Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 45 MARY PICKFORD'S POPULARITY Xew Orleans, July 28. POPULARITY of an individual star is shown by the advertising being done by the Pearce theatres, all of which are throwing on the screen the legend, "Little Mary Pickford will appear at the Tudor Theatre each Sunday." iMiss Pickford has thousands of admirers in Xew Orleans. "THE BOUNDARY RIDER" (Eclectic — Five Reels) EEVIEWED BY PETEE MILNE STORIES in which members of the revenue service and smugglers hgure never fail to interest the public to a high degree. And so it is almost certain that "The Boundary Rider" will meet with approval, as it deals largely with the attempts and final success of the revenue officers of the north woods to capture a band of opium smugglers. While the action of the picture is rapid and absorbing from start to finish, there are a few scenes that are slightly too long and could easily be cut without doing the whole production any harm. But as it stands, there are no superfluous scenes, the story is perfectl} clear, and it surely stands with the best of the five-reel features. The picture was made by Wharton, Inc., of Ithaca, N. Y., and is released by the Eclectic Film Company. An accomplished cast appears, consisting of Thurlow Bergen, as the clerk of the opium dealer and later a revenue officer ; Elsie Esmond as Elsie Moore of the secret service ; William X. Baily as a smuggler ; Harry Carr as his servant, and F. W. Stewart as James Maxwell, the leader of the smugglers. Elsie Esmond assumes such a clever disguise in part of the picture that when at last she reveals herself it is doubtful if most people will not be greatly surprised. She poses as a Chinaman to spy on the smugglers. X'o one would suspect THE EEVENTJE OFFICER FINDS BIG BILL that she was a woman and not the bland little Chinaman that she represents. A novel effect in photography has been introduced. On the border line the smugglers send the opium to the next station by secreting it in logs and floating it down stream. The log may be s^^en going over a high waterfall, and then back of the waterfall .ire the smugglers who throw a rope out and bring in the logi The men are photographed through the water. There are a number of these scenes deserving of great praise, and they will certainly be appreciated by everyone. Realistic scenes in the opium dens add greatly to the picture. A hot fight occurs between two of the smugglers, and the spying of the secret service men will serve to keep the interest alwaj's at the highest point. The clerk of the opium dealer in the city is accused of killing his master, when in reality it was an enraged smuggler. The clerk escapes for the Xorth, and joins the revenue service where with the aid of the girl he brings about the capture of the real offenders. "THE PERILS CF PAULINE" (Eclectic — Tenth Episode) REVIEWED BY J. BXTREOTJGHS NOELL P.-VULIX'E continues on her perilous waj-. This time the undaunted 3"0ung lady gets more than she bargained for and it is necessarj for iHarrj to come to her rescue. Pauline thinks that she is undertaking an adventure planned for her by her sweetheart, so she steps gaily forth to prove again her right to be called an intrepid young woman. But it turns PAULINE ESCAPES FEOM THE LIGHTHOUSE out that Owen's wicked brain has done the scheming, and it is not sham, but real, danger that she has run into. Since she does not know this she innocently allows herself to be carried off by a band of smugglers. Their inhuman brutalit} makes her realize what a hornet's nest she has gotten into, and a hastj^ telephone call under difficulties puts iHarry on the track. The smugglers carrv" her, far off across the waters and place her in solitar}. confinement in a lighthouse tower. By means of a dropped handkerchief Harr\ perceives at once where his beloved is, and makes for the spot with all speed. But he cannot come nearer than several hundred yards, because the lighthouse stands out in the water. But what is water to such an ingenious and understanding couple as Pauline and iHarry! A rope is passed through to Pauline's cell-window. A cable follows and then a life-saving car. Pauline gets into this and is pulled to land and safetj% with the smugglers making after her with might and main. There is one fault to be found -with this picture in spite of its undeniable powers of entertainment. The spectator is not always sure that these adventures happen naturallj". NEW IMPORTING COMPANY ON THE COAST Special to The iloiiox Picture Xews Los Angeles, July 37. ARTICLES of incorporation are about to be filed for the Am.erican-Europe Film Company, which will control the American rights for a number of foreign manufacturers' pictures. Richard E. Xathansohn and G. J. Smeby, of Los Angeles, have just returned from spending a j'ear in France. Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Xorway, and brought with them contracts from manufacturers in those countries, for handling the products in both the United States and Canada, under the trademark of "'Ameropa." For the present an office here will handle all the business of the company, but later branches will be opened in principal cities. The officers are: Richard E. Xathansohn, president; Roy iNIanker, vice-president; G. J. Smeb}-, secretary and treasurer. The other directors are Dr. C. B. Adams and C. E. Rose. Offices have been opened in the Garland Building.