Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

60 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol.11. No. 14. "THE RETURN OF RICHARD NEAL" (Essanay — Three Acts) REVIEWED BY T. S. MEAD IT is difficult to imagine a drama more typically suited to the histrionic abilities of Francis X. Bushman than "The Return of Richard Neal," which was written by Edward T. Lowe, Jr., and will be released on April 17 in conjunction with the missing paragraph story in the May "Ladies' World." The portrayal by Francis Bushman of the character of Richard Neal, a psychological specialist possessing hypnotic powers, developed along scientific lines, brings out some remarkable acting. The high standard he sets is, however, lived up to throughout by the rest of the cast, which includes Nell Craig as Doris Blake, Bryant Washburn as Gideon Hall, Ernest Maupain as Count Nikola and Harry Dunkinson as Mr. Blake. RICHARD NEAL IN HIS LABORATORY Elaborate and appropriate settings and great care as to the minor points of the production make this picture not only a most interesting one, but realistic in every detail. Gideon Hall, a reckless young man in love with Doris Blake, is saved from suicide by "Count" Nikola, a clever criminal with an original method. Nikola lends him enough money to cover a heavy gambling debt, asking in return that Hall introduce him into society. Hall agrees and in the course of time, Nikola is presented at the Blake home. Doris feels a strange attraction for the man and feels she must go to him. It is the influence of Nikola's mesmeric mind over, her will. After hynotizing Doris, Nikola tells her that at 3:13 she will get out of bed, go to her father's art gallery and steal the famous painting by Musee and will drop it out of the window. At 3:13 the family is aroused by a scream and they find Doris unconscious on the floor murmuring "3:13." A doctor who is called, realizing that she is under the control of another mind, sends for Richard Neal, a specialist in psychology. Nikola sets her at another task, that of bringing a large sum of money to his house at a certain time. Neal learns the secret from Hall, who is also under Nikola's influence, and sets a trap for him. The trap works, the two minds clash and Neal's stronger will wins. The girl is awakened, Nikola is exposed and arrested and Doris is restored to her family. "RUNAWAY JUNE" (Reliance — Instalment Twtlve) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE NED is now Blye's captive on the latter's yacht. He is informed that no harm will come to his wife, if he will but agree to cease his pursuit. But his proposition is met with little favor by the furious Ned, who angrily demands his wife and the reason why she is kept from him. This information Blye refuses to impart. After this the main plot is dropped for the moment. A tragedy is enacted in which June plays an important part, but which as yet has no obvious bearing on the serial proper. Durban, an artist, is taking a holiday in Bermuda for the purpose of painting one of his inspirations, "The Spirit of the Marsh." His model, who arrives for work, clad in some filmy gauze, fails to register the correct expression. Durham wishes her to give the appearance of being insulted, so he straightaway insults her. His purpose is accomplished, but the model fails to comprehend his insult and runs away. He pursues and she in desperation leaps from a high embankment into the water below, and perishes. The next day Durban is introduced to June, and seeing in her an excellent subject for his painting he invites her to pose. But the insulted expression is lacking and he tries the same process to procure it, with the result that June starts to defend herself. In the struggle that follows, Durban steps into treacherous quicksand, and before help arrives he is swallowed in its slimy depths. "THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF" (World Film — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE ROBERT WARWICK, the popular hero of so many World Film releases, is cast in the title part of "The Man Who Found Himself." As an ex-convict who discovers that the proposition of living down his past is an insurpassable difficulty, Mr. Warwick has been allotted a role which fits his personality remarkably well. It is, besides, a part which draws more heavily on the sympathies than most others, and for this reason, if for no other, the picture is practically sure of success. James Clarke embezzles five hundred dollars of his employer's money, in order that he may send his sick sister to the country. His theft is discovered and he is sentenced to five years in prison, but he makes his escape, when a motion picture company journeys to the prison to take a few scenes. Subsequently, he rises to hold a responsible position in a china plant, and becomes engaged to his employer's daughter. Then the inevitable occurs. An old prison mate turns up and events so shape themselves that Clarke reveals his past and returns to prison, first exacting the girl's promise that she will wait for him. CATHERINE DISCOVERS PAYTON'S DECEIT Frank Crane, who produced the picture, has made a decided success of it. Not only have the scenes been effectively arranged, the settings realistic and appropriately chosen, but small details often neglected have been carefully attended to. "THE EXPLOITS OF ELAINE" (Pathe — Fourteenth Episode) REVIEWED BY CLIFFORD H. PANGBURN H^y HE RECKONING" is the title of this final chapter in A the adventures of Elaine, Craig Kennedy and the Clutching Hand. It is a powerful conclusion to a serial of remarkable excellence. Not once throughout the fourteen