Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2456 Motion Picture N ex "THE MATING"— VITAGRAPH Personality of Star Goes a Long Way in This Picture THE pleasing personality of the star, the excellent cast and the several human touches that have l^f inserted intelligently and with good effect, make this picture entertaining. The story is simple. There are no original situations nor any new angles in it. The action of the plot as well as that of the physical forces keep up at a fairly steady pace, holdir the interest fairly tense. Herbert Rawlinson is in the supporting cast, and as he is given a human part, he draws quite a littj sympathy. There are several children used with good effect. The picture is clean and should furnish a satisfactory entertainment. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Nancy Fane Gladys Leslie Dick Ives Herbert Rawlinson Mr. Fane Forest Robertson Billy Stephen Carr Bob John Thomson Betty Aida Horton Mammy Frances Grant Author: Millicent Evison. Director: Fred Thompson. THE STORY Nancy Fane has her hands full caring for her aged father, an inventor, who is always occupied with his ore crusher machine, and her younger brother and sister. Dick Ives, a young novelist, takes the vacant house next door to concentrate on his latest opus. Nancy mistakes him for a crook, and summons the sheriff to claim her reward. Dick explains the error, and Nancy and he become fast friends. An unscrupulous promoter offers Fane a ridiculously small sum for his invention. Dick, realizing its possibilities and knowing the old man's enthusiasm will overcome his better judgment, steals the machine and secrets it in his own apartment, intending to sell it for its real worth. The excitement of the affair is too much for old Fane and he succumbs. Nancy discovers the machine in Dick's room, and believes him a crook after all. All Dick's explaining is to no avail, and even after Dick rescues Nancy's sister from drowning she will have none of him. As a result of his plunge Dick contracts pneumonia, and lies for several days in a delirious state. It is during his sickness that Nancy receives a check for a large sum for the sale of the invention. The letter explains farther that Dick acted as agent. Wishing to atone for the manner in which she treated him, Nancy rushes to Dick's bedside. He is still out of his head. She realizes that it is the last day of the contest for the novel. She takes the 'script, and rushes it to the editor's office just in time — and, of course, it wins the prize. So when Dick recovers he finds a check awaiting him — but better yet the girl he had always loved since the first day of their meeting. AD TALK For its feature picture for of week, the management of the theatre has selected " The Mating," a Vitagraph production, featuring the radiant Gladys Leslie. This offering was selected for a number of reasons. In the first place, it is a light and happy tale of romance and sacrifice without any suggestion of war entering into any scene. We honestly believe that the patrons of the theatre get enough of the World War out of the daily papers and the news weeklies. True enough, there are some good war dramas, but for a change a picture of the type of "The Mating" comes as exceedingly welcome. Further Gladys Leslie is one of the most refreshing young actresses on the screen to-day. She has risen to her present place of stellar prominence through diligent effort and persistent application to her work. As a consequence, she is possessed of a sure knowledge of screen acting. This combined with her refreshing beauty, her viyaciousness, her youth and her spirited handling of any role which she undertakes insures her a warm reception in her every picture. Miss Leslie's role in " The Mating " is that of the " little mother." As Nancy Fane she obliged to look after her younger brothers and sisters and provide for her father, an aged inventor. Her romance with a novelist who lives next door, the manner in which she is led to believe him an imposter, bent on robbing her father of his invention, and the final clearing up of the situation, leaving the lovers happy as all true lovers should be, forms a charming story appropriately presented in the five reels of " The Mating." CATCH LINES Gladys Leslie, " The Sunshine Girl," in her latest Vitagraph picture, " The Mating." One of the prettiest stories ever seen — a story of love and sacrifice. Miss Leslie is supported by Herbert Rawlinson, one of the most popular leading men in the business. She thought the novelist was an escaped convict, and when she discovered her father's precious invention tucked away in a corner of his room she thought she had proof conclusive of this. Just how was the young man to prove his innocence? He couldn't do it — but it was proven just the same. Gladys Leslie is an ingenue, and though this term doesn't always carry the suggestion of acting ability, Miss Leslie is a real actress besides being young, vivacious and pretty. Everything Dick Ives did stamped him as a crook in Nancy's eyes. All his actions were perfectly innocent, yet each one of them damned him before her. How was he to prove himself an honorable gentleman? See " The Mating " and find out. The Industry Must Surpass Itself In This Liberty Loan Drive Are You Doing Your Part? ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER: — One one-sheet; one three-sheet; one six-sheet. LOBBY DISPLAY:— This includes various sizes of photographs, both scene and star. Title card is also furnished for this display. CUTS: — There is a good pen sketch furnished of Miss Leslie in both one and two-column sizes. There is a two-column scene cut and a one-column scene cut. Electros of all cuts furnished free to newspapers and are obtainable from neaest Vitagraph branch. SLIDES, MUSIC CUE SHEET. SUGGESTIONS Play this picture up as a happy romance of love and sacrifice, and keep Gladys Leslie ever in the foreground. She is one of the most refreshing young actresses on the screen to-day, and is gaining in popularity with each release. The subject is pure fiction, and does not rely on the war or any topic of the day for interest. It is a wholesome feature, and should be played as such. Herbert Rawlinson has starred in many pictures, and has played leads opposite some of the best known feminine stars in the business. His name should also be displayed, as he is seen opposite Miss Leslie. GLADYS LESLII in Vitagraph Blue Ribbon Feature " The Mating "