Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

30 EXHIBITORS HERALD Robards Players in "MOTHERS OF MEN" H. J. Shepard's Political Drama; five parts; published state rights As a whole Entertaining Story Melodramatic Cast Splendid Settings Typical Photography Good "Mothers of Men" is an interesting dramatic forecast of what may happen in state politics when women hold office. It is a well-told story of a woman's intense struggle to be true to her high principles against her temptation to be weak to save her own husband. Hal Reid has written the story and Willis Robards has directed this excellent offering. Both these men play big parts in the production and are ably supported by Dorothy Davenport and Mrs. Hal Reid. Miss Davenport's work as the woman judge and later the governor is extremely dignified, sympathetic and thrilling. The story: Clara Madison is the successful leader of the suffragist party. She is wooed and won by Worthington Williams, a leading lawyer who has been fighting the yellow methods of the editor of the "Morning Democrat." After her marriage, Clara Williams becomes judge and closes the saloons on Sunday. She also decides against her husband in a case tried in her court and the editor of the Morning Democrat prints particularly odious headlines. Williams has a fiery interview with him and they come to blows. Mrs. Williams is nominated for governor and her husband is drawn into a plot by two Italian saloon keepers who wish to injure her for damaging their business. They send for him on the pretext of getting the Italian vote for his wife and while he is in their company one of the men throws a bomb into the "Democrat" office, killing the editor. All the men are caught, tried and convicted. Mrs. Williams is elected and all eyes are on her when she has the power to pardon her husband. She resists the temptation to make an exception in his case and lets the law take its course, trusting in a higher power to save him, for she believes in his absolute innocence. On the gallows the guilty Italian confesses and Williams is freed. He and his wife rush to meet each other and are reunited and cheered by the vast throng that had gathered for the public execution. Theda Bara in "CAMILLE" Fox drama; seven parts; published — As a whole Well done Story Interesting Star Fine Support Ample Settings Wonderful Photography Splendid The admirers of Theda Bara will find her an excellent Camille. The story has been handled in excellent fashion and should prove seven reels of entertainment. The settings and costuming have been selected with excellent taste. Special mention must be made of the wonderful interior sets and the splendid photography and tinting. There is, at the present time, two productions on the market by name of "Camille." In thinking of these pictures, exhibitors must remember that one is a cheaply gotten up production, while the Fox feature is a lavish production. While the cheaper one might insult picture patrons the Fox version has been done in a high class fashion. Since the role of vampire has been a Theda Bara creation, so the role of Camille is a perfect fit for Miss Bara. She is given excellent support in Albert Roscoe, Walter Law, Alice Gale, Claire Whitney and Glen White. The scenario is by Adrian Johnson and the direction by J. Gordon Edwards. The story: Armand Duval, son of the proud but poor house of Duval, loves Camille, a notorious Parisian beauty. His love for this notorious woman means that his sister, Celeste, cannot marry the man she loves, so the father goes to Camille and begs her to give Armand up, which she does. This arouses the anger of Armand and he denounces her one evening in public. Count De Varville challenges Armand to a duel. The count wins the duel, wounding Armand in the arm. Beljeving that Camille loves him no longer, Armand does not go to see her. One day his father tells him that Camille is dying. He goes to her and after a few words she passes away in the arms of her lover. Dustin Farnum in "NORTH OF 53" Fox drama; five parts; published September 23 As a whole Good feature Story • Vibrant Star Excellent Support Good Settings Adequate Photography Clear "North of '53' " pleased large audiences at both the Alcazar and Boston Theaters, Chicago, where it was shown last week. It is a story of life in the open, taken from the novel written by Bertrand Sinclair, and what the film lacks in plausibility is more than made up by Dustin Farnum's virile acting. Winifred Kingston appears opposite the athletic Mr. Farnum and is subject to considerable rough treatment at the hands of her modern cave-man lover. As a whole this is an enjoyable piece of screen fiction with plenty of action. Strong types of actors have been chosen to interpret the various roles and the sets and outdoor scenes splendidly carry out the northern atmosphere. The story: Hazel West, a stenographer in a small Illinois town, is annoyed by the attentions of her rich employer. She is compelled to seek employment elsewhere to save her reputation and goes to a northern settlement as a school teacher. DUSTIX FARNUM AXD WINIFRED KINGSTON IN A SCENE FROM "NORTH OF FIFTY THREE." (Fox.) Here she meets "Roaring Bill" Wagstaff, about whom there is an ugly story relative to the sudden death of his partner Joe Brooks. Hazel becomes lost in the woods and Bill finds her The rough northerner falls in love with the pretty girl anr thinking to win her love he forcibly takes her to his cabin deep in the mountains. Here she learns to love him, thougl crying bitterly that she hates him, and when she accuses hin of being a murderer, he thinks all is over between them ano takes her back to the settlement. His name is cleared by th' confession of the real murderer and he rushes to Hazel witl the good news. Marty McHale presents THE BASEBALL REVIEW OF 1917 H. J. Shepard's Extra Special; five parts; published State Right As a whole Of great interest to "Fans" Cast American and National Leagues Settings Typical Photography Faultless The Baseball Review of 1917 will pack the theatres wit all the "fans" in America. The game is played by the cham pions of both leagues, the Chicago White Sox of the Amer can and the Giants of the National. All the teams of bot leagues are shown in action, and the subtitles written b "Bugs" Baers, a sport writer of the New York World, ad greatly to the enjoyment. Each member of each team i| shown in a close-up which is a feature that is guaranteed t please the small boys. And the acknowledgment the me' make to the introduction to the camera includes fifty-seve varieties of ways to lift a -cap, which is in itself a novel) no other picture offers today. Seeing this picture will be lil having a complimentary ticket to the big game.