Exhibitors Herald (Mar-Jun 1919)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOTOd R A P II Y Baby Marie Osborne in THE LITTLE DIPLOMAT Five-part comedy-drama; Pathe. Directed by Stuart Paton. Published June 15. OPINION*. If the exhibitors1 box office reports coming into the Herald office from representative theatre managers are a iair indication there is a distinct demand for the Marie Osborne productions, particularly where a family audience is catered to. And if the past performances of the little star have proved successful the present one should increase her popularity. The adult plot which is always provided for the entertainment of those who do not hnd their interest wholly absorbed by the antics of the juvenile actress and her colored assistant is in this case worked out in better detail and more convincingly than has always been true in the past. The youngsters rather out-do their previous efforts. It is typical of the star and the producing company. In quality it surpasses similar efforts that have gone before. It should succeed accordingly. SYNOPSIS : Marie is a French war orphan adopted by the Wests to brighten their childless home. The Wests possess art treasures which are coveted by a gang of thieves headed by Raymond Brownleigh and including "Chicago Hattie," who is employed by the Wests as governess for Marie. Trent Gordon, who lives with the Wests, is in love with Phyllis Dare, a neighbor girl, and Marie and Sambo help him in his wooing. After three attempts have been made to rob the house Marie is largely instrumental in exposing "Chicago Hattie" and her accomplices and bringing about the capture of the gang. Publish New Serial On Monday, June 16, the first episode of "Elmo the Mighty," Universal's latest serial, will be published. Elmo Lincoln, star in "The Romance of Tarzan" and "Tarzan of the Apes," is in the leading role. Kitty Gordon in PLAYTHINGS OF PASSION Five-part drama; United Picture Theatres. Directed by Wallace Worsley. Published June 8. OPINION: Actors moving as though N in response to the pressing of buttons, subtitles giving loose and unconvincing expression to the story told in the action, photography of the most ordinary variety, a story that is anything but true to either life or good fiction, and the best thing that remains to be said about "Playthings of Passion" is that Mahlon Hamilton and Kitty Gordon are included in the cast. And even these, who have established the fact that they can act when opportunity presents itself, fail to make a creditable showing with the material here provided. Mahlon Hamilton begins his life in this picture as a villain. He ends it a suddenly created hero whose villainy has outwitted the goodintentioned hero and won for him the coveted lady, his wife, by the way, whom he has married by his father's command. There is no use in trying to unravel the logic of the thing. There is no use in cataloging the weak points. It is simply a title, alluring perhaps, perhaps not, to which has been attached a story of a sort. The public will probably state its opinion briefly and effectively in terms of light attendance. SYNOPSIS: Harry Rowland insults Helen Langdon, his father's ward, and his father forces him to marry her. They live together, but as strangers, Helen spending her time in the social whirl, Harry confining himself to the piling up of gold. A minister who has made & remarkable success of missionary work in the slums calls upon Harry for aid. Harry asks him to influence Helen to take an interest in the work and promises him the aid he seeks if he succeeds. The minister is successful in winning not only her interest but also, innocently, her love. She tells Harry about it and he persuades the minister to feign drunkenness so Helen will come back to him. He does and all ends as it should. Universal Buys Story For Monroe Salisbury One of the best stories written on the northwest country has been purchased by Universal for screen production. It is "The Brute Breaker," by Johnston McCulley. Mr. McCulley is the author of several widely read novels and is a well-known magazine writer. He is the author of "A White Man's Chance," "Broadway Bab" and "Unclaimed Goods." The story which Universal has purchased appeared in the All Story magazine. Monroe Salisbury, star in the Universal pictures "The Sleeping Lion," "The Blinding Trail" and "The Light of Victory," wil be cast in the leading part of this new story. He will portray the character of a man who tames the bullies of the northern logging camps. "Peg O' My Heart" Will Be De Mille Production "Peg O' My Heart," by J. Hartley Manners, one of the greatest successes in the history of the stage, is to be filmed in California by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation as a big special production. The play will be reproduced with exactness of detail. William C. DeMille will direct and has been placed in exclusive charge of the casting and all details of production. The selecting of those to interpret the various roles is now well under way, and Mr. DeMille has already chosen Wanda Hawley to play the part of Peg, with Thomas Meighan in the leading male role. Olga Printzlau. one of the most capable and successful of screen writers, has written the scenario. William Russell Begins On "This Hero Stuff" Work has been begun at the American studios on the production of William Russell's new picture, entitled "This Hero Stuff." The story was written by Stephen Fox and is characterized as a satire on hero-worship. It will offer "Big Bill" in the role of "Captain November Jones, U. S. A." There is, however, nothing of the military about it, as the action takes places in a western mining colony. A notable cast has been engaged to support the "Flying A" star. It includes Winifred Westover, Mary Thurman, J. Barney Sherry, Charles K. French, Harvey Clark and J. Farrell MacDonald. The production is being directed by Henry King. American Signs Bramhall Jack Bramhall, juvenile of note, has been engaged by the "Flying A" to appear in support of William Russell in that star's current production. "Six Feet Four." He is playing the role of "Kid Bedloe," one of the important characters in the story, which is an adaptation by Stephen Fox of Jackson Gregory's celebrated novel. 46