Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2144 Motion Picture News "THE RAINBOW TRAIL"— FOX Farnum Scores Again in Well Built Picture THERE is a fascination to all plays in which William Farnum appears. Such feeling is much stronger when the star is given the human part. He is just the right kind of a hero as conceived by the mind of a picturegoer, of manly dimensions, broad shouldered, his jaw square, with a face that radiates with sincerity and inspires confidence, and with a heart as big as a mountain. This is the kind of an impression you form of him in this picture. " The Rainbow Trail," by Zane Grey, is a sequel to " Riders of the Purple Sage."' It deals exclusively with the wrongs the Mormons have perpetrated on the Gentiles during the middle of the nineteenth century. It starts where it was left off by the first release. Mr. Farnum is introduced as Sefford, the cousin of Lassiter, who goes to find and rescue the latter. This picture is still better than " Riders of the Purple Sage." It would be advisable to play them in the order of their release. After playing the first, it would be easier to arouse the interest in the latter. A good plan to adopt would be to try and tickle the curiosity of your patrons by suggesting to them if they would wish to know what happened to Lassiter, the woman and the little girl, after the exit from the valley was cut off by the rolling of the big boulder. — Released Oct. 27. — Length, 6 reels. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Shefford } WiUiam Farnum Fay Larkin Ann Forrest Jane Withersteen Mary Mersch Wagoner William Burress Shad William Nye Ruth Genevieve Blinn U. S. Marshal George Ross Novel by Zane Grey. Staged by Frank Lloyd. Scenario by Charles Kenyon and Frank Lloyd. Photographed by Billy Foster. AD TALK Patrons of the theatre who thrilled over the adventures of John Lassiter in the Fox epic of the West, " Riders of the Purple Sage," will have a further opportunity of following his career in that picture's sequel, " The Rainbow Trail," which will be shown at the theatre beginning of week. Like its predecessor, this picture has William Farnum as its star. Here he is seen in a dual role. First as Lassiter, the hero of the previous release, who has now grown old and gray, living the life of a recluse, and second as Shefford, Lassiter's kinsman, who essays to rescue the old man from the clutches of his enemies — the Mormons. If " Riders of the Purple Sage " was a success and, judging from critical comment in the dailies it was, then " The Rainbow Trail " is doubly so. What with Farnum's portrayal of the dual role and the thrilling story unfolded by the author, Zane Grey, the events in this feature fairly teem with interest and excitement. The plot relates the desperate efforts made by Shefford to rescue Lassiter, his romance with Fay Larkin, the girl who has been brought up in the recesses of the mountains and his unrelenting battle against the injustices and crimes of the outlaw Mormons. Frank Lloyd has staged the production with the same faithful regard for realism and detail as was evidenced in " Riders of the Purple Sage," while the supporting cast includes Ann Forrest, William Nye and William Burress. Lest those of our patrons who missed the other picture feel that they cannot enjoy this one owing to its connection with the former, we hasten to add that " The Rainbow Trail " is fully capable of standing on its own merits and makes a fascinating entertainment in itself alone. THE STORY Though a picture complete in itself, " The Rainbow Trail " is also the sequel of " Riders of the Purple Sage," a Fox picture featuring William Farnum, which was shown at the theatre on . John Lassiter escaping from his enemies with Jane Withersteen and a child, Fay Larkin, has rolled a huge rock down from a mountain top which blocks the only means of entrance or escape. The three have lived there many years since. Fay has grown into a beautiful young woman. Shefford, Lassiter's kinsman, goes in search for the lost trio, but before he can organize a searching party his enemies have learned of his plan and have preceded him. They effect an entrance and their leader, Wagoner, takes Fay from the old couple and carries her to the City of Sealed Wives, a desolate place, where the Mormons imprison their plural mates. United States marshals raid this settlement and bring a charge of polygamy against all the women found within. The charge is shattered when the women, out of fear, plead that they are not married. Shefford sees Fay at the trial and falls in love with her. He saves her from Wagoner's clutches and rides 'away with her to rescue Lassiter and Jane. An Indian kills Wagoner when he attempts pursuit. Wagoner's followers pursue Shefford and Fay, believing they killed the man. As the lovers are about to rescue the imprisoned people they are set upon by their enemies and a hot battle ensues. Shefford, Fay and the others are only saved by the arrival of the marshals, who have been warned by the faithful Indian. CATCH LINES William Farnum in the greatest dual role of his career. A wonderful sequel to the immediately previous Farnum subject, " Riders of the Purple Sage." Written by Zane Grey, a man who writes of the West as no other can. The illegitimate practices of outlaw Mormons revealed in an exciting screen drama. Zane Grey, who writes of the Western lands in sure, bold strokes, and William Farnum, who portrays the Western hero in equally vigorous colors, make an incomparable combination. Staged by Frank Lloyd, director of " Riders of the Purple Sage," " A Tale of Two Cities " and " Les Miserables." " The City of Sealed Wives," one of the most terrible institutions established by man — its secrets revealed in the stirring drama, " The Rainbow Trail." (Continued on page 2260) IN THE CITY OF SEALED WIVES en Az'dden in ikv^&iah ^toi/derness' She/?orv/ /tnds ine Sago Lixy of '/iis c/reatri& SEE THE MYSTERIOUS ADAM LESS JEDEN 9£ WILLIAM FARNUM >eRAiNB0W TRAIL , ^ZaheQreij NOW BEING SHOWN AT Two-Column Ad Cut, Leaving Space for Exhibitors' Announcement