New York Clipper (Nov 1915)

44 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER PICTURE PLAY REVIEWS. "THE &A.VEK" <ESSAHAY) SIX REBLSf Y. L. B. E. Program, Releatei Nov. 8. Henry Walthal, one of the ecreen's really gmt actors, achieves a gennlne triumph as the Imper- sonator of Edgar Alien Poe In this truly peycho- loslcal iketcli of the great American writer's life. "The Baven,'* 'while It does not purport to gtvi a historical account of Foe's career, furnishes an excellent outline of prominent incidents in Foe's life, and more than anything else brings out force- fully and vividly the hopes, sorrows and disap- pointments of one of the most plctnresque char- acters In the annals of American letters. Krequent use Is made of trick photography, and the value of the camera an a menus whcrvbv to create dl5tlnctlvi> lUlegorical effects, Impossible Ui a btage iiroductlon, la very clearly shown. The fliinatlzatlon of "The Baven" Is based to a certnln extent on tlie novel by Geo. C. Hazelton. The cetet>rat»Mntervlew with the Raven Is pUyod ui> fnr a considerable amount of footage, but all to food puri<ose, by Director Chaa. Brabin, ^o, on the whole, has turned out a first class produc- tion. Wolthal's acting, na asnal. though. Is the chief asset of the picture. Thi> sincerity, poise, repres- sion and authority with A-hlch this artist can con- vey various moods and emotions through the media of his wonderful pantomimic gifts, denotes actlne talents of sensational character. "The Baven," besides the fact of having Henry Walthal In the principal role, has been endowed with a fine acting cnst. Here Is a picture thac should draw as well In Ave years as It docs to-day. Len. "DELIut. DONNA" (PASIOVS PLAYXSRS) FIVE REELS. Paramount Prooram, Releaied Kov. IS. "Prlla Donna," in Its screen form, proves quite roncloslvely that the conventional happy ending is a more or less unnecessary attribute to the suc- cessful filming of dramatic literature. After per- ronnlng vartous diteda of reprehensible character, Incli'dlnc the murder of her nusband, Bella Donna Is consiigned to deuth In the desert; and no one iH 80CIT, for a more fiendishly wanton female wonld be hard to f.nd. Tho general tone of this production Is high, .'nclodlng scenic acor-ssorles, locations and acting. I;: this relation, Pauline Frederick acquits ber- si'lf with honors, and performs the commendable task of not making her Interpretation of the title I'Ole unnecessarily vamplrlsh. In fact. It Is the subtle treatment she gives the part and the easy, finished manner In which the olsagreeihle characterUUcs of the wicked woman are suggested^ that makes her portrayal Intensely Interesting. The story itself la clearly told, and the varl- ons scenes show a proper regard for leqaenea. Jal-an Lestrtoce Is a cool and reposeful Barondl. and Thos. Holding plays the part of the hu9bana with Intelligence and a true knowledge o( Its re- quirements. "Bella Donna" Is a' picture drama, that will undoubtedly draw better on its return date than on Its Initial engagement. It Is the type of at- traction that win create talk wherever shown. Len. '•TUB MTBIMr AND THE HDBIUING BIRD" (FAMOUS PL,AYBRS) FIVE REELiS, Paramount Prugram, Releated J8. "The Mommy and the Hnminlng Bird" Is a well filmed mtlodrama, presenting, for the first time Incldeatally to screen patrons, that excellent actor, Chas. Cherry. He ploys the role of the Mmnmy In this production, and proves himself to be quite as much at homo on the screen as he haa always been In the spoken drama. Mr. Cherry, however, plays a part that gives him few opportunities, the heavy, played <n this Instance bj Arthur Hoops, carrying off most of the acting honors. Mr. Uooi>s Is the Humming Bird, an Italian novel- wrltlng gentleman, who Just delights in projecting himseSf Into family oifalrs end becoming; the thiril party of tli« eternal trlanxle. Mr. ITnops. as an unuauallT refined dress-solted villain, la aufllclently sinister In every respect. As a "villain" bl.s work would be hard to dnpUcate. Lillian Tncker la the Mommy's wife. She la ex- cellent lu a part requiring real ablUtv. Wm. Sorelle plays the pa.-t of the Italian in which Lionel Barrymore made sncli a big hit when the play wns first produced several years ago as a spoken drama, Mr. S'jrcUe does very well with the role. . Janes Diirkin directed the picture and ban suc- ceeded In pre.senting a irtorj- that holds and Inter- ests. His handling of the several dramatic climaxes occurring toward the finish evidences good pro- ducing Judgment. i,in. ANNA HELD'S SCREEN VEHICLE. "HME. PRESIDENT/' Closel.v following the arrlvai of Anna Held In Los Angeles, to appear before the motion picture camera at the Oliver Morosco stndloa. the Eastem ofllces of this Paramount organization announced Its acquisition nf the screen rights on the Interna- tlonai stage sncjcss, "Madame La Prcsldente," In which production tlic famous star yrUl miLke her film debuL On arriving In Los Angeles, where she was given a royal recrptlom by rcpr cjc u ta-tlvea of the dally papers, trade Journals, and the Morosco Company, the French comedienne appeared a bit upset due to an accident which befell her private car a half hoar's ride out of Los Angeles, when a huge hook of a freight derrick caught the back of KIlss Held'4 auto and damaged It slightly. The noise of fall- ing glaas "nearly took her heart away," the star confessed, and she later told of hnvlng advised one of the stage crew to send her heart to the Mo- rosco studio If It was found. According to rumor, hriwever, the heart of Anna Held has alreadv been captured by a Russian prince, who presented her with a magnificent string of pearls Just prior to her departure to che West Coast. Miss Held during her atay In Los Angeles, and work on "Madame l.n. Presldcnte" has already been started. The proilut-tlon Is scheduled for re- lca.