Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

1102 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 7 . .. "" iaiiiiii;iii,iNijiii;iiiii;iiaiiaiiiiiiiiia.,, Tabloid Reviews for the Busy Exhibitor PRODUCTIONS FROM ALL PROGRAMS GENERAL FILM PROGRAM Split reel. Wed., Aug. 16.) — The animated cartoon burlesque of the news weeklies shares the reel with 500 feet of Western scenic. UNIVERSAL PROGRAM " Good Evening, Judge." (Ka4€m. Tues., Aug. 8.) — In this Ethel Teare comedy (or should we say Ham and Bud comedy?) there are innumerable laugh provoking situations. The whole is a burlesque on the underworld with a scream of a court room scene. Ethel Teare plays the part of Queenie, the leader of a band of crooks and Ham and Bud make first class burglars. " Daisy the Demonstrator." (Kalem. Fri., Aug. 11.) — Ivy Close and Henry Murdock easily carry oflf the honors in this clever comedy skit. We like to see Ivy when she has money and in one of the scenes here she comes on with a roll so big that if we had it we'd quit the business. Daisy is a soap demonstrator and the way Ivy in the part washes her victims' faces with her dainty hands is bound to please the most particular. "Hurled Through 'the Drawbridge." (Kalem. Sat., Aug. 12.) — In this latest of the " Hazards of Helen," Helen Gibson again shows her absolute disregard for danger. Speeding on a hand car to save the " Special " she plunges through an open drawbridge, into the river, swims to the opposite shore, climbs to the railroad tracks, and dashes madly on to meet the train and arrives in the nick of time. The story is fully up to the average of the former numbers of the series. "A Bear of a Story." (Selig. Sat., Aug. 19.) — This Tom Mix picture has more of a story and more genuinely humorous incidents than most of his Western comedy releases. The trained bear that cavorts through most of the reel will send the average audience into gales of laughter, and supplemented by the well-known Mix kind of riding, roping and shooting, ought to go \vell in most houses. Supporting "Tom Mix are Victoria Forde and Sid Jordan. Tom, a cowpuncher, is engaged to Vicky, a ranch girl. Her chum has a tame bear, and Vicky insists that Tom must get her one too. After risking his lite a hundred times, and after a terrific battle with a ferocious bear, "Tom finally captures the much desired Bruin. He takes the bear to Vicky, but she has decided that she does not want such an animal, because her chum's pet has scratched her finger. Tom falls m a faint. " Worth While." (Essanay. Three reels. Sat., Aug. 12.) — While the plot of this release is hackneyed and many of tlie situations poorly motivated, the well-balanced cast serves to r'laintain the interest. All the prison scenes were made at the Joliet penitentiary, and show the actual routine of the famous prison, beside introducing the real warden, chaplain, trusties, etc. Bryant Washburn, Marguerite Clayton, Patrick Calhoun and John Cossar compose the cast. When Philip Cole dies. Jack Thomas, a } oung broker, adopts his daughter. Thirteen years later, Elsa, Cole's daughter, is in love with her guardian, and on that account spurns the attentions of Murray, a rich suitor. In-revenge, Murray ruins Thomas in the stock exchange. He then hires an accomplice to " plant " a ring in Elsa's purse. He then has Elsa arrested for theft. Thomas tells the police that he was the thief, and is sent to jail. "To prove her guardian's innocence, Elsa becomes Murray's stenographer, and sometime later traps him into a confession. Murray is sent to jail, and Thomas marries Elsa. MUTUAL PROGRAM " The Little Troubadour." (Flying A. Two reels. Mon., Aug. 7.) — A good drama of its type. Minta, an orphan, is abused by her employer, and runs away ; she cams her living by playing an accordion, and becomes known as " The Little Troubadour." Frank, an employe in a bank, and Tom, his roommate, both meet and fall in love with her. Frank wins $400 on a lottery ticket, just in time to send the money to his sister Julia and prevent her husband's disgrace. Tom makes it appear that Frank has obtained this money through pawning Minta's ring, and Minta is about to send him away, when Frank's employer, who has been fishing, comes up with the lost ring. Frank had dropped it accidentally into the stream, and a fish had swallowed it. Vivian Rich, Alfred Vosburgh, George Periolat and Otto Tullah compose the cast. " My Country 'Tis of Thee." (Essanay. Two reels. Tues., Aug. 15.) — Not shown for review; the story follows : — When the militia is called to the Mexican border. Captain Stone prepares to go with them. His wife pleads with him nol to go, saying that if he loved her he would stay with her. Stone feels it his duty to go, and so turns a deal ear to his wife's pleading. Wilcox, a rich idler, constantly tells Mrs. Stone that her husband's actions prove that he doesn't love her. Mrs. Stone is convinced, and spends most of her time with Wilcox. Captain Stone's friends notify him of his wife's actions, and he returns from the border to win back his wife. He finds that she has already discovered Wilcox's real motive, and that she still loves him. The leads are Richard C. Travers, Lillian Drew and Sydney Ainsworth. " Billy Van Deusen, the Cave-Man." (Beauty. Wed., Aug. 9.) — Comedy; familiar in form, but laughable. Billy is haunted by a face which pursues him everywhere ; he finds he is in love, and on the advice of friends adopts cave-man methods ; he steals the mysterious beauty, and takes her to a lonely cabin but finds her so cold to his entreaties, that he decides to end his life. As he stands gazing down into the abyss, he learns that the mysterious beauty who has been following him is a woman novelist, studying him as a " type " for a new story. John Steppling, Carol Halloway, John Sheehan and Dick Rosson are in the cast. "The Power of Mind." (Flying A. Three reels. Thurs.. Aug. 10.) — An impossible but interesting drama. It begins with the theory that inherited tendencies are only mental. Wayne is engaged