Motion Picture News (Apr-Jun 1918)

3418 Motion Picture News " The Firebrand," Story of Revolution-Torn Russia (Fox Five-Reel Production) The trials and tribulations of the people of revolution-torn Russia are vividly portrayed in " The Firebrand," in which Virginia Pearson comes to the theatre on — . How Russia was brought to ruin by her traitors — how Germany worked on the grafting ways of Russian agents — is clearly depicted. It is a play that breeds patriotism, making every American feel that he must do something to end the devilish methods of the Kaiser. The story was written by E. Lloyd Sheldon and the direction of the production was placed in the capable hands of Edmund Lawrence. In Miss Pearson's supporting cast are Victor Sutherland, Herbert Evans, Carleton Macy, Jane Courtney and Willard Cooley. In addition there are hundreds of soldiers and revolutionists and the scenes are beautifully made. In the play Miss Pearson is the Princess Natalya, niece of Prince Andrei Rostoff, who wants her to marry his son, Boris. But the princess has been reading the stories of Julian Ross, anAmerican writer with Russian family connections. Ross is one of the leaders of the Revolution and is captured and thrown into prison. The princess visits the prison camp and it happens that a rock falls and places her in great danger, from which she is rescued by Ross. She promises to help him and accordingly gives him a passport made out in the name of a servant of her uncle's household. He goes to Petrograd and there continues his work for the Revolution. Treachery on the part of the Royalists who are in league with the Kaiser causes the slaughter of a regiment of Russian troops, among whom is the princess' brother. Ross subsequently learns that Prince Andrei is the arch traitor and again using the servant's passport he goes back and kills the prince. This act arouses the hatred of Princess Natalya who forthwith plans to kill the prince. This act arouses the hatred of Princess Natalya who forthwith plans to kill him. She shoots him, but fortunately Ross is wounded only slightly. He then shows the princess proof that the prince, her uncle, had brought about her brother's death. She forgives him and together they slip away to Petrograd where they are married and both work for the revolutionists. Dorothy Dalton in a Society Drama, " The Mating of Marcella " (Paramount Five-Reel Production) There are few motion picture stars who have a more enthusiastic following than Dorothy Dalton, and this fact will doubtless be demonstrated here on when Miss Dalton appears at the theatre in " The Mating of Marcella," a powerful domestic drama by Joseph Franklin Poland. Miss Dalton has done splendid work in this, her newest picture for Paramount, done under the supervision of Thomas H. Ince, and the excellence of her portrayal of the exacting title role has not only served to increase her popularity but has added materially to her reputation as one of the most charming and talented motion picture stars in the country. Mr. Poland, the author, has a long string of successes to his credit but " The Mating of Marcella " outshines them all. The plot is developed with clearness and strength while the characterizations are all that could be desired. R. William Neill, who directed the star in " Love Me " and " Tyrant Fear," had charge of the production under Mr. Ince's supervision — which speaks volumes for its artistic excellence. Thurston Hall plays the leading role opposite Miss Dalton, and Juanita Hansen, a strikingly beautiful blonde, has an important role. Others fn the cast are Spottiswoode Aitken, William Conklin, Milton Ross, Donald MacDonald and Buster Irving. In this picture Miss Dalton is a modiste's model, the daughter of a musician whose prolonged illness causes her much anxiety. To obtain money to pay physicians' bills she consents to impersonate the frivolous wife of a rich man for six months, in order that the wife may establish a legal residence in Nevada and obtain a divorce to marry a " Count." The husband falls in love with her. Through the revenge of a discarded admirer of the wife when she was a showgirl, they are made free to marry when this man, disguised as a chauffeur, drives his automobile into a lake and drowns the wife, her new sweetheart and himself. At the on of week " The Mating of Marcella," with Dorothy Dalton! Edith Storey in Romantic Drama by Two Popular Writers of Fiction— Metro (Mero Five-Reel Production) To all lovers