Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

1250 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 8 Tabloid Reviews tor the Busy Exliibitor PRODUCTIONS FROM ALL PROGRAMS GENERAL FILM PROGRAM " The Face in the Mirror." (Essanay. Three reels. Sat., Aug. 26.) — Not shown for review; the story follows. Royle, a bank clerk, is convicteu of theft and sent to prison. He asks Helen, his sweetheart, to marry Terrane, his fellow clerk. Some time later Royle escapes and hides in Helen's home. That night another bank clerk visits Terrane and they gleefully reminisce on how they sent Royle to jail for a crime they themselves committed. Helen overhears this conversation, and at the point of a revolver forces her husband to telephone a confession to the police. Before they arrive Terrance commits suicide. Royle and Helen start life anew. In the cast are Edmund F. Cobb, Patrick Calhoun, "Josephine Sylvester, and John Thorn. " A Man for a' That." (Essanay. Two reels. Re-issue. Tues., .\ug. 22.) — Not shown for review ; the story follows. Willard, a wealthy clubman, becomes disgusted with the shams of society and decides to mingle with the poor. He sublets a room in the tenement district from a newsboy and his sister. He gradually falls in love with the girl. Later the newsboy sees an article on the society page of a newspaper saying that Willard is engaged to an heiress. He confronts Willard with this, and the rich man goes to the girl's house to find why she inserted the announcement of their betrothal. He finds that she has eloped with a Count, and so goes back to the slums to claim the girl he loves. The cast is composed of Francis X. Bushman, Bryant Washburn, Ruth Stonehouse and Irene Warfield. " e Fable of How Wisenstein Did Not Li ut • Buttinski." (Essanay. Wed., Aug. it ^ •■ eorge Ade fable not shown for re^ story follows : Once there was a ^v'' lo Over-played his Stand-in and came W Ace of losing his Ticket. One evening riend Buttinski to inspect the One Best lis friend was a clever, two-handed boy , Av a few holds of his own. When Wisen k ^^v that his pal was making a Play tor ■t^Sv-en he told the Doll that Buttinski was a Hb^c ' and that all the Frails were After him. Biplane asked Butt to show a few parlor tricks and he sang in a Tenor that straightened her out and had her biting the doilies. Then Buttinski whispered that Wisenstein was a no-good Drinking Man. The Princess thought it was Mean of him to roast a man who had spoken of bim so Highly and so classed him as a False Alarm. MORAL: Beware of the Friend who tells how Good you are. " Ham's Strategy." (Kalem. Tuesday, August 3.) — In this Ham and Bud Comedy, some very clever comedy situations are exceedingly well handled. There is practically no plot and all the action hinges on Ham securing a girl, a horse (?) and buggy, to the discomfiture of Bud, who on seeking revenge gets the worst of it as usual. The finale, where Ham and the Girl (Ethel Teare) are hoisted by a dynamite explosion, he landing on the roof of a house and she on the top of a telegraph pole, is a wonderful laugh provoker. " He Wrote Poetry." (Kalem. Friday, August 18.) — A poet (Henry Murdock) presents his poems for publications to two rival country newspapers. The editors throw him out but he wins the sympathy of the daughter of one ot them. She (Iw Close) by various machinations gets iiei father to believe that he is the cause of the poet's self-destruction. Her lover, who is the son of the other editor, tricks his father in the same fashion. As a result the poet lands his poems, and the two young folk are again happily joined. A fair comedy. " With the Aid of the Wrecker." (Kalem. Saturday, August 19.) — This is another of the " Hazards of Helen " series and is up to the same high standard set by others of the series. By the aid of a wrecking crane, Helen is rescued from her precarious situation, clinging to the top of a telegraph pole while the " villain still persued her." Again the wrecker is called to aid and the long swinging chain and hook is induced to hook the pursuing automobile as it is about to pass under the trestle. The machine is caught and the ^ront lifted into the air and the diamonds are ( -safe. A thriller if there ever was one. " Star Boarders." (Kalem. Tuesday, -\ugust 22.) — In this release Ham and Bud with the aid of a colored second-hand furniture dealer, start to clean out a boarding house. Squirting chloroform through the keyholes of the doors to the different rooms where the boarders and landlady are sleeping one night, all are put to sleep and Ham and Bud make off with the furniture. Just as they drive off, the sleepers awake and give pursuit. The horse runs away and the last we see of the trio is the wagon tumbling over the clifT and Ham and Bud buried in the wreckage. A sleep-walking stunt by one of the boarders in which he rolls off the sloping roof of the house is one of the features of this picture. " The Stolen Jail." (Kalem, Friday, August 28.) — Reviewed at length elsewhere in this issue. "At Danger's Call." (Kalem. Sat., August 29.) — This latest of the " Hazards of Helen " series hands one a great surprise. After having saved at least one train a week tor goodness knows how long, sent innumerable train robbers to jail, and altogether saved the road incalculable millions, Helen discharged for accidently placing the superintendent's little son in danger through no fault of hers. How she saves the life of the little boy who was being rushed to destruction on a runaway flatcar loaded with dynamite, by swinging from the end of a rope hanging from a bridge is thrillingly portrayed. The runaway finally brings up on a siding and explodes. Needless to say Helen gets her place back and will be on the job again ne.xt week. " The Far Journey." (Selig. Three reels. Mon., Aug. 21.) — Reviewed at length elsewhere in this issue. " Roping a Sweetheart." (Selig. Sat., Aug. 26.) — This Tom Mi.x Western comedy is more exaggerated and more given over to slap stick than are his average offerings. There is plenty of good stuff in it, however, and it will be appreciated