Motion Picture News (Jan-Mar 1917)

January 13, 1917 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 279 I TABLOID REVIEWS FOR BUSY EXHIBITORS f illilllllllHIOIIillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll^ General Film Service " The House of Secrets." (Kalem. "Grant, Police Reporter," Series. One reel. Drama.) — A remarkably up-to-date picture is this, in that it deals with the submarine issues oi today, and just "East o{ Noriches," supposedly off the Long Island Coast a submarine commander is notified by wireless to make a rapid landing for petrol, etc. Faithfully depicted are all the incidents surrounding the plot, down to the boat manned by six sailors leaving the undersea craft and heading for the supply base. And all might have gone well, but for the fact that the ubiquitous Grant, police reporter on the Chronicle, now on his vacation, which he is occupying in hunting, fires at a bird and so arouses the suspicion of four men on a motor truck bearing a mysterious load. Taking his cue from their apparent discomfiture he decides to follow the trail and here again as in all preceding episodes of this remarkable series, events of a stirring nature follow each other in gatling-gun rapidity. First Grant is overpowered, then he overpowers the wireless operator and just to show his versatility he manipulates the telegraph kev to get in touch with the Federal authorities. He then cuts a strand of the wireless apparatus and swings a fearful distance through air into the branches of a big tree and again gets on the trail of the violators of Vncle Sam's neutrality, who eventually are rounded up by a squad of soldiers. If there is any feat too hazardous for George Larkin to undertake, the facile mind of Robert Welles Ritchie, the author of the Series, has so far failed to evolve it. "The Fireman's Nemesis." (Kalem. " Hazards of Helen " Series. One reel. Drama. Sat., Jan. 13.) — A Sicilian vendetta reaches its crux at Lone Point, and but for the ready resources of Helen (Helen Gibson) the operator at Lone Point would have ended disastrously for many disinterested persons. The marked person, Joe Cordova (Richard Johnston), evinces every fear for his own safety when he realizes that his arch-enemy of Sicily, Scarlotta (George Routh), appears on the scene just as he (Cordova) has been appointed a fireman on the railroad, where he was formerly employed as an engine wiper. Cordova carries off his part in good manner, but of course all the honors of the film fall to Helen. Again she has recourse to her motorcycle to overtake a runaway engine on which Cordova has been bound after the engineer was thrown off. Helen switches the engine onto a siding and throws back the switch, just as the Limited thunders by. Scarlotta, who tjound the youth, and opened wide the throttle, leaps from the engine to his death, so the Fireman's " Nemesis " did not prove to be his Xemesis after all. It is, however, a worthy picture and as brimful of thrills and exciting incidents as one reel of a thousand feet can well be witKout overdoing it. Admirers of this series will find this episode quite up to the standard and one well worth seeing. ' "The Golden Thought." (Selig. Two reels. Mon., Dec. 25.) — This latest Tom Mix Western has a weak plot, but one that makes possible the inimitable Mix riding and shooting specialties. These latter are spectacular enough to make most audiences forget the colorless episodes that intervene between the feats. Supporting Tom Mix are Victoria Forde. Sid Jordan. Pat Chrisman, Barnev Furey and Lilly Clark. Tom Dayton, a deputy marshal, is ordered to round up a gang of desperadoes who have been terrorizing the countv. This gang resents his efforts, and plan to murder him. They shoot at him through a window when he is watching a faro game, making it appear that the act was committed by Hammond, a wealthy mining man. By mistake the bullet kills one oi the gang and not Tom. Hammond is tried and is about to be convicted, when Tom, by a ruse, obtains a confession from one of the gang. Hearing the result of the trial, the desperadoes flee, but Tom, after an exciting chase, overtakes and kills them. Then Tom asks Bess, a simpering faro dcaleress, to be his wife. Mutual Program Mutual Weekly, No. 104. (Gaumont.) — Vivid war pictures punctuated with terse extracts from a soldier's letter are