Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1916)

January 29, 1916. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 567 3 OMiiiiiiiS:..:.. illinium mmmmmmam L , TABLOID REVIEWS FOR THE BUSY EXHIBITOR PRODUCTIONS FROM ALL PROGRAMS GENERAL FILM PROGRAM In the cast are Bryant Washburn, Ruth Stonehouse, Edmund F. Cobb, and Charles J. Stine. "An Adventure in the Autumn Woods." (Biograph. Mon., Jan. 24.) — This is another reissue, directed by Griffith, and includes in its cast Lionel Barrymore, Mae Marsh, W. Chrystie Miller, Harry Carey, Walter Miller and Charles H. Mailes. The old woodsman returns through the woods from the trading post, with a small bag of gold which he has received for his produce. He is held up by robbers, but manages to save the gold, and badly injured, reaches his cabin. His son, talcing the gold for precaution goes for a doctor, and his granddaughter meets the thieves, who are still pursuing the aged man. She overhears them plotting to waylay the son in the forest, and slips out ahead of them. She finds her sweetheart, and the two warn the young man and bring aid, capturing the bandits. "Stronger Than Woman's Will." (Biograph. Three reels. Wed., Jan. 26.)— This is a strong story of a woman who spurned love for the sake of ambition and a "career." She is beset by numerous suitors, but she tells them of her "destiny" and casts them all off. A strong man, however, loves her, and stands by, watching her work out her "destiny" as an artistHe finds her in danger from some of the very men whose love she has scorned, and steps in in time to save her. She fights against him, recognizing in him the symbol of her own weakness and inability to cope with the forces arrayed against her, and finally capitulates and yields to him. There are a number of really dramatic moments which are well handled. Vera Sissbn, G. Raymond Nye, Charles H. Mailes, W. J. Butler, Madge Kirby and Jack Mulhall compose the cast. "The Strange Case of Mary Page." (Essanay serial.) — The first installment reviewed at length elsewhere in this issue. "Folly." (Essanay. Two reels. Tues., Jan. 25.) — Not shown for review ; the story follows. Robert Morse, a rich widower, finds a baby girl on his doorstep and adopts her. Twenty years later she marries a rich Westerner, and entertains on a lavish scale. Rand, a society idler, falls in love with her, and invites her and her guardian to his Adirondacks camp. Here he forces his attentions on her, and when Morse tries to interfere, Rand knocks him down. In terror she flees from Rand, and by chance stumbles into the cabin where her husband is vacationing. He makes short work of the pursuer, and, thoroughly repentant, his wife goes into his arms. In the cast are Richardson Cotton, Darwin Karr, Ann Kirk, and Randall McAlister. "The Fable of Flora and Adolph and a Home Gone Wrong." (Essanay. Wed., Jan. 26.) — Not only are the George Ade sub-titles deliciously funny, but the good acting of Charles Stine, Fred Wagner, and Alice Edwards intensifies the humor. Good directing was evident throughout the picture. When the Modern Solomon in charge of a Divorce Mill had the matrimonial Miss-Fits led in, the first case was that of Flora and Adolph Botts. This pair were evidently as happy as a couple of Panthers. Flora put a Soft Needle in her voice and rendered the Sob Stuff. She said she had Histrionic Talent, and that her Worse Halt was always telling her to Lay Off the Mush. Adolph said that Poetry was his middle name, and that he and a Genius in a Hat Store had composed a Comic Opera. He also said that Flora was Soft under the Turban, and did not like the Stuff. Old Sol called the fight a Draw. Moral : Genius must ever walk alone. "Destiny." (Essanay. Three reels. Sat., Jan. 29.) — Not shown for review; the story follows. Robert Gray and Richard Waldron are (rivals for the hand of Ethel Dixon. She accepts (Waldron, but Gray succeeds in getting his rival df unk, and Ethel breaks the engagement. When Waldron discovers Gray's duplicity, he knocks him senseless, and, thinking him/ dead, flees. He becomes an outcast, and sinks to /the depths. Many years later, an