Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

2400 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 15 Tabloid Reviews ior the Busy Exhibitor PRODUCTIONS FROM ALL PROGRAMS GENERAL FILM SERVICE " Money to Burn." (Essanay. Two reels. Tues., Oct. 10.) — This comedy-drama not shown for review ; the story, follows : Major Gray, who lives in a small town in the North, believes that the Civil War is still raging. He is reputed to be extremely wealthy, and when Helen, his niece and only relative, questions him about it, he insists that he is saving money to further the Confederate cause. Helen becomes the stenographer in the town hotel. Dislike of Carew, a guest, is a common bond between the girl and Lawrence, a young salesman. Carew tries to woo the girl for the fortune she will inherit. Failing in this, he wins the old man's confidence. Later, when the old man dies, Carew takes his entire fortune and disappears. Later a large bundle is sent to Helen. It is her uncle's fortune — a bale of Confederate money. In the cast are Lillian Drew, John Lorenz, Edmund F. Cobb and Arthur Bates. " Canimated Noos Pictorial, No. 17." (Essanay. Split reel. Wed., Oct. 11.) — In this release Wallace Carlson, the cartoonist, presents his latest burlesue of the news weeklies. The second half of the reel is taken up with North American scenic. ' Lost — Twenty-four Hours." (Essanay. Three reels. Sat., Oct. 14.) — Reviewed at length elsewhere in this issue. "The Battered Bridegroom." (Kalem. Fri., Oct. 13.) — This single-reel Ivy Close comedy, which is the last of this series by the way, was written by Samuel J. Taylor and staged under the direction of Robert Ellis. It has to do with a young girl, whose parents are endeavoring to force her into an onerous marriage, and her rescue by her young lover. Much of the comedy element depends on the work of Henry Murdoch as a typical motion picture barber, and the incorporation of the old chase idea modernized and brought up to date. " The Girl from 'Frisco." (Kalem. Wed., Oct. 11.)— "The Reformation of Red Dog." Reviewed at length elsewhere in this issue. "The Love Magnet." (Kalem. Tues., Oct. 10.) — Ham and Bud have a fine time in this single-reel Ham comedy. Bud in order to win the affections of a beautiful young girl buys a love magnet and not only attracts her but every pretty girl that comes anywhere near him. Ham, jealous, goes and steals a magnet, but this one lias the power of only attracting old maids. There follows a change of magnets by the two and then a chase in which the two groups of women chase Ham and Bud into the sea. The magnets are so powerful, however, that they attract two mermaids from the bottom of the sea. and the picture closes with Ham and Bud swimming about in their arms. "To Save the Special." (Kaleni. Sat., Oct. 14.) — This is one of the most exciting and thrilling episodes ever shown in " The Hazards of Helen " railroad series, and that is high praise. Helen Gibson, on the back of a galloping horse, pursues a runaway that is really running away, and jumping from the back of her own horse to that of one of the runaways, succeeds in guiding the team to the edge of a cliff, where the wagon goes over the brink, exploding the load of dynamite which it carried. It is a mighty fine picture mighty well done. "Converging Paths." (Selig. Two reels. Mon., Oct. 9.) — This release, evidently made some time ago, would have been considered good three or four years ago, but is somewhat antiquated now. The story is one of the highly moral and highly improbable kind that used to be popular. The players do not make any eflfort to present fine shades of meaning, they merely act as lay figures in carrying out the rather pointless story. The photography and settings are not always of a high grade. The cast consists of Robyn Adair. Virginia Kirtley, Leo Pierson and Eugenie Forde. Nell is a country girl and Dan is a product of the slums. Their life paths are far removed until Nell goes to the city. Dan, out of work, sinks lower and lower, and finally becomes a pickpocket. One day Dan snatches Nell's purse from her hand, causing her to be thrown out of her boarding house by the irate landlady. Sick at heart, she goes to a local rescue mission for a night's lodging. Dan pursued by the police, hides in this mission. Thus their pathways come together. Dan is suddenly converted and becomes an honest farmer. Some years later he goes back to the city and claims Nell as his wife. "A Mistake in Rustlers." (Selig. Sat., Oct. 14.) — While this Western is not as good as some of the recent Selig releases, it is yet good enough to make a hit with audiences that like cowboy acting. The photography is poor in spots. Excellent horsemanship is introduced throughout the picture. Tom Mix directed and takes the lead. In his support are Victoria Forde, Sid Jordan and Leo Maloney. Tom and Vicky are sweethearts. Buck, a cattle rustler, is jealous when Vicky gives Tom a silk handkerchief. Buck steals this present, goes to a neighboring ranch, ties up a calf with it, and starts to brand the animal. He purposely delays this operation until the ranch owner comes into sight. The owner sees the rustler riding away, sees the silk handkerchief, and knowing it to be Tom's, sends the sherifT after the innocent man. Meanwhile Vicky has discovered who the real cattle thief is, and rides to tell the sheriff. The sheriff's posse has surrounded Tom's cabin when Vicky rides up and explains the affair. "A Grain of Suspicion." (Vim. Wed.. Oct. 4.) — This is a comedy featuring Harry Meyers and Rosemary Theby, and the plot hinges on a husband's jealousv coupled with his stinginess as to " pin money," almost breaking up a home. It is only a fair number and does not come up to the standard set by Meyers and Theby in other releases from the same company. The story is very " forced," but the acting of the principals and the good photography tend in a way to make up for this fault. There are quite a few laughs and the sub-titles are quite funny in themselves. It makes an acceptable release but nothing extra. " The Fable of the Kid Who