Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

GEORGE BEBAN IN THE SIGN OF THE ROSE (GARSON) Famous vaudeville sketch again comes to the screen in a five part photoplay, full of heart interest and pathos. Presents a pleasing offering with all of the quaint charm of the original. Skilful handling of players and big dramatic scenes lends conviction to simple story. Directed by Harry Garson. George Beban first wrote "The Sign of the Rose" from a recitation in verse called "Rosa," which he told in dialect one night at a beefsteak dinner in Chicago. It was an instantaneous success and he starred in it in vaudeville for six years all over the United States and in Canada and London. He next prepared it for the screen, and under the title of "The Alien" Paramount distributed it with marked success six years ago. As a four-act play, it was also a success. Now the inimitable Italian-character actor has again made it into a very pleasing little drama, and at the Chicago theatre, where it played Christmas week, and which was its first presentation anywhere, it was well received. In connection with the picture, Beban and his company introduced the famous flower shop scene at the moment this dramatic point is reached in the picture and following the incident, the picture continues to its happy ending. A very capable company appears in support of the star, including Dorothy Giraci, who plays Rosa; Charles Edler, as William Griswold; Helen Sullivan, as Mrs. Griswold; Gene Cameron, as Phil Griswold; Jeanne Carpenter, a petite Dorothy, and Louisa Callamenti as Annetta Balletti, the lost wife of Pietro, the role played by Beban. All in all, a very pleasing little screen play, with a touch of the Christmas season which makes it very timely indeed. Pietro Balletti and his little Rosa live in a garret, Rosa preparing the meals while Pietro picks up odd jobs around the neighborhood. As Christmas eve approaches, Pietro plans a surprise for Rosa, and through a generous tip for delivering a Christmas tree to the Griswold home, he is able to purchase an armful of toys. He returns home only to find his little Rosa dead, having been struck by an automobile belonging to Griswold. He goes out on Christmas day to buy a flower for her grave, and entering a florist's shop is confronted by a detective and the mother of a child that has been kidnaped. Pietro is accused of the abduction and is about to be hustled off to prison, when the child is found and Pietro absolved of all blame. Little Dorothy goes to Pietro's flat with her mother and father and presents him with a gift that will enable him to live in comfort back in Italy, but the pleasant surprise is when his wife appears — she whom he thought lost at sea during a fire on the vessel — and they are happily reunited. FRANK MAYO IN ACROSS THE DEADLINE (UNIVERSAL) A story of action, drama, love, with a particularly strong cast in star's support. A melodramatic tale that will appeal to lovers of this type of story, invested with some beautifully photographed backgrounds. Directed by Jack Conway. Five reels. For those who like virile tales of the wild West, where strong-minded, religious citizens are pitted against lawless, vengeful men, no better production could be recommended than ' Across the Deadline." It is a story replete with tense dramatic incidents, some mystery and several strong climaxes. It was filmed for the most part amid beautiful pines and the W:estern atmosphere is further carried out by the sets representing a rough mining village. The role of John Kidder gives Frank Mayo plenty of opportunity to display his prowess with his fists and Molly Malone is a pleasing and pretty heroine. Russell Simpson has a particularly strong role as the father, Enoch Kidder, and Wilfred Lucas makes a capable villain, as Aaron Kidder. Joseph Sickard, William Marion, Frank Thorwold and Lydia Knott appear in the cast. Enoch Kidder threatens to kill his brother Aaron if he ever steps across a line he lays down in the centre of the street between their two homes, when he discovers his boy John in Aaron's saloon. John finds a girl, dressed in her wedding gown, in the woods and, because she cannot tell her name or how she came to be lost, John befriends her, against his father's wishes. Aaron wishes to discredit John's honesty and attempts to blackmail him and kidnap the girl. He is given a warrant to arrest the girl by a man posing as her husband. John has been warned of Aaron's plan and takes Ruth to a lodge high in the mountains. Abel, an old man who has a grievance against Aaron, follows him. John's father also determines to find his boy. A fight between John and Aaron follows when the latter tries to arrest him. Aaron is killed and the mystery of who shot him is cleared up when Abel confesses. Ruth's memory is restored and there is a happy ending when her bogus husband is exposed. STOLEN GLORY (EDUCATIONAL) Another pleasing two-reel comedy directed by Frank C. Griffin, with dogs, cats, monkeys and small children playing the principal roles. It is a picture within a picture, showing a boastful youngster claiming credit for stopping a runaway cart and saving a pretty little miss, when in reality the rescue was made by his four-footed companions, a monkey and a bull dog. The monkey does a number of clever tricks and the picture on the whole is delightful. It will particularly please the children. ? 4 li GEORGE BEBAN, in a scene from his famous vaudeville sketch, "The Sign of the Rose," which has been made into a picture and in connection with its showing in Chicago this week the famous Italian-character actor is appearing in person.