Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

October is, i p / 8 2457 "MANTLE OF CHARITY"— AMERICAN 1 Coo d Farce That Is Clean and Should Please Everyone THIS picture was reviewed extensively in the advance section of issue Oct. 5, on page 2213. It is a light comedy drama, of the farce type, produced along the lines that are in demand now-a-days. The hasic idea of the story is an innocent deception, accomplished through the medium of a pet dog, dressed as a baby. The heroine fools the hero. He does not become aware of the fact until towards the close. In the end, they become engaged. Of course the story was not constructed with the idea of making one believe it, but with the object of entertaining. The climax is verj amusing. It will undoubtedly cause roars of laughter. It shows a woman, whom the hero and the heroine are trying to help, get behind the hero and strike him on the head with the poker, when she sees that her husband is in danger of getting the worst of it. It makes no difference that he i> a worthless human being, and that he had mistreated her right along. He is her husband after all. This attraction is clean and should please everybody. Released by the Pathe Film Exchange.— Length. 5 reels. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Norah McDonald Margarita Fisher Paul Howell Jack Mower Judge Kerr Dan Gilfeather Anna Houlahan Louella Maxam Tom Houlahan Gordon Russell Mrs. Malone Kate Price Scenario and Direction by Edward Sloman. THE STORY Norah McDonald doesn't like the idea of turning her pet dog over to the tender mercies of the baggage man when she travels and as a result she dresses the pup up in baby's clothes and makes her way to her compartment with the bundle in her arms. Paul Howell, millionaire and philanthropist also claims the compartment but he immediately gives way when he sees a woman with a baby. He becomes acquainted with Norah on the trip and opines that she is rather young to be married. Norah replies that she never was married and furthermore has no immediate intention of taking the fatal step. Paul is righteously shocked. At the terminal. Norah is met by her guardian. Paul is of the opinion that he is the scoundrel that caused her downfall. He offers her a position in his settlement and Norah accepts, only to discover that his system of helping the poor is all wrong owing to the overwhelming amount of red tape that is involved in dealing with every case. When the case of Anna Houlahan, a starving mother, owing to the bibulousness of her husband, is brought up before the settlement, Norah takes matters into her own hands, working on the principle. " help first and investigate afterwards." For this, Paul discharges her. Across the way Norah sets up her own settlement and works things out on her own idea. Little by little Paul comes to see the error of his ways in the management of things and sees that Norah has the right idea. Norah finally suggests to Paul that the right way to adjust the Houlahan case is to teach the male member of the family how to work. Paul invites Norah to come and watch the " teaching " and he sets out to administer a sound thrashing to the laggard. He is getting the worst of things with Mrs. Houlahan's interference but Norah intercedes and saves the day. Houlahan is cured and Paul combines forces with Norah. Not until then does he learn the true identity of the " baby " tnd so nothing stands between the lovers. AD TALK A delightful little comedy-drama will be presented at the theatre on of week when Margarita Fisher appears in " The Mantle of Charity," her latest production for the American Film company. This story revolves around a misunderstanding and a very funny one. Norah McDonald, a wealthy young woman, objects putting her dog in the charge of the king of the baggage car while traveling and so dresses the pet up as a baby and seeks her compartment in the Pullman. Paul Howell, a millionaire and social worker, also claims the compartment but willingly waves all claims when the girl appears with " a baby in her arms." In the course of their conversation Paul remarks that Norah is rather young to be married. And Norah innocently replies that she is not married nor has she ever thought of taking the vows. Paul at this is shocked to the extreme and believes Norah a wronged woman. The scene then shifts to the city where Norah has accepted a position as Paul's secretary in his settlement work. She soon discovers that there is far too much red tape in the handling of his cases and so she parts company from him and establishes a settlement of her own. How she finally brings Paul to a realization of the mediocrity of his system and how the matter of " the baby " is finally cleared up brings this charming photoplay to a humorous conclusion. Miss Fisher has appeared in many comedies recently but it is safe to say that none of them contains the genuine humor and homely touches apparent through the five reels of " The Mantle of Charity." The picture has been excellently produced by Edward Sloman, while as in her previous pictures Jack Mower appears as leading man. This production will be shown at the theatre and don't miss it, for by so doing you will miss many a good laugh. CATCH LINES Margarita Fisher in her latest American comedy. He thought her dog was a baby and as a consequence thought her an abused woman when she told him she wasn't married — this is only the beginning of the fun in Margarita Fisher's latest comedy. " The Mantle of Charity." Comedies are all too scarce these days of war pictures and spy melodramas. Come around to the theatre and have all the laughs you crave by watching Margarita Fisher in " The Mantle of Charity." Margarita Fisher in her latest and best American comedy — a picture that starts with a laugh and ends with a roar. One of the most pleasing productions from the comedy viewpoint — and that is the major viewpoint these days — that the theatre has ever presented on its screen. ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER: — One one-sheet, one three-sheet, one six-sheet. One-sheet contains attractive scene of Miss Fisher and opposite lead. Threesheet contains light scene giving good idea of humorous nature of picture. Six-sheet contains scene of melodramatic character. LOBBY DISPLAY: — Eight 11x14 photos and title card; all are good scenes suggesting light character of production. One 22 x 28 of scene; one 22 x 28 of star. SUGGESTIONS FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING INCLUDE: — One three-column, one twocolumn and one one-column. SLIDES AND MUSIC CUE. SUGGESTIONS Don't forget in advertising this feature that Margarita Fisher has made a big name for herself in the comedy line. Her past releases have generally been meritorious works built to get the laughs — and they have gotten them. " The Mantle of Charity " — despite its title, which implies anything but comedy — is another one of these humorous numbers that the exhibitor can go the limit on in advertising. A light entertainment is worth much these days so don't fail to feature the production for what it is. Recall Miss Fisher's success in her last release, " Money Isn't Everything," which placed her in even greater popularity and advertise her as the star that believes in making happier the sadder hours of the present day. To boost this line of comedies that the American company is offering is certainly doing yourself a service as well as establishing a line of goods that the public will eventually clamor for, even if they are not doing it already. Newspaper Star Cut Supplied by the Distributors