Motion Picture News (Oct 1914-Jan 1915)

December 26, 1914. MOTION PICTURE NEWS bines a fairly entertaining love story, with a very beautiful and impressive scenic. Various views such as the upper and great falls of the Yellowstone River and Old Faithful, the hourly geyser, are shown. Excellent photography materially heightens the value of every outdoor scene. The story presented is nothing unusual but is continually of interest. Mignon Anderson and Morris Foster are the lovers. The ending of the story is rather abrupt, but otherwise is well worked out. "Her Younger Sister." (Beauty. Tues., Dec. 15.) — A light heart interest number concerning two sisters and a man who at first is in love with the older of the two. She promises to marry him only when her sister is old enough to take care of her invalid father. In ten years the man returns, and finds the younger sister much more to his liking, so the elder resigns herself to caring for her father for the rest of her days. This is acted well by Charlotte Burton in the name part, Joseph Harris as the lover and Gladys Kingsbury as the older sister. Fred Gamble as the grouchy old father furnishes quite a bit of comedy. "The Silent Way." (American. Wed., Dec. 16.) — The Indian foreman of a ranch steals away his employer's sister, who is slowly pining away from tuberculosis. In time he returns her, entirely rid of the malady. This is an unusual offering and very impressive. The scenes are artistically chosen, and are supported by excellent photography, except for a few scenes. Winnifred Greenwood is the girl and George Field is the Indian. Ed. Coxen appears as the ranch owner. "Hogan's Annual Spree," (Keystone. Thurs., Dec. 17.) — The first part of this picture is uproariously funny, most of the laughs resulting from Charles Murray's actions at the well-known bar. The latter part, although very funny, is not quite so good. After Hogan has consumed a considerable amount of liquor, he enters a house and changes places with a man who is impersonating Santa Claus for the amusement of his little girl. He is discovered by the police in the end and is taken to jail. "Trapped by Heliograph." (American. Fri., Dec. 18.) — This film shows, as the title implies, the way in which a group of robbers are trapped by the use of the heliograph, a device used in the army for signaling purposes. By reflecting the sun's rays from a series of mirrors, messages are sent from one post to another. This story is fair, but not up to American standard. The company is unfamiliar to the writer and obviously to the camera. The photography is rather poor. The film is tinted a blazing light yellow and is rather hard on the eyes. "The Passing of Two-Gun Hicks." (Broncho. Two reels. Wed., Dec. 23.) — More or less of a character study, with William S. Hart in the name part. The picture depicts how the passionate pleadings of a woman finally saved her drunken husband from the fury of the Two-Gun Man. Although Mr. Hart changes his facial expression hardly_ at all, his clear portrayal of varying emotions is entirely satisfactory. Closeups are employed frequently to show the expression in the man's eyes, and the effect that they create is clear and forciblp. The picture really contains little action, outsiae of a short gun fight, but never for a moment is the interest lost. The great magnetism of the leading player, which shows up so well on the film, is probably responsible for the production's attractive powers, as well as the heart interest subject dealt with. Mr. Hart also produced the picture. "The Last of His Line." (Domino. Two reels. Thurs., December 24). — This film is one of unusual merit and dramatic force. Further it is a play with an Indian as the chief character. The part is that of an old chief, and it is played with remarkable feeling and force by the aged redskin who has the role. The chief's son comes home to rule the tribe. He has been educated among the whites, but the only thing he has learned has been to drink. He nearly breaks the proud old chief's spirit by his behavior, but the climax comes when the youth leads a bunch of renegades in an attack on the army paymaster. His father happens to come on the scene in time to shoot down his own son and others of the leaders. The remaining bandits run away, but the last of the army men has been killed. The chief carries his dead son to the army wagon and when the belated rescuers arrive tells them that the boy fell helping to defend his father's friends. The army men give him a military funeral and only the old chief knows he died in disgrace. "Her Mother's