Motion Picture News (Oct 1915)

October 16, 1915. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 97 married life, is still unblessed with an heir. Grace, his wife, has been informed by a physician that it is impossible for her to bear children. She keeps this fact from her husband, and when her sister Louise is betrayed by a man, she adopts the child, calling it her own. A few years later Grace dies, and John Alden marries Louise. The secret is kept until the boy proves a great disappointment, when the truth becomes known. _ ___ Hugh E. Thompson, Lillian Drew, Warda Howard and John A. Lorenz are the players. The story is by Edward T. Lowe, Jr. “The Canimated Nooz Pictorial.” (Essanay. Split reel, with scenic taken in Canadian Rockies. Wed., Oct. 13.) — A cartoon burlesque of the news pictorials, drawn by Wallace A. Carlsen. “All Stuck Up.” (Essanay. Thurs., Oct. 14.) . — Not shown for review; the story follows: The comedy is furnished by several thousand sheets of sticky fly-paper, and its adhesive propensities when applied to the human skin. Among those caught in the tangle-foot are Jack Pollar, Bud Jamison, Marta Golden, Leo White and Billy Armstrong. “The Reaping.” (Essanay. Three reels. Sat., Oct. 16.) — Not shown for review; the story follows : Dennis, a man of questionable character, becomes engaged to Diana. One evening he betrays her, and a few days later drops dead. Diana goes to the country home of her aunt, the only relative she has, A boy is born to her, and she returns to the city with her aunt, the boy posing as the aunt’s adopted son. Later Diana marries, and has a daughter. The children fall in love as the years go by, and the boy asks to marry the daughter. Diana confesses the truth to her husband, and is about to tell the children when her aunt discloses the fact that Diana’s real son is dead, and that she had substituted an adopted child in his place many years before. The cast is comprised of Lillian Drew, Camille D’Arcy, Richard C. Travers, Frances Wood and De Weese Seewir. “The Dancing Doll.” (Kalem. Three reels. Mon., Oct. 11.) — Will be reviewed at length in the issue of October 23. “Queering Cupid.” (Kalem. Tues.,. Oct. 12). — A little too much rough house in this number by Rube Miller. An absent minded flirt and a trio of lovers are the principals. The subtitles aim at comedy and will achieve it with a not over-particular audience. “Voices in the Dark.” (Kalem. Two reels. Wed., Oct. 13). — Exceedingly strong drama by C. Doty Hobart with Guy Coombs and Anna Nielson playing the leads, the former also directing. Starting with the conventional situation of the father with a pretty ward heavily in debt, and the debtor demanding the girl’s hand, Mr. Hobart has developed his theme with a series of powerful incidents finally disclosing the villain as the father of the girl. The film is full of surprises and although melodramatic at times is almost bound to be well received because of its startling strength. “A Test of Courage.” (Kalem. Sat., Oct. 16). One of the Hazards of Helen introducing a new Helen. Except for the fact that no motive is given for the thieves’ attempt to burglar the train the" picture is very good. It has the usual thrills so prominent in this series of pictures, while the new Helen has already completely filled the dare-devil shoes left by her predecessor. ‘Think Mothers.” (Lubin. Mon., Oct. 4). — Slightly too preachy, but good nevertheless. Daniel Carson Goodman prepared the scenario and it merely shows the sorrow brought on the young wife when her fickle husband commences to neglect her. It is strong, however, and save for the preachment conferred upon it in the title and at its close, is most acceptable. The automobile accident is a good thrill. Mary Charleson and Jack Standing are the leads. “Love and Swords.” (Lubin. Tues., Oct. 5). — A rehashed version of an ancient burlesque melee. The three undertakers anxious for trade, the two ninnies, the prey of the three gloomy gentlemen, and the two mischievous lovers are the principal characters. Edwin McKim prepared the script. The picture is really funny because it contains a plot almost always successful. “Jim West — Gambler.” (Lubin. Three reels. Wed., Oct. 6.) — Will be reviewed at length in the issue of Octpber 23. “The Telegrapher’s Peril.” (Lubin. Thurs., Oct. 7).