by audiences that like the ordinary Western. Victoria Forde and Sid Jordan appear in Mr. Mix's support. Vicky, a ranchman's daughter, returns West after a long sojourn in the East. Tom and Sid, two cowboys, fall in love with her and become bitter rivals. Sid practices the gentle art of proposing on a caK, and Tom rehearses his sweet nothings in the ear of a goat. Then they decide to hold a roping contest, the winner to marry Vicky. Tom is the victor, but when he tries to kiss Vicky, she kicks him in the face. Sid also gets a facial massage at the end of her shoe... The two cowpunchers decide that women are fickle. MUTUAL PROGRAM " Courtin' of Calliope Clew." (Mustang. Fri., Aug. 11.) — This story by Kenneth B. Clark has many human touches and much heart interest, dealing as it does with thje deserts of the Far West Both Anna Little and Frank Borzage are convincing in their respective parts. Dr. Mathews, a discharged professor, and his daughter Prudent start on a journey across the prairie to the Far West En route they meet Calliope Clew, an old prairie schooner, who assists the strangers through the many difficulties they encounter. Shortly after Clew is compelled to leave them at the same time assuring the girl that he will be near and will protect her. The hardships of the desert are too much for the Doctor, and he dies leaving the girl alone. She wanders on but finally finds a note pinned to the trunk of a tree which directs her to Clew. When the pair meet Clew offers his his name and protection. The cast includes Anna Little, Frank Borzage, Charles Newton. " For Her Good Name." (Centaur. Sat., Aug. 12.) — This is an interesting dramatic offering dealing with adventure, love and mystery, gripping and working up to an unusual and unexpected end. (irane Wilbur, the author-star is seen in the role of a society gambler. Mentally and physically he is a power among men. and honorable to a thought when dealing w-ith women. One night while visiting the House of the Mask he becomes interested in the actions of a society adventurer toward a wealthy woman, whose only weakness is her fondness for the gambling table. 1 li<; adventurer iijsults the Aoman, the gambler interferes and in the struggle the former meets an accidental death. The gambler who is ever loyal to the woman proves a big obstacle in the way of the detectives, though eventually he makes the extreme sacrifice. The cast includes Crane Wilbur, Harrish Ingraham and Mae Gaston. " "Too Bad Eddie." (Beauty. Sun., Aug. 13.) — This is quite a good comedy in which some new business is introduced and it should please any audience. Eddie Tost runs a newspaper assisted by Tad who is printer, proofreader, secretary and general factotum. He is supposed to earn a salary but never get it, consequently Tad is growing mighty thin. Bettina, the banker's daughter, is in love with Eddie, who on this day was entertaining his creditors. She rushes in upon the meeting and embraces her lover fondly. The creditors realizing the probability of a marriage give Eddie time to pay his debts. Upon Eddie's request for Bettina's hand her lather boots him out The disconsolate one seeks revenge and writes a stinging editorial slandering the banker. Tad, playing the printer's devil rewrites the story and thus spoils Eddie's scheme. The cast includes Orral Humphrey, Jose Massey, Joe 'Taylor and Hugh Bennett " Jerry's Celebration." (Cub. Fri., Aug:. 11.) — This comedy is only fair, as the same kind of business has been done many times before by Ovey. Some of the situations are laughable but on the whole the offering does not reach the usual Cub standard. Jerry celebrates the Fourth by blowing up some fireworks and awakens a sltunbering cop who arrests him for violating the law. At the police station Jerry (as usual) escapes in an auto. In his getaway he runs into a tribe of Indians and the Chief insists on purchasing the car. Jerry names a large sum and much to his astonishment it is paid. Meanwhile the police are on Jerry's track and fight between the police and the Indians ensues. Jerry had to get home so he purloins the inspectors new car leaving the Indians and police to settle their own differences. The cast includes George Ovey, (Jordon MacGregor, Claire Alexander. " Some Liars." (Vogiue. Sun., Aug. 13.) — An e.Kliilarating comedy with some new " stunts." Ben and Rube meet in a saloon. They quarrel and a general fight follows. Later they wander on to the pier intending to bathe. Discarding their clothes they flounder in the water and as neither can swim are rescued by the police boat and given thirty days. Believing them to be dead their wives mourn them. On the culprits' release they return to their respective homes and concoct weird stories of their adventures. Their story is overheard by a cop who put the wives wise to the true state of affairs and they speedily seek revenge. The cast includes Rube Miller, Gypsy Abbott, Eva Thatcher, Ben Turpin. Mutual Weekly, No. 83. — Scenes along the French front ; Salvation Army opens fresh air camp. Boston. Mass. ; excursion boat, rammed by tug sinks in N. Y. harbor; sailors hold field day, Newport, R. I. ; street car strike, San Francisco, CaL ; last picture of late James Whitcomb Riley ; demonstration of diving hood. New York City ; state naval militia off to Alaska, Seattle, 'Wash. ; Christy Mathewson, manager, (Cincinnati ball club and other players. New York City ; sunken steamer blocks traffic in Cape Cod channel, Provincetown, Mass. ; western musicians parade, San Francisco, Cal. ; field artillery at practise. El Paso, Texas ; trap shooting, Holmesburg, Pa. ; Blackwell's Island prisoners hosts to Warden •Murtha, New York City. mTERNATIONAL " The Mysteries of Myra." (Episode 14.) — ^As in the past thirteen episodes the Wharton's maintain unusual interest and action in this chapter. There are wonderful photographic effects arid the mystery is still tmsolved. Myra, once again in the Master's power, is taken to a farm house. Verney and another man who are charged to murder her, rebel against the Master, but are forced into submission. A woman has been