Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

THE MOTIOX PICTURE NEWS 49 SPECIAL FILM REVIEWS "The Attorney's Decision." (Lubin. Two reels. Wed., Aug. 26.) — A story that will make a strong bid for the favor of lovers of pictures that have plent} of complications and moments of dramatic intensity. The weight of money decides the marriage of a girl to a broker, to whom her father has lost monej' and finds himself in debt. The jilted young man becomes district attorney and it is up to him to press an indictment for crooked methods against the husband of the woman he loves. She persuades him to drop the charge, then finds out what her husband is and relieves him of his promise. The threat of divorce is held over the girl's head unless she holds the lawj'er to his given promise, but relief comes to all in the death of the broker at the hands of the lover of the dancer he has tried to wrong. "Helping Mother." (Rex. Three reels. Thurs.. Sept. 10.) — An excellent Universal feature in which Lois Weber and Philip Smalley are the main characters. It is certain that the picture will appeal to all classes and ages, as a picture with such a sympathetic story will naturally attract the public. Joe and his wife are destitute. She gets a position as maid. Joe learns to run an automobile and is hired by the same familj-. He forgets his wife and runs away with his mistress, the children remain the wife's sole comforters. He meets his death when the automobile explodes. This scene is done excellently. The wife still waits for his return, but after a long time she marries the secretary of her emploj'er, who was left all his money. "The Path to Ruin." (Kalem. Sat., Sept. 12.) — Two men and one woman pass through the vicissitudes of life with love still the strongest element in their lives, j-et the j'ears have brought many changes. The man that did not win the girl is now a prominent surgeon, and the rich man whom she married has lost all and is forced to fire a furnace. He is terribly burned, and it is nothing but the extraordinary skill of the surgeon that saves his life. Gratitude is strong in the heart of the girl, but the love in the heart of the man who lost is greater than ever, and he avoids a meeting for fear that he may forget himself. Robert Ellis, Irene Boj-le and Cecil Ryan enact this three-sided drama with telling force. BOBBY ADDRESSES THE DIEECTOES Scene from "Bobty Burnit" (Lasky-Paramount Feature) "The Devil's Dansant." (Kalem. Two reels. ^Nlon., Sept. 7.) — The craze of the modern woman for excitement and the dangerous lengths to which she will go to satisfj this craving, is the theme of this two-part drama by Hamilton Smith. The potentialities of such a theme in dramatic action are fully realized, and the iiitensitj' is stronglj heightened by the skilful manipulation of the element of suspense. Alice Hollister has the leading role, the wife of the district attorney and the frequenter of the dansant against which her husband is gathering evidence. The startling meeting of husband and wife in the raid brings out the fine capacitj of this actress for emotionalism. There are incidental dances by Arthur Albertson and Elsie Cohan. The settings in the dansant are entireh adequate. "Uncle's Finish." (Hartigan-Eclectic. One reel.) — It all happens in a dream, how Uncle is gotten rid of when he •'becomes somewhat troublesome to the other fellow, but it is nevertheless very funny. Uncle is disturbing the younger man when he wishes to sleep, and then in his sleep he dreams that he packs Uncle up as a dead bodj and ships him to a doctor's office. The doctor is not in when the coffin arrives, and the young lady secretar} has to receive the package. Her actions are uproarious because the body soon comes to life, and has a merry time frightening everybodj^ almost of of their wits. About this time the sleeper wakes up, and to his utter surprise, he finds Uncle sitting in the room with him, as sound and whole of bod}^ as he ever was. "Through the Dark." (RelianceMutual. Two reels. Sat., Aug 29.) — Played exceptionally well bj" Francelia Billington. Billie West, Sam De Grasse and Eugene Pallette. The pictures tell how a girl burdened with the disgrace of a crime of which she was innocent, managed to make a living and finallj to marrjhappily. AVhen her husband is told of her supposed theft he commands her to leave him, but the real thief confesses and all ends well. Fine photography. "Frenchy." (Majestic-Mutual. Two reels. Sun.. Aug. 30.) — A very clever character portrayed by Vester Pegg, assisted admirablj b} Fred Burns and Francelia Billington. It is one of the first pictures directed by Donald Crisp. Frenchy is made the butt of fun by all the cowboys, but he proves their equal many times, and finally earns their everlasting admiration hy saving the life of his employer's daughter. He then leaves the ranch, as he sees that the foreman is jealous of his advances toward the girl.