of romance — hear ye, hear ye, hear ye — that on the of at the theatre, Edith Storey, Metro star, READY-MADE AD-TALKS PUBLISHED IN LAST WEEK'S ISSUE June 1, 1918. FEATURES TITLE OF PLAY PRODUCER " Mile. Paulette " Triangle 5 reels " The Golden Goal " Vitagraph 5 reels *' The Little Run away " Vitagraph 5 reels " Cynthiana " General 2 reels " The Yellow Ticket " Pathe 5 reels " Selfish Yates " Artcraft 5 reels " Her Decision " Triangle 5 reels " Rose o' Paradise " Paralta 6 reels " The Triumph of the Weak " Vitagraph 5 reels " Vengeance " World 5 reels " Confession " Fox 5 reels " O'Garry Rides Alone " General (Blue Ridge) 2 reels " The Enchanted Profile " General (O. Henry) 2 reeh will take you into the heart of Africa with a party of clever actors and actresses and interpret for you C. N. and A. M. Williamson's cleverly written story, " The Demon." It isn't one of the cut-and-dried stories of the fairy princess falling in love with the poor boy from the country, although there is a little princess concerned and around this little princess there is woven a web of mystery which has been so cleverly thought out by the authors and reproduced on the screen by George D. Baker, that the one who leaves the theatre after witness ing Miss Storey's performance, without having enjoyed every minute of the time spent therein, will have been given the best run for their money, the management is capable of giving. Without a doubt, this Metro offering is a worthwhile drama. ■It has dramatic substance backed by the genius of two of our best contemporary authors who have to their credit more than a score of the " best sellers." Miss Storey is supported by Lewis Cody, whose screen work has been highly praised by our best critics: Charles Gerard, Virginia Chester, Molly McConnell, Laura Winston, Fred Malatesta, Frank Deshon, Alice Knowland and Ann Shaefer. Baby Marie Osborne, Child Star, in " A Daughter of the West " (Pathe Five-Reel Production) Pathe will present on the screen of the theatre on " A Daughter of the West," a five-part melodrama in which Baby Marie Osborne is featured. This six-year-old tot is unique among child actresses in that she has repeatedly demonstrated that she is capable of sustaining a five-reel story like a veteran of the screen. Not alone to her attractive baby face does she owe her wonderful success, for she possesses a really astonishing talent. Her simplicity is charming and there is a refreshing wholesomeness characteristic of every one of her pictures. While the child interest is maintained throughout the story of " A Daughter of the West," the tiny heroine wears the regulation cowgirl costume and takes part in many thrilling scenes. The strong melodramatic story shows June the daughter of a mismated couple. The mother goes to the seashore with the child and there neglects her and falls in love with a social parasite. The father, a virile Western type of man, learns of the flirtation, hurries to the seashore, defeats the masher in a lively fight and takes the child away, leaving the mother with her new friend, at her request. The father later goes to Hell's Gulch and is elected sheriff of the county, which is being terrorized by " Rawhide Pete's " gang of desperadoes. The child and her little colored friend — who has appeared in all of Baby Marie's recent pictures — are instrumental in rescuing a whole party from being robbed by the bandits. The father starts out to clean up the town and make it a safe place to live in. In the meantime the child's mother dies and her erstwhile lover, coming to Hell's Gulch, buys the most notorious dance hall in the place. In company with " Rawhide Pete's " gang he defies the sheriff and his posse and a big battle follows. " Rawhide Pete," wounded, is escaping when the child lures him into the town jail and locks him up. The dive-keeper and former masher escapes but is later found by the sheriff in a cabin where he is being cared for by the child's governess, whom the father loves. At the request of the governess the sheriff spares the rascal's life, but when the latter's true character is revealed to her she turns to the sheriff with her love. There are wedding bells. David Graham Phillips' Most Popular Novel " Old Wives for New "-De MiUe Creation (Artcraft Six-Reel Production) David Graham Phillips was one of our best novelists. Among his most popular works is " Old Wives for New." Jennie MacPherson was commissioned by Paramount-Artcraft to make a screen version