informing. A close view of some aviators shows that they have played out their part in the Great Adventure. The Atlantic Squadron shows President Wilson greeting the sailors. The oldest and the youngest Jackie is seen. A sham battle between the Army and the Navy is exciting. " Gifts to the Poor." Olive May Wilson, the girl Santa Claus, who has tied up many thousands of packages, is shown still tying and wrapping gifts. Charitable concerns are seen giving freely. A thirty-two feet letter bo.x should stimulate letter writing in its neighborhood. " Skating in Boston " looks exhilarating and novel in a restaurant setting. Designs for the Edith Cavell statue show that great artists have competed for the honor of commemorating a noble woman. " Launching the Destroyer Shaw " is a patriotic scene and may always be sure of a warm welcome. Tours Around the World, No. 9. (Gaumont.) — Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil, is visited in this number. Its wide streets and electric light posts running down the middle look very modem. By far the handsomest building shown is the municipal theatre. Luchon, a little village in the Pyrenees, is prettily situated and makes a charming picture. An electric railroad is shown writhing its way to the peaks of the mountains. This trip revives pleasant recollections to the traveler and is satisfying to those who are too busy to travel or others looking forward to trips to the famous places shown. Patlie Exchange " Pathe News, No. 101." (Pathe. One reel. Top.) — Synopsis — A huge Christmas tree arrives to adorn Grant Park, Chicago, and a detachment of the National Guard escort the tree to the Park; Bethlehem Steel employes dynamite the side of a large mountain to obtain additional material ; Princess Henry of Battenberg presents the Union Jack and Silver Shield to the first Newfoundland Regiment of Canadian troops ; cross country race at Paris, France ; the Allied Fleet arrives off the port of Athens, Vice-Admiral Du Fournet in personal charge, French flag raised on German merchantmen seized in the harbor of Piraeus Greece; blizzard strikes New York City; the using of all kinds of scrap metal to make munitions of war at Lebanon, Pa. ; American soldiers and sailors participate in the opening of the Eighth Annual Convention of the Southern Commercial Congress and Motion Picture Exhibitors of the Michigan League gather for their semi-annual convention. "Pathe News, No. 102." (Pathe. One reel. Top.) — This picture shows exAmbassador to Turkey, Henry M. Morgenthau, wishing godspeed to the Christmas boat on its leaving New York harbor ; w ar manoeuvres with marines of the Pacific fleet at the E.xposition grounds at San Diego, Cal. ; Joie Ray covering the icy six-mile course in the competition of the Central Association of Harriers at Chicago in zero weather ; a military guard of honor preceding the President of the Argentine Republic at Buenos Aires ; scenes on the Russian front; the return of King Alphonso and his Queen to Madrid, Spain, after a long absence; an animated cartoon by H. M. Shields; presentation of a " fiery steed " to " Baby " Sayre, grandchild of President Wilson at Winchendon, Mass. ; the launching of the U. S. destroyer Shaw at Mare Island, Cal. ; the great demand for Wisconsin fox skins ; the return of the Third Infantry Wisconsin National Guard from the Sunny South to " frost bitten " Fort Sheridan, 111. " Something New." (Florence Rose Fashions. Number Fourteen. Split Reel. Week of Jan. 14.) — This shows something entirely startling in hats. Convertible things. First they have a brim and look fine ; then the brim is removed and they look great. Two hats in one ! It can't be beaten. Also there are some boudoir caps that do just as well as sewing bags or something like that. " Shadows of Shame." (Reissue. Week of Jan. 14.) — The sheriff of the country can't tolerate his ex-convict father in the least until the old man captures an escaped prisoner and saves the snob's life. This is something of a novelty owing to the absence of a love story. It is produced fairly well, while the leads are handled by Crane Wilbur and the late Francis (Tarlyle. Universal Program " Practice What You Preach." (Nestor. Mon., Jan. 1.) — Only a fair comedy considering the fact that it was made by the competent Nestor aggregation headed by Eddie Lyons and Edith Roberts. Perhaps