Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1914)

92 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS "THE LILY OF THE VALLEY" (Selig — Three Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE THIS, one of the General Film Photoplay masterpieces, combines the elements of a big feature with the simple charm of the one-reel picture, with the result that an attractive and pathetic story has been produced in "The Lily of the Valley." The picture argues well for those who are opposed to strikes. The sad results that follow on the heels of indus ANNA SWEARS TO AVENGE HER FATHER AND BROTHER "THE MAGIC NOTE" (Ambrosio-American — Four Parts) REVIEWED BY A. DANSON MICHELL SENSATIONALISM plays a large part in this picture, although the plot is not in any way subsidized by the melodramatic character of the film. The story is powerful, yet simple in its entirety, and is executed in a manner that carries satisfaction with it. A logical ending makes it one of the best films the Ambrosio has produced. "Anita, who has musical talents, is devoted to her invalid mother, and Robert, her lover, who is a bank clerk. The latter, after some work, secures for her a tryout with a prominent director, who so likes her voice that he gives her the chance she wishes and takes her to the chief director. This man accepts her and stars her in the opera "Mignon." In appreciation of his help Anita presents him with a silver cigarette case on which the words "Do You Know the Land" from the opera, is engraved. Morton, his brother bank clerk, is really a crook. When Robert is sent to the clearing house to get a large sum of money, Morton attacks him and robs him of his wallet containing the bank's money. He is thrust into a sewer from which he is unable to escape for many days. When at last he reaches the open air he has lost his mind. The police, finding him wandering around, have him arrested, and seeing he is insane have him placed in an institution. Everyone believes he is an embezzler, his absence being so considered. Many months pass by and Anita has become a well-known prima donna. She has not forgotten Robert, but has, like all the others, been unable to locate him. Among her suitors, Morton is the most ardent. He is living under an assumed trial strife are vividly portrayed here, although somewhat magnified to add to the significance of the story. But the mob scenes are in no way magnified. Five hundred people must have partaken in these scenes; they storm the factory that has closed its doors against them and, unable to gain admittance, they take to throwing stones. Many windows are broken and the lives of all are endangered until the militia arrives. The encounters between the militia and the strikers are a sight to see. The maddened strikers stone everybody ruthlessly, even to killing the sister of one of the guard. Crazed, he turns the machine gun on them, taking the lives of the foreman and his two sons. Later, he, Philip, marries the foreman's daughter and tries to keep his terrible deed from her, but she learns of it. She determines to kill him, but relents when she sees his sister's picture. But another strike occurs and he is shot by a frenzied enemy. ONLY FIREPROOF OPERATING ROOM IN MISSISSIPPI Si'ccial to The Motion Picture News. Jackson, Miss., June 1. Announcement has been made that the Istrione Theatre will be ready for business about June 15. This modern playhouse, owned jointly by J. C. Landen and H. A. Carleton, is the first of several that are to be constructed at various points in the state in their Istrione Theatre Circuit. The management of the houses will be in the hands of Mr. Carleton. The local Istrione will seat about 750 people, and include a smokers' balcony and a mezzanine balcony. The theatre is of fireproof construction throughout. The operating room, enclosed in nine-inch brick walls with a six-inch concrete roof, is placed on the main fioor between the foyer and the auditorium. Two motor-driven Simplex machines are to be used to project the pictures. This is said to be the first asbolutely fireproof operating room ever built in a motion picture house in Mississippi. One of the features of the liouse will be the ventilation, air being forced through the floor through mushroom ventilators by a mammoth blow fan, making an entire change of air every minute. Music will be furnished by a five-string orchestra. ! T J if , ;* ANITA MOURNS HER MOTHER name. While at a tea party she discovers he has the cigarette case with the inscription and suspicions enter her mind. Later, at the asylum, she gives a public performance. The song which she sings has been Robert's favorite. The magic note which she strikes brings back his mind to him. There is a reconciliation and Morton's crime is brought home to him through the silver cigarette case. "HOUSE OF BONDAGE" HALTED IN ELIZABETH, N. J. Elizabeth, N. J.. June 3. On the grounds that the picture was immoral. Mayor Percy H. Stewart, of Plainficld, last Wednesday put a stop to "The House of Bondage," which was being shown in the Lyric Theatre, that city. The plea of the theatre management that the production had not been interfered with when it was shown in Elizabeth earlier in the week had no effect on the Mayor. He threatened to take further action against the theatre owners for allowing children under 16 to enter the amusement house unaccompanied.