old client of His tells him that Gray was stunned, not killed, a/hd persuades him to go back to his people. </ Waldron once more becomes a successful lawyer, and finally he marries Ethel. "Snoop Hounds." (Kalem. Tues., Jan. 25.) — A comedy release in which Bud and Gus appear as rival detectives and each one gets a job tracking exponents of a divorce suit. "Tracking" is used guardedly, as the reel is given over in the majority of scenes to this method of action. The comedy of Bud and Gus is of the cut-anddried variety that always seems to reach its audience, while Bud with his laughable physique and popular personality will add much to the value of "Snoop Hounds." Ethel Teare and Jack MacDermott are the other principals. "The Villain Worshipper." (Kalem. Two reels. Wed., Jan. 26.) — One of the "Stingaree" numbers original in plot but handicapped by too much footage. There is a great portion of padding_ before the belated climax arrives, and it is magnified to a tiresome extent by the performance of Director James W. Home as Oswald, the youth envious of Stingaree. Home devotes too much space to himself. However, "The Villain Worshipper" has some suspense, generally in its latter stages while the adventurous and romantic character of Stingaree as created by True Boardman is fascinating when on the screen. "The Fate of America." .(Kalem. Fri., Jan. 28.) — This instalment of "The Adventures _ of Marguerite" is based on the story of a foreign spy attempting to glean valuable data in America. The fate of America is not disclosed in "The Fate of America," it being left to be learned in another ' chapter. The reel here in hand has some very good light effect, some trick settings, in the way of sliding doors and other devices and an amount of suspense that well retains the interest. "Tapped Wires." (Kalem. Sat., Jan. 29.)— The sensational scene in this "Hazard of Helen" hardly registers because it failed to appear as the producer wished it. An automobile is shown going over a forty-foot embankment containing three men. But the car goes slowly and refuses to turn over and the "men" sit stolidly in their seats. But the rest of "Tapped Wires" is good. There are a number of other scenes tinged with the sensational which have the desired effect. The story is a familiar one but is done with considerable skill. "The Little Sister of the Poor." (Lubiri. Mon., Jan. 17.) — Julian Louis Lamothe has conceived in this a most telling drama, notable for its simplicity and its powerful climax. Melvin Mayo in the production of it has done very well while Francelie Billington and Helen Wolcott the two most prominent members of the cast do exceptional work. There are several scenes laid in a disorderly house, but the general tone of the production practically overshadows their disagreeableness. "Tom Martin — a Man." (Selig. Three reels. Mon., Jan. 24.) — Reviewed at length elsewhere in this issue. "Apple Butter." (Selig. Sat., Jan. 29.)— This latest of the Chronicles of Bloom Center has more new comedy situations and more ingenious slapstick stunts than most of the recent releases of this series. The scenes showing an oldfashioned country fair will bring a reminiscent smile to tinfaces of most people. The Bloom Center cast does unusually good work. Johnny West's mother loses the apple-butter contest at the fair, and filial loyalty prompts him to break up the exhibition. He perpetrates a number of laughable pranks, until a confidence man sells him a three carat diamond ring for two dollars. This diamond turns out to be a real sparkler, and the bunco artist, who found it and sold it so cheaply, kicks himself around the lot. "Selig-Tribune Pictorial," No. 3. — Meyer London, only socialist in Congress ; fight between tiger and hyena at Selig jungle zoo, Charles P. Taft signs away Chicago National baseball club ; activities of German field hospital corps. Mayor Prieto, Carranza official of Juarez, Mexico; $10,000 sheep dog shows human intelligence in handling large flock of sheep, Jerome, Ariz. ; and other general news. The subtitles of this number are printed in three languages, English, Italian and