Motion Picture News (Apr-Jun 1919)

2712 Motion Picture News "THE QUICKENING FLAME "—WORLD Vivid Story of Marital Unhappiness with Montagu Love and June Elvidge 4 4 f 1 1 HE QUICKENING FLAME " points several lessons for its redeeming value aside from the very capable studies of the stars, Montagu Love and June Elvidge — one of which is that a man who is matrimonially bent should watch his step lest he might trip and come up with the wrong spouse. The picture hinges upon a domestic mix-up, for as soon as the husband repents of his hasty marriage and attempts to forget, along comes a genuine girl and the marital bonds are tied again. Which is reasonable, since a report reaches him that wife number (1) has died ad interim. From this point the picture develops a brace of melodramatic situations that are quite absorbing if somewhat theatrical. The first wife eventually turns up very much alive and demands alimony from a blackmailing standpoint. And she gets it, aided and abetted by a vicious affinity who in reality is her lawful husband. The title of the picture is indicated in the maternal love aroused in the adventuress when she sees the child of her victim. A lurid melodrama in every sense of the word with scarcely a glimpse of " sweetness and light." " Travers Vale might have developed it more deftly. Mr. Love, always a sincere actor, gives a thoroughly convincing performance, as the husband, while Miss Elvidge plays with fine understanding the thankless role of the adventuress. Albert Hart, appearing throughout in a wheel-chair, is the vicious blackmailer to the life. — Released April 21. — Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Feid. THE CAST John Steele Montagu Love Maizie Bell june Elvidge Hester Blaine Mabel Ballin Marlon Albert Hart Judge Mason jack Drumier Yoshida Frank Quong Bobbie Steele Rodney McKeever Harry Bertram Bert Leigh Story by Elizabeth R. Carpenter. Scenario by Giles R. Warren. Directed by Travers Vale. Photographed by Alfred Moses. PRESS NOTICE Montagu Love and June Elvidge will be seen together at the theatre on of week in their latest World photoplay, " The Quickening Flame." Their appearance together as a starring combination should interest the screen-going public, inasmuch as they have established themselves as prime favorites in their separate pictures. The character of " The Quickening Flame " is so rich in dramatic soundings that it could only be interpreted by such clever players as Mr. Love and Miss Elvidge. Hence the reason for their partnership in this feature. The stars enact their roles with authority, sincerity and charm, and they are afforded excellent support from a well-balanced cast that includes such favorites as Mabel Ballin, Albert Hart and Jack Drumier. The story by Elizabeth R. Carpenter — scenario by Giles R. Warren, presents a theme based upon domestic flurries with its attendant happiness and misery. We see a husband whose infatuation for his actress-bride leads him into all sorts of troublesome channels before he emerges in the end with his honor vindicated. We see him suffer the pangs of disillusionment when he learns of his wife's inconstancy, and our sympathy is extended when he takes up the romantic threads again with a new love, upon hearing the news that his first spouse is dead. We see the adventuress come back into his life to torture him with a blackmailing scheme, urged on by a vicious affinity. Things look black indeed, since the blackmailers make him out a bigamist. But the first wife's maternal spark is aroused through his little boy, and she gives up her nefarious practise. And finally we see her honor vindicated, too. As " The Quickening Flame " carries the elements of love, disillusionment, hate, pathos and deep-dyed villainy put up in the accepted form, it must be said in its favor that it is a vivid and vigorous melodrama. The picture has been produced by Travers Vale, a director responsible for many World productions in the past. PROGRAM READER Montagu Love and June Elvidge, appearing together in " The Quickening Flame," will come to the theatre at an early date. Mr. Love, let it be said, has risen to the top of his profession as much by force of personality as by his strong endowment of histrionic talent. It cannot be denied that he has established himself as a favorite through the sheer delight he takes in his work, which is always marked by an earnestness of endeavor and a thoroughness of method. These attributes are clearly focussed in " The Quickening Flame " and will doubtless enlarge his following everywhere. Miss Elvidge needs no introduction to our patrons. She has appeared on the program regularly, the management booking her pictures for their entertainment values and the varied emotional capabilities which characterize her work. Her personality is always ingratiating. Miss Elvidge has opportunity to show what a versatile actress she is in " The Quickening Flame," as she is called upon to play an adventuress who finds redemption in the end through the maternal instinct. Surely a different part for her! Mr. Love appears as a wronged husband who entertains a spirit of forgiveness for the woman who brought him only unhappiness. The stars are surrounded by a competent cast that includes such well-known players as Mabel Ballin, Albert Hart and Jack Drumier. When you see " The Quickening Flame " you will be entertained with a strong and highly sustaining melodrama. Watch for the date. THE STORY John Steele, an American lawyer traveling in England, becomes infatuated with Maizie Bell, a burlesque actress, and marries her. A man of affluence, he acquires a rich estate near London in order to give his bride a wonderful home. But Maizie, who has lived in a gayer world than her husband, is unable to appreciate his kindness and generosity, and during his absence one night she gives a costly party for some of her frivolous friends. Disillusioned, John leaves her and returns to America, though it is extremely difficult for him to forget his sorrowful experience. A few months pass and John Steele has apparently forgotten his wretched affair in England in the romance he has developed with Hester Blaine, the niece of Judge Mason, his law partner. When news reaches him that his forsaken wife has been killed in a railroad accident, he loses no time in marrying Hester. Eventually a child comes to bless the union, and John is supremely happy in his new-found love, until a shadow from the past looms up to darken his life. It is Maizie and very much alive. She has a peculiar affinity with her, one Harlon, a crippled blackmailer, and together they have planted themselves in close proximity to John in order to wheedle him out of money. However blackmailers never know when to stop, and a time comes when Steele refuses to accede to their demands. Of course Maizie's presence makes him out a bigamist and this startling fact causes Hester to become seriously ill. Things are righted for the happy couple when the burlesque actress vindicates herself. A communion with the little boy regenerates her and she atones for her sin through a confession that she is the real bigamist, having been married to Harlon all the time. The crippled blackmailer foiled, he kills Maizie, and meets a timely end by falling over a cliff. The Steeles', their worries over, are again supremely happy. SUGGESTIONS There is no mistake about it, you certainly have all kinds of advertising possibilities in this picture which comes from World. What about the stars — don't their names suggest something for exploitation? Surely you have gotten results in the past when they have appeared separately, and now that they are starring together here, it is reasonable to assume that you will clean up if you advertise them properly. Each star is big enough to carry a picture alone, but when they appear in a partnership you are doubly fortified in your exploitation scheme. We would surely bring out the fact that patrons have a treat in store for themselves when two such wellknown stars are seen in the same picture. Why not concentrate on their personalities? The occasion doesn't arise every day when you can present two stars in one picture. And the subject lends itself well to good suggestions in the way of advertising. As it unfolds a domestic upheaval, you can glean some ideas from the story and catch-lines to fit your newspaper copy. While there is a sensational note in the picture and it suggests a lurid display, still the better plan is to put it forward with no ostentatious flare. Simply play up that it is an exposition of the wrongs that will come to a husband if he does not go slow in affairs of the heart. Disillusionment follows in the wake of an unhappy marriage. You have a heart-interest story in the frivolous woman who (Continued on page 2715) June Elvidge and Montagu Love are co-stars again in World's " The Quickening Flame "