Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 29 "THE EYES OF THE WORLD W. H. Clune drama; eight parts; published State rights As a whole Entertaining Story Harold Bell Wright's Novel Cast Fair Settings Beautiful Photography Excellent Harold Bell Wright's novel, "The Eyes of the World," nade its Eastern premier in picture form at the Auditorium rheater. Chicago. September 27, with the usual excellent Clune mbellishments. It was well received by the large audience nd has continued to draw good houses daily. The picture is eing presented by special arrangement with the Book Supply "ompany, Chicago. \ iewed in the retrospect, there are two features of "The Eyes of the World" that stand out from all the rest. They are he remarkable photography and the excellent orchestration, "he incidental music fits into the picture as the film itself fits s sprocket. It is a good picture, but not at all a great one, the difficult isk of putting the beautiful language of Harold Bell Wright's 64-page book into 8,000 feet of cold celluloid being a monulental one. The popularity of the book, however, will awaken :newed interest in the film version of the story among the tousands of Mr. Wright's readers. There are Aaron King, ybil Andres. Edward Taine, Mrs. Taine. James Rutlidge and onrad LaGrange, looking just as every one fancied they ught to look. Perhaps the best performance was given by Monroe Salis A DRAMATIC MOMENT FROM (W. H "THE EVES OF THE WORLD.' Clune) try as La Grange, whose work in "Ramona," Mr. Clune's rmer production, will long be remembered. His performT |fce far outshines the work of the others. The balance of the st is only fair. The beautiful mountain scenery, the bright sunlighted rdens and the wonderfully staged fight on the rock high ove the tops of the fir trees make their appeal to the eye d the ear was appeased by the splendid music rendered a competent body of musicians. Considerable footage is saved by having the subtitles flash above the heads of the characters as they are talking, but. ogether, the picture is too long. There is too much time sumed in introduction, which is almost like a scenic tour of mountains of California, before getting down to the story. The story: Aaron King, an artist, meets Mrs. Taine on a st-bound train and later he is commissioned to paint her ture. King becomes acquainted with Conrad La Grange, a velist, and they take a cottage together, next door to one upied by Myra Willard and Sybil Andres. Sybil is aned by the attentions of Rutlidge. a sensuous youth, while s. Taine becomes infatuated with the artist. As King ntrasts Sybil with Mrs. Taine. he sees the latter as a lustful, igning soul and refuses to give her the finished portrait, ng her to pose again. At a reception which Mrs. Taine 'es in honor of King and La Grange, her husband dies from rindulgence in liquor. Mrs. Taine later visits King's studio finds Sybil there alone. Intimating that she is regarded King's mistress, the horrified Sybil rides away into the >untains to hide her shame. Myra tells of Sybil's disappear ance, and the Forest Rangers. King and La Grange go in search of Sybil. Rutlidge also learns of Sybil's departure and catches up with her, and has John Willard. an escaped convict, hide her in the mountains. King finds the trail to her hiding place, but meets Rutlidge on the path, and they fight it out on a high cliff. Willard and Sybil come upon the two just as Rutlidge is about to throw King over the cliff, and at her request Willard shoots Rutlidge and he falls into the ravine. Sybil returns with King and Mrs. Taine. realizing she has lost King's love, flies into a rage, threatening to blast the artist's career and Sybil's reputation. La Grange, however, reminds her that the eyes of the world are upon her and it would be unwise for her to do so. Mary Miles Minter in '•HER COUNTRY'S CALL" AmericanMutual drama; five parts; published October 1 As a whole Interesting Story Patriotic Star Enjoyable Support Ample Settings Splendid Photography Clear "Her Country's Call" is a truly Mary Miles Minter subject. Theater patrons will find Miss Minter just as charming and lovable as ever and undoubtedly this production will prove might} interesting. The story has ^a patriotic trend; soldiers are seen drilling, the American flag unfurled to the breeze, the Spirit of '76, the death of John Paul Jones as he uttered the words: "Don't give up the ship." and other little patriotic touches which will make the youngsters applaud and fill the hearts of the older patrons with the American spirit of patriotism. Miss Minter has been surrounded with a capable cast, including Alan Forrest, George Periolat. Margaret Shelby, Henry A. Barrows. Ashton Dearholt. Nellie W iden and Spottiswoode Aitken. The direction is in the hands of Lloyd Ingraham. The story: Jim Slocum is captured by the home guard for bootlegging and his daughter is left in the care of Captain Xeville and his maiden sister. Marie Tremain, who is jealous of the attention the captain pays Jess tells her she should not stay and disgrace the captain and his sister. The night of the armory dance Jess runs away and goes to her old home in the mountains. Here she hears the leader of the mountain raiders planning to capture the ammunition supply. \\ ith great speed she hastens to the village and sounds the bugle call. The home guard is rounded up in time to save the ammunition and Jess becomes the heroine of the hour. The next day Captain Tremain receives a letter from Slocum telling him that Jess is his own daughter and that she had been stolen as revenge. Jess finds a father, sister and later a husband in Captain Xeville. Ethel Barrymore in "LIFE'S WHIRLPOOL" Metro drama; five parts; published October 8 As a whole ». Average Story Sorrowful Star Convincing Support Good Settings Ordinary Photography Good "Life's Whirlpool" is a regular Niagara Falls, so to speak, for Esther, the principal character in this latest Metro production. It is a series of tragedies, starting with the death of Esther's consumptive father and ending up with the awful death of her husband and his murderer. A scene of the battle front of the European conflict is shown (staged somewhere in New Jersey), with hundreds of extras lying around "dead" as an extra added tragic feature. Ethel Barrymore has a role particularly well suited to her talents and she far outshines the balance of the cast. The photography is excellent and on the whole the picture has been well directed by Lionel Barrymore. The story, however, is weak and depends upon one tragedy after another for punch. The story: Esther, upon the death of her father, is advised by her kindly neighbors to get married. She is forced to sell the homestead and marries a domineering old miser, who lives with his maiden sister. Because she passes the time of day upon the street with young men, her husband becomes jealous. He chokes her when he finds a letter to her from a former friend and she decides to leave him. While escaping with her son she is detained in a hut by a drunken farmer, who tries to embrace her. She shoots him dead, and a posse arrests her for the death of her husband, who has been found strangled in his library. However, the death confession of the real murderer clears her of her husband's death and the return of her former friend from France completes her happiness.