Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 11., No. 15. ws No. 24." — With their usual Inline \\7VT£mtl agility the Pathe camera men 'atlaO TT aged to secure pictures of the most in»ig events of the week. The war news is crr»« timely. One view of especial interest is a picture of the Russian siege guns, partly responsible for the downfall of Przemysl. A cartoon brings the reel to a close. MUTUAL PROGRAM "The Artist's Wife." (Majestic. Fri., April 2.) —Elmer Clifton and Miriam Cooper play the leading parts in this picture. A friend of an artist tells a group of people the story of the man's romance. It is the familiar situation in studio stories of a model who is a painter's sweetheart, but is forgotten when he becomes infatuated with -a banker's daughter. Of course the model proves to be the right girl in the end. "Sympathy Sal." (Reliance. Two reels. Sat., April 3.) — This is a pretty story of a little girl, who is a waitress in a restaurant at a mining camp. The son of the owner falls in love with her, but his jealous rival seeks to end the affair by wiring the boy's father that his son is about tO marry a "hash slinger." The wealthy man comes to the camp post haste, but it proves to be another case of one who came to jeer but remained to pray. Sal captures the old man's heart to such an extent that he joins his son in asking her to become a member of the family. "Dr. Jim." (Majestic. Two reels. Sun., April 4.) — In his efforts to keep the sheriff's son out of mischief the western doctor is accused of leading him astray, but he at length succeeds in proving his own innocence and influencing the youth to lead a less vicious life. Although the great -amount of riding that appears in this is somewhat unnecessary for the advancement of the plot, it is riding of the best sort, and this padding, if it may be called such, detracts little from the interest in the story which is at all times very great. Fred Burns appears as the doctor and Vester Perry as the sheriff's son, while Catherine Henry has a small part as the doctor's sweetheart. The photography is clear, and some impressively expansive scenes have been filmed. "The Winning Hand." (Eastern Reliance. Mon., April 5.) — The widow's child dislikes her ■mother's suitor, so she hides herself in the room in which are some valuable jewels and discovers that the man is really a thief. This makes a good story, and the acting of the little girl is human if not clever. "The Indian Changeling." (Reliance. Wed., April 7.) — After a traveler has betrayed an Indian girl he marries and settles in the west. Back fire from his rifle causes blindness. His child dies at its birth at the same time that the Indian girl has left her baby at the ranch. A substitution is effected, and many years later when the man has regained his sight, the truth is revealed to him by his wife, and so the man's neglected <luty overtakes him in his old age and he is resigned. Rather an old story, yet acted well and artistically produced by Joseph Belmont. "Mutual Weekly, No. 14." (Thurs.. April 8.) —The remains of Paris' famous Moulin Rouge, which was recently destroyed by fire, is an interesting feature, while the antics of a human fly on the side of a twenty story St. Louis skyscraper form a thrilling series of scenes. Views in the training camp of the New York Giants will interest the fans, and besides a number of other domestic happenings the section devoted to war news is full of timely events. "A Double Exposure." (Thanhouser. Sun., April 11.) — As her mother is unable to attend a house party the daughter disguises herself as her parent, and goes in her stead. A young man penetrates her disguise and the little trick is capped with a romance. This is a very clever and enjoyable comedy which contains nothing of the slapstick order, besides being original in both plot and situations. Peggy Burke makes the daughter an attractive figure, while Arthur Ashley appears in the opposite role. "The Poet of the Peaks." (American. Two reels. Mon., April 12. )_ — Reviewed at length in another section of this issue. "Persistence Wins." (Beauty. Tues., April 13.) — A bachelor girl wedded to her art and the Bohemian life finally capitulates after a series of events that show her the eventual loneliness of an unmarried existence. Her persistent suitor has their future home all furnished, and they lose no time in rushing to the minister. Virginia Kirtley takes the part of the bachelor girl. less girl and the son of the family that adopts her. Contains some good child acting. The adult parts are taken by Ed Coxen and Winifred Greenwood, who