Shifted His Ideals to Golf, and Finally Became a Baseball Fan and Took the Only Known Cure." (Essanay. Wed., Oct. 4.) — This George Ade fable not shown for review ; the story follows. There once was a Messenger Bov who thought Jess Willard was the King of Men. He forgot liis Ideal when he Hooked a job as Caddy, and listened to the Poor Nuts rave about Tough Lies and Bum Approaches. Then the Kid got the baseball Fever. When the Fan came to Life's Ninth Inning, his Better Half pleaded for a final message. His lips moved. He wanted to know if there was anything in the morning papers about the condition of Heine Zimmerman's kneecap. Moral : There is a Specific Bacillus for every Classified disease. MUTUAL PROGRyiM Reel Life, Mutual Magazine. (Mon., Oct. 2.) — All important section of the reel is devoted to explaining how the lines in the palm of the hand lietray character and foretell the future. This is followed with a picture of a man whose arms have been cut off at the elbow, yet he is able to earn a living by fancy writing. The third section of the reel is a reproduction of a baseball game played during the world's series last season by Boston and Philadelphia. If there is a demand for more ball games with the actual reproduction of plays by automatons, the (^aumont Company will give the world's series of 1916. "A Touch of High Life." (Vogue. Sun., Oct. 8.) — This is one of the best comedies seen recently. The fun is fast and furious throughout and it will afford excellent amusement for any audience. Paddy, the street sweeper, finds Arthur, who is slightly the worse for liquid refreshment, staggering along the street. He takes him home to his room to sleep it off and Arthur is so much obliged to him that he insists that Paddy should take his wallet and go out to have a good time. The street sweeper dresses up and starts for the beach with a letter of introduction to scune girls which Arthur's sweetheart had given him. Arriving at the summer resort, he finds himself the centre of attraction, until a life guard comes along. Paddy bribes the man to let him have his suit. The girls all fall for him — that is, all but Gypsy, Arthur's sweetheart. In the meantime the young spendthrift has awakened in Paddy's room and is hastening with the assistance of the police to the point where the sweeper is enjoying himself. Gypsy and Arthur are reunited, and Paddy gets off as easy as it could be expected. The cast includes Paddy McGuire, Arthur Moonand Gypsy Abbott. " Slicking the SUcker." (Beauty. Tues., Oct. 3.) — Quite a fair comedy, which will create a good deal of enjoyment. Barney, with the aid of (iertie, determines to get the best of the rest of the bunco gang, who have frisked Barney of the stake he has just made. Barney disguises himself as a rube, lets the gang trim him at cards, then tells them that unless he can sell his farm he cannot go on with the game. Gertie takes them aside and tells the men that she knows the farm, and that though the rube does not suspect it, there is oil on it. The gang offers Barney the money they have won from him, but he refuses to sell. They finally dig up all they can find and receive a deed to the farm in exchange. On inspecting^ the farm they find that there is no oil. In this way the slickers are slicked. The cast includesOrral Humphrey, Jo Taylor, Joe Massey. " See America First." (Gaumont. Mon.. Oct. 2.) — Some remarkably effective pictures of Lake Placid, Paul Smith's and Saranac have been secured. The advantages of the Adirondacks lie in their combination of natural charm and comforts of civilization. One can enjoy life at a palatiaf hotel, lodge or club, and then by going a few miles find himself in a comparative wilderness. These scenes have been transferred to the screen to give spectators an idea of the unlimited and' wonderful possibilities of this region. On the same reel there is a Gaumont Kartoon Komic animated by Harry Palmer. "The Pawnshop." (Mutual-Chaplin. Mon.„ Oct. 2.) — " The Pawnshop " has considerable plot, but not enough of the dramatic to get into the way of Chaplin's irresistible comedy. He is funny all the way through, with a thrill or twointroduced as he goes along. The story, scenario and direction are all in Chaplin's hands. Charlie is a clerk in a pawnshop owned by the father of Edna. Rand, another employee, is jealous because Edna prefers Charlie, and they are constantly fighting. Campbell comes t» shop ostensibly to pawn an umbrella. He finds no one to attend to him, so he pretends to steal the cash register. He is stopped by the entrance of Edna. To cover himself he says he would like to buy the business. While the pawnbroker and Campbell are discussing the possibilities of the business a fight is going on between Charlie and Rand in the kitchen. The pawnbroker goes in to .settle the disturbance and Charlie quickly hides in a trunk. Meanwhile Campbell intends t» steal some valuables from the vault but is struck on the head and rendered unconscious by (Tliarlie. who thus saves the pawnbroker a heavy loss. INTERNATIONAL " Beatrice Fairfax." (Episode 8.) The title of this, " At the Ainsley Ball." almost tells the entire story. The interest that has been kept alive in the series, as each episode, complete in itself, unre^s itself, is remarkable to say the least. At no point in this number is the beholder able to turn away even for a moment for fear he may miss something. ' ' A title hunter attempting to elope with an heiress is frustrated by Beatrice and her partnfer Jimmy Barton, as he is essaying to escape w^itb I the jewels of the girl. Grace Darling and Harry Fox keep up their good work, and Mae Hopkins makes an acceptable heiress. The interiors are exceptionally good in this number and the photography up to the standard. " Beatrice Fairfax." (Episode 9.) In this episode, which is one of the most absorbing of any so far. Miss Fairfax and Jimmy manage t» secure a packet of letters from the home of a blackmailing editor, and thereby save a young; matron an unenviable position. The title, " Out ' side the Law," tells just how far they g« to ac-^ complish their ends. »