The Film Daily (1919)

Sunday, June 29. 1919 tM^ AIL.Y 19 "Secret Service" as a Picture Does Credit to Famous Play Robert Warwick in "Secret Service" Paramount-Artcraft Special DIRECTOR Hugh Ford AUTHOR William Gillette SCENARIO BY Beulah Marie Dix CAMERAMAN William Marshall AS A WHOLE Exceptionally well handled Civil War drama; in production, story and acting it has everything that a picture of this kind needs. STORY Adaptation of William Gillette's famous stage success. DIRECTION Works up to suspense-creating situations in fine style and always keeps the scenes in the atmosphere of Civil War days. PHOTOGRAPHY Excellent LIGHTINGS Many of them distinctly artistic CAMERA WORK Close-ups used with discrimination; dissolves and double exposures skilfully handled. STAR A regular soldier hero; looks and acts the part and scores points without over-acting. SUPPORT Wanda Hawley makes a decidedly attractive southern girl; Theodore Roberts, Raymond Hatton and Irving Cummings have conspicuous places in finely balanced cast. EXTERIORS Evidently were selected with great care; frequently furnished beautiful backgrounds. INTERIORS Have variety and appear genuine DETAIL Small mistakes in costumes and settings, such as often mar "period" plays are avoided here. CHARACTER OF STORY Heart interest and dramatic intensity well combined. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5.697 feet AT the time that William Gillette wrote "Secret Service" there was no such thing as photoplay technique, but it so happens that his Civil War drama, now more than twenty years old, makes a nearly ideal basis for a motion picture, at once physically and emotionally stirring and permeated with the charm of the Southland during the days of inevitable defeat. There was a time, some five years ago, when about every company with a supply of uniforms and guns, turned out Civil War dramas at frequent intervals. They were overdone and not very well done. Today, a story of the type returns as something of a novelty, and "Secret Service" is so decidedly well handled in all respects that it should enjoy a success commensurate with that registered by its stage parent. Considering the essential points in a photoplay — story, product ion and acting — this scores through a happy blending of the three. In the first place there are opportunities for genuine emotional and dramatic conflict in the meeting of Robert Warwick as the northern spy and Wanda Hawley as the loyal southerner, in the struggle of the Union officer torn between love and duty; in his efforts to carry out the mission on which he has been sent, and in the courage with which he faces a firing squad when the game is up. With each situation well established, the picture realizes a high degree of excitement and suspense at three points. The first of these is reached when Irving Cummings, as the Confederate secret service man, lays a trap for Robert, who is forced to shoot his own brother, or betray himself. The bullet intended to inflict a slight wound in the brother's leg, enters his heart, and the spy, still forced to assume the part, continues the pretense that he is a southern soldier performing his duty. Again, the story carries a thrill when Robert, on the verge of telegraphing a message that is expected to' mean the downfall of Richmond, is caught by Cummings and shot through the hand as he is clicking off the code. Even here he does not lose his nerve. He almost succeeds in turning the tables on the secret service man before his guilt is established. But best of all is a climax maintaining suspense at a gripping tension. Robert stands in front of the firing squad when a storm of shells from the advancing Union troops breaks over Richmond, one of them bursting among the soldiers about to shoot the northern spy. In the presentation of this war drama, Director Ford has excelled himself. The quaint charm of the old Virginia city is delightfully pictured, contrasting with the squalid filth of the famous Libby prison. Lightings are soft and atmospheric and ensemble scenes, such as those at the bazaar for the benefit of the Confederate soldiers, are like an animated painting of an appealingly tragic epoch of American history. The director's handling of the capture of Richmond, the shells crashing through houses and the panicstricken population in flight, shows technical skill of a high order. Robert Warwick portrays the role of the spy with dignity, reserve and emotional force. He makes one believe in his heroism and his love for Wanda, radiantly pretty in the costume of a southern girl of the sixties. Theodore Roberts assumes a convincing bearing as a Confederate general, whereas Irving Cummings, Raymond Hatton and others in a large cast add materially to the production. Go After New Business on this One. It's Easy to Advertise Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This will come to you as a Paramount-Artcraft special and it warrants playing as such, meaning an exploitation campaign that will reach out after new business. Make it plain that you have something more than a routine release. Perhaps you are getting tired of being urged to experiment with runs of two or three days, but when you are showing a picture of this class, I can't see why the longer booking policy isn't good business. The title "Secret Service" is enough to attract patronage in itself. Couple the name of the picture with William Gillette as the author, Robert Warwick as the star and Hugh Ford as the director and you have an excellent combination from an advertising angle. It ought to be a comparatively easy matter to get additional newspaper space, in reviving interesting data about the play, the author, or the star. "Secret Service" was first staged in New York in October, 1898, with William Gillette in the principal character. Providing it ever reached your town, either through the medium of a traveling company or stock, refer to the performance and make some fuss about its being the most successful of all Civil War dramas. You should be able to draw patronage from theatergoers who like to see their old favorites in new form. Outside of the conventional newspaper notices, you may be able to land additional sketches of Robert Warwick on the strength of his war service. He was a Plattsburg graduate, commissioned a captain and sent overseas where he served many months. Now he is a major in the Reserve. Show pictures of Warwick as an officer in the Civil War and in the uniform of thepresent army.