of this work for creation on the screen by Cecil B. De Mille, director general of Paramount-Artcraft. The result is a most entertaining screen drama with Elliott Dexter, Sylvia Ashton, Wanda Hawley, Florence Vidor, Theodore Roberts, Helen Jerome Eddy, Marcia Manon, Julia Faye, J. Parks-Jones, Edna Mae Cooper, Gustav Seyffertitz, Tully Marshall, Lillian Leighton and Maym Kelso interpreting the principal roles. The pick of Artcraft's screen artists are seen in this offering. Elliott Dexter is considered by critics to be one of the best leading men appearing on the screen today. Theodore Roberts has been seen in innumerable characterizations for years back. He was equally prominent on the speaking stage before taking up picture work. The remainder of the cast is made up of the best support that is afforded. Many of you have read Mr. Phillips's novel of the same title. It offers a theme that is of vital interest to the public in reference to relationship in the home. It takes a new angle of the eternal triangle problem, shows in its shortcomings the error of a wife neglecting her personal appearance. " Old Wives for New " will be seen on the screen of the theatre on of week. Baby Marie Osborne in a Western Melodrama, "A Daughter of the West " (Pathe Five-Reel Release) You have never seen Baby Marie Osborne in a fiery Western melodrama, have you? The little Pathe star takes the reins of the Western " meller " in her hands, and drives through five reels with all the bravado and determination of a Bill Hart. For the first time in her screen career she will be seen portraying one of the principle roles in a Western picture, titled " A Daughter of the West," produced by the Diando Film Corporation for release on the Pathe program, under the direction of William Bertram. Marie has supporting her Frank Whitson, Marion Warren, Leota Lorraine, J. W. Foster and William Quinn. June divides honors in many of the comedy scenes with a little " pickininny," and if you don't get a good hearty laugh from the scenes in which these two appear, there is something wrong with her laugh storage. Combined with the comedy is a real, old-fashioned Western drama. The picture offers Baby Marie in an entirely different atmosphere and an entirely different role. She meets every expectation and lives up to the confidence placed in her by Director Bertram. Baby Marie Osborne, Pathe clever little girl actress, will be seen on the screen of the theatre on of week in " A Daughter of the West." " Midnight Madness," Produced by Rupert Julian, Who Directed " The Kaiser " (Universal Five-Reel Production) Many of you have seen " The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin." You all pronounced it a " knock-out." It was. That point is generally conceded. You will remember that Rupert Julian portrayed the " Kaiser," and directed the production. You will also remember that Elliott J. Clawson collaborated with Mr. Julian on the story and scenario. These two capable workers in the motion picture field, have gotten together and turned out another since the creation of the " Kaiser." " Midnight Madness " is the title. The story was written by Mr. Clawson, and produced under the personal direction of Mr. Julian. Kenneth Harlan, Universal's star juvenile, and Ruth Clifford, who has been seen in many successful Bluebird productions, have the featured role. In the supporting cast are seen Harry Van Meter, Harry M. Holden, Louis Willoughby and Miss Harris. It is in five reels. In theme it is as unlike Mr. Julian's production of the " Kaiser " as daylight is unlike drakness. But it's a corking good picture, and the management of the theater wants every one of his patrons to take advantage of the opportunity afforded them to see Mr. Julian's latest screen creation. In announcing the subject matter of the story, let it suffice to say that it is a mystery story of the first water. It's a corker. See it. At the theatre on of week, " Midnight Madness," a Rupert Julian production, with Kenneth Harlan and Ruth Clifford in the leading roles. Louise Glaum Your Favorite Exponent of Emotional Acting in "Shackled" — Paralta (Paralta Play — Six Reels) Your favorite exponent of dramatic art on the screen, Louise Glaum will appear in " Shackled," a Paralta play, of week. In her portrayal of the part of a beautiful young girl who has been deceived by the glare of finery and riches, Miss Glaum creates a dramatic study before the camera that is deserving the considera