<;e tile early part of February, on the Para- mount program. November 27 SPEAKING OF ANNA HELD. "Whfen they talk .about Anna Held getting ready for her ucreen debut," said Ashley Miller, "they show thnt they are less than four years old In the film Industry. I had the ;:onor, a uttle more thau three .vears ago, of directing Miss Held's flrjr mi>11on picture. "I had been a menJ)er of her supporting com- pany In 'The Parisian Model,' at the Broadway I'hcatre, and so we were well acquainted when 1 came to Initiate her Into the mysteries of the silent drama I am sure she will make a success of the feature film work wh'.vh she Is booked to do, and I »nvy th.> r.lrector who will have charge of t^c production, us she Is tl:c most considerate of stars, and perfectly salted to the screen work." SELIG-TKIBUNE SUCCEEDS HEARST- SELIG WEEKLY. The SeUg/lYlbone, to be known as "the world's greatest news Aim," wlU ifooa mnke Its apprarancr In Motion Plctureland. The Scllg Po'yscope Com- pany and The Chicago Tribune, deservedly known as the world's greatest newspaper. bav» Joined forces, and are prepared to releaise an animated newspaper, which for originality and enterprise, will bave few rivals. 'I'he Sellg-'i'rlbune will supplant the Hearst-Sellg News Pictorial, end will be released twice weekly, f<very Monday and Thursday. The active co-opera- tion of one of tbe greatest of film producing con- cerns and one of the greatest American newspapers Is certain to result In the filming of a most In- teresting, tlmel,v news pictorial Tht Chicago Tribune possesses one of the great- est news and pictorial staffs In the world. Cor- respondents and camera men represent The Tri- bune in all parts of the world. The Tribune has ezcluslvs correspondents with ell tbe European armies. In M<xlco, In every capital In the world, and these wideawake men and women will he working continually for the advancement of the Sellg-Tribune. A versatile staff of film editors has been organ- ized and the Sellg-Trlbune will be released under their snperrlBloD. Many innovatloos are being IPlanned outsldi! the beaten paths and tbrse new deaa are certain to be greatly appreciated by the picture play public. It Is being freely predicted that the SeKg-Trl- bune will supply a long felt want and the first releases of this new film are being anticipated with great Interest. DwiNO to an unexpected change In schedule. "A Tannic In He.irts," which wss to be released Nov. 14, was shifted to Dec, S, In order to allow th« two Harry Vokes comedlos to be released one after tbe other. John Daly Murphy has done some of his best light comedy work In this Casino star comedy. PL.VY SELECTED AW INTERN ATIONATi SUCCESS. In se-^arlng "Madame La Presldente". for Anna Held, Oliver Morosco has obtained a vehicle In which the noted star should prove a big success, as tbe title character la particularly adapted to her talents. In order to obtain the motion picture rights to this play, Mr. Morosco was compelled to purchase It at a figure that ranks high among pay- ments for screen rights to famous plays made to date. Tlie play, by Maurice Hennequln and Pierre Vebcr, h.ns proved Itself a big International success, bavlng toured the principal Continental cities of Europe, Including Paris. Berlin, Vienna aud .Milan. In this country It was first produced on Broadway at tbe GarrJck Theatre, where It played to good business with Fannie Ward In tbe title role. The story deals with tbe adventures. In a staid French provincial town, of Gray of Gobette, the beautiful leading woman of a musical troupe play- ing thero. She haa given a late supper at the hotel to some of the other Thespians, and this meets with tbe disapproval of the village president, who orders the players from the hoteL Oob^tte, hav- ing no placH to spend the night, goes to the house of the president. Hla wife Is absent and she makes hersnlf at home. He finds her there when he returns from seeing his wife off on her way to Paris. His superior, the Minister of Justice, ar- rives unexpectedly, and, to avoid suspicion, the actress Is Introduced as the president's wife. The ■ minister falls Is love with the actress, and a series of complications ensues when the orealdent'e real wife returns, which are finally straightened out after much cause for worry on tbe part of both tbe minister and tbe president. For days before Mlys Held's arrival at tbp Btujios, carpenters, p.-ilnters and decorators had br<'n Kis.v on fitting out a special dressing room fnr tho imted star. PlM lr efforts were not in vain, for her dreaaliur room proved of chief hi terest to the petite comedienne on Inspecting the studios for the first time. ' A bnn^^ow has been leased for WOELD FILffl COBPOBATION liBWIS J. SEtiZmCK. Vlee-Presiaemt and Oeoerol nsnsgei WILLIAM A. BRADY PICTURE PLAYS, Inc. PRBBERTS ROBERT WARWICK "THE SINS OF SOCIETY" Robert Warwick Is seen at his very best, as a handsome, manly hero, saerlflclng himself for the girl he loves, and ultimately winning her as a reward of his courage and devotion. For Fartber Infonnatton Commanlomte wltb tlie Nearest Brkncb ot 130 Wut Mtb St.,' New Tork Ctty. Brsneltes Every-wlisre. Br»neliea BTsry-wliere. CsnadlsB Ofllees, Toronto, BIOBlreal, Winnipeg, Calgary ^EQUIT ABLE^ Presents the charming, versatile,screen personality MURIEL OSTRICHE supported by WILLIAM H. TOOKER, CLARA WHIPPLE, and all Dramatic Cast, in a rugged, romantic, picturesque story of the stormy coast country, "A MMQHTER OF THE SE/I" RELEASED NOVEMBER aSnd UlTADLE MOTIOAJ PICTURET CORPORAT(ONr#» LEWI3 J. 3EUWIC K. VICE PBIS. AWO AOVia OPr DiOCCTOB. Till WORLD FILM. CORPORA.TIOIM