Motion Picture News (Oct 1914-Jan 1915)

November 7, 1914. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 51 dogs up into "dogs." In his dreams his dogs attain great size .and chase him. Trick photography adds .to the amusement furnished. "De Feet of Father." (Joker. Sat., Nov. 14.) — In most of the scene3 of this picture only the feet of the principals are visible, but they are expressive enough to convey the correct idea. This is novel, but the same idea has been used by other companies. "The Silent Peril." (101 Bison. Two Reels. Sat., Nov. 14.) — A number of fine thrills have been added to the story of the spy sent to discover and destroy an invention of a. foreign power. Marie Walcamp, William Clifford and Sherman Bainbridge appear in their customary roles. The invention is a boat propelled by an electrical device on shore, and the spy destroys it by a contrivance of his own. An absorbing story full of rapid action. A realistic explosion of the boat occurs. "Sissy Dobbins, Oil Magnate." (Powers. Fri., Nov. 13.) — Fair entertainment gathered from this drama. When the farmer's daughter becomes rich through the discovery of oil on the land, her suitor is afraid that he will be discarded, but she soon gets the idea out of his head. Edna Maison and Joe King play opposite. "When the Girls Were Shanghaied." (Nestor. Fri., Nov. 13.) — A number of young husbands whose wives dress as men and go slumming disguise themselves as sailors and proceed to shanghai them. Much fun is furnished on board the ship, in fact, all the way through the picture. Ed Lyons. Lee Moran, Victoria Forde and Bess Mercdyth impersonate the main characters. "The Star Gazer." (Nestor. Tues., Nov. 3. ) — Murdock MacQuarrie always makes a picture, but this one boasts of novelty besides. A house is set afire by the sun's rays concentrated through a telescope fastened to the back of a chair. A heart interest story is presented; rather weak except for MacQuarrie's part, yet humaft. "Peg o' the Wilds." (Imp. Two Reels. Thurs., Nov. 12 ) — An interesting story of a wild mountain girl being found and tamed by a detective. Her father was an escaped criminal, living apart from the rest of the world with his dau.gliter, but he dies before arrested. Violet Mercereau and William Shay are the principals. Hobart Henley is also in the cast. "His Big Chance." (Victor. Mon.. Nov. 2.) — A foreign princess poses as a maid. She sees her mistress in the arms of a strange man and is granted any favor. She chooses to be introduced to society as an heiress. She is proposed to, but when it is learned that she is a maid the man breaks the engagement. Then it is announced she is a princess, and the man begs forgiveness, but she had given him his chance and she does not forgive him. "The Girl From Texas." fFrontier. Sat., Nov. 7.) — How the girl saves the man she loves from bandits makes an entertaining story. Something novel is introduced when the girl imitate, the whirring of a rattlesnake. Fred Church and Edythe Sterling are the lovers. "Race for a Bride." (Sterling. Thurs., Oct. 29.) — Good comedy of the two suitors for the girl. The one who brings the justice of the peace to the house first is to win her. The race is the most comical feature.. "The Wall Between." (Sterling. Mon.. Nov. 2.) — An aged man lives on one side of the wall and a woman on the other. They quarrel, but their grandchildren are happy together and they are reconciled. Quite a pleasant comedy that will please. "They Didn't Know." (Crystal. Tues.. Nov. 2.) — An old idea and poor producing will cause this comedy to appear rather lifeless. An Irishman and a Dutchman are attracted by an actress. She strings them along for a time and then her husband appears. "Her Own Home." (Eclair. Sun., Nov. 15.) — A pretty comedy drama played by Lottye Fowler, Fred Heame and Fred Sumner. The girl is forced to sell her home. She returns disguised as an old housekeeper. The new owner learns her identity, and they marry. "The Girl of the People." (Victor. Two reels. Fri., Nov. 13.) — The plot seems weak and poorly constructed, and no great amount of interest will be evidenced. Mary Fuller in the role of a mistreated Italian girl runs away from her father. She joins a gypsy band, but thfe leader takes too many liberties, and she leaves In the city she becomes a great dancer and marries an artist after the blackmailing gypsy has been compelled to ceaseannoying the girl with his attentions. "The Jungle Master." (101 Bison. Two Reels. Sat., Nov. 7.) — ^Although really a drama, the introduction of numerous species of wild animals overshadows the plot until the end of the last reel. Much excitement is caused by the fearless manner in which rhe principals handle the wild beasts. A very novel and entertaining number played b}' Henry McRae's old Bison company. "The Crucial Moment." (Eclair. Sun.. Nov. 1.) — A strong but somewhat concealed story is presented here, and at the crucial moment when the doctor is about to perform a serious experiment on a man, who is sacrificing his blood for money, the scene is set back, and the camera man is seen with the director close by taking the picture. "This is how the pictures are made," comes the announcement. A good picture and the "moment" is totally unexpected. "The Vagabond." (Rex. Two reels. Sun.. Xov. 1.) — Li^nconventionality marks this nimiber, which is at the same time exceptionally entertaining. The worthless son of the family, played by Herbert Rawlinson, meets his double, a character played by the same man. The son dies and his double returns to his home, plays the impostor to comfort the dying mother, then makes himself known, and later marries the daughter of the family (Beatrice Van). William Worthington plays the father. MUTUAL PROGRAM "The Desperado." Broncho. Two reels. Wed., Nov. 4.) — A picture showing an old mother's devotion for her son even though he is the worst kind of a desperado. The story is put together in an excellent manner, and acted splendidly, so that suspense and interest are always kept at the highest. This review and the three following appeared by mistake in the L'niversal column last week. They are here reprinted