Educational film magazine; (19-)

tant. The important thing is that this picture is intended to and ought to take the insular conceit out of millions of Earth's inhabitants and show them how far they have to go along civilization's rocky road before they as a people can attain to the sublime perfect state of the mil- lions on Mars. The story, shorn of its exquisite symbolism, is as fol- lows: "A Trip to Mars" is the outcome of scientific jealousy. An eminent astronomer lias declared that the Martians have been seeking to estalilish communication with the Earth. His conten- tions are so bitterly assailed by a rival scientist that the old man's son, an aviator and inventor of a jiew type of aircraft, de- termines to make an attempt to reach the planet and establish the truth of his father's theor}'. He is accompanied b\' his sister's fiance and a crew of volunteers whose mutiny very nearly prevents his success. The arrival of the airship is welcomed by the Martians and the earth visitors are delighted to find that the air is the same as our own and the common language of the soul is understand- able by all. The hero shoots a bird of wonderful plumage and the sudden anger of the Martians at this needless bloodshed leads him to shoot at a man who he supposes lias threatened his life. For this he is doomed to punishment, but is saved by the intervention of the daughter of the chief ruler, whose love the hero wins. On the earth the old scientist has been expelled from the learned societies and is threatened with criminal prosecution for encouraging such a foolhardy venture, but the return of the aerial argonauts with the Martian bride completely reverses public opinion and the detractor throws himself from a cliff in his chagrin. A Trip to Mars. Distributed by the Tower Fihn Corporation. 71 W. 2Sril Street. New York Citj-. 5 reels. il> DSD' "DINTY" ONE of the best pictures ever made is Dinty. Wesley Barry, that freckle-faced real boy, is Dinty, the son of a brave Irish father and mother who are separated first by the ocean and the width of the new country, ^nd then by death. Dinty, as soon as he is able, becomes the loving defender of his mother, whose efforts to support him have made her very ill. Dinty's delightful mechanical devices for doing everything possible to do mechanically are amusing as well as pathetic. We feel sure he will grow into a great engineer! Dinty is also a business man and a politician. His newspaper-selling is menaced by a gang-leader "Muggsy," whose methods are those of a bully. Dinty enlists some pi the other newsboys who have been "frozen out" by this trust, and with the help of the police they succeed in keep- ing their rights. This is the best thing in the film, reveal- ing a sympathetic appreciation of boys. Dinty gels his organization well under way and rejoices that he has enough money to bring her a few little delicacies now and then. He gives "entertainments" for her benefit, bringing his friends to their poor garret. But, just as Dinty, through a friend whom he made by returning a pocket-book, is able to place her in a hospital, his mother dies. Under this severe lest, Dinty is bruised but not broken. He wanders lonely about the wharves uiitil he is discovered by one of his "business associaies." From then on, Dinty's story unites with that of the sub- plot, a story of an honest judge whose daughter is menaced as a revenge for an honest decision. Dinty is the means of rescue, and the story ends with the inference thai he will be adopted by the judge and carefully watched over by the daughter and her fiance, who is an old-lime admirer of Dinty's. This sloiy, except for one or two touches of sensational- ism in the sub-plot, is ideal for the non-theatrical optience, and these touches are far outweighed by the value of the picture. Dintv. reels. Produced by Marshal Neilan. Distributed by First National. "CONRAD IN QUEST OF HIS YOUTH" JUDGING the screen version of Conrad in Quest of His Youth on its own merits, without regard to its truth to Leonard Merrick's novel, it is one of the few pictures which will appeal to a really sophisticated audience. What if a commercial reviewer does ir^sist that it "lacks real incident" and does not "get to the point of real satisfac- tion"? That is a matter of taste. Possibly to the jaded palate of one who recommends serial thrillers it may seem tame, but to anyone whose sense of humor is developed beyond the appreciation of horseplay, it is thoroughly enjoyable. The story is of a young man of thirty who returns from India with the feeling that life has passed him by, and 'whose efforts to recover his lost youth are unsuccessful so long as they are conscious. Success comes when he chances to meet a stranded theatrical troupe and helps them out. An especially attractive member turns out to be a charm- ing and titled widow, and the lady of his heart. Non-theatrical optiences may wish to cut the incident of the pocket-flask in the first reel. The attempts to re- new the joys of youth furnish most delicate and delight- ful humor in Merrick's accustomed vein, and make a recreational picture of exceptional merit. Conrnd i» Quest of His Youth. Produced and distributed by Famous Players-Lasky. 6 reels. "DOMBEY AND SON" TT'LORENCE Dombey, in the film as in Dickens' novel, makes the life of Dombey and Son. She is ideal in her interpretation of the part. Much of the novel is necessarily omitted, but among the old favorites we see Captain Cuttle, "Wale" and his inimitable uncle, Susan Knipper, Joe Bagstock in full glory, Dombey and his proud wife, Mr. Carker, and little Paul. The characterization throughout is commendable with the possible exception of Mr. Carker, who is not quite suave enough, and that of Mr. Dombey who is not sufficiently the gentleman. We regret the absence of Polly the nurse, and that of Harriet Carker. and Mr. Marven, and the terrible old ragwoman and her daughter. But there is a vast amount of material to crowd in and even as it is, the film seems crowded. These omissions make occasional discrepancies in the story and the readaptation is not particularly happy, but all of the classics screened seem to suffer from that. The art titles deserve commendation with the exception in the first reel denoting approaching death. The settings are not such as could be produced with this year's equip- ment, nor is the story as unified as one might wish, but as a sign of the movement toward "better films" and the choice of subjects from the classics, this production will meet with approval of church groups. Iiiimliri) tiHil Son. Prmhircd by Triangle. Distributed by International Cliureli Film Corpurntinii. (1 reels. 18