Motion Picture News (Oct 1914-Jan 1915)

December 26, 1914. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 49 illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllli iilll IIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIO^^ INTERESTING FILM REVIEWS | PRODUCTIONS FROM ALL PROGRAMS | lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllililllllli llllllHlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllffi GENERAL FILM PROGRAM ter finally escapes and is saved from going back to the penitentiary by a pardon obtained by the repentant old man. badly. On the same reel with " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas." "Their Cheap Vacation." (Essanay. Men., December 21). — Wallace Beery and Betty Brown appear in this amusing comedy dealing with a ludicrous misfortune of the Newlyweds on an "ideal" automobile trip, which is to cost them $12. It not only costs them far more than this amount, but they have a miserable time and decide never to economize in this manner again. "Arthur Truman's Ward." (Vitagraph. Mon., December 21). — When a girl of wealth is on her way to her newly appointed guardian's home she is hurt so that she loses her mind. Finding her papers and letters a poor girl goes on and impersonates the injured one. Her supposed guardian falls in love with her, and later when she regrets her act and restores the right girl to her home and property he marries her. "A Matter of Court." (Biograph. Mon., Dec. 21.) — When a lover wrote to his girl that his life was worth only two cents he hardly supposed that this admission would be used against him in a damage suit, but such is the case in this farce comedy. On the same reel with "The Dentist's Janitor." "The Dentist's Janitor." (Biograph. _ Mon., Dec. 21.) — The janitor tries to make a hit while the dentist is out by impersonating him. Trouble and more trouble is his reward. On the same reel with "A Matter of Court." "The Adventure of the Wrong Santa Claus." (Edison. Mon., December 21). — One of the adventures of Octavius, the amateur detective.. Octavius is dressing to play Santa Claus at a friend's house when he is felled by a burglar, who utilizes the same disguise. Octavius pursues him to the city and finally returns with the stolen presents. Barry O'Moore is featured. A good Christmas comedy. "The Flower of Faith." (Selig. Two reels. Mon., December 21). — This is the story of three educated and refined people — a girl and two men — who are the only survivors of a shipwreck. Their struggle for existence on the desolate island wears off the social veneer and reveals the true natures of the three. Both men love the girl. In the inevitable fight that follows the less physically efficient succeeds in protecting her from the other. Later when it is discovered that the girl has developed leprosy, thf real man decides to rernain on the island with her, at the sacrifice of _ his own life, when a vessel opens the way for their escape. No 'factor is lacking to make this a thoroughly excellent production, worthy of the best efforts of Kathlyn Williams, Wheeler Oakman and Charles Clary. "His Suicide." (Lubin. Tues., Dec. 22.)— A split reel comedy with "Flossie's Darmg Loyalty. A henpecked husband is not even allowed to commit suicide in a peaceful way, but finally blows himself up by drinking gasoline and holding lighted matches near his mouth. The unloving couple are played by Jerold Hevener and Mae Hotely. "Flossie's Daring Loyalty." (Lubin. Tues., Dec. 22.) — An excellent burlesque of the business melodrama. Flossie is true to her employer and her refusal to tell his business secrets almost leads to a terrible fate. On the same reel with "His Suicide." "On the Heights." (I'.ingrapli. Two reels. Tues., Dec. 22.) — This is tlic sixteenth in the series of Biograph productions of well-known novels. "On the Heights" is from the story^ by the same name l.y Borthold ;\ucrbach. It is a tale of court life in a small kingdom. A countess who is ordered by the king to wait on the invali<l ciueen finds herself courted by the king when he thinks his wife is dying. The countess is forced into a quarrel with her father by her association with the king. A tragedy is narrowly averted. Gretchen Hartman is seen as the Countess Irma. while the role of the king is taken by Edward Cecil. Alan Hale appears as the countess' lover. "By the Governor's Order." fVitagrapIi. Two reels. Tues., December 22.) — The refusal of a tyrannical parent to allow his daughter to marry as she wishes leads to her elopement and death and to a prison term for his son-in-law. The lat "Olive is Dismissed." (Edison. Tues., Dec. 22.) — The fifth of the series known under the title of "Olive's Opportunities." Olive learning that Vance Coleman still wishes to marry her and that her guardian and the bishop advise him against it decides to leave the place, and taking her pet monkey appears on the road again in gypsy costume. She is taken up by a wealthy woman who thinks that she will be an amusing object to exhibit to her society friends. The girl manages during her stay at the house of the wealthy woman to restore the happiness of herself and her husband, although while doing so she gets herself dismissed. Mabel Trunnelle is seen as Olive with the usual supporting cast. "The Volunteer Burglar." (Essanay. Tues., December 22). — Munsey's Magazine furnishes another interesting story for an excellent cast including Richard C. Travers, Beverly Bayne, Lester Cuneo and Bryant Washburn. The picture shows a young author assisting a beautiful girl in recovering a fortune which some imposters have taken from her. The story is ended upon the typewriter of the author, and it is discovered that all the action took place in his brain. "Wade Brent Pays." (Selig. Tues., December 22). — A dissolute young man reforms because of his love for a girl who, he afterwards learns, is engaged to another man. In his sorrow he turns to a girl who has loved him and finds that he can return her affection. A light drama, well produced and acted and containing enough action to make it interesting. "The Lady or the Tigers." (Selig. Wed., Dec. 23.) — A drama made thoroughly worth while by the excellent acting of Kathlyn Williams, and the introduction of some well-trained tigers that add real thrills to the picture. The villain attempts to estrange from her lover the beautiful artist whom he has engaged to paint animal pictures at his house. Failing in this, he hurls the lover into a cage of tigers, but the heroine who has learned the art of training these ferocious beasts comes to the rescue in the nick of time. "The Single Act." (Lubin. Two reels. Wed., Dec. 23.) — An interesting although impossible crime story built along conventional lines. It presents the familiar case of a thief who poses as a gentleman, and who is finally killed as he is trying to perform an heroic act which would have justified his existence. Velmas Whitman and George Routh are seen as the crook's sweetheart and the thief, respectively. "The Professor's Romance." (Vitagraph. Wed., December 23). — A widow moves into the house next door to a professor, and her two children proceed to put a permanent end to the peace which was formerly general in the neighborhood. .