Cinema News and Property Gazette (1913)

March 19, 1913. THE CINEMA. 103 A STIRRING R.R EXCLUSIVE. A TICKET-OF-LEAVE MAN." Once again the R.R. Exclusive Film Co. have secured a picture which will prove one of the most successful features it has ever been the good fortune of the showman to have the opportunity of securing. In " A Ticket of Leave Man " is to be found all the concomitants that go towards the making of a perfect drama It is thrilling in the extreme, but yet it contains none of those nauseating details so often to be found in pictures of this kind. We need say no more in commendation of this fine picture, some idea of which will be gathered from the following full synopsis : — At last the long term of detention has passed. Once again liberty beckons him with a seductive smile as John leaves the prison behind, and his breast swells for the first time since sentence had been passed as he glances at God's golden sun in the azure sky, and thinks of what is to happen in the near future; slowly he directs his steps towards the city. Suddenly a motor-car passes him at a tremendous speed, and at a bend in the ioad dashes with full force against a mile stone, its occupant being violently flung into the ditch near by. Without hesitation John hastens to the aid of the lady and gently lifts her from the ground, and is almost overcome by a feeling of delight, for never before had he seen such charms and beauty in a woman's face, and he feels that he will never, never forget that face. Meanwhile the lady, happy to have escaped so lightly, warmly thanks him, gives John her card on leaving, and begs that he will send to her whenever he should be in trouble. For a long while he glances after the disappearing car. Sad thoughts cross his mind as he glances at the card — Lady Xorthon ! How different are their positions in life, what unbridgable gulf would always remain between them, for the sphere in which he must live would prove but poor attraction for so lovely and charming a being. Putting the card into his pocket he continues his weary steps. But hold ! clear voices are calling after him; pretty Ellen, nicknamed "The Yellow Rose," and Milton, two of his former companions, show great delight at seeing him again. Linking their arms in his all three make their way to a notorious thieves' kitchen in town, the hiding-place of the scum of the city, afraid to brave the light of day, amongst whom Ellen, " The Yellow Rose," and Milton are living. They receive him with open arms, as in him they see a useful helpmate, not being aware of the resolutions which John has formed to the effect that he will become an honest man again. " Yellow Rose," whose love to John, handsome and stately, had not been cooled by their long separation, is happy to have the man of her heart with her again, and, overwhelming him with kisses, she persuades him to follow her and some accomplices for the purpose of planning a burglary, which promises them rich gains. Again, wholly under the influence of this pretty girl, who in no way hides her love for him, John is persuaded to accede to her constant requests. He follows the girl, and quietly effects an entrance to the bank, where the safe is soon found, and under his skilled hands the heavy door soon yields. Putting his hand in his pocket quite accidentally he finds Lady Northon's card, and instantly the incident in the countrv road passes across his mind most vividly. Overcome by this remembrance he is unable to accomplish the evil deed, and he flees from the house. "Yellow Rose" follows him, appealing to him not to withdraw from their criminal intent, liut all her pleadings are in vain. John is not to be persuaded, and he leaves them behind in consternation. The next morning finds them together again in the thieves' kitchen. John is seated by himself at a table with gloomy thoughts, and " Yellow Rose," who notices this, asks old Jonas to play a tune on the piano which might bring back to him memories of former times. But hark ! the sound of a whistle. A signal that danger is near. Everybody tries to hide in some corner of the thieves' kitchen. The doors are burst open, and the detectives, led by Inspector Barley, rush into the room. Barley has discovered that the bank has been burgled, and his suspicion immediately points to John, owing to the complicated and skilled work this burglary at the bank proved to be. As soon as he recognised John he ordered his men to handcuff him; but John, with the agility of a cat, escapes the detectives, and after a wild chase across roofs and through subterranean passages, he, as well as "Yellow Rose" and Milton, succeed in making good their escape. Thinking of his lucky escape, John now firmly resolves to begin a new life, and he also succeeds in persuading " Yellow Rose" and Milton to a similar resolution. "Yellow Rose" finds a position as housemaid, while Milton has found work as a porter. John himself obtains a position at an office, and, being intelligent and industrious, he soon succeeds in working his way up. Once a week he meets " Yellow Rose," but his feelings' for her soon die. He has seen Lady Northon again, and pure, passionate love springs up in both their hearts. John, who had approached the lady under the name of Warming, soon after obtained her consent. " Yellow Rose" has long felt that John's feelings towards herself have undergone a change, and one afternono, on his refusal to meet her again in the evening, she resolves to shadow him, and witnesses the meeting of John and the beautiful Lady Northon. Her heart torn with unspeakable grief, she hastens back to the thieves' kitchen, and there writes a letter to John telling him she will go out of his life for ever. John heeds but little the reasons which have caused her to take this step, his happiness and his love for Lady Xorthon are his only consideration. Two years pass. "Yellow Rose" still pines for John, but her delicate body has proved unequal to the intensity of her grief. Broken and ill she gradually fades, and ere King Death draws his mantle around, speeding her to the realms of eternal peace and happiness, her conscience points out to her the path of duty. She must see John once more, and in her terror she scrawls him a letter, and old Jonas posts it. Many, many times Detective Barley has tried in vain to trace John. He succeeds, only to find that John is able to prove an alibi as " Mr. Warming." But he does not give in. Disguised as a criminal, he haunts the old thieves' kitchen, and is sharp enough to detect one day how the " Yellow Rose" breaks down, sobbing bitterly, as she reads in the daily paper of John's marriage with Mary Xorthon. He doubles his endeavours and shadows his steps, and when old Jonas is seen to post the letter which she had addressed to John, he succeeds by making himself acquainted with the contents of that communication, and now he is quite sure that he is on John's track. John, in answer to the letter he had received from " Yellow Rose," hastens to her couch of suffering, where she is lying with a broken heart. John is kneeling beside her when the detective enters, covers him with his revolver, and is about to arrest him. Hut the door is flung open and Mary, Lady Xorthon, rushing into the room, hurls herself between the two men. Meanwhile John, prepared for every danger, has drawn a revolver. Mary had just returned home, and, not finding John at once, had entered his study, and finding the letter from " Yellow Rose," it was an easy task for her to follow him, which an indescribable unrest had warned her to do." Her love for John allows of no doubt as to his innocence, and " Yellow Rose," overcome by so much courage and affection, in a wave of emotion which calls into being all the good that her life had left in her heart, confesses that she stole the bonds and had hidden them, and that John is innocent. Without losing 1 moment's time, both men make their way to the place indicated bv " Yellow Rose," followed by Mary Northon, and there they find the stolen notes. All three return to " Yellow Rose," who, however, has passed into the Great Unknown. Peacefully she had passed into the Eternal Sleep, where sorrow and grief will never find a place.