are supported by William Bertram and John Steppling. "Droppington's Family Tree." (Keystone. Two reels. _ Mon., April 12.) — The usual hilarious riot which is expected in Keystone productions is found in this double barreled comedy. The plot is one which has been seen before, but which offers fine opportunity for fun. A youth is in love with a carbaret singer, who has an ardent admirer in her own set, and also is followed about by the boy's father. This triple complication causes some startling scenes in the restaurant, and keeps the audience in an uproar. Chester Conklin plays the role of the troubled husband. "The Moment of Sacrifice." (Thanhouser. Two reels. Tues., April 13.) — The young army officer is believed by the colonel to be his son, but in reality his father is an international spy, who when in destitute circumstances allowed his baby to replace that of the commander's, when it died. With this basis to work on the Thanhouser company has constructed an excellent drama, one which is unusual in both theme and situations, and one which is productive of an exceedingly large amount of suspense. The final scenes which show the youth in the clutches of the spies, from whom he is rescued by his penitent father form a powerful climax, which will thrill the most hardened picture fan. In photography, lighting and general realism of the scenes, both interiors and exteriors, the two reels excel. The acting is fitting. "Shorty Turns Actor." (Broncho. Two reels. Wed., April 14.) — Shorty becomes an actor through a correspondence school course, and plays the lead in a play visiting his village town under the name of Shortius Hamiltonius. He is not much of a sucess, and his dramatic gyrations attract quantities of hen fruit. While the show is going on the manager robs the general store. The money is hidden in Shorty's suitcase, so he comes out on the large end after all. This is an excellent comedy; there are funny situations in it, and the plot as a whole is equally funny. "The Sons of Toil." (Domino. Two reels. Thurs., April 15.) — A strong and absorbing drama concerning chiefly railroad characters. There are numerous and realistic strike riots, and interwoven there is a love story which only terminates happily after the villain has been disposed of after a great amount of difficulty. ■ If at times the story is slightly illogical, this fact is buried by the rapid action and numerous thrilling scenes in which the picture revels. Richard Staunton is cast as the hero and Jack Nelson as the heavy. Both do excellent work. "The Taking of Luke McVane." (Kay-Bee. Two reels. Fri., April 16.) — The rancher protects a dance hall girl from the unwelcome attentions of a Mexican. His act leads to a murder, and he is forced to flee. The sheriff gives pursuit and is wounded. The man cares for him, and is promised a pardon. The two men start to . return, but are attacked by Indians and both are killed. A very plain yet absorbing picture, with William S. Hart and Enid Markey in the leading roles. UNITED FILM SERVICE "You Need a Doctor." (Starlight.) — The two Starlight comedians again determine that the world owes them a living, and proceed to practice medicine, but they lack patients. So one of them goes out with a quantity of jumping powder and inflicts several persons with the jumps. The other prescribes a cure. They make a lot of money, but the police discover their evil practices in the end, and they land in jail. This comedy is laughable in all but a few scenes, which are too suggestive to be humorous. "The Girl with the Camera." (Premier.) — The daughter of the sheriff rounds up a band of moonshiners, among which is one who is in love with her, by taking snapshots of the offenders with a camera, and then identifying them as the wanted law breakers. The plot of this is rather shallow. Edythe Sterling and Willis Robards are the principals. "Uncle's Last Letter." (Superba.) — The scheming relatives of an old man who is thought dead completely wreck his house in a search for his will. To our mind there is too much rough and tumble work in this, which lacks punctuation by humorous scenes. "The Wishing Stone." (American. Wed., April 14.) — A refreshing story of a childhood love affair that develops into the marriage of a home "The Trunk Mystery." (Superba.) — This comedy is at fault in the same place as "Uncle's Last Letter." There is too much of the same thing. This, however, is better than the other in that at the start severe! scenes of a laughable nature appear. _ The truck photography which is introduced during the chase is appreciable, but the reel would