Voice." (Royal. Sat., Dec. 26.) — The hod carrier's daughter inherits everything from her mother, even to her voice, which she is in the habit of trying out at sundry moments, to the great distress of the neighborhood. The antics of all the characters are very funny, especially those of a horse made up of two men. The cornparative freshness of the plot and the way it is worked out will cause mild laughter throughout its length. "In the Sage Brush Country." (Kay-Bee. Two reels. Fri., Dec. 25.) — William S. Hart appears in his familiar role of bandit again, in this release. He sets out to rob a girl, but instead protects her from a Mexican bandit, after that escorting her safely to the mine, to which she is carrying the payroll. Rhea Mitchell is the girl, Herschel Mayall is her father and Thomas Kurihara plays the part of the other bandit. This offering keeps one in continual suspense. Mr. Hart's characterization of the bandit is most impressive, and although some may think he plays to the gallery, his performance will most surely be appreciated. Mr. Hart also produced the picture. WARNER'S FEATURES "O'Brien Finds a Way." (Premier.) — O'Brien conceives the conventional idea of tying fruit on the trees of his property and selling it at a handsome price. He gives the money to his wife-tobe and she buys the land back from the stranger. O'Brien breaks the engagement, and the widow marries another. A laughable offering played in an average manner by the cast. "The Champeen Detective." (Superba.) — Charlie De Forrest appears as the detective and will be responsible for a number of laughs. He solves a burlesque mystery in a corresponding style. The jerky, quick actions of the characters, due to trick camera work, is another comical point in the picture, which all in all is a fine comedy. "Waddling Willie." (Pikes Peak.)— Trick photography is in a large measure responsible for the humorous side of this reel. A tramp gets a job as a chauffeur (in his dream), and is given one of those much-abused automobiles to drive. He falls out of it and proceeds to chase it, but after a while the car turns around and chases him. After a time Willie wakes up and someone is throwing ashes on his head. "The Heart of a Man." (Pikes Peak. Two reels.) — This is a western drama of unusual interest, simply because it contains a theme that is not overworked. It is produced well, delving sometimes unnecessarily into small details, but on the whole the story is presented in an effective manner. The photography is clear, but in some places in the print shown the film seems light struck, but very slightly. After the husband has been killed by a blast, his wife goes on working the mine, only aided by an old Indian and another man who has fallen in love with her. After they have struck gold, a town springs up around the mine. A body of claim jumpers attempt to put the woman and her friends out of the way. They bind the young man and then set fire to the owner's house, but the former escapes and rescues the woman he loves. The scene is quite thrilling and brings the good picture to an equally good close. The only improbable part of it is that the fire devours the house with such rapidity that no one could imagine that a human being was inside. "Joe's Retribution." (Premier.) — This reel is more or less of a character portrayal rendered by Joe Franz, who assumes the part of a man crazed by the thought of a crime which he never committed. But "music hath charms," and Joe's mind leads him to a house where a child is playing on a toy piano. He rescues the girl from a fire and afterwards when his mind is restored returns to marry the girl he loves. Good photography is the order throughout this reel. Fred Church appears in a small part. "Oh, You Pop." (Starlight.) — Showing how a perpetual joker finally won the girl of his heart by impersonating a woman and getting on the right side, of father. Father discovers the deception in time and begins to get furious, but all ends well after quite a lively chase has been participated in by aJl the characters in the comedy. "Bangs' Burglar Alarm." (Evans.)