in their proper place. "Stout Heart But Weak Knees." (Keystone. Sat., Oct. 24.) — Charles Murray and the uproarious Keystone police are the chief fun makers in This reel. T'ney are fun makers in every sense of the word and the picture will keep one in continual laughter. "Shot in the Excitement." (Keystone. Mon., Oct. 26.) — We don't know just exactly where the ' excitement"' is. but from the picture it could be taken that it is any part ot the human anatomy. Shooting, falling and throwing consume the greater part of the picture, and will create all manner of laughter, especially when a ridiculously slow cannon ball is seen pursuing a runaway couple. "Left in the Train." (Thanhouser. Sun.. Oct. 18.) — The reconciliation of the girl and her father comes when the former's child is left in the train and is brought to the fatlier by his two grand nieces. -A very pretty story in which the Thanhouser twins and the kidle't play important parts. "Dad and the Girls.' (Beauty. Tues., Oct. 20.) — A man opposes his son's engagement to a stenographer, although he has never met her. On the advice of her lover she gets a place in his father's office. There she soon involves him in trouble which he is glad to escape from by consenting to the marriage. It is a good comedy. "The Availing Prayer." (Reliance. Fri., Oct. 30.) — The underpaid, hard-working man is tempted to steal to aid his daughter. He extracts money from the sum he is carrying to the bank, but is attacked by thugs. Due to the money not being in the bag lit; save.< it, and is rewarded. 'This makes an unusual ~tory, played well by Spootiswoode Aitkcn and Dorothy Gish. "The Ruin of Manley." (American. Two reels. Mon., Nov. 2.) — ^This is an unconventional picture built around the ruins of the Los Angeles pigeon farm, when that place was destroyed by a flood recently. The story is good, and the realism that is instilled by the flood scenes is excellent. Winnifrcd Greenwood and Ed Coxen appear in the leading roles. "A Mother's Influence." (.Majestic. Tues., Oct. 27.) — Rather an old story but none the less entertaining, acted by Billie West and Wallace Reid in a ■'cinvincing manner. The fon marries a stenbgrapher, and is disT>wned by his father. ' The memories of his wife reconcile the man to his son. "A Flight for a Fortune." (Majestic. Two reels. Sun., Oct. 25.) — A story of two unscrupulous lawyers who attempt to swindle a .girl. They are frustrated by a clerk, employed in their office. A flj-ing machine is introduced with thrilling results. A little less padding and the picture would be excellent. Signe Auen is the girl. "Our Mutual Girl, No. 41." (Reliance. Men., Oct. 26.) — Ralph Hamilton teaches Margaret the game of golf in this number. Sl-e mcts Alec Smith, the former golf champion. She also views New York from Brooklyn Bridge, and again visits Mrs. Simcox's fashion establishment. "A Madonna of the Poor." (Thanhouser. Two reels. Tues., Oct. 27.)— Muriel Ostriche in the leading role. Her husband, an Italian laborer, is out of work. She poses for an artist who takes liberties with her, which she resents. In order to gain money her husband upbraids her for these actions, but the -ight of his little child restores him to his -cnses. The storj will entertain but seems uiinnislied. "The Hateful God." (Kay-Bee. Two reels. Fri., Nov. 13.) — -A. picture showing the incidents that changed the religious ideas of a fanatic. He learns in the end that God is love. A fair story is woven in, but the idea seems a little too crudely put. "Cursed by His Beauty." (Keystone. Sat., Oct. 31.) — Charles Murray appears as an iceman and boasts of a divine figure, which a feminine artist admires much to the annoyance of her husband and the iceman's wife. The jealous attitude of these two leads to a chase and a humorous scene which takes place in a unique bedroom. "Shorty Falls into a Title." ' Broncho. Two reels. Wed., Nov. 18.) — In London, wliere the circus plays. Shorty is tired. An English lord is in dire straits because of the rabid suffragettes. Shorty impersonates him, and the situations that follow are very funny. Shorty finally returns to the circus. "In the Clutches of the Gangsters." (KayBee. Two reels. Fri., Nov. 6.) — An excitmg crook melodrama in which one of the gang rct'orms and after ridding himself of his past companions, marries. Numerous fights are staged of the most realistic variety. •Bill Joins the W. W. W.'s." (Komic. Sum, Oct. 25.) — The ninth of the series featuring Tammanv Bill Young and Fay Tincher. It tells of Bill" joining the We Won't Work Society, and the trouble which it caused his employer. Among other things the safe had. to be blown to get money to bail him out. Not quite up to the standard set by others of the series. "A Blotted Page." (Reliance. Two reels. Sat., Oct. 24.) — -\ wife divorces her husband because he has lost his money. The one servant left in the house tells him her story. She was once happy, but lost her husband and child through the failure of the banking house run bv the father of the man to whom she is talking. Findin.g that they have faced the same sorrows, they are drawn together and decide to start life anew. The story is told in a succession of fade-away effects. Franselia Billington i.s featured. "The Tightwad." (Beauty. Tues.. Nov. ,;.) — A tightwad farmer hoards his money in the fireplace and scorns all modem improvements, making drudges of his wife and daughter. A telephone secretly installed in a iree on the premises by his daughter's forbidden suitor, saves the farmer from a roblierv bv two tramps and brings the doctor in time o'f need. The tightwad is completely converted and -fixes the house up with all the !iiodem electrical appliances. "The Ruin of Manley." (American. Two reels. Mon., Nov. 2.)— The hitherto worthless Manley is on the point of making good and winning the girl he loves, through the pursuit of his pet hobby, pigeon raising, when ;i misunderstanding results in a quarrel between him and his sweetheart. This is followed by another catastrophe. His large pigeon farm, built upon what his rival knew lo be dangerous ground when he sold •* him. is wrecked by a flood of the ri .