Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 29 Mary Anderson in "BY RIGHT OF POSSESSION" [.tagraph Blue Ribbon drama: five parts; published July 30 As a whole . Fair Story _ Padded Star „ Very good Support -Excellent Settings In keeping Photography Good Labor unions won't like "By Right of Possession," tagraph's latest contribution to the screen, for the ison that it holds their methods in rather unfavorable ht. There is a scene showing a walking delegate and i followers beating an old man into insensibility which not a pleasant sight, and though the story has a happy ding, the sight of "Bells.'' the engineer, being pummeled the miners in the doorway of the hoist engine house, rs an otherwise fair picture. Mary Anderson plays a role well suited to her hisonic ability. Antonio Moreno is a rough western eriff, who loses his job when the people elect Kate xon (Mary Anderson) sheriff, but gets it back again marrying her. Considerable padding is employed to stretch the story t to the required five-reel length. There are scenes branding cattle, fancy lariat throwing by a cowboy, a g drawnout mine accident and a faked cattle stampede. The story: Kate Saxon arrives at her mine in the est while striking miners are having trouble with the eriff. She demands the release of the men. although ey have brutally beaten the old engineer, and by adsting their wages and reducing house rents restores ace. The sheriff accompanies her on an inspection trip rough her mine and they are trapped by falling rock. y great effort they extricate themselves and Kate runs r .the office of sheriff. She defeats the stalwart cat:man by a narrow margin of votes and assumes the lice. . The ex-sheriff comes to make love to her and ter saving her from a stampede caused by the blowing > of a dam at the hands of a union organizer, she mar:d the sheriff. Enid Bennett in "THEY'RE OFF" Triangle drama; five parts; published August 19 As a whole... Story Star Support — Settings Photography ...Amusing Holds -Excellent Fine Elaborate Clear I As the title implies, this is a story of the turf, and I very good one, too. The types are well drawn and the j-ttings carry the atmosphere of the South, peopled with Wits who are sticklers for chivalry and family honor. In lie role of a thoroughbred society girl, Enid Bennett is )![ost acceptable, and an excellent company of actors irround her. i The racing scenes were well done and excitement ran 'gh at the Covent Theater, Chicago, where the picture las shown this week. The picture should please the ^ost critical. The story: While sojourning through the South a ealthy broker and his daughter discover a wonderful d southern mansion. The broker tries to purchase it om young Manners, who is in possession, who although swn lo his last cent refuses to sell. He loses his money a tobacco pool and. the home passes into the hands '! the broker. Seeing the humiliation and pain they have rought. the broker's daughter plans to win a horse race ith a thoroughbred her father has given her under the ."'uise that it is Manner's horse. The horse wins, and. after ie race, the broker wants to buy it. stating: "Young ■:'ian, you seem to have a habit of owning things I want." i lanners agrees to trade the horse for the old homestead, nd when the deal is consumated, the joke, the broker nds, is on him. Donna Drew in "THE LAIR OF THE WOLF' Butterfly drama: five parts; published August 20 As a whole . Story Star Support Settings Photography Likeable Dramatic Good Fine ..Well selected Satisfying There is a great deal of action and dramatic thrills in "The Lair of the Wolf." It concerns the story of a man who has won the hatred of mankind because of his cruelty. He is mysteriously murdered and several persons appear to be guilty. However, when the guilty man does confess, he is exonerated because his act is considered justified. The production should have its appeal with most patrons of motion picture theaters. It is somewhat different from the general run of recent pictures and this should be something in its favor. The cast includes Donna Drew, Gretchen Lederer, Joseph Girard. Chester Bennett, V'al Paul, Charles Hill Mailes. Peggy Custer, George Berrell and Josephine Sedgwick. The work of Gretchen Lederer and Yal Paul stands out very prominently. Direction was in the hands of Charles Swickard. The' story: Oliver Cathcart. a man hated for his cruelty, marries Margaret Bennett, a widow, and her son refuses to have anything to do with either of them. Margaret is very unhappy and her son hearing of this swears to put an end to Cathcart. He goes to his mother's home. The same evening Cathcart is murdered and young Bennett is accused of the' crime. The net begins to tighten around young Bennett, but his name is cleared by a young girl. Then an old gardener confesses to the murder because Cathcart had forced his attentions on his daughter. The gardner is exonerated and the girl who saved Bennett's life and Bennett are married. Arthur Hoyt and Neva Gerber in ''MR. OPP" Bluebird drama: five parts; published August 20 As a whole .. Story Stars Support Settings Photography ..Interesting Appealing — Good Plenty ..In keeping . Fine Adopted from the book by Alice Hegan Rice. "Mr. Opp " makes five reels of interesting screen entertainment. The story follows the book close and the pathos and humor found in the written drama has been well transferred to the screen drama. Arthur Hoyt makes of the character of D. Webster Opp a likeable person. Xeva Gerber as Guinevere Gusty offers. Mr. Hoyt good support. Other members of the cast are George Hernandez, George Chesbro, Jack Curtis, Elise Maison and Anne Lockhart. The direction is by Lynn Reynolds. The story: At the death of his stepfather, D. Webster Opp becomes the possessor of the old homestead and guardian of Kippy, a young lady, who through an illness in childhood, has an undeveloped mind. Opp loves Guinevere Gusty, daughter of the widow Gusty, but the widow% will not allow Guinevere to marry Opp. because of Kippy. The blow is a shock to Opp, but he makes things pleasant by explaining that he is too old for Guinevere. Opp endeavors to do everything to make the town of Cove an enterprising place, but he fails. After struggling through for a short time, however, the town of Cove thrives, and as a token of appreciatioin Opp is made