— Bangs invents a burglar alarm which is placed on the window of a house. When the burglar opens the window the device shoots. It is a great success, and Bangs celebrates and comes home slightly the worse for wear. He attempts to climb in his own window and is blown to the ground. The whole household is awakened and Bangs receives a severe drubbing from his wife. This will cause a few laughs. WEEKLIES "Mutual Weekly, No. 102." (Thurs., Dec. 10.) — Prominent women of the national capital aid the suffering Belgians in various ways ; scenes in the annual dog shows of New York and Boston ; annual Jack rabbit drive near Pasco, Wash. ; a boat with nobody aboard, controlled by wireless waves is tested by the United States government at a distance of twenty-eight miles from a shore station ; Richard Croker, former Tammany leader, is married to an Indian princess. New York City; Eddie Pullen driving a Mercer car wins the $12,000 Corona race at an average speed of eighty-six miles an hour ; the arrival of General Funston and his troops at Galveston, Tex., after evacuating Vera Cruz ; war scenes, including a battle in the skies between an aeroplane and Zeppelin. Mutual Weekly No. 103. (Thurs., December 17). — This number is rather more interesting than the average. Its scenes from the seat _ of the European war are well chosen and entirely in concurrence with President Wilson's neutrality "spiel." There are seven scenes on this, and about nine dealing with subjects in this country. The steamers "Lusitania" and "Hanalei" are shown, the former sailing from New York, and the latter on the reefs outside Golden Gate Harbor, Cal. Thrilling scenes are shown of the great storm that visited the Eastern coast and did $1,000,000 damage in three days and cost 20 lives. The U. S. S. Arkansas is shown passing under Brooklyn Bridge, New York, on her return from Vera Cruz. Altogether a very good number. Hearst-Selig News Pictorial. (Mon., Dec. 7.)— ' This number is devoted to happenings in this country, only one or two items dealing with the European War. This is a relief from the regtilar run of weeklies. The most prominent showing deals with the Steamer Hanalei, driven by a gale, strikes on Duxbury Reef, nine miles from Sa» Francisco Harbor. Life savers had a long and hard struggle to save the survivors. The ArmyAnnapolis football game ; U. S. soldiers from Vera Cruz disembarking at Galveston, Tex., and a number of other interesting items go to make this a very interesting number. KRITERION PROGRAM "The Tattooed Man." (All Comedy Company.) — A merry single reeler produced by Alexander Frank, in which a tattooed man creates havoc, mainly among a body of would-be suffragettes. One of them insists on marrying him, finally. This will afford much laughter, although the man, who is crazy as well as tattooed, jumps a little too much before starting on his various runs. "And Percy Made Good." (Santa Barbara.) — This comedy is produced by Bert Angeles and although the plot has been used more than any other, it will be continued to be used, and is all very funny as presented in this picture. Mary Ruby, Harry Fisher and Sidney de Grey are cast in the principal roles, and perform well. The youth who desires the daughter of a grouchy old man finally wins her by saving his would-be parent from losing all his money. He does this by stealing a check and getting it cashed before the bank fails. ECLECTIC— PA THE "The Runaway Leopard." (Pathe. Split reel.) — A re-issue of an exceptionally fine animal comedy first shown two or three years ago. A leopard runs at large and causes the strangest sort of mishaps. '"The Quality of Mercy." (Pathe. Two reels.) — Fine acting and striking light and scenic effects characterize this strong drama. A girl to avoid a distasteful marriage goes to the apartment of her lover. Her father comes after her, and arrives while the girl is talking with her sweetheart's mother, who has been summoned. In a burst of passion he attempts to kill the man, but only wounds him. The mother has the older man arrested on a charge of attempted murder, but her son refuses to appear against the father of his sweetheart, and at the end there is a happy reconciliation. INCORPORA TIONS At Albany, N. Y. : EASTERN TRAVELING PHOTO THEATRE CORPORATION. Motion picture, theatrical; $5,000; Manhattan. David Chanak, Hyman Seigel and Jacob Armband, of New York. AMERICAN IRISH PLAYERS' CO., INC. Theatrical, motion picture, etc. ; $25,000 ; Manhattan. Thos. Phillips, of Boston, Mass. ; Deborah M. Bryne and Stephen A. Colahan, of Brooklyn. THE BANNER PHOTO PLAY COMPANY, INC. Managing moving picture houses; $2,500; Manhattan. Samuel Slosum, B. Bergowitz and Chas. G. Reider, of New York. VISTA CINEMATOGRAPH COMPANY. Deal in and manufacture cameras and moving picture supplies; $10,000; Manhattan. Jos. Friedman, Geo. Chryssikos and Chas. S. Frank, of New York. BREWSTER FILM CORPORATION. Motion picture business, manufacturing films, camera, appliances, etc. ; $2,000 ; Manhattan. Samuel C. Worthen, H. T. Randall and Bradley Shawnian, of New York. (Continued on page 62.)