to Nadine, daughter of Powers, a wealthy merchant. It develops that Powers is really the head of a band of crooks, and when he is discovered he shoots himself. Nadine, overhearing her father's record, later develops criminal tendencies, from which she feels she has no escape. She is cured when it is discovered that she is not really the daughter of Powers, but was merely adopted by him. She and Wayne are married and live happily. Years later a physician discloses the fact that Nadine is Powers' daughter after all, and his theory is proved by her case. The cast includes George Gebhardt, Edward Coxen, Lizette Thome. Charles Newton and George Field. PATHE EXCHANGE, INC ^' Who's Guilty?" (Arrow. Thirteenth Episode. Two reels.) — This number entitled " The Goad of Jealousy," takes up the case of an unusually jealous \vife w-ho by her foolishness along this line comes to believe that her husband is unfaithful. In a rage he leaves the house and she believing that he has left her for ever takes poison. The changes in the character of the wife are very well e-xpressed by Anna Xilsson, while Tom Moore and Margaret Prussing in the other roles of the triangle do credible work. ••The Yoke of Gold." fRcd Feather. Five reels. Mon., Aug. 14.) — Reviewed at length in the issue of Aug. S. "The Battle of Chile Con Came." (Nestor. Mon., Aug. 14.)— An excellent burlesque with Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran, staged on the Mexican border. Eddie as a correspondence school reporter visits the interior, falls in love with Scnorita Tamale and elopes with her and some papers stolen from General Siesta, which turn out to contain a new recipe lor Chile Con Carne. Moran's Siesta and Eddie's reporter are two very funny characters, while PrisciUa Dean plays the Senorita. Charles J. Wilson, Jr., prepared the scenario and Louis Chaudct produced. "A Son of Neptune." (Gold Seal. Three reels. Tues., Aug. 15.) — In which a little orphaned boy who has lived with a wicked old sea comber since his father's death, finds happiness and a new home after caring for a rich, little girl who is lost. Written and produced by William V. Mong this picture is far too generously padded while its plot is of a trite character relying largely on its pretty backgrounds for interest. Gordon Griffith and Georgia French, the juveniles are the principals. Except for lack of sustaining action the subject is proper for children's entertainment. "He Wrote a Book." (Victor. Tues., Aug. 15.) — In which the " worm " of the college, the butt of the bully's jokes suddenly turns the tables on his tormentors and by taking lessons in physical culture proceeds to deal out medicine of a fistic character. William Garwood and Lois Wilson are the principals in this college comedydrama which is of average value. Hayward Mack wrote the story. "Canimated Nooz Pictorial No. 14." (Essanay. " Who's Guilty? " (Arrow. Fourteenth Episode. Two reels.) — " The Crime of Misfortune " the fourteenth and last of the series, is a rapidfire melodrama in which the hero by the various false charges he bears manages to work up a great deal of sympathy. The gist of the story is the breaking up of a happy family through the machinations of a villain bent on securing the daughter of the house. Tom Moore and Anna Nilsson continue to perform satisfactorily. " The Grip of Evil." (Balboa. Fifth Episode. Two reels.) — In this chapter entitled " The Deserving Poor," the newly made millionaire comes in contact with a girl who has despaired of the straight and narrow path because it is so unbearable. He sees her go her chosen way finally and in conclusion asks himself again " Is Humanity in the Grip of Evil? " Roland Bottomly and Jackie Saunders have the principal roles again. " The Toll of the Law." (Imp. Wed., Aug. 16.) — An underworld drama depicting the reformation of a crook through the interest taken in him by a minister. It is done very well and carries a big appeal. Francis Powers wrote and prdduced with a cast including William Lowery, Agnes Vernon and T. D. Crittenden. "Ashamed of the Old Folks." (Victor. Two reels. Thurs., Aug. 17.) — A notable production, for Matt Moore and Jane Gail are the only players who appear. Each carries two roles, the aged parent and the upstart offspring, and the small cast in no way impedes the drama which is of the light sort generously sprinkled with comedy. In the last scene, the old people take ofl their makeup and disclose themselves as Mr. Moore and Miss Gail and this revelation will no doubt come as a surprise so good is their character work. "A Woman's Eyes." (Big U. Thurs., Aug. 17.) — A lively Western in which the familiar bad man is materially effected by the arrival of a girl in the lawless village. Harr} Carey and Olive Fuller Golden are the leads. Joe Rickson the heavy and Carey engage in a brief but thrilling gun fight in the final scene. George Marshall arid Carey directed, the former also having a hand in the scenario. " The Riddle of the World." (Powers. Thurs., Aug. 17.) — This time the Dorsey expedition takes the observer to Japan and shows numerous street and harbor scenes as well as the athletes of Tokio University on field day. This interests all the time and should make a welcome addition to any program. " Beyond the Trail." (Bison. Two. reels. Sat., Aug. 19.) — The story of the man who, hardened against women by the desertion of his wife, seeks seclusion in the northwest w'ith his daughter. Years later the son of the man whom the recluse believes ruined him comes north, meets and loves his daughter. The recluse discovers his identitv, but the father's explanation puts everything aright. This is an average picture with Ben Wils'on. Dorothy Phillips, Hal August a^d William Welsh as the principals. '• Soup and Nuts." (Joker. Sat., Aug. 19.) — Staged tor the most part on shipboard this comedy of Allen (iurtis' direction has much in it that is funnv and some gags that are rather low. William Franey, Gale Henry and the usual Joker support appear. Ben Cohn wrote the scenario.