Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

June 12, 1915. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 79 him and is arrested for the act, although actually innocent. Being freed by the confession of the other man, the thief reforms and cares for the unfortunate's mother while he is ill jail. He also locates the two men who have stolen the booty from the original thief, and returns it. Having made good at honest employment, he gets the honest boy a place on his release from jail, and all live happily ever after. George Larkin is seen in the leading part. "Horseshoe Luck." (Gaumont. One reel.) — Heinie starts a restaurant and his friends give him a golden horseshoe for good luck. Bad luck seems to follow, although Heinie tries hanging the horseshoe in various position. Such incidents as a waiter spitting on a plate and wiping it with his napkin represent the character of the comedy in this film. "The New Photographer." (Superba. One reel.) — This is a very clever and decidedly novel comedy. In showing the results of a green camera man's work some surprising and highly entertaining trick photography is used. Scenes appear on edge and at all sorts of angles as well as wavering back and forth. The picture being made is "Agnes' Awful Adventure," and is a good travesty. UNIVERSAL PROGRAM "Animated Weekly, No. 169." (Wed., June 2.) — Memorial Day parade in New York City ; the funeral of the late Charles Frohman, with many notables in attendance ; the Pan-American conference in Washington, at which the President was a prominent figure ; and Cornell's varsity crew losing to Harvard on Cayuga Lake, for the first time in the history of the colleges, are the outstanding features of this number. Of course, the war news is not lacking, while a few minor happenings and Hy Mayer's cartoons complete the reel. "The Lover's Lucky Predicament." (Joker. Sat., June 5.) — His daughter's lover is not looked upon with any great favor by the sheriff, but when he captures the much feared Alfalfa Bill he has his own way. This is inferior to most Jokers, some of the scenes being rather vulgar. William Franey as Alfalfa Bill is very good. The rest of the cast includes Max Asher, Gale Henry, Milburn Moranti and Lillian Peacock. "Through the Swinging Doors." (Big U. Two reels. Sun., June 6.) — An old waiter sees his daughter drinking champaigne in the restaurant where he is employed, and in a mad rage he rushes up and attempts to kill her escort. When explanations are given all ends well. This offering is very poor except for the character portrayal given by Murdock MacQuarrie as the waiter. The first part of the picture bears little relation to the termination of the story, while the plot is not smooth or satisfying. "A Daughter of the Nile." (Victor. Three reels. Mon., June 7.)— A young man entering the diplomatic service falls under the spell of a woman intimate with the Russian ambassador. However, when she sees the suffering his infatuation causes his fiancee puts an end to the proceedings. An engaging drama with Mary Fuller in the role of the adventuress. The part is not like any she has appeared in before, yet her performance is most pleasing. Matt Moore is the young man. The settings are lavish in this and the photography good. The drama ought to please, as the cast is accomplished. Elaine Sterne prepared the scenario. "How Billy Got His Raise." (Joker. Mon., June 7.) — Billy, the office boy, studies hypnotism and soon his boss, the stenographer and the boss's wife are under his influence, so he is able to command what salary he will. William Franey is hilariously funny as the office boy in this, while Max Asher, Gale , Henry and Lillian Peacock are the other principals. This is one of the best Jokers. "Under the Crescent." (Gold Seal. Adventure No. 2.) — Reviewed at length in issue of May 22. "The Struggle." (Rex. Tues., June 8.) — Industrial strife, raging between the employees and owners of a railroad company, is brought to a close by a little thought on both sides. The president is a G. A. R. man, and thoughts of the olden times during a Memorial Day celebration are responsible for his change of heart towards his workers. An incoherent drama, hardly well enough produced to give the desired comparison between the Civil War and industrial strife, besides there is a superfluity of characters and scenes. Pauline Bush is in the cast. "Their Friend the Burglar." (Nestor. Tues., June 8.), — A young pair desirous of eloping make use of the confusion caused by the presence of a burglar and successfully escape from the girl's parents. A fairly good comedy with Billie Rhodes and Neal Burns playing the lovers. "From the Shadows." (Laem.ule. Wed., June 9.) — A crook melodrama produced by Frank Lloyd which will offer very good entertainment of its kind. An ex-crook whose daughter is engaged to an honorable man is discovered by an old pal, who attempts to blackmail him. A gun fight results in the old man's death and puts an end to the other man's schemes. Frank Lloyd, Marc Robbins, Helen Leslie, Millard Wilson and Gretchen Lederer are the principals. "Billie's Blighted Career." (L-KO. Two reels. Wed., June 9.) — Ritchie in the role of an artist and minus a good bit of his usual getup, uses another man's wife as his model. Another artist in the same apartment is doing the same thing with Billie's wife, and these two precarious situations mixed in with any number of scantily draped models cause great commotion. Strange to say the funniest part of the picture is the chase which brings it to a close. It is in these scenes that Ritchie puts across his most humorous incidental capers, which are sure to create laughter. The rest of the picture we regret to say, shows a reversion of form on the producing company's part. A good many of the scenes are disgusting in their suggestiveness and spoil any humor that