— A good railroad drama with a fair love interest, a nice amount of suspense and an average exciting climax. The attack on the baggage car by the bandits is poor, because dozens of shots are fired in every direction and not a soul drops. Ormi Hawley, Kempton Greene and Earl Metcalfe are the leads. “The Son.” (Lubin. Fri., Oct. 8.) — In most respects a very strong offering by Daniel Carson Goodman. The Son saves his father from the toils of an adventuress by usurping his place and restoring his wayward parent to his wife. Save for the fact that Jack Standing as the father makes a very poor old man, the picture is appealing and powerful. Others are Octavia Handworth and Leon Kelly. “Think of the Money.” (Lubin. Sat., Oct. 9). One of Billie Reeves’ vehicles which fares indifferently. The slapstick work attempted is crude and amateurish in its execution. The story, by Epes Winthrop Sargent, however, is clever. Harry Coleman, playing a prominent art, overdoes his facial expressions to a tiresome extent. “The Honeymoon Roll.” (Mina. Thurs., Oct. 7.) — The rubes in the city again. This time almost, but not quite swindled. This is quite poor, with a chase through the city streets bringing it to a conventional close. “The Bridge of Time.” (Selig. Three reels. Thurs., Oct. 7.). — Practically two dramas are presented here, both alike in plot, one occurring in the Elizabethan period and the other in the present time. In both the leading male character rights the wrong he has done by marrying the betrayed girl. The second story introduces some very gorgeous costumes and several clever duels. The entire three reels are enhanced by splendid photography, containing depth as well as clarity. Although the plots are rather old, the picture offers good diversion. Harry Mestayer and Guy Oliver play the hero and villain respectively, while Roy McCardell is the author. "The Tiger Slayer.” (Selig. Sat., Oct. 9). — One of Selig’s jungle melodramas with a plot productive of a fair amount of suspense. Good photography prevails. George Larkin is the male lead. “The Sculptor’s Model.” (Selig. Two reels. Mon., Oct. 11.) — Not shown for review: the story follows : Richard Haynes, a millionaire sculptor, is unable to find a suitable model for a marble figure that he intends to make his masterpiece. Finally he finds the ideal one for the work in Una Gray, a country girl. He paints the attrac tions of the great city to her, and she consents to pose for him. Her rural lover accuses Haynes of having lured Una from her home, but the sculptor convinces him that he is merely an employer, although he admits that he loves her. The two seek _Una out, and ask her to choose between them. Una decides that Tom is the one she loves, and the sculptor returns to his studio broken-hearted. The drama was written by Nellie B. Duff. Joe King, Vivian Reed, Fred Hearn, Thomas Bates and Doris Reed lead the cast. “The Foreman’s Choice.” (Selig. Tues., Oct. 12.) — Not shown for review; the story follows: Vicky, step-daughter of Bull Dexter, an escaped convict, meets Tom Hickson, a ranch foreman. Ignorant. of her relationship with the wanted man, he falls in love with the girl. When the sheriff is assembling a posse to capture Dexter, Tom induces the officer to allow him to run down the criminal. After a desperate struggle Tom wounds Dexter, and is about to turn him over to the authorities when Vicky pleads with him to let her step-father go. Tom, realizing how much he loves the girl, complies. This. western drama was produced from the scenario of Cornelius Shea by Tom Mix, who also heads the cast, supported by Victoria Forde, Sid Jordan, Pat Chrisman and Howard Farrell. “In the Midst of the Wilds.” (Selig. Sat., Oct. 16.) — This wild animal drama was not shown for review; the story follows: Meta, daughter of Jan Kraga, is in love with Sir John Herschell, who is studying African farming near her home. Her father insists that she marry 'Hans Vedder, a neighboring farmer. Rather than take part in this odious marriage, Meta leaves her home, and, armed with a small knife, wanders out into the jungle. There she gives battle to a leopard, which she finally kills. A searching party finds her being conveyed by a friendly elephant, and in a fainting condition she is carried back to her home. Kraga relents, and allows her to marry Sir John. The story was written by Emma Bell, and produced by Lloyd B. Carleton. “The Lure of a Widow.” ~ (Vitagraph. Mon., Oct. 11). — One of Wally Van’s best comedies of the summer hotel class (all sport shirts graciously omitted). It builds to an uproarious climax, while the action in toto is very funny. Wally Van, Nitra Frazer and Albert Roccardi are the leads. “Lillian’s Husbands.” (Vitagraph. Three reels. Tues., Oct. 12.) — Reviewed at length elsewhere in this issue. “Youth.” (Vitagraph. Three reels. Sat., Oct. 9.) — Will be reviewed at length in the issue of October 23. “On With the Dance.” (Vitagraph. Wed., Oct. 13). — A novel offering, neither comedy nor drama. It introduces several dances of the past and present with fairly entertaining results. Jewell Hunt and Arthur Cozine are the leads. “The Third