be better if cut considerably. "Brothers." (Premier.) — A western drama of an average nature. The story might be criticised as illogical in some instances, but the plot gains in interest as it progresses, and so these little faults are overshadowed. Fred Church appears in the principal part. "The Room Between." (Empress. Two reels.) —The serious minded man and his frivolous wife fail to get along on peaceable terms, so they separate and each lives a different life. The husband adopts a deserted baby, and this causes the wife to repent when she sees it. Added to this there is another plot concerning the parents of the deserted child, which makes an entertaining yet hardly necessary story. The two leads are well played by Joseph Levering and Marion Swayne. Most of the others that appear in the picture are good, except the society man. The main idea of the offering is a good one, and the picture will make an impression on all who see it. "Jealousy." (Starlight.) — Both the guardians decide that they shall marry their ward, and so keep the money in the family, but naturally they fail after many humorous scenes have been introduced. "Can a Man Fool His Wife? — Leave It to Your Uncle Dudley." (Cameo.) — In this comedy such well known persons as Harry Kelly, of the "Watch Your Step" company; Dan Mason, Ed Boulden and May Abbey, formerly of the Edison company, and Millicent Evans, who appeared in the Colonial feature "Seats of the Mighty," appear. The comedy is one of the best that the United Program has issued. It concerns chiefly a grand mixup at a hotel, which is overcrowded because of a coming convention. Its situations are very funny at all times, and are very well taken care of by the capable cast. "Can Love Grown Cold Be Revived? — Leave It to Your Uncle Dudley." (Cameo.) — The cast of this is practically the same as that which appears in "Can a Man Fool His Wife?" The comedy, which is written about a love charm, is not quite as good as it tends to wander from its original theme, yet for all that it will appeal humorously to the average motion picture audience. "The Come Back." (Premier.) — The man whose wife deserted him because of his drunkenness returns to his old home and meets a little child to whom he tells his story. The little one turns out to be his own daughter, and her mother is not far away. A reconciliation is effected when the husband tells his wife that he has reformed. A heart interest number which the patrons of this program should receive well. Willis Robards and Edythe Sterling are the leads. Mr. Robards slightly over-acts in some of the scenes in which he is affected by the liquor, and their dramatic value is somewhat lowered because of this. "Back to the Farm." (Empress.) — The young farmer coming into possession of a small sum of money journeys to New York intent on. earning a living and seeing high life at its highest. But he is swindled of his last cent by a pretty girl and her aides, and returns to the farm sadder but wiser.' There are many laughs in this comedy, and the ending offers a moral as the producers intend. Joseph Levering produced it, besides playing the lead. Marion Swayne appears as the girl who swindles him. This should be enjoyed by all as its humorous moments are many and well taken care of. "Stung." (Starlight.) — Two hoboes with socialistic tendencies make a duke captive, and one of them impersonates him while the other goes along as his boon companion. The bogus duke meets a rich maiden, and is getting along tolerably well when the real nobleman puts in his appearance. A merry farce of the extreme slapstick order, which will surely amuse those who appreciate this variety of comedy. "In the Blood." (Regent. Two reels.) — This story shows the manner in which a lazy goodfor-nothing went from bad to worse, and how his sister rose with equal rapidity, ending in marrying a well-to-do man. It will entertain as the story is thrilling all the time, and is produced well. The subtitles are very goo at present, and there are far too many of them. "The Parasite's Double." (Lariat. Two reels.) — The man who bears a slight resemblance to the much feared parasite is a highway robber, who, incidentally is in love with a pretty girl. The parasite kills the girl's father and her lover is accused of the crime, but he discovers who the guilty man is and kills him, subsequently receiving pardon from the sheriff after the confession of his own misdeeds. This story presents a shallow appearance as filmed, and the likeness in the apparel of the two men often results in confusion, which detracts somewhat from the interest. 3