might be in the actions of the players. Some of them will doubtless be eliminated. "The Valley of Silent Men." (Rex. Two reels. Thurs., June 10.) — Believing her husband dead, when in reality he was shanghaied, the girl marries again that she may have a happy home provided for her child. She is living happily when her husband returns, transformed from a drunkard into a man. He learns of the situation from his wife, and then sees it best that he depart. A pleasing story, which is mindful of the pathetic "Enoch Arden" poem of Tennyson. Ben Wilson appears as the reformed husband and Dorothy Phillips is the wife. "In His Mind's Eye." (Big U. Thurs., June 10.) — An exceedingly sad topic is dealt with_ in this reel, but it is capably handled and interesting in its entirity. An old, blind fiddler sits on the street corner and plays and dreams over his past. Among other things he sees how his daughter was practically sold to a young man by her step-mother. At that moment his daughter walks by, gaudily clad. The man recognizes her footsteps and takes her home with him, where she keeps him in ignorance of her occupation. Murdock MacQuarrie gets in his usual good work as the violinist and Agnes Vernon holds the daughter's pathetic role. "Lady Baffles and Detective Duck" in "The Sign of the Sacred Safety Pin." (Powers. Thurs., June 10.) — The second of Allen Curtis' burlesques on the serial photoplays, with Max Asher, Gale Henry and William Franey leading the cast. The exaggeration of the salient features of the continued pictures makes this reel most laughable from start to finish. Neither the crooks nor the detective gains any advantage, yet their endeavors to frustrate one another's plan are vcrv humorous. "A Strange Disappearance." (Imp. Three reels. Fri., June 11.) — Reviewed at length in another part of this issue. the maid contracts the mumps. During the confinement, the two fall in love. A Harry MyersRosemary Theby comedy which is just as funny as these two know how to make it, which, be it known, is very funny. "The Circus Girl's Romance." (Bison. Two reels. Sat., June 12.) — The daughter of the circus owner is despised at boarding school until she saves one of the inmates by catching her runaway horse. A Henry McRae picture, many scenes of which are laid beneath and about the circus tent. _ Realism of the most interesting kind predominates in these scenes as a real circus was filmed. There is another story in the picture concerning the unsuccessful efforts of the villainous circus manager to force the girl into a marriage. This is a very good number, although it does not measure up to the best of the Bison company's pictures. Marie Walcamp, Rex deRoselli, Sherman Bainbridge and Wellington Playter are in the cast. "The Woman Hater's Baby." (Powers. Sat., June 12.) — An old and rather ill-produced picture with Gene Gauntier and Jack Clark in the principal roles. A destitute widow leaves her child on the steps of a bachelor's home. He adopts it and applies for a nurse. The mother is employed, with the result that soon afterwards a marriage takes place. This is a comedy-drama and not a very good one. "When Ignorance is Bliss." (Joker. Sat., June 12.) — A rube comes into a fortune, and two swindlers succeed in robbing him of it, when his sweetheart comes to the rescue. A typical Joker comedy of the burlesque variety. Ernest Shields is most eccentric as the rube, effecting some uproariously unconventional comedy bits. His scenes with the adventuress are the best, if one may discriminate. "Across the Footlights." (Big U. Two reels. Sun., June 13.)— A brilliant young actress marries an actor of mediocre talent. In time he becomes popular through her teachings, while she gixes up her career. The ending to this is quite apart from the plot proper and rather poor, as it comes unexpectedly. The two reels are quite largely padded, but the story will afford fair entertainment. Adele Lane and William Dowlan lead the cast. The boarding house scenes and those which take place back of the stage are noticeable for the minute and correct attention to detail. "Little Mr. Fixer." (Laemmle. Sun., June 13.) — A simple yet attractive comedv-drama illustrating the manner in which a little newsboy reconciled two lovers. Gordon Griffith as Billy makes a charming and human figure of the boy, while Millard K. Wilson and Olive Fuller Golden render most pleasing performances. Frank Lloyd directed this and has produced another excellent one reel subject. WORLD FILM CORPORA TION "Two for a Quarter." (Wizard-World Film.) — Two penniless hoboes contrive to procure a square meal. At last they discover a very large suit, so both of the gentlemen enshroud themselves therein and repair to an eating house. Their ruse is discovered, but not until they have well appeased their appetites. This reel features two capable comedians, one long and the other short. Their antics throughout the picture, chiefly while encased in the suit are uproarious. For a slapstick comedy this well fills tlic bill, and as the offensive is almost totally lacking it should prove fit entertainment for all classes of houses. "Mumps." (Victor. Fri.. Tunc 11.) — The author and her secretary are quarantined because "The Tangles of Pokes and Jabs." (WizardWorld Film/) — Another riotous slapstick featuring the same two comical gentlemen who appeared in "Two for a quarter." While not possessed with such an original plot, the actions of the comedians are productive of much laughter. This film was shown for a week at the New York Hippodrome, where it well upheld the comedy end of the bill. THE FROHMAN AMUSEMENT CORPORATION i ANNOUNCES THE PHOTO PRODUCTION OF THE COMEDY IUST OUT OF COLLEGE Written by GEORGE ADE A splendid cast includes EUGENE O'BRIAN 18 E. 4ist St. * WILLIAM L. SHERRILL, Gen. Mgr. B-tter to read fifty advertisements than to mi -s the one YOU need.