Educational film magazine; (19-)

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"A TRIP TO PARADISE" By Glen Visscher THE picturization of the great stage success "Liliom" is called A Trip to Paradise. For Liliom means nothing lily-like or pure, as an innocent might guess, but is the equivalent for roughneck, an unattractive word; so the screen version, which is Americanized, and has its locale in Coney Island, is called after a roller coaster show where the roughneck, who is the hero of its strange story, works. He is a barker, the best on the island, whose ready words and winning smiles draw a steady flow of dimes—purchase money for trips to Paradise—which go to fill the pockets of the Widow Boland who owns the concession and who thinks a lot of Curley, the barker, in quite a sentimental fashion. Everything is running smoothly when Nora, a pretty young girl, new to the island and its ways, goes for a ride with a girl friend, on the Paradise coaster. Her fresh, youthful, modest look catches Curley's fancy. He presents the girls with a string of tickets, good for rides, and becomes acquainted. But the Widow is jealous and tyrannical: she fires Curley for leaving his post, but really for his attentions to the young woman. Curley is not in the habit of taking life seriously; he therefore invites Nora to go to the beach with him, where they while the hours away, watching the waves, dancing, and falling in love. When Curley learns that they have stayed out so late that Nora wUl be shut out from her home, with an aunt who believes in early hours, there is a midnight mar- riage. The fact that he is without a job isn't given a thought. Isn't he the best barker on the island, an artist in his line? And aren't they young, and isn't Curley in love for the first time in his life with a good girl, his bride, and aren't they happy? They are, and dwell in the ele- gance of the "bridal suite" of an island hotel—for one night, which about exhausts Curley's cash. But Curley doesn't get work next day, as he so confidently hopes he can, for the Widow has made it her business to let all her friends know that she let Curley go because he wasn't honest. Discouraged, but facing his new responsibility, Curley "throws in" with Nora's aunt, with whom they go to live, putting his small savings in her business, an antiquated photographer's shop. Under the strain of bad business everybody's temper breaks; Curley loses his winning smile, and Nora her delicate charm. Disgusted, he is about to leave her, when, by tumbling over a tiny knitted boot, the rough- neck learns that he is about to become a father. He is desperate now, and finally agrees to do a crooked job with a safe-blower. He later re- ceives the shot meant for the householder that catches the burglars. This brings the foregoing rather ordinary story to a remarkable climax, and furnishes the means of expressing a powerful message. Curley's body lies in a hospital, he is perhaps dying—the doctors put him on an operating table, while his faithful wife prays. And we see that prayers are heard in Heaven, for Curley's soul is there, before the Bar of Judg- ment. Curley makes no defense, but it is learned that even if his act— attempted burglary—was bad, the motive behind it was right; an attempt to provide for his wife and child, when other means failed. And the lesson is borne home, "It is only motives that count," while the prayer of one good soul wins for him a probation. Curley is sent back to Earth from his trial at God's Court, to work out his own salvation. He gets well, goes to work, and lives to give his wife happiness. In the original stage production Liliom dies and his soul is borne to Heaven for trial at God's Court. The judge, after hearing the testimony, permits Liliom to return to Earth for a probationary period of fifteen years during which time he must do at least one good deed. His spirit visits the home of his widow and talks with his daughter, now grown to girlhood, and during an argument at the gate Liliom slaps her face. God's messenger appears and takes the prisoner back for sentence to Purgatory. It is clear that the message of Molnar's play is more vivid and compelling than that of the screen version which is designed for a less discriminating public. The trial scenes are impressive and make the film well worth seeing. The characterizations are good, and the picture is quite free from sugges- tive scenes. A Trip to Paradiue. Distributed by Metro, "i reds. w "FIGHTING WESTERN PINE BEETLES" 'T'HIS new one-reeler produced by the United States Department of ■*• Agriculture is a graphic story of the work of the Bureau of En- tomology in controlling this pest which annually causes great destruction among valuable timber. The