\fter many trying experiences the professor finds himself in love with the widow. They are married and the children find that they now have a firm hand to guide them. A good comedy featuring Sidney Drew and Jane Morrow. "One Traveler Returns." (Selig. Wed., December 23). — A good production with Stella Razeto, Adda Gleason and Lamar Johnstone as principals. On his wedding day the bridegroom's former mistress is killed in a realistic automobile wreck while she is hastening to the church to prevent the marriage. Before she dies she writes a confession to his wife, but her spirit later appears, influences the messenger to destroy the letter, and blesses the happy pair. " (Edi1 fantasy children, Claus at ting. A to many ildren of orite toy him two reel with " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas son. Wed., December 23). — .\ split rei which is sure to be very pleasing to and cnjoycfl by all. It shows Santa home after his Christmas gift distribu little .\incrican child travels by magic other lands and gathers a group of ch many nationalities. Each takes his fav' and. going to Santa Claus' home, gives stockingsful of presents. On the same "Buster Brown Causes a Commotion." "Buster Brown Causes a Commotion." (Edison. Wed., December 23). — One of the Buster Brown series. Buster gets a bo.x of sneezing powder, which has a very violent effect, and by its wide use breaks up the family peace very "The Fable of the Husband Who Showed Up and Did His Duty." (Essanav. Wed., December 23). — Richard C. Travers, Helen Dunbar and Gerda Holmes take the leading parts in this George Ade fable. Mrs. Clymer has social aspirations and a husband who does not care for her shin-digs. Being egged on by his wife he finally attends one and extends himself in paying attention to a pretty grass widow. His wife decides that he had better keep away in the future. The moral is: Solomon proved his wisdom by marrying all of his wife's friends, but the modern wise man passes them up. "The Suffering of Susan." (Biograph. Thurs., Dec. 24.) — A dramatic story with a touch of comedy. A girl thinks she can become a great actress. Her sweetheart succeeds in convincing her that she has a mistaken view of life. Irene Howley is the ambitious girl. "A Soldier of the Peace." (Lubin. Two reels. Thurs., Dec. 24.) — A strong storv based on the saying, "I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honor more." A young health officer leaves his wife during their honeymoon to fight an epidemic in his home town. The selfish girl says that if he goes it will be forever. Later she realizes her folly and nurses him through an attack of the disease. Earl Metcalf is seen as the conscientious young oflicer. The Knight Before Christmas." (Vitagraph. rhurs., December 24).— One of the "Sonny Jim" comedies. Sonny has just been told about the knights of ancient times, and when he discovers that a little girl of the tenements has no money to buy Christmas gifts he gives her the dollar which his father had given him to buy himself a gift. This results in some unexpected happiness for a number of people. Bobby Connelly is seen in his regular role as Sonny Jim. "Slippery Slim Gets Square." (Essanay. Thurs., December 24).— Slippery Slim and Mustang Pete are again hot rivals for the hand of Sophie. This time Mustang steals Slippery's clothes, but Slippery gets even with him through the use of some powder which causes Sophie to think that Mustang has smallpox and to turn him out of the house. "Sweeney's Christmas Bird." (Vitagraph. Fri., December 25). — An amusing slapstick comedy. A man going to bury a dead parrot takes too many drinks and exchanges the bird with a friend who IS taking home a turkey. A general rough-house IS the result. Hughie Mack, Flora Finch, William Shea and Kate Price compose the quartet of fun makers. "Doc Yak and Santa Claus." (Selig. Fri., December 25). — Sidney Smith, the Chicago Ttibune's cartoonist, devotes a whole reel to the ridiculously funny escapades of Doc Yak and Santa Claus. Doc has an interesting scrap with Jack-in-the-Box which Santa and his reindeer have brought him by the approved chimney route. Very clever and exceptionally well done. "The Premature Compromise." (Edison. Two reels. Fri.. Dec. 25.) — The second of the series dealing with the adventures of "Young Lord Stranleigh." These stories appeared some time ago in the "Saturday Evening Post." Robert Barr is the author, and they are all full of interest. In tliis story some mine swindlers try to beat Lord .Stranleigh and his mining expert. They find that the young nobleman is by no means so impractical as he would have people believe. Marc MacDermott is seen in his role as .Stranleigh. "The Lure of the Green Table." (Lubin. Fri., Dec. 25.) — Virtue is not exactly its own reward in this story. On the contrary, a man gambles iinlil he Ium < vn ything he owns, including a farm he li.i, just bought, and then when his '^weellu-.-irl appears in the little Western town r\ c T ylhiiii; is handed back to him. William E. I'.nxHi-. is seen as the gambler and Dolly Larkin as his fiancee. "The Way Home." (Biograph. Fri., Dec. 25.) — The ruin, cir what looks like the ruin, of a young chap is brought about by a feminine crook and her accomplice. When ill in a strange town the woman is nursed back to health by the parents of the man she had robbed. His