Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 55 "THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE" (101 Bison — Three Reels) REVIEWED BY A. DANSON MICHELL THIS is the first of a new serial, released Avigust 8, issued by the Universal Company, to be followed by four tworeelers. Beyond a question of doubt, it is the best picture the Universal has so far produced. It is to Murdock McQuarrie, who plays the leading part, that the credit is mosth" due. As a character actor he is par excellence. He shows wonderful technique when playing anything but juvenile leads. In this drama he has an excellent vehicle for the display of his abilities. Pauline Bush, Lon Chaney and a large cast support him with great care for details. The storj is a dramatization of the story by Bronson Howard now running in the "Century Magazine." To read the story, the film possibilities loom up large, but the average American manufacturer would hesitate when the necessity of producing castles and fifteenth-century towns was pointed out. The Universal deserves great credit for the historical accuracy observed in the scenes of the period. The story of the first chapter is as follows : ^'ill6n and Colin, two vagabonds, set out from the Provinces for Paris in search of fortune. Meeting with several monks, thej^ rob them of what little money they possess. The culprits are arrested and thrown in jail. : A chance is offered to one to escape and Colin gives up I his life on the gallows that his friend may be spared. This is against the wishes of Villon, but Colin insists. While Villon is looking at the dead body of his faithful friend, a knight, Philip de Soisons, rides up and orders him away from the gruesome spectacle. On being refused the knight charges him. With a large stone Villon kills the nobleman, and, stealing his armor and papers, arrives in Paris in his name. VILLON IS ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO THE CASTLE His first act is to rescue a girl in an inn. A good fight scene is shown. For this Villon is arrested and thrown in a dungeon in the castle. The old King visits him in disguise and asks him to give up his way of living and join a rebellion against the King. For this he promises to free him from the cell. A'illon refuses and the King, making his identity known, knights him in reality, and gives him the name of Chevalier. The scene closes showing the astonished Villon being conducted into the royal castle. BIG PLANS FOR GRIFFITH'S "THE CLANSMAN" Special to The Motion Picture News Los Angeles, July 37. "r\ W. GRIFFITH, managingdirector of the Majestic Mo. tion Picture Compan\' studio, is now giving all of his time to the production of "The Clansman" from the novel by Thomas Dixon, Jr., which he hopes to make his greatest picture. More than three months have now been spent on this picture and the preparation, and it will probably be four months before it is released. Work has been delayed because of the sickness of Henry Walthall, who has been in a local hospital for the past two weeks, but will soon be able to report for work. Two village streets, to represent scenes in Piedmont, North Carolina, in Civil War days, have been built at the cost of several thousands of dollars. The best talent of all the Majestic and Reliance companies will take part in the picture, together with about three thousand extra people. "DAN" (All-star — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY WILLIAM RESSMAN ANDREWS THIS is a pleasing photoplay of the stirring times during the war between the states. Lew Dockstader is featured as a type of the trusted plantation slave, immortaLzed in song THE DEATH OF DAN and story and remembered with deep affection by the people of the South for unwavering fidelity to the interests of his master's family. Lew Dockstader preserves the traditions of the character, and by playing the part with feeling excites regret over the infrequency of the actor's appearance in the picture. Everyone would welcome more of the rotund jollity of the antebellum servant, privileged in his years of attendance on the members of the household to assume the role of friend, confidant and ebony jester, who with rare diplomacy was able to be all things at once without forgetting his real status. Pathos and tragedy touch elbows in this picture from the first appearance of faithful Dan to the tragic end where the gray-haired old servitor gives up his life before a firing squad for aiding Raoul, his master's only son, to escape. The producers have succeeded in presenting a film which will not offend audiences in either the North or the South by any tactless references to matters which a united country, wishes to remain buried in undisturbed oblivion. The film contains a number of vivid battle scenes executed by a troop of well-rehearsed supernumeraries. There are sharp skirmishes, slashing cavalry charges and thrilling ambuscades to assist the imagination of the spectator in constructing a picture of the Civil War struggle. The visit of John Hammond and his sister Elsie to the plantation of their friend. Colonel Dabney, in the South is interrupted by the outbreak of the war. Hammond becomes engaged to Grace, daughter of the colonel, while Raoul, the son of Colonel Dabney, wins Elsie's promise to become his bride. The two young men are separated, each fighting under the flag duty and conscience dictate. The couples are prevented from pledging themselves in marriage for a long time by the uncertainties of the conflict, but are finally united.