Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1917)

4040 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol 10. No. 23 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllM J SCREEN EXAMINATIONS | ii|||||l!lllllllllll!ll!!l!lllli!llll!ll|iJIIIIIIIIIH " The Awakening " (World Film— Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE uHTHE AWAKENING" may justly be termed an unusually *■ good five-reel picture. Its properties of suspense, appeal, atmosphere and realism are pronounced, while at the same time it possesses the customary vital points apparent in the general run of World-Brady releases. The name of the author is not listed on either film or press sheet, but it might be guessed that the story is an adaptation of a work of some French author of renown. It is so simple and straightforward in the telling and at the same time so abundant in sustaining interest that it certainly bespeaks the hand of some master, whether of the past or present. It is superbly acted by a cast headed by Montagu Love and Dorothy Kelly. Mr. Love it may safely be said has never been seen in such a congenial role as that provided by the character of Jacques Revilly, the uncouth and forbidding artist, whose awakening occurs when the homeless Marguerite enters his life. He instills into the part certain qualities of gruff sympathy and strength of character, wrought by Jacques, early years of long suffering, that stamp him at once as both a sympathetic and admired figure. Mr. Love's make-up is, by the way, perfect. Miss Kelly, who returns to the screen in the role of Marguerite after a regrettably long absence, is thoroughly charming John Davidson and Frank Beamish are happily cast in the respective roles of Chapron and Varny. George Archainbaud has given " The Awakening " the best production borne by any Brady picture since the old Peerless days. The atmosphere of the Parisian Latin quarter that has been obtained by both interior and exterior setting is convincing and never obviously striven for. The continuity is excellently arranged and the photography and lighting of the very best. THE STORY AND PLAYERS Jacques Revilly (Montagu Love), an artist of the Bohemian quarter in Paris, is known as The Beast," because of his uncouth and forbidding appearance. His only friend is Varny (Frank Beamish), a fellow artist who has penetrated beneath Jacques' exterior and found a loving heart within. On Christmas Eve when Jacques is returning to his hovel after a celebration in a cafe, he stumbles upon Marguerite (Dorothy Kelly) huddled on a door step. He carries her home with him, and warms the faint spark of life back into a flame. She accepts the hospitality of his home, and soon after the two grow to love each other dearly. Chapron (John Davidson), another artist, who boasts of his many feminine conquests, bets that he can win Margurite away from Jacques within the month. And he wins by foul means. A duel is arranged for between Jacques and Chapron, out of which the former comes slightly wounded, but with honor avenged. And Marguerite, because of his great love for her, elects to stay with him despite the fact that she believes herself unworthy of his name. Joseph Granby and Josephine Earle contribute good supporting performances. " Over the Hill " (Astra-Pathe — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE U/^\VER THE HILL" is a melodrama that builds too long for the in significant climax that caps it. It is one of those pictures that contains as its chief element what someone once designated as " just action." There is a large cast to be introduced and its many principals have not been any too well planted, while the author's delineation of the veteran publisher of " yellow " newspapers is rather unskilful when the framework of the story is considered and the introduction of the old minister, played by Dan Mason, is irrelevant to the main thread of action. But these faults are in themselves slight. They merely serve to enlarge on the minus quantity that represents the plot. For reel after reel little happens of interest. The author seems to have floundered in the mass of characters and the theme of clean newspaper ethics versus sensational practices never dominates until the very end. As directed by William Parke the picture presents a satisfactory production, worthy of a much better foundation. Gladys Hulette has been awarded a part that is quite slim considering her ability and name. William Parke, Jr., this time appearing as a juvenile heavy; Chester Barnett, as hero, J. H. Gilmour and Paul Clerget appear in supporting parts. THE STORY AND PLAYERS Amos Winthrop (J. H. Gilmour), owner of a string of "yellow" newspapers, sends his son, Roy (William Parke, Jr.,), a waster, to Columbia, a small town, to learn the details of the business on the Daily Pioneer. He finds a congenial companion in the person of the editor, Barnes (Richard Thornton), a fellow with an acute sense of sensationalism. Allan Stone (Chester Barnett), business manager of the paper, a clean minded fellow, has given Esther (Gladys Hulette) a position on the Pioneer. These two are constantly at odds with Roy and Barnes. Lawlor (Paul Clerget), owner of the Columbia department store, has persistently refused to advertise in the Pioneer owing to its character. Esther learns that his daughter (Joyce tair) has planned a secret marriage with Columbia's leading baseball player. Esther acquaints Lawlor with this and they prevent what would have been a certain catastrophe. Roy learns of the planned elopement and writes a sensational story, featuring Lawlor's daughter and the baseball player. Esther to prevent its circulation burns the entire edition and then smashes the plates. The next morning Lawlor hands her his advertising contract. She and Stone rejoice in the triumph of clean journalism over sensationalism, while Winthrop removes his disgraced son and Barnes from the Pioneer. " The Seven Pearls " (Pathe — Thirteenth Episode) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE PERRY MASON and his associates in crime contrive a means whereby lima is entrapped in a piano box in " Over the Falls," the thirteenth episode. Perry and Stayne then make off with the box and girl in an auto-truck, while Harry and Kismet pursue via aeroplane. They overtake the villains, who after throwing the box in the river, flee. Harry attempts to rescue the box and its precious treasure by lowering himself from a bridge by a rope, but the rdee breaks and Harry himself only escapes by a hair's breadth. Wfien last seen the box is bumping dangerously over the water falls. " The Sudden Gentleman " (Triangle — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE HERE is a comedy-drama of a conventional sure-fire type, whose comedy often soars to the heights and whose drama, though it can never be taken altogether seriously, furnishes the required amount of sustaining interest. Its central figure is a happy-go-lucky Irishman, who suddenly becomes ward of a fortune and an aristocratic young lady. There is a fortune-hunting count after the ward, and an adventuress after the Irish gentleman himself, but a small dash of wits and a much larger one of fists proves effective and in the end hero and young lady, no longer aristocratic, however, are in each other's arms. He who craves light entertainment will discover in " The Sudden Gentleman " many satisfying qualities. William Desmond is a good lead, who seems to have entered into the spirit of the story, refusing to become too ridiculously sincere even when the author would have him. His initiation into a home of wealth is done to the usual accompaniment of gawkish table and society manners, tricks generally worth while in the comedy line and surely so here because so well done. And his fighting always adds realism to the character name — Garry Garrity. Man, McIvor is good as the changllng young lady and Jack Richardson is the heavy. All connected with the picture's production have contributed of their best. R. Cecil Smith is author, Joseph Anthony Roach, scenario writer; Thomas Heffron, director, and R. E. Irish, cameraman. THE STORY AND PLAYERS Garry (William Desmond), an Irish blacksmith, receives word from America that he has fallen heir to millions. Taking charge of the establishment, he immediately incurs the enmity of his cousin and ward Louise (Mary Mclvor) by his awkward ways. Later, however, he blossoms forth into a real gentleman and Louise suffers a quick change of heart. Count Louis (Jack Richardson), finding his plans to marry Louise all miscarrying, has recourse to the road house and a woman to get Garry in a tight place. Garry's fighting blood rises as a result of this and when Louise breaks the engagement he so soundly drubs the Count that a confession arrives and all ends well for the lovers. Margaret Shillingford, A. Hollingsworth, Donald Fullen. Alberta Lee, Walter Perry and Percy Challenger complete the cast. " The Ship of Doom " (Triangle — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE "•"THE SHIP OF DOOM," written and directed by Wyndham A Gittens, possesses behind a gripping story, a theme which immediately takes it from the ordinary run of features and elevates it to a more lofty plane. In all probability it will make no big splash in the list of box-office reports, for it has no stars of