Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

October 2 6 , I p / 8 2713 "SECRET STRINGS'— METRO Crook Story That Should Not Fail to Please — Interesting Plot TO begin with, this is a crook subject. It is the first big factor in favor of it, as pictures based on themes of this character never fail to please. Then follows an interesting and sensible story, directed in an intelligent way. To cap the climax, it has an ending that, in the short space of no more than four minutes actual time, takes so many clever and surprising twists, that you really don't know how it is going to end, until the word End is flashed on the screen. For instance, when the crook, the husband of the heroine, administers the narcotic to the supposed victims, they go to sleep. The gang gets the jewels and are about ready to make their get-away, when the maid turns the tables on the butler and has him handcuffed. She then tells him she had quietly removed the coffee containing the drug. At the same time the supposed drugged Mr. and Mrs. Giles open their eyes and get busy. They arrest all the gang and disclose to them the fact that they are detectives. The crook husband then is ordered to stretch his hands for handcuffing. While doing so, however, he grabs the pistol from the hands of the Giles's nephew and holds up the detectives. You surely think he will succeed in helping his pals get away, but is shot and killed. Don't you think the events, succeeding each other, are exciting? Miss Tell's acting is splendid; so is that of the supporting cast. The picture should have a universal appeal. It i clean. — Released Oct. 7. — Length, 5 reels. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Janet Newell Olive Tell Raoul Newell, her husband William J. Kelly Hugh Maxwell Hugh Thompson Richard de Giles John Daly Murphy Mrs. de Giles .' Marie Wainwright Ross Hugh Jeffrey Williams Bert Tuey Benjamin Moraud John A. Smiley Katia Barbara Winthrop Detective Edward Lawrence Story by Kate Jordan in Ainslee's Magazine. Scenario by June Mathis. Directed by John Ince. Photographed by Frank Williams. Produced under supervision of Maxwell Karger. CATCH LINES Olive Tell, the beautiful Metro favorite, in one of the fastest moving crook plays ever screened. Adapted from a story in Ainslee's Magazine by Kate Jordan, one of America's foremost writers of fiction. A splendid star, supported by a splendid cast in a skillful production of a fascinating crook story. There are more exciting situations in " Secret Strings " than there are in half a dozen spy plays. AD TALK The famous beauty of the screen and stage, Olive Tell, is to be seen on the screen of the theatre on of week in her latest Metro feature. " Secret Strings." " Secret Strings " was adapted from a story by Kate Jordon that appeared only recently in Ainslee's Magazine and it makes one of the most exciting crook plays of the season. Plot and counterplot run rife throughout the five reels; there is, indeed, not a moment when the suspense is not at the highest tension. Miss Tell handles her. part beautifully and her fascinating appearance is one of the high lights of the production. The story concerns the efforts of a gang of crooks to rob an exceedingly valuable collection of jewels from a Long Island home. To this end the leader of the gang, Raoul, places his wife, Janet, in the house as maid. Janet is unaware of the real reason for her presence there. Raoul has told her that the owners of the house have robbed an innocent friend of papers giving him title to South American property. As a consequence she believes she is serving the cause of justice by entering the house. It is not long, however, before she discovers the true mission of her husband. But he forces her to stay on, threatening to tell the man she loves, Hugh Maxwell, that she is married to him, unless she accede to his demands. The climax of this exciting story comes when the residents of the house reveal themselves as detectives, well aware of Raoul's reason for being in the house. In an attempt to escape he is shot and so Janet is left free to marry Hugh. William I. Kelly, Hugh Thompson, Marie Wainwright and John Daly Murphy are seen in Miss Tell's support. THE STORY Janet Newell is married to Raoul, a crook. When she discovers this she leaves his home and endeavors to make her own living by painting. She is not very successful, however, and when her husband comes to her with what appears to be an honest proposition she turns an ear. It appears, according to Raoul, that a Mr. and Mrs. de Giles of Long Island have stolen papers rightfully belonging to Langstreet, giving him title to property in South America. By producing the supposed Langstreet, ill with fever, Raoul convinces Janet that she will be serving the cause of justice if she enter the household of the de Giles and locate the papers. Janet accepts the position of maid in the Long Island home. A guest at the house is Hugh Maxwell, the de Giles' nephew. He and Janet soon fall in love and because the wife is thoroughly ashamed of her husband she does not speak of her marriage. Soon Raoul appears at the house and introduces himself as Langstreet. It is then that Janet discovers the duplicity of her husband. She plans telling the de Giles the whole scheme but Raoul silences her by the mention of Maxwell. It is Raoul's plan to rob the de Giles' residence of the famous collection of jewels. The butler of the house is in his employ and on the appointed evening he drugs the de Giles' coffee. With Raoul he then commences to rifle the safe but when they believe their coupe complete, the de Giles suddenly appear, not as old people, but without their disguise. They prove to be famous detectives, all the time on the trail of the crooks. Raoul attempts to make a break for liberty and is shot and killed by one of the detectives. Thus is Janet left free to marry the man she loves. SUGGESTIONS If your audience has favored the crook play in the past make this the dominating note in your advertising, for " Secret Strings " is one of the best of this sort. Olive Tell is a star well known on the stage and her previous appearances in Metro pictures have created for her quite a following. The story originally appeared in Ainslee's Magazine under Kate Jordan's name. She is a well known author, many of her works having been adapted to the screen. ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER: — Colored posters include two styles of one, three and six-sheets, with star prominently displayed in either portrait or scenes. LOBBY DISPLAY:— The usual lobby display provided on all Metro releases may be obtained on this subject. Photos are 8x10 in sepia: 11 x 14 in sepia and 22 x 28 of star. Title and synopsis cards are supplied to complete this display. ADVERTISING CUTS AND MATS:— One and two-column star cuts are procurable at Metro exchanges. SLIDES AND MUSIC CUE SHEET. advertising suggestions on thit picture appeared in the MOTION PICTURE NEWS October 12 issue, page 2319. "THE KAISER'S FINISH" (Continued from paee 2704) A Two-Column Cut of Star Alio Provided shown on this page). The solid black background serves to attract attention no matter what position given the cut on the advertising pages. These cuts contain auch good catch lines as " The biggest news itory of the twentieth century will be headed the " Kaiser's Finish." LOBBY DISPLAY : — Photographs are f«rni«hed in the standard sizes. They are 8 x 10 in black and white; 8 x 10 in sepia; 11 x 14 in sepia and, and 22 x 28 in color. Other accessories provided on this production include two varieties of slides, a two-«olor herald, one broadside and a complete press sheet containing an assortment mt newspaper stories. MANUFACTURERS' ADS Manufacturers' advertisements from which exhibitors can glean interesting information and OLIVE TELL.