Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

2054 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No, 13 have been to better purpose had Mr. Abramson based his picture on a scientific reality — then there would have been no doubt about the conviction carried by the story. In approaching this original point in his story the author builds a drama throughout the duration of four reels which manages to hold the interest in a mild sort of way, despite the insertion of various scenes that have no direct bearing on the picture proper. At this point he introduces the blood transfusion episode. A girl has been wounded and a poor boy steps to the fore and offers some of his blood to save her life. The operation is successful but afterwards the girl discovers that she has no more love for her affianced husband. The blood of the poor boy run•■ling in her veins, she cannot help but loving him and so the oicture ends, rather unhappily for the majority of the parties concerned. As for the fabric as a whole and apart from the manufactured science of Mr. Abramson. it measures up rather poorly alongside of the same author's former works. We have a sneaking feeling that a much better vehicle could have been created for the introduction of the love transfusion affair, and there are some in consistencies in the direction that Mr. Abramson would not be expected to make. Another all-star cast was assembled to enact the principal roles in the picture. Anna Nilsson as the girl, Wilmuth Merkyl as her jilted fiance, and Harry Spingler as the boy she finally loves do creditable work. In addition there are Rose Goghlan, William H. Tooker and Frankie Mann, each exceedingly good in roles of importance. "THE DAUGHTER OF MACGREGOR" (Famous Players-Paramount — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY THEODORE OSBORN ELTONHEAD tinPHE Daughters of MacGregor," has two stars, Valentine A Grant and her do» " Lady," and it is hard to say which makes the most favorable impression. Miss Grant with her " chic," " piquante " attractiveness and her winning attractive personality, or " Lady " with her astute canine cleverness. The winsome magnetism of Miss Grant is made apparent at the very beginning of the picture and holds true to form all the way through. She pleases by the very naturalness of her being. Besides being the star she is also responsible for the story, which by the way is a very clever piece of character drawing. Slight as to plot, it sets forth in simple narrative form the incidents in the life of a young Scotch lassie. Much of the early part of the picture is taken up with the necessary introductory The Homecoming details establishing the identity, characteristics and psychology of the principal characters. When Donald MacGregor decides to take unto himself a second wife his daughter Jean decides that she cannot longer live at home. Her departure is hastened by some slanderous scandal spread by her future mother-in-law. Running away accompanied by " Lady " she meets with an itinerant showman and his wife and works for them until she has accumulated money enough to go to her uncle in America. He is the foreman in charge of a gang of lumber men in the yellow pine forests of Florida, and Jean is the means of discovering and helping to break up a gang of lumber pirates. Winston, a wealthy young Englishman, who was the innocent cause of the scandal clouding Jean's name, arrives in the camp on an inspection trip for his father and the love story commenced in Scotland reaches its conclusion midst the pines of Florida. Too much praise cannot be given Sidney Olcott for the manner in which he has staged this picture. He has made realism and humanism the keynotes of the production. The picture is replete with those subtle appealing little incidents that serve the purpose of making a picture different, of causing it to stand out in contrast with the general run of motion picture plays. Many of these little touches he has achieved with Miss Grant in company with her dog. "Lady" is not only a mighty fine intelligent dog but a clever actress as well. Sidney Mason pleased greatly as Winston ; Arda La Croix did a fine bit of character work as Donald MacGregor ; Helen Lindreth did equally as well as Miss McGrim, the trouble causing mother-in-law ; Edward Davis was strong, forceful and brutal as Robert MacPherson, the boss of the lumber camp, and Daniel Pennell pleased as Bull Grogan. The lighting and photography were up to the usual high standard of the Famous Players Company with some especially good scenic effects. This picture has a direct appeal and for that reason if for no other will undoubtedly please any audience, irrespective of its race, color or condition of servitude. It is a picture which, if properly advertised, will fill a theatre and send the audience away pleased and enthusiastic. "WANTED— A HOME" (Bluebird— Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE THE Smalleys contribute the Bluebird feature of the week and again their star is Mary MacLaren, this time in a storj' written for her by Lois Weber. It sets forth the adventures of a friendless girl who is obliged to resort to deception to gain her The End of Mary's Stay in Gorman's Home self a home. However, she comes through with flying colors because after hearing her sad story a young doctor decides that it will be just as well for her to become Mrs. M. D. and gain a home for life. The adventures of the young lady smack of a certain suspense that would probably be stronger were they compressed to a greater extent and also if Miss MacLaren had put more animation and variety in her performance. In " Shoes " she was aptly cast " and her slow expressionless performance went very well with the character of the picture, but here she has a role that might have been materially enhanced by a little show of versatility. But instead she plays the whole picture in a tone that is somewhat too monotonously slow for complete enjoyment. We are quite sure that no real person, no matter how depressed, goes about in such a forlorn state of mind as Miss MacLaren would have us believe. The Smalleys' production is as uswrl of the best sort. The settings are all appropriate, the atmosphere in the varipus phases of the picture is realistic and the scenes handl^ with; care. The lighting and photography are praiseworthy. The cast assembled to support Miss MacLaren includes. Nanine Wright, Grace Johnson, Marian Sigler, Charles Marriott, Jack Mulhall, Dana Ong, Ernie Shields and " Kewpie " Morgan.