Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 29 Brownie Vernon, Herbert Rawlinson in "FLIRTING WITH DEATH" uebird comedy-drama; five parts; published September 24 As a whole Well done Story Interesting Stars Fine Support Ample Settings Appropriate Photography Clear When Elmer Clifton directed "Flirting with Death," fcapted from "Sky High," he evidently had in mind all classes \ audiences, for without doubt the elite audience, the average dience and the mixed audience will all enjoy this latest oduction It has been handled with a human appeal idea and hibitors everywhere should find it successful. I There is plenty of clean humor, lots of good circus scenes d the old-fashioned country atmosphere that makes even y-bred people homesick for the good old farm. The cast s been well chosen and each member has grasped the spirit the story. In the cast are Brownie Vernon, Herbert Rawlinn, Frank McQuarrie, Marc Fenton, H. F. Crane and Red lger. ROWNIE VERNON AND HERBERT RAWLINSON IN A SCENE FROM "FLIRTING WITH DEATH" (BLUEBIRD) tions there is some excuse for them. Richard Tucker as the hero had the valuable asset of sincerity, which made his work conspicuous. The story: Margaret Stanton, whose father has been ruined by Harroid. decides to get revenge by shattering the happiness of Harrold's daughter. Margaret becomes Miss Harrold's social secretary and wins the affections of Lord Strathmore, Miss Harrold's fiance. She lures him into the woods, contrives to lose the path, and they spend the night together in a deserted cabin. The searching party find them there and Strathmore marries her. After the ceremony she confesses that she only used him as a tool against her enemies, but he forces her to spend the night with him. The following morning she runs away. Strathmore searches for her and finds her after the birth of their child. Margaret has become blind, so Strathmore successfully poses as an old friend of her father's and pays for the operation that restores her sight. W hen her eyes are opened she realizes that her husband has been her only friend and her hate for him is turned to love. Florence La Badie in "WAR AND THE WOMAN" Thanhouser-Pathe drama; five parts; published September 9 As a whole Good entertainment Story War tale Star . Convincing Support The best Settings Elaborate Photography Excellent "War and the Woman" represents "what might have been." the story being based on an imaginary invasion of the United States by a foreign army. The story has been carefully handled and because it is well acted and directed and otherwise skillfully presented it offers an exceptionally strong program number. Miss LaBadie in the role of the American girl, married to an otficer of the aviation corps, puts plenty of feeling and and action into the part and the support of Tom Brooke, as John Braun, an alien spy. Wayne Arey, as the patriotic American. John Baker, is all that could be desired. The story: Ruth Xorton saves an aviator who has fallen with his machine and later marries him. In the midst of their honeymoon war breaks out and the officer is called to his post. An alien regiment takes possession of the house and servants and Ruth is compelled to work as a maid, the soldiers holding prolonged revelries and forcing the young girls of the neighborhood to participate. Ruth blows up the house during one of these orgies and flies away with her husband in his aeroplane. I The story: Billy Wardell and Domino Dominick break j. and arrive in a small town where they meet Jane Higginb ham. Immediately Billy, a circus performer, decides to sy in the town and "go straight." Jane's father is interested fa inventing an aerochute. He tells his plans to Billy and Imino and they decide to incorporate the Aerochute Comply and local capital is invested. The sheriff from the town were the men had been arrested arrives in town and informs t villagers that the men are fakers. In order to prove their hiesty Billy volunteers to demonstrate the aerochute. High U in the air he pumps from the flying machine and lands on tl ground unhurt. The wonders of the aerochute arouse tl town folks and they cannot buy stock fast enough. An e agement seems to be a fitting climax to the friendship of B v and Tanc. Catherine Calvert in "BEHIND THE MASK' A Dramas program drama; five parts; published September 12 As a whole Tiresome Story Uninteresting Star Self-conscious Support Fair Settings Cheap Photography Good 4< "Behind the Mask" is commonplace from start to finish. T re is not an unexpected scene all the way through. What n: it the story may have had originally has been effectually k:d by a painfully bad scenario. A story about society peopl should be arranged by a man at least acquainted with the hs its of ladies and gentlemen. The members of the company d< iot, in the main, take themselves or their work seriously, pi considering the fact that they seldom found themselves in ny but strained, unnatural and hopelessly theatrical situa Margery Wilson in "MOUNTAIN DEW" Triangle comedy-drama; five parts; published September 16. As a whole .... Good Story Humorous Star Fair Support Ample Settings In keeping Photography Fine If a capable cast had been selected for "Mountain Dew" it would have ranked as a first class production. As it is, the story is pleasing enough and there is a good deal of humor throughout the entire production, but the inability of the leading players to register anything but smiles brings the picture below the Triangle standard. Margery Wilson and Charles Gunn are cast in the lead. The other members are Thomas Washington. Al W. Filson, Jack Richardson, Aaron Edwards and Mary Borland. Especial credit is due Thomas Washington and Al W. Filson. The story is by Julien Josephsen and Monte M. Katterjohn. Direction by Thomas Heffron. The story: J. Hamilton Vance goes to the mountains to find new material for his novel. He becomes the school teacher and becomes infatuated with Roxie Bradley, daughter of Squire Bradley, who does not approve of Roxie's learning. However, Vance is successful in teaching the girl to read and write and though he is constantly being suspected of being a revenue officer, he manages to make a few friendships. However, a stray piece of paper flies away on which he has begun his novel and this picked up by some of the moonshiners, make them attack him. He marries Roxie and by promising to become a partner in their distillery of illicit liquor, he is allowed to continue his way unharmed.