beetle works under the bark of the pine tree, girdling tlie tree with a maze of passageways which in course of time kills even the big- gest timbers. In one scene is depicted a forest giant 230 feet higli and seven feet in diameter, slain by a mass attack of these pests. The work of the control camps and the treatment of bark, Ilinbs and logs in dry weather and at other seasons is graphically shown. Prints are for sale hy the department's motion picture division at approximately $37 each, the cost of production. "GOD AND THE MAN" AN excellent film production, which was one of the out- standing features of the Methodist Centenary, is now made available to all branches of non-theatrical motion picture service. It is based on a story by Robert Buchanan. Influenced by the preaching of John Wesley, Mr. Sefton and his daugh- ter devote their lives to religious work in England. Tlie daugliter loves Christian Christianson, but refuses to marry him because of his hatred for Orchardson and the latter's son, Richard. The Orcliardsons have dishonorably acquired control of the Christianson farm, an act which precipitated the death of the elder Cliristianson, and out of which grew a profound hatred on the part of Mrs. Christianson which hastened her death. Christian, at the instigation of his mother, has vowed vengeance upon the Orchardsons and, discovering that his sister is in love with Richard Orchardson, he gives utterance to the prayer, "Give me an hour alone with him." Meanwhile the Seftons, following Wesley's example, are preaching loving kindness to all their fellows. Richard Orchardson pre- tends conversion and is asiduous in his attentions to Miss Sefton, hoping to gain her fortune through marriage. Christian discovering that his sister Kate is now scorned by Richard, threatens the latter's life. Thereupon Richard seeks safety in flight, sailing for America with the Seftons wlio are going thither for missionary work at Wesley's request. Christian learns Richard's plans and ships as sea-man on the same vessel. His identity being discovered, a fight between him and Ricliard ensues and Christian is chained between decks. Richard seeks his destruction by firing the ship. Passengers and crew escape on a Dutch vessel only to be caught in an ice floe off the Labrador coast. Here Christian's terrible prayer is answered. He and Richard are accidentally left be- hind when the ship is released by the breaking up of the ice floe. At first the enmity between the two is very great, but finally God's great solitude teaches its lesson and hatred is forgotten. Before Richard dies from effects of exposure, the two have become friends. Christian is rescued and his redemption from hatred being complete, he is re- warded by the love of Miss Sefton. This picture is excellently titled and bears a definite message of the evil effects of hatred and the constructive results of the practice of brotherly love. The acting is finished and convincing. God and the Man, 6 reels. Central Film Company, 729 Seventh Avenue New York City. "FINLAND" IN SIX REELS 'T'HIS picture was made in Finland during the summer of 1921 while the Helsingfors Fair was in progress. H. J. Maki, of Duluth, Minn., representing the Finland Film Corporation, was in charge of the American exhibit at the fair. The film is being exhibited on tour in the movie theaters of Michigan, Minnesota, and other states where numbers of Finns reside. "Our purpose in showing Finland is an educational one," said Mr. Maki. "American-born Finns who have never visited the land of their forefathers have only a scant conception of what Finland looks like. Many of them are disposed to regard it as a country whose customs have not kept step with progress. We want them as well as others to acquire a more intimate knowledge of the Finland of today. "Finland is known universally for its wonderful architecture and athletics. The city of Helsingfors is as large as Minneapolis. An ordinance in the former city, however, forbids buildings high- er than six stories which makes its principal business structures uniform. We intend showing Finland in the principal cities of the upper peninsula and northern Minnesota." "THE SPORT REVIEW" ATHLETES and others interested in sports will be given tlie -'*■ opportunity of seeing just how great athletes perform in a new screen magazine devoted entirely to sports. The Sport Review, pro- duced by Jack Eaton and edited by Grantland Rice, will make a series of jiictures to be released every other week, and will devote cadi number to a particular phase of sport. The first picture, to be distributed by Goldwyn, is entitled Speed and reveals the development of extreme speed from the two-minute trotting horse to the whizzing airplane. u