Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 26 Dorothy Phillips in "PAY ME" Jewel Productions, Inc., drama; six parts; published state rights As a whole...' Powerful Story Thrilling Star Admirable Support _ Good Settings Adequate _ Photography Clear "Pay Me" is a story of mining camps, dance halls and lumberjacks. At its first showing at the Broadway Theater, New York, August 12, it was received enthusiastically and lovers of western melodrama should find it very much to their liking. Dorothy Phillips is lovely and likeable as Marta Curtis and does some of the best work of her screen career in "Pay Me." William Stowell is cast as Bill Lawson, the son of a dive keeper; William Clifford as Hal Curtis, and Lon Chaney as Joe Lawson, alias "Killer" White, a bad man and partner of Curtis. Evelyn Selby was excellent as Hilda Hendricks and Claire De Brey a pretty Nita. The story: Hal Curtis and Joe Lawson, partners in a mine, have a disagreement. Lawson strangles Curtis and accidentally shoots Curtis' wife. He deserts his own wife and child and elopes with Hilda Hendricks, a weak girl of the town. As they are leaving they hear a baby's errand find Curtis' little daughter in the arms of the dead mother. Hilda takes the baby with her. Seventeen years elapse. Lawson has changed his name to White and has become the owner of a dance hall and gambling saloon, in the heart of the lumber country. He is called "Killer" White by the men. Marta, his partner's baby, has grown to womanhood and one of the lumberjacks falls in love with her. He is chagrined at finding her dressed in a bizarre costume, ^acting as custodian of the roulette wheel in the "Killer's" establishment. Curtis wanders into the camp, recognizes Hilda and inquires as to the whereabouts of his daughter. Hilda points her out to him and he, enraged, swears vengeance on the "Killer." He is backed by the young lumberjack, who is none other than the son whom Lawson had deserted. A fight follows and just as Curtis is about to kill Lawson a shot rings out and White drops. Hilda is the murderer. White, on his death bed, tells that Marta is not his daughter and the two young people go forth together. "A TRIP TO CHINATOWN" Selig-K-E-S-E comedy; two parts; published August 20 Another of the Hoyt-Selig comedies, being published through K-E-S-E, -is "A Trip to Chinatown." The story tells of a dope fiend who, after eluding the police, lands in a Chinese laundry and smokes the everlasting pipe. He falls asleep and dreams of being transplanted to the Orient, where he meets a beautiful princess. The policeman who had caused him so much trouble appears to the fiend as a slave, and he enjoys putting him through paces of torment as sweet revenge. HoAvever, when he goes in the lion's den and conquers the lion, this proves too much, as it wins the princess' admiration, and he is forced to retreat. He awakens to find himself being hit by the Chinaman. He leaves and walks right into the arms of the policeman. No doubt many picture patrons will be pleased with the humor in this comedy. The antics of the man-made lion arc so ridiculous that it alone will cause a hearty laugh. Many pretty Oriental settings have been used. The photography throughout is good. Amy Leah Dennis makes a beautiful Oriental princess. Others in the cast are William Fables, James Harris and Fanny Cohen. The direction is by J. A. Richmond. Helen Holmes in "THE LOST EXPRESS" Signal-Mutual serial; fifteen chapters; two reels each; published September 17 As a whole _ Intensive Story Thrilling Star _ Excellent Support _ _ Splendid Settings _ _ -...Appropriate Photography Fine The first three chapters of "The Lost Express" start off in stirring fashion. They are full of action, thrills and suspense. There is no reason why this serial should not exceed any of the previous Helen Holmes railroad photonovels and if the first three chapters are a criterion this will no doubt prove to be a serial extraordinary. The titles of the first three chapters are "The Lost Express," "The Destroyed Document" and "The Wreck at the Crossing." The continuity of the story is excellent, each chapter picking up the dramatic thread immediately where the previous one ended. There is thrill after thrill, and every foot of celluloid contains action. From the very first the thread of the story holds the spectator, and the endings of chapters are so full of suspense that film theater patrons should await with pleasant expectation the forthcoming installments in their neighborhood theaters. Most film theater patrons enjoy good railroad stories, and this one, with its thrills, action, suspense, good direction and a good story, should prove to be a box office winner for exhibitors. Helen Holmes, who has won popularity in these railroad serials and who has made them popular, again has the leading role, and jumping from a fast-moving train onto a wagon several feet away, running on the roof of a fast-moving train and swinging to a dangler to save herself from the villains, arc stunts that this daredevil heroine performs. Leo Maloney again stiincs as the villain in conjunction with Thomas Lingham. Other members of the cast are W. O. Whitehead, William Brunton, Edward Hearn and John McKinnon. The ' direction is by J. P. McGowan, who has so successfully directed previous railroad stories featuring Miss Holmes. The story: Helen Thurston's father is the inventor of a fluid which will replace gasoline at a much lower cost. The president of the Yalquez Oil Company is anxious to secure the formula and offers a fake mining syndicate a large sum of money for the formula. The "Harelip," the ma/i who does the work for the syndicate, is a sort of a Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde person, and when he isn't the "Harelip" he acts as secretary to Thurston. Thurston is shot by the "Harelip" when he is attempting to save his formula, and the bullet causes complete' paralysis. Helen decides to send all his belongings to thej bank and charters a train. The train is stolen at a lonely point and the syndicate rides off with the loot. They find the papers and also find that the most important sheet of the formula is missing. This is recovered by the "Harelip." Helen follows the syndicate in a train, climbs onto the roof, and with a magnifying glass succeeds in destroying the document. The menl are enraged and pursue her. She dashes over the roof, of the train and, swinging to a dangler, escapes them and lands on the ground safely. The syndicate then endeavors to secure the working blueprint. The "Harelip," as the secretary, gives it to the syndicate. Helen witnesses this and follows in a machine. At the crossing her car is wrecked and she is; injured. She is carried to the emergency hospital ofi the Valquez Oil Company just after the syndicate has soidi the valuable blueprint.