Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1918)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOTOGRAPHY DIGEST OF PICTURES OF THE WEEK fcbTJ EASTS OF THE WORLD" has just comA A pleted a seven ]llO]ltlls, run al the Fortyfourth Street, Theatre, New York, and has moved to a larger Broadway house where it will doubtless continue to draw hundreds of patrons daily for some time to come. This would be regarded as a remarkable record for many stage attractions and in it there is hope for longer runs of other big features. The present week's output of five and six-part screen dramas contains not a few that should enjoy more than one day's presentation in the majority of houses. Pathe offers a powerful drama, "The Bells," taken from Sir Henry Trving's famous stage play, in which that sterling actor, Frank Keenan, has the leading role. Keenan does some of the best work of his career in tin's tragic, well-acted and well-mounted play, the scenes of which are laid in Alsace, France. "Red Blood and Yellow" marks the return of G. M. Anderson to the screen, after an absence of over two years. This Golden West production in five parts is fully up to this popular screen star's former camerawork. Some of the best double photography ever presented on the screen is contained in this feature. Bessie Barriscale's latest vehicle, "The Heart of Rachael," was an ideal selection for the beautiful, lighthaired star. It gives her a role best suited to her peculiar talents and under the careful direction of Howard Hickman, her husband, it is undoubtedly one of the finest plays of the month. Under the unusual title of "Kiss or Kill," Universal presents Herbert Rawlinson and Priscilla Dean in a mediocre play, with a mediocre plot, presented in a mediocre manner. It will make its principal appeal in the cheaper houses. The Vitagraph drama of the week, "A Diplomatic Mission," gives Earle Williams a fighting role which he handles well. The locale of the play is the South Sea Islands, and the plot concerns the attempted destruction of a platinum mine. Madge Kennedy's latest Goldwyn comedy-drama, "The Kingdom of Youth," is filled with sparkling humor and unique situations much on the order of her former successes. Picture patrons cannot get enough of Miss Kennedy's vivaciousness and "The Kingdom of Youth" was greeted with applause when presented at a prominent downtown theatre, Chicago, last week. William Hurlbut's stage play made excellent mate rial for Gladys Broekwell and the Fox Company produced "The Strange Woman" with care and fidelity. The story of a woman who fought against marriage and followed the dictates of her own heart forms the basis of the story. Francis McDonald is presented by Triangle in a character part that is remarkably well drawn and "Tony America" will doubtless please patrons seeking pictures with a foieign setting. It tells a simple love story of a disappointed, disillusioned Italian who finally finds happiness when he least expected it. Paramount evidently selected "A Woman of Impulse" for Lina Cavalieri because the story deals with incidents in the life of an opera singer. The play is beautifully staged and Mme. Cavalieri, more charming than ever, is right at home in the role assigned to her. The story, however, is trite and not up to Paramount's standard. Abraham S. Schomer's play, "Ruling Passions," is a praiseworthy production in every respect. The story is exceptionally well written and directed. Edwin Arden and Julia Dean, who have the principal roles, lend to the picture their best efforts and the story of a vengeful physician who is finally shown the error of his ways by a kind and sympathetic -nurse is beautifully told. Mae Marsh is seen in a dual role in "Hidden Fires" and although the plot material is far from new, the story holds one's attention by reason of its artistic presentation. Miss Marsh doesn't have the opportunity to display her talents to the fullest extent in this picture. There is little appeal in the role of Peggy Murray, and her acting seems stilted, due doubtless to the dual role requirements. Vivian Martin is presented by Paramount in a patriotic school-girl play called "Her Country First." It tells a rather conventional story of a gang of German spies who seek to blow up a munition plant, but are frustrated by the daughter of the munition manufacturer in the fifth reel. As patriotic propaganda the picture answers all requirements. "Hobbs in a Hurry" is a lively story of American life with William Russell as the pivot around which most of the fun revolves. Chicago's Pastime Theatre goers thoroughly enjoyed the fast-moving, amusing story of a youth who goes to New Mexico to buy a tungsten mine for his father and succeeds against many odds. One of the best Russell plays in a long time. 32