German. "The Ruse." (Vitagraph Broadway Star Feature. Three reels. Sat., Jan. 29.) — In plot, staging and acting, this is one of the best three reelers we have seen. Ruined by his business rival, Morgan Dallas attempts revenge by using his knowledge that the brother of his rival's wife is a crook. The husband puts his wife to a test which eventuates in a shooting affray in his home, but everything ends happily. Joseph Kilgour, Harry Morey, Charles Kent and Naomi Childers, the principals, are excellent. Others in the cast are Denton Vane and Helen Pillsbury. Eugene Mullin wrote the story and directed the piece. "Hearst-Vitagraph Pictorial," No. 2. — Seventh U. S. Cavalry, San Francisco Business Men's Racing Association convenes, New Orleans ; Carranza's forces take over government from Villa's army ; the Swedish schooner Carolina wrecked off coast of Texas ; skating in New York ; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Estes living the simple life in the Maine woods ; Belgian troopers going into action : Canadian cavalry at sabre practice in England ; Lucille Todd demonstrates a demountable suit case carrier in Chicago; automobile race, Los Angeles; President and Mrs. Wilson at Hot Springs, Va. ; "Her Busted Romance," a GloomJoy cartoon by T. E. Powers. "Hearst-Vitagraph Pictorial," No. 3. — Strikers in Youngstown, O. ; Samuel W. McCall inaugurated to gubernatorial honors, Boston ; members of Olympic club hold water carnival, San Francisco ; Thessaloniki survivors arrive in New York ; a goat farm in Dumbarton, N. H. ; latest fashions ; trying out new sea-sled at Boston ; Harvard track team practices at Cambridge, Mass. ; German marine artillery in action ; animated cartoon by T. E. Powers. MUTUAL PROGRAM "Sammy's Dough-Full Romance." (Vogue. Thurs., Jan. 20.) — Sammy Burns, the acrobatcomedian starring in these one-reel comedies, in this release cuts loose in a bakery, and the proverbial bull in the china-shop hasn't very much on him. Sammy introduces several new athletic stunts from his seemingly inexhaustible repertoire, as well as some of the favorite old ones. The plot is not complicated : Sammy is the boss baker for the owner of a pastry shop. He is in love with the proprietor s daughter, and she reciprocates his affection. The old man doesn't approve, and fires Sammy. The latter disguises himself, and is re-employed. He puts Limburger cheese in the bread, so all the patrons of the shop go elsewhere for the "staff of life." With ruin staring him in the face, the shopkeeper is glad to bless the children and recover his lost patronage. "The Girl of His Dreams." (Cub. Fri., Jan. 21.) — In this comedy, Jerry has a touch of reincarnation. On a poster advertising "Julius Caesar" he sees a Roman maiden who strikingly resembles Gladys ; he goes to sleep in a hayloft .Mid dreams he is a Roman emperor, and he and (iladys are having a great time. His slaves arc carrying him to bed, when he wakes to find the slaves are policemen looking for a band of burglars, and have seized upon Jerry as (he most suspicious thing in sight. Jerry proves an alibi, then joins the search for the thieves. He finds them, is attacked and puts up a terrible fight, in which the thieves' den is set on fire, and explodes. But he recovers the loot and then finds it was taken from Gladys' home ; this makes him "solid" with Gladys. George Ovey, Jefferson Osborne, Janet Sully, Belle Bennett and Louise Horner head the cast. "The Man in the Sombrero." (American. Two reels. Tues., Jan. 25.) — The romance in this idyllic love story often verges on the saccharine, but Harold Lockwood and May Allison keep most of the cloying quality out by their very humanncss. The ability of Tom Rickctts for selecting appropriate mountain scenery, and in effective directing, is evident throughout. Jack Betson, leaving for a hunting trip in the mountains, goes to his father's hat factory, and is photographed there in a sombrero, to illustrate a hat advertisement. Alice Van Zant, an heiress, sees the picture in a magazine, and thinks she could fall in love with the original. She does fall for the original when circumstances bring