, extracts the fatal letter from his pocket. Leavirg him to finish he goes straight to the library, where he knows his uncle spends his mornings attending to his letters and places the letter in a conspicuous position. Jack failing to give a satisfactory explanation, is ordered by his enraged father to leave the house. Homeless, friendless, and penniless, he is forced to join the army. A few days alter he joins he finds his cousin is his superior officer. While on active service he volunteers to go single-handed to reconnoitre the enemy's position, and while doing so he discovers his cousin in the act of selling plans to the enemy. Jack follows the foe and brings him down with a welldirected shot and obtains possession of the stolen plans. On returning to camp, he again meets his blood enemy, and foolishly informs him of his mission. The captain at once has Jack arrested and charged with being in unlawful possession of the missing plans. He is found guilty and condemned to death, but during the night the outpost captures a party of the enemy and when brought into camp, among them is the wounded accomplice of Captain Dreen, who turns traitor and accuse s the captain of wounding and robbing him of the plans. The colonel sends a messenger to prevent the firing party carrying out the executk n of Jack, who is brought back to camp and his revengeful cousin condemned to take his place. ECLAIR. Tyler Film Co., Ltd. and the spray flies to the very feet of the trngician and his daughter The galley, storm-tos ed, is dashed upon the rocks andi's passengers struggling for dear life in the w Id sweep ng waves. Thanks to Prospero's power, all are permitted to reach land in. safety. When they assemble it is found that Ferdinand, the King's son, is missing, and, after f uitless search, they believe him dead. But Ferdinand has met a pleasanter fate. Washed up upon another part of the island and scrambling over the rocks he meets Miranda. It is a case of deep love at first sight. Prospero observes them and gives consent to their betrothal, forgiving the wrong done him by his enemies. They return to the cave. The sound of Ariel's drum has, meanwhile, led the shipwrecked mariners and the King to the cave. Entering they greet Prospero, but do not recognise him. He bids them wait, then leaving them robes him-elf in the garments belongirg to his old dignity. Returning to the royal part he accuses them of their misdeeds and fills them with terror and dismay. They supplicate for mercy, but Prospero, revealing Ferdinand and Miranda, conveys his wi lingness to forgive Prospero then leads them through his enchanted garden where, at Ariel's bidding, the terrestrial spirits assemble and go through a series of fascinating dances in honour of the visitors. Subsequently the party rt turns t ) Naples, and the court celebrates the marriage of the happy couple. "THE TEMPEST." — Released December 22nd. Length 1,885 ^et. Prospero is Duke of Milan. He is a student of the occult sciences, and leaves his brother Antonio to manage the Duchy whilst he pursues his studies. The duke and his brother are members of the court of the King of Naples. Antonio plot to have his brother driven forth and himselt in-tailed Duke ot Milan. He succeeds in winning the King of Naples to his desires, and Gonzalo, a Spanish officer, is sent with some so'diers to expel Prospero ; he carries out his orders with sorrow for he likes the duke. Prospero leaves the castle, taking with him his little daughter, Miranda. They are set adrift in an open boat. The boat drifts over to an island and Caliban, an evil spirit, sees from the rocks the boat approach. The castaways are driven upon the island and Prospero, carrying his child, steps on shore. Seated at the mouth of the cave he comforts the child, whilst behind, from the cavern, Caliban watches in dismay, realising that a super or power has taken possession. Journeying about the is'and Prospero discovers in the wood a sunny spirit, Ariel, in the likeness of a child, whom Caliban has imprisoned in a tree. By means of his power Prospero succeeds in liberating the spirit who thereafter becomes his willing servant. Prospero can summon Ariel at will, and the spirit transforms the grotto into ahandsomeapartment. Summonsing Ariel, Prospero calls up a vision of the court of Naples, Watching the pajeant as it passes in the dark recesses of the cave he learns of his brother's treachery, and sees him with the King of Naples. It is sixteen years since he was cast away, and Miranda has gr. wn into a beiutiful maiden. The royal galley is passing near the island, and Prospero standing with his daughter on the rocks, summons up a storm. The waves dash again1 the rocks, EDISON. Gerrard Street, W. " THE SKETCH WITH THE THUMB PRINT."— Released Dec. 21st. Length 1,000 feet. Mr. Harry Furnis*, the famous English cartoonist, and his daughter are visiting New York in search of various American "types." While passing a Fifth Avenue jewellery store the daughter calls his attention to a rough-looking man who stands gazing at the diamonds d splayed in the window. As the artist finishes the sketch his daughter accidentally drops a sketch of herself, the rough-looking man picks it up, and in handing it to the girl leaves his dirty thumb-print upon it. Later, the artist leaves the sketch-book on a park bench. The reporter, wandering in the park and discouraged at lack of news, reads a heading in a newspaper o' a great diamond robbery, and wishes he were lucky enough to lecate the criminal. He finds the sketchbook, sees the name and address c f the owner on the i side, and rcturnsit to him. He asks for a sketch in re urn, and selects the one of the daughter upon which is the dirty thumb prinf. In glancing over a newspaper which he has been reading, the artist recognises the name of the jeweller who was robbed as the cne in front cf whose shop he sketched the rough character. He tells the reporter of the incident, and shows him a sketch of the man, and also shows him the man's thumb-print. The reporter's newsgathering propensity immediately begins to assert itself, and he proceeds to the " Rogues' Gallery " to find tut who the original of the sketch is. La'er, in looking over the scene ot the crime, he finds a thumb-print on a bit of broken gla=s in the jeweller's smashed window. He learns of the haunts frequented fy the man he suspects, secures another print of his thumb. The three prints prove conclusive evidence, and the criminal is arrested. The reporter gives his paper a " scoop " which reinstates him in the favour of the city editor, and the closing scene shows him in high favour with the artist's pretty daughter. "THE USURER'S GRIP." Released Dec. 28th. Length 1,000 feet. A young clerk, a small salary, a wife and child, the child long ill — then the doctor's bill and other bills and debts accumulate; the advertisement in the newspaper about borrowing m« ney on your furniture at six per cent. — ah ! that's the solution. "I'll try it!" Yes, he tried it, and as the picture unfolds itself we see the clerk, careworn and desperate, borrowing a small sum from a "loan shark," who compels him to return a fifth of the amount for drawing up papers. At this the clerk remonstrates, Mid shows the "loan shark "his own advertisement at six per cent. The "shark" snarls and snatches back the m ney— but the child is ill ; what can the clerk do but submit, take what he gets, and sign that fatal card, whirh reads that he must repty almost twice the total of the original lean. He signs it — he has to. Now come the dreaded monthly payments. He cannot always meet them — what then? Slowly they go— h s watch, her brooch, and last the baby's ring. Does this affect the "loan shark"? No, he is pitiless. And next comes the next horror — the " bawler-out." The clerk at his desk in a large office is told that a woman wishes to see him. She