Cinema News and Property Gazette (1912)

70 FUMS.— Supplement to THE CINEMA. December, 1912. notes The police rush in and Grey, taken by surprise, is quickly secured and handcuffed. On the arrival of the culprits, Gerald is immediately released, and John Middleton, anxious to make up for his unworthy suspicion, withdraws all further opposition to Spencer's marriage to his daughter, and leaves the happy young couple in each other's arms. "KING ROBERT OF SICILY."— Released December 15. Length 1,100 feet, Kmg Robert, the wealthy and powerful ruler of Sicily, from continual success in everything he undertakes, and fed by the flattery of bis courtiers, has come to consider himself omnipotent and above all the laws of both God and man. Even the priests of the Church he treats with scant courtesy, and on one occasion, on hearing the choir chanting the Magnificat, and on hearing the words " Deposuit, etc.," he enquires what they mean, and wh'n he is told that the translation is, " He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted them of low degree," his rage knows no bounds, and his reply is typical of the man when hesays, "'Be it unto priests and people known, no power can push King Robert f om his throne." After this incident the King dismisses his courtiers and goes for a walk alone. When he returns, he finds to his unbounded astonishment that he is re used admittance to the palace. Nobody seems to recognise him, and everybody bursts into roars t f laughter at his statement that he is the King. At last he eners the ttirone-room, and there, to his utter amazement, he finds another upon his throne, one who is the very image of himself in form and feature and is accepted by all present as the re 1 King. King Robert fiercely denounces the man upon his throne as an impostor, but the answer he gets is that he is not the King, but the King's Jester, and to his horror he finds that he is slowly changing from King to Jester, his beautiful c'othes fall away from him, and in their place appear the Jester's cap and bells, whilst he himself is changed from his own upright and manly form to that of a hunchback fool. When he wakes in the morning, he first believes that all he has passed through is only a dream, but he finds that it is only too true, as instead of being in his own costly bed-chamber he is in a dismal cell, lying on a bed of s'raw. Time passes and King Robert, his proud spirit broken by the trials that he has undergone, and realising how much he has sinned in the past, resolves that he will lead a better life in future, and when, on one occasion, the occupier of the throne gently calls him to him and says, ' ' Art thou the King, ' ' he humbly answers that the other knows best, and that even if he were the King he realises that he was not fit to be so. Then it being at last plain that King Robert is truly repentant and has learnt his lesson, he hears from the other's lips the wonderful words, " I am an angel, and thou art the King," and saying this the other disappears, whilst King Robert finds himself back on his throne as before, clothed in all his old gorgeous apparel, a King once more; and when his wondering courtiers return they find him kneeling on the floor absorbed in prayer, with a crucifix c'asped in h's hand. INVICTA. 7, Rupert Court, W. "THE ADVENT OF JANE." — Released December 21st. Length 1,020 feet. To a moonshine district in the mountains comes Jane A. Bixby, M.D. This causes considerable comment among the inhabitants, who laugh at the very idea of " a woman doctor." But the majority of the men admire her charms, especially one Bill Jenkins, who plans to form her acquaintance. Joe Buford is also one who ridicules Jane's claim to medical ability. He has a little sister who is taken suddenly and seriously ill, and, all home remedies failing, he is compelled to carry her to Jane. Jane treats the little girl's case wisely and quickly and she is soon on the short road to recovery. Jane makes a wonderful impression upon Buford, and, when he discovers Bill Jenkins trying to form her acquaintance by a pretence of an injured hand, he rescues her from his unwelcome attentions. Later, teeling under great obligations to Jane, he presents her with a jug of moonshine whisky made in his own still. The newly-appointed U.S. Marshal, Calvin Doane, comes to Jane's office and in a joking manner points to the jug of whisky and then discovers it to be the produce of an illicit still. He immediately starts out with his deputies to arrest Buford and destroy the still. Buford jumps down the side of a cliff and swims a river in his attempt to escape, and finally arrives at Jane's office with a broken arm. Just as she has completed dressing his arm, Doane arrives and Jane conceals Buford. The latter is very bitter over being hounded by Doane, and comes out from his hiding place with the intention of killing Doane. Jane th»n makes him give up his revolver, but Jane finally persuades Doane to allow Buford one more chance. Doane then leaves, and Buford tells Jane that for her sake he will give up his lawless li e and become a better man. "DOWN BY THE SOUNDING SEA."