Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

1922 M otion Picture News "THE MARRIAGE RING"— PARAMOUNT " Just Anotlier Spy Drama," Is the Verdict TO a critical audience this picture will be considered just five thousand feet of film. It is too absurd to be taken seriously. The first question a sane spectator will ask himself will be, " Why did the heroine, an American girl, stand the brutal ways of her husband, a German? " The logical thing for her to have done was to have delivered him over to the authorities and placed him where he could do no more harm. This question will haunt the picturegoer all the way through. There are several other inconsistencies in the story, all of which hurt the picture. Of course there will be a number who will like it. They are too good patriots to reject or consider unworthy anything that tends to bare the nature within of the German spy. However, the public is overfed with spy pictures, not of the good and consistent kind, of course. It may have a reaction if producers are not careful. The picture is clean. — Released Aug. 26. — Length, 5 reels. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Anne Mertons Enid Bennett Rodney Heathe, a Sugar Planter Jack Holt Hugo Metrons, Anne's Husband .. Robert McKim Aho, a Hawaiian Girl Maude George Koske, a Hun Spy Agent .... Charles K. French Mrs. Heathe, Rodney's Mother Lydia Knott Author: John Lynch. Director: Fred Niblo. Supervision of Thomas H. Ince. Photographer: John S. Stumar THE STORY Anne, a young woman of refinement is married to a gambler and crook, Hugo Mertons. It is his desire to leave San Francisco and journey to the Hawaiian Islands, there to better ply his trade. In order to obtain funds sufficient to pay for the transportation he picks out a man he believes to be a " sucker " and invites him to his apartment for a game of cards. Mertons cheats clumsily and is caught. As a result of the stranger's complaint the Mertons are evicted from their apartment. Penniless, Mertons has the audacity to demand that his wife secures the passage money — by any means whatsoever. She resents his insult and he threatens her with a pistol. Snatching it from him she struggles with him and the weapon is discharged. Mertons drops, apparently dead. In a panic she flees to the docks and boards a steamer. It is bound for Hpnolulu. On board she meets Rodney Heathe, a wealthy sugar planter and his mother. Mrs. Heathe invites the girl to visit their plantation. Anne accepts and remains in this home for some time. She and Rodney grow to love each other deeply. Meanwhile Mertons, recovered, arrives. He is now the tool of Koske, a German spy who is endeavoring to burn all the sugar fields of the islands Mertons discovers Anne and demands that she come back to him. Desperate, the girl obeys. In his hut she overhears the plot to destroy the sugar plantations. When Mertons and Koske departs on their dastardly mission, Anne hurries to the Heathe plantation to give warning. The fire has already been started. With the aid of natives Anne extinguishes it. Half suffocated by smoke, she is rescued by Heathe. A turn of the wind proves fatal to Mertons. He is mortally burned and as he staggers toward Anne and Heathe intending to tell her secret he falls dead. AD TALK Enid Bennett, the charming young star of Paramount pictures, will again appear on the screen of the theatre next when " The Marriage Ring " is first revealed to people of this city. Her latest photoplay is said to be a story of dramatic forcefulness with a setting that varies from the city of San Francisco to the broad sugar plantations of Honolulu. Miss Bennett appears at her exquisite best in this picture which, in the role of Anne Mertons, offers her part replete with opportunities for her to display those varied abilities that have made her a star in the short while she has appeared on the screen. Special interest is attached to " The Marriage Ring " because it was directed by Fred Niblo, a well-known actor of the speaking stage who recently became the star's husband. This is Mr. Niblo's first work at directing, though, in truth, no one would know it. It will be remembered that in Miss Bennett's last picture he appeared as her leading man. In this work he became thoroughly acquainted with the details of picture production and this knowledge, combined with his skill, gathered from long years as an actor, well qualified him for his present position. But even previous to his work before the camera, Mr Niblo worked " around " it, learning all the directorial kinks from Thomas H. Ince and his staff of directors. It is this Ince method of training that has turned out so many good directors in the past. Miss Bennett is supported by a well-known cast. Jack Holt, one of the most popular leading men in the art, plays opposite her. Robert McKim, an equally well-known actor, is the heavy, while Maude George, Charles K. French and Lydia Knott, players of reputation in the Ince stock company, appear in other important roles. ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER: — Two one-sheets; two three-sheets; one six-sheet. PHOTOS :— Eight 8 x 10 black and white; eight 11x14 sepia ; one 22 x 28 sepia ; 8 x 10 photos of star. CUTS AND MATS OF PRODUCTION :— Five one-column; three two-column; two threecolumn. STOCK CUTS AND MATS OF STAR:— Five one-column ; three two-column ; two threecolumn. ADVERTISING L A Y O U T S :— Electros and mats. SLIDES AND MUSIC CUE SHEET. CATCH LINES He sought to use his wife as a pawn in a gambling game but found that there are some limits to a woman's faith. He gambled for wealth and failed; she for love and succeeded. The frustration of a German spy plot to burn the cane fields of Hawaii. Enid Bennett's latest photoplay success, directed by her husband, Fred Niblo. She was his aid in fleecing innocent friends at cards until she discovered the shamefulness of such an existence. A story that leads from the underworld of San Francisco to the sunny cane fields of the Hawaiian Islands. SUGGESTIONS Suggestions for stories will be found in the Ad-Talk in the fact that the picture was directed by Miss Bennett's husband, Fred Niblo. The press sheet provided mentions this fact in many of the prepared stories. It is a good piece of information to play up. If your audience is not as yet fed up on pictures of the German spy, treat " The Marriage Ring " in this light. Headlines for this type of advertising are contained in the " Catch Lines." Probably, however, your audience has seen much of this type of play. If such is the case dwell on the fact that the story concerns a pretty woman unhappily married to a gambler and how she breaks away from him and finds real love in the southern islands. It might be well to state that much of the action takes place in the Hawaiian Islands and that the atmosphere is complete. If lobby decorations are used the film immediately suggests a Hawaiian atmosphere, so decorate accordingly. ALL IN ONE SPOT! No More Does the Exhibitor Have to Spend Weary Hours Looking Up the Information He Needs on a Coming Attraction. No More Does He Spend Fifteen Minutes Looking For the Review, Another Fifteen Seeking the Ad-Talk, and More Time to Find What Advertising Accessories Are Supplied. It's All in One Spot Now — in The Complete Plan Book. Everything he Needs is Here — and — If he Doesn't Want to File His Entire Copy of Motion Picture News — He Can File Just The Complete Plan Book. The Complete Plan Book is Always Bound as A Separate Unit in Each Issue. By Lifting the Wire Staples Under the Back Cover He Can Remove The Complete Plan Book Intact. Thus a Few Inches in His Desk Drawer Will Give Him a Ready Index to All Releases.