the picture suffers from the enforced absence of Lee Moran. At any rate the trite quarrels of a matinee idol and his reasonably jealous wife don't make much laughter until the very final scene, when a good piece of comedy is sprung. T. Shelley Sutton is the author. " An Old Soldier's Romance." (Gold Seal. Three reels. Tues., Jan. 2.) — A homely comedydrama that might benefit if cut. An old veteran of the Civil War suddenly comes into a fortune and with his comrade he sets up in style on his estate. He's lonely though, and nothing will suffice until he has adopted a house full of babies. The authors, Arthur Maude and Constance Crawley, have gotten a good bit of humor and pathos from this story and as interpreted with William V. Mong and Harry Holden in the leading roles it makes an acceptable offering. " Bombs and Banknotes." (Victor. Tues., Jan. 2.) — An amusing release in which all honors are carried away by Wallace Beery in the eccentric role of janitor for a bank. The picture is a burlesque on the melodramatic stuff in which the villainous creditor demands the daughter's hand, etc. Beery puts the entire thing over with some original gags and excellent business. " On the Trail of the Lopesome Pill." (L-Ko. Two reels. Wed., Jan. 3.) — A radical departure in L-Ko's is this two-reel offering with Phil Dunham and Lucille Hutton in the principal parts. The body of the picture is a dream indulged in by Phil, who while under the influence of dope, sees himself as the hero in a Chinese harem (if they have such things), and as the rescuer of the charming little prisoner. The picture is notable for its excellent light effects and picturesque settings rather than its comedy, although Dunham is constantly on hand with his comical makeup and a number of unconventional tricks. "The Red Stain." (Rex. Two reels. Thurs., Jan. 4.) — This is rather a crude and impossible melodrama that gets over simply by reason of its conventional lurid situations which follow one another in rapid succession. The father ot a society bud wants to get some plans from a younger business rival and commissions the daughter to do it. On the verge of success, their plot is shattered by the interference of the other daughter, who really loves the man. Jack Nelson, Mollie Malone and Annette DeFoe have the leads in this picture, which is on the whole, rather poor from an artistic standpoint, but average from the box office point of view. " The Moral Right." (Imp. Two reels. Fri., Jan. S.) — A fairly convincing release of an immigrant girl who comes to America and misses her lover. She is forced into a life of immorality by an artist and when at last she meets her countryman and tells her story he feels justified in killing the artist. And the jury justifies him too. Francelia Billington and Douglas Gerrard have the leads in this subject, which was written by Harry Mann and produced by Gerrard. " How to be Happy Though Married." (Victor. Fri., Jan. 5.) — An unusual little comedy of human interest pointing a moral to young husbands — admire your wife or someone else will. Millard Wilson, Jay Belasco and Agnes Vernon do such capable work in the leading parts that the story gets over very well indeed. A welcome addition to any program. Harvey Gates wrote it. " Bloody Money." (Bison. Two reels. Sat., Jan. 6.) — Something ot a inexcusable western melodrama in which a bandit is glorified for no reason whatever. Harry Carey is the bandit and brings to the role the usual amount of western lawlessness so well flavored with romance that he manages to make his uncongenial role half-way sympathetic, at least. Louise Lovely is again all that her name implies, while others are Bill Gettinger, Jack Richardson and Vester Pegg or Perry. " Love in Suspense." (Joker. Sat., Jan. 6.) — Rube comedy in which Gale Henry is rolled down a mountainside inside a trunk. Other familiar rustic characters with whiskers and bereft of teeth, slouch about in a series of misdirected efforts to create laughter. The plot is sacrificed to celluloid and capers throughout William Franey appears. "The Whelp." (Imp. Sun., Jan. 7.)— A fair portion of suspense is gotten from this rather trite plot by Harvey Gates. A little girl is a crook against her will and one of the detectives is bent on arresting her while the other wants to reform her, and, of course, he succeeds. Editb