— Released December 18th. Length 1,015 f^tJean, a young Briton fisherman, is betrothed to his cousin, Yvonne. While sorting his fish on the beach he is accosted by the lady of the chateau, who, attracted by his youth and strength, pauses to examine and buy his fish. She tells him to bring the fish along, and they go together to her home. There she dismisses Jean, bidding him, however, to return the next day with more fish. Jean, dazzled by her beauty and grace, returns home to his good mother and little cousin in a trance. Milady flirts with Jean for several weeks and the fisherman falls deeply in love with her. He repulse i his mother and sweetheart, who try to show him the folly of his infatuation. One day going to the chateau to see Milady, he meets her coming down the drive escorted by a man of her own caste. They are laughing and chatting together and Milady passes Jean without noticing him. For a moment he gazes after her stunned, then, turning, runs frantically along the beach in pursuit. Jean overtakes Milady and her escort. Milady casually says, " This is my fiance, Count Augard, Jean," then turns away leaving him stunned. Jean sees them ride away, and in an outburst of rage and despair loses his footing on the rocks and falls, striking his head. He lies there until found by his mother. She finally gets him into a boat and home, where she and Yvonne nurse him back to hetlth and reason. Love for his little cousin again fills his heart and he begs her forgiveness, which she readily accords. "THE SHERIFF'S REWARD."— Released December 21st. Length 1,030 feet. The Sheriff of Oklapola County is in love with Nell, and Nell has not only won the heart of the sheriff but also the fondness of his mother. Pasquale, a Mexican, and his band of outlaws are camping near Nell's home. Nell's father receives a cheque for 8,000 dollars. Pasquale sees this and goes at once to inform the bandits. Nell and her fa'her are alone on the ranch, and the father, seeing the bandits approaching, starts to defend himself, but is soon shot and falls to the floor wounded. They rush into the house, seize Nell, who has gone after the money, take her captive, set fire to the house and dash away. The father finally revives, staggers to the stable and rides to the village store. The cowboys meet him ; he explains everything. The sheriff and the boys are soon on the trail of the bandits, and they finally succeed in capturing them. Nell is rescued, and the sheriff takes her to his home. A few weeks later the Sheriff receives for his reward a cheque for 2,000 dollars from the Governor of the State for ridding the community of the band of outlaws, which he turns over to the mothers of two boys killed in the fight. His greater reward is the hand of his sweetheart Nell in marriage. IT ALA. Tyler Film Co. "LITTLE FANNY'S THIEF."— Released December 8th. Length 910 feet. Reported burglaries in the villas near by greatly alarm Fanny's mother. Papa is going away, and jokingly leaves Fanny to take care of mother. Mother and child are sleeping together at night, when Fanny is aroused by a noise. Creeping through the darkened house, she enters the drawing-room, and finds a burglar there gathering together the valuables. She switches on the light, and when the burglar springs round to attack, she begs him not to make a noise lest he should wake mamma. The child offers him all her little treasures if he will not take any belonging to her mother. He does so, and then stealthily gets out of the window and away. Fanny returns to bed, her mother having remained undisturbed. Next morning, however, the servants discover traces of an attempted burglary, but there is great rejoicing when it is found that nothing has been stolen. Fanny says notning concerning the incident, but the matter preys upon her mind, and when her father returns he is puzzled to know what it is that ails the child. After some little persuasion the truth comes out, and whilst the parents are trying to soothe the child the postman brings a packet, which proves to be the box containing Fanny's jewels, to which the burglar has added his own watch as s present to the oddest little girl he ever met.