Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

October 5 , 1 g 1 8 2249 "OUT OF A CLEAR SKY"— PARAMOUNT Marguerite Clark Comes Back to Earth! LET us thank heavens, stare and everything. It makes no difference what it is, thank something anyway. It has been decreed that Marguerite Clark interrupt her etherial journey and once more become a mortal. If you don't cover your face with a a broad smile at these glad tidings, then there is no hope for you. Is there anything on the bright side of life, anything you can think of, that will bring cheerfulness and joy to a sad heart? Look for it in this picture. It is there. The plot introduces Marguerite as nothing less than a Belgian Countess. This alone is enough to bring her all the sympathy she wants. And believe me, she is a credit to the title. As far as Bobby Connelly is concerned, you couldn't find a more convincing seven year old disappointed lover if you searched the country from Maine to California. There are two " Dramalettes " going on within the story at one time. In the one, the principals are the heroine, a mother cat, and the villain, a batchelor dog. The supporting cast consists of baby kittens. The other little drama is the love making of the two little children, Avith the attendant scraps, as is common to love-struck persons. They are both a scream. A new-bom baby, with the mother in bed, is shown in the picture. Presentation of such incidents, I am afraid, will be considered as a sacrilege by many a picture patron, although the presence of Marguerite Clark, with her innocent looking face, helps subdue the boldness somewhat. One subtitle and one scene, however, go a little too far. TLe former surest* that the little stranger came unattended, no one to receive him, while the latter shows Miss Clark washing the mother's hands. This is a little too raw. If you have any regard for motherhood, you should demand of your exchange to have these scenes removed. You can't use language strong enough for that. You should give this attraction an extended engagement. It is worth it. Released Sept. 15. — Length, 5 reels. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Countess Celeste Marguerite Clark Robert Lawrence Thomas Meighan Uncle Dryek E. J. Radcliffe Crown Prince Raymond Bloomer Boy Bobby Connelly Father Robert Dudley Steve W. P. Lewis Granny White Maggie H. Fisher Governess Helene Montrose Valet Robert Vivian Mamie Nell Clark Keller By Maria Thompson Davies. Adapted by Charles Maigne. Directed by Marshall Neilan. Photographed by Walter Stradling. AD TALK Marguerite Clark, the dainty and adorable, will be seen on the screen of the theatre on of week in her latest Paramount photoplay entitled " Out of a Clear Sky." This picture is an adaptation of a novel by Maria Thompson Davies and offers Miss Clark the role of a Belgian Countess, who flees her native land after the coming of the Germans to escape being forced into a marriage with an enemy prince. She is set down in the mountain country of Tennessee and there the first person she meets is Bob Lawrence, a Southern gentleman. The romance of these two. coupled with tie efforts of the girl's uncle to find her, and the manner in which he is thrown off her track forever, make one of the most pleasing pictures in which Miss Clark has been seen of late. The story, be it known, while related to the war in some measure, is by no means a war picture. The majority of the action is staged in the beautiful Southern country of our own United States and the romance of the little Countess and her American hero is played without reference to the war. In fact there is so much prettiness, homely human interest and real comedy in the picture that it constantly refreshes and amuses. "Pretty" is the word which describes it. The star, the story, the setting are pretty, and combined they serve to put the spectator in a prety " frame of mind. It is interesting to note that one of Miss Clark's admirers wrote to her and suggested that she purchase the screen rights of " Out of a Clear Sky " for her own use. While the star gets many such suggestions in every mail of the day, there was something about this one that prompted further investigation. Consequently she immediately secured a copy of the book, and, after the first reading, purchased it. Here, indeed, was a case of the " fan " doing service of untold value for the star. Thomas Meighan is seen in the role opposite M iss Clark's and another prominent in the cast is little Bobby Connelly, the youthful hero of many a Vitagraph comedy. Bobby does some human work of the best sort. Others who appear are W. P. Lewis, E. J. Radcliffe, Maggie Fisher and Nell Clark Keller. THE STORY A Southern express stops at Greenwood, Tennessee, to take on water, and while it stands on the tracks one of its passengers, a young girl, leaps off and scampers down a hill into the very arms of Robert Lawrence, a Southern gentleman. It develops that the girl is Celeste, in Belgium a countess, who has fled her native land to escape a marriage with a German prince which her traitorious uncle, the Count de Berseck, wishes her to consummate. Her father and brother had been killed in battle — from the shock her mother had died. Her governess had brought her to America, but the Count had given pursuit and it is from him she flees. On hearing her story Bob takes full charge of the little girl and promises to protect her. The Count, having gotten off at the next station, has employed Steve Budd, a native, to lead him through the mountain trails. Bob hears them approaching and goes to head them off. Celeste finds a haven in Steve's cabin, where she meets his little son, Bill. Together the two set off to Granny White's, where Bill's mother has gone. Shortly after their departure lightning strikes the cabin and because of dynamite stored there it is completely demolished. At Granny White's Bill discovers a small brother. He and Celeste busy themselves caring for the mother and babe. Bob returns to Steve's cabin and, seeing the ruins, believes Celeste lost. He hurries to Granny White's where, to his joy, he finds her. As the Count refuses to believe Celeste has gone elsewhere, Bob suggests to Celeste a plan to send him away forever. So he leads him to the ruined cabin, shows him scraps of a dress and tells him that the Countess Celeste is no more. After the signing of a few papers the Count is satisfied. But Bob hesitates to propose to Celeste. He believes that she will never be satisfied in the mountains. She, on the other hand, thinks his silence due to the fact that he wants a wife who can cook. So she departs. But Bill has given her a note from Bob telling of his love and the reason for his continued silence. Celeste, overjoyed, gets off the train at Greenwood and there finds Bob seated where she first met him. CATCH LINES Marguerite Clark's latest Paramount picture, an idyllic romance of a Belgian Countess and Tennessean, laid in the mountains of the Southland. Directed by Marshall Neilan, who staged " Stella Maris " and " Amarilly of Clothesline Alley, Mary Pickford productions. Happy romance and spirited comedy combine to make this one of the most thoroughly enjoyable pictures in which Miss Clark has appeared. She landed in Bob Lawrence's arms " Out of a Clear Sky" and as soon as he saw her he knew he had found the girl. ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER — Two one-sheets; two three-sheets; one six-sheet; rotrogravure one sheet; stock star 24-sheet. PHOTOS — Eight 8 x 10 black and white; eight 11 x 14 sepia; one 22 x 28 sepia; 8 x 10 photos of star. CUTS AND MATS ON PRODUCTION— Five one-column ; three two-column ; two threecolumn. Cuts and mats on star furnished in same size and number. (Continued on page 2254) Adolph Zulcor presents Marguerite CLARK Out Tffha Clear Sky* Paramount Has on Hand Similarly Dressed Cuts in All Sizes