Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1915)

70 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 12. No. 1. "THE LORELEI MADONNA" (Vitagraph — Three Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE LCASE RUSSELL, the author of "The Lorelei Madonna," • has incorporated a beautiful idea in the story, which despite the familiarity of a good many of the situations, lends to the picture a very pleasing atmosphere. The characters drawn by the author are exceedingly real, a great deal more real than most motion picture characterizations, which counts further in the picture's favor. On the other hand, we must give Rollin S. Sturgeon, the producer, his share of credit. The locations chosen for the picture are admirably realistic. The settings are very good, noticeably so those in the monastery, which possess a depth unusual in American made films. The backdrops, too, have been arranged with intelligence. The picture also uncovers some even and clear photography. The lighting is good and the nice photographic effects, combined with the beautiful scenery, make the picture excellent artistically. The story runs as follows. A young man reared in a monastery is imbued with the idea of painting a madonna. His model proves a failure. His uncle takes him away to see the world. They arrive at Tahiti in the South Sea Islands where in a notorious dive Malcolm meets the Lorelei, a performer, who then happens to be singing "The Rosary." He is infatuated with her, returns to his rooms and finishes his painting, so inspired is he by the thought of the girl. And then comes his disillusionment. The girl is pursued by her master and takes refuge in Malcolm's rooms. Her pursuer shoots her through the door and she dies in the artist's arms. The cast does average work. Alma Reuben plays the title role, Juan De' La Cruz is Malcolm ; George Kunkel his uncle, while others are Marcia Moore, George Stanley, and Edgar Martin Teller. "CHIMMIE FADDEN" (Lasky-Paramount — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE <i/^HIMMIE FADDEN" is a delightful picture. The major portion of it is devoted to the expression of spontaneous comedy. A minor section of it is employed to introduce dramatic moments that cap the humorous story with an effective climax which could not be conveyed by farcical action. And besides the serious scenes furnish relief to one's aching sides. MIXING HIS OWN DRINKS However, "Chimmie Fadden" is another of those pictures that depends largely on the comic abilities of its star to register a success. Victor Moore is that glittering personage in the present case. Without Victor Moore, "Chimmie Fadden" would not be "Chimmie Fadden." Victor Moore distinctly lives in the title part, he performs sincerely, without a touch of affectation, and performs all the incidental tricks that have been assigned him by the author with a power that will call for rounds of admiring laughter. The innumerable funny situations which E. W. Townserid, the author of the play, has provided his characters are of considerable import also. While we cannot discriminate between the original and the conventional of these situations, every one of them is handled with such a novel touch that old or new, the created effect is practically the same — hearty appreciative laughter. Chimmie Fadden is a Bowery gent. He is slightly crude in language and general get-up, but at the same time he is a very good fellow. Well, Chimmie gets a job as porter in a swell house on the drive. The H'English butler gets drunk and Chimmie is forced to wait on the table, but his job ends disastrously. In this same house there is a French valet, whom Chimmie dislikes from the start. The valet is a crook in league with Chimmie's brother, but the robbery is prevented by Chimmie. He is accused, but acquitted and carries on his interrupted romance with the French maid. Scenes that stand out in particular are that one in which Chimmie is in the police station being instructed to keep his hat off, and again where he indulges in mixing cocktails in which he puts every known drink from Budweiser down to creme de Menthe, and still another when he proceeds to wait on the table, but to single out a few is unfair to the rest, and so take our word for it, the picture creates a laugh whenever a laugh is supposed to be created. The other comedy characters in the picture are Harry De Roy as the butler, Camille Astor as the maid ; while those who render good dramatic support are Raymond Hatton as Larry Fadden, Mrs. Lewis McCord as Mrs. Fadden, Ernest Joy as Van Courtlandt, Anita King as his daughter and Tom Forman as the French valet. "THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT" (Kalem — Three Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE HOWEVER distasteful, this picture of the Kalem Commandment series drives home a striking moral, designated by the biblical title. The picture lays before the observer the disastrous results of one man's wrong in a powerful and sincere manner. Harry O. Hoyt, the author, has evolved some extraordinary and intense situations, many of them in fact, and these, combined with the variety of the plot as a whole, keep the spectator ever on the alert. The settings for the play are suitable, while each scene has been well photographed and carefully lighted. The detail is noticeably poor only in one instance and that is with the makeup of the man Mitchell (Warner Richmond) in the latter scenes of the picture. At the outset of the story a married woman is wronged by Craig, who is also married. Afterwards he deserts his wife and child and goes to another city, where years later he becomes candidate for mayor. Mitchell, the husband of the woman he wronged, is ever on his track, and when Craig runs for public office he becomes his secretary. To complete his plan of vengeance he sends for Craig's daughter to become his stenographer. On the night of the man's election he attempts to take liberties with his unknown daughter. But in the meantime Wallace, a young reporter, has learned of Craig's past from Mrs. Mitchell. He enters the mayor's house just in time to inform him of the girl's identity. Mrs. Mitchell has followed him, and on seeing her, her husband draws a revolver kills her and then fires on Craig, mortally wounding him. Thus it ends with Dick left to comfort the heart broken girl. Tom Moore, who directed the picture plays Wallace, the reporter, while Margaret Courtot appears as the girl. Bob Ellis is seen as Craig while others are Ella Weiant, Warner Richmond, Dallas Tyler, and Richard Purdon. CLEVELAND STUDIO NEAR COMPLETION Special to Motion Picture News Cleveland, O., July 1. WORK on the Kleervue Film Company, located between Lorain and Elyria streets, is progressing at a great rate, and the studio will be ready for use in the near future. Cleveland capital is backing the project. The studio will be 161 feet long and fifty feet wide. President R. J. Morris announces that a stock company has been engaged, and actual scenario work will be under way by the latter part of July. Cleveland talent will be hired as supers.