Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Sep 1919)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOTOGRAPHY hanker is stricken while upbraiding his son, Fred, and soon thereafter dies. He expresses a wish that his son marry Judith and the ceremony is performed at once, the fortune being left in her name. However, she turns over the bulk of the estate to her husband, and leaves for the west because of Fred's apparent love for another. Here she meets Tom Langley, who has been cheated out of a lumber tract by Yarnall, an unscrupulous promoter who has interested Fred in his lumber company. Langley goes to New York, catches Yarnall as he is about to flee with the spoils of the lumber company and a reconciliation follows between Fred and Judith. Mary Pickford in THE HOODLUM Six-part comedy-drama; First National. Directed by S. A. Franklin. Published in September. OPINION: "Our Mary" in "The Hoodlum" does the things she alone knows so well how to do. She romps through the six reels in a manner that will bring shouts of glee from the youngsters and many a chuckle from the older folks. Though the plot is slight, concerning the antics of the daughter of a man of wealth who prefers to live in the slums, where he can study the poor, she manages to inject enough life into the play by her spirited, piquant individual performance to hold one's attention throughout the six reels. The picture verges on the slap-stick where Mary, chased by a policeman, runs in and out of a hut and slides down a coal chute into a dirty cellar, but this is but an incident in the story's telling. Artistic taste in mounting has been employed, the subtitling is excellent and the piece is played with such light and airy gaiety that it constitutes a most diverting piece of screen entertainment. SYNOPSIS: Amy Burke lives with her wealthy grandfather on Fifth avenue, New York, and while he loves her he gives her scant attention. Her father devotes his time to living in the slums of the city, where he is writing a book. Upon a return to the slums Amy accompanies her father rather than go to Europe with her grandfather and soon she enters into the life on Craigen street. She is known, in a short time, as the "Hoodlum," dancing, playing and shooting "craps" with the toughest youngsters in the street. A struggling artist crosses her path and a warm friendship springs up between them. Craigen street is visited by a mysterous stranger who helps the poor and with whom Amy becomes fast friends. On a visit to her former home to secure a paper which will vindicate the artist for an alleged forgery, Amy and the artist are caught by the police. Her grandfather saves them and it develops that he is the stranger from Craigen street. Dorothy Dalton in THE MARKET OF SOULS Five-part drama; Paramount. Directed by Joseph DeGrasse. Published September 7. OPINION: Those who attend the Dorothy Dalton entertainments out of admiration for the star's work, the lavish MARY PICKFORD Studies, oil, so hard in "The Hoodlum," her second First National attraction. settings which are characteristic of them, the high standard of production which always marks their preparation, will find "The Market of Souls" superior to the majority of her past attractions in these respects. It is a splendidly acted, well developed, carefully told narrative of the type for which the star is famous. For four reels it is good drama, not entirely new, perhaps, but entirely interesting to the adult. Then, to straighten out the plot tangle, a character who has fought and died in France is brought back in supernatural form, allowed to impart the information necessary to the happiness of the remaining members of the cast, and then evaporates into thin air, the inference being that the troubled soul of the sinner demanded this return of the spirit in concrete form. Just how this, to say the least, unusual incident will influence popular opinion regarding the picture is a matter of conjecture. Each exhibitor, knowing his patronage, can decide for himself what the character of its reception will be. It is the one point that may make the play's reception doubtful. SYNOPSIS: Helen Armes, a nurse, comes to New York from Albany to visit her married brother. As she arrives on New Year's Eve she is at once added to a cabaret party being made up to include her brother's wife and Lyle Bayne, a wealthy bachelor. At the cabaret she meets Temple Bayne, his brother, a woman-hater who begins to believe in her. She wearies of the performance, Lyle Bayne takes her home, lures her into his apartment and attempts familiarities. She escapes but is judged guilty by her sister-in-law, at once leaving the place to go to the nurses' headquarters. Temple Bayne arrives, fights with his brother after he has been told a lie about Helen's character and the incident, and is blinded by a blow. Helen is assigned to his case and nurses him back to sight, he remaining ignorant of her identity, but asking her hand in marriage. When he recovers his sight he denounces her and she is about t<> leave when Lyle Bayne, 62 reported killed in France, appears and tells the truth. Temple and Helen are reconciled, when Lyle disappears, it being concluded that his was not a return of the flesh but the spirit. June Caprice and Creighton Hale in THE LOVE CHEAT Five-part comedy; Pathe. Directed by George Archibaud. Published August 24. OPINION: Creighton Hale and June Caprice, whose terrestial junction dates from their co-oppearance in "Oh Boy!" have in the present vehicle a production which, if less spectacular in the way of box office promise, is as well calculated to please. It is comedy of the lighter order, rather swift of procedure and graceful as to outline. If it is not exceptionally rich in laugh-giving material, neither i> it monotonous nor devoid of interest. It is just the sort of play that will be expected of the stars and should please the type of audience that will be attracted by its announcement. Directorially and photographically the composition displays good taste and a sure grasp of photoplay technicalities. The personal supervision of Albert Ca-l pellani is discernable through the actual handiwork of George Archibaud. SYNOPSIS: Henry Calvin, interior decorator on his uppers, has an appoint ment to meet a wealthy prospect at a fashionable hotel. His friends lend hint their clothes and money and he keep: the appointment, only to find the cus tomer gone. At the check room he geb< the wrong coat and finds in the pocke' a ticket to a dinner party being givei in the hotel. Spurred by hunger he at tends, satisfies his appetite and meet: Louise Gordon, daughter of the host instant love being mutual. Leaving without disclosing his identity, he latecontinues his suit, financed by her forme fiance through the intervention of a mu tual friend. He wins the girl's consen to a marriage and is about to marry he when his conscience comes to life an* he disappears. Louise, however, feel that money should play no part in lov affairs, so, when she learns the trutl follows him to the little curio sho where he has hidden and the happy end ing ensues. Theda Bara in KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN Six-part drama; Fox. Directed by Charles J. Brabin. Published August 19. OPINION: Those who have voice a desire to see Theda Bara in other tha the character which has come to b synonymous with her name will be give that opportunity in the present prodm tion. As the Irish girl whose name pri vides the title of the play, the star mistress of a characterization total) different than any which she has had i the past. When it is added that she delivers ei tertainment goods of high quality, ce tain to satisfy, the conclusion must 1 drawn that the picture, with the doub attraction of quality and novelty, wi succeed. Unusual photography of fitting ar minutely perfect settings makes viewin the composition a pleasure. Mention also due the lighting effects, some til usual results having been secured at