Party.” (Vitagraph. Thurs., Oct. 4). — A version of the eternal triangle, another man being the third corner. It is hardly a good picture, not ■ quite clear enough and rather indeterminate. Donald Hall, James Morrison and Rankin Drew are the principals. “How John Came Home.” (Vitagraph. Fri., Oct. 5). — Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew again in a comedy, better than the average, but not quite worthy of the Drew couple. John cuts loose with wealth won at the race course. His wife gives him up for dead and shortly afterwards inherits a fortune. Then John rises from his seclusion and returns to share the fortune in a manner most humorous. “Let There Be Light.” (American. Two reels. Mon., Oct. 11.) — Will be reviewed at length in the issue of October 23. “Billie— The Hill Billy.” (Beauty. Tues., Oct. 12.) — This not remarkable drama gives Neva Gerber an opportunity for some of her character acting, with William Carroll doing some very good work in the title role. Robert Bennet goes into the Ozark Mountains on research work, and comes to a mountaineer’s cabin. The old man has a delusion that it is his prodigal son, who ran away from home many years before. Bennet finds it easy to humor the man’s fancy because of his interest in the daughter. When her harsh, old father threatens to put her to work with the negroes as a punishment, Bennet marries her and takes her home to his mother. Supporting Neva Gerber and William Carroll are Lucille Ward, Webster Campbell, Teddy Lynch and Robert Miller. The directing was done by Archer McMackin. “Two-Spot Joe.” (Mustang. Two reels. Fri., Oct. 15.) — This western drama presents nothing startling in plot, but is well-acted, and consistently free from the crudities that distinguish so many picures of a similar character. “Two-Spot Joe” is a gambler, but, strangely enough, he is honest, and a gentleman as well. He is in love with another man’s wife, but instead of trying to win her, he tries to make her drunken, worthless husband worthy of her. In this altruistic mission he is unsuccessful, but the husband’s death finally makes him free to marry the girl. The excellent cast consists of Anna Little, E. Forrest Taylor, Louise Lester and Jack Richardson. Donald McDonald is the director. “Profit from Loss.” (American. Fri., Oct. IS.) — Even if the coincidences are a bit strained, this picture has some merit. Carter, a working man, loses his money to Harmon, who is a professional gambler. Later the cheated man seeks out the card-sharp to regain his money by force. Harmon, however, says he has given it all to a begging woman in a saloon. When Carter gets home he finds that it was his wife to whom the money had been given. He profits from the exDerience, and gives a letter to his employers, instructing them to pay his wages to his wife thereafter. Vivian Rich, Walter Spencer, Jack Richardson and Louise Lester comprise the cast. William Bertram was in charge of the directing. “Aided by the Movies.” (Beauty. Sat., Oct. 16.) — This really laughable comedy is wholly free from slap-stick methods, and is capably presented by John Steppling, John Sheehan, Dick Rosson, Carol Holloway and Nan Christie. Although Carol is in love with John, her father favors Dick. One evening the pater meets a “ moving picture actress, and as a result of their all-night carouse, the director of her company, who is a friend of John’s, is compelled to take a day’s vacation. On this account he enters into a scheme to effect the marriage of his friend through a ruse. John secures a parson and a marriage license, and the movie camera is set up in front of Carol’s house. After the ceremony is completed, and father discovers that he has acted as a witness, he is furious, but the leading lady appears and persuades him to accept the situation. James Douglas directed the picture. “Miss Trillie’s Big Feet.” (Novelty. Mon., Oct. 11.) — Not shown for review. The story is: Big feet are the only blot on Trillie’s beauty, but Billee, her artist sweetheart overlooks the blemish. At a studio reception, Trillie runs a splinter into her foot, and in extracting it, Svengali, a hypnotist, is attracted to Trillie, and the following night in a cafe attempts to hypnotize her. He hypnotizes everybody in the place before bringing her under his spell, and she is saved when Billee fills her full of ice cream, her favorite dish. Edith Thornton, Joe Burke, Max Ulrich, W. G. Don and Will Browning are in the cast. “The Scoop at Belleville.” (Thanhouser. Two Reels, Split. Tues., Oct. 12.) — Not shown for review. "Keeping Up With the Joneses.” (Gaumont. Split Reel. Tues., Oct. 12.) — Not shown for review. Table of contents will hereafter be found every week opposite inside back cover.