Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1919)

270 Motion Picture News "A JOYOUS LIAR" (bRUNTON-HODKlNSON) Kerrigan Picture Has Interesting Moments J WARREN KERRIGAJN has one of those mock-heroic roles m "The Joyous Liar," a story that is as light and fluffy as « snowflakes. One must simply accept it as a breeze for the star — a made-to-order subject for his romautic expression. You cannot accept it as plausible — in fact you don't want to accept it in that light at all. If you do you won't be entertained. But if you accept it in the spirit in which it is written and played then you are in for an horn: of passable entertainment. You will look upon the star ensnaring a girl by his ability to tell whopping big hes. It is a fantastic creation and it unfolds a fair quota of action for so mild a theme. Kerrigan is mistaken for a criminal and lugged off to the home of a criminologist, where the latter uses him as copy." The hero doesn't mind it in the least, since it not only takes him out of jail, but places him near the girl for whose rescue he is arrested. After a series of mild adventures on his part, and the counterplay of the old man, we find him the center of a lively situation whicJi has to do with an elopement. The story here defies conventions and truth if you're looking at it seriously, for it presents the " criminal " assaulting the pohce and resisting arrest. But the story must liave a breezy finish, and there you are. Somehow the story does not sag in the middle as 4 majority of such things do. Which speaks well for the director, Ernest C. Warde. He has kept it moving faster than the facts in the case warranted. And it holds together well. It couldn't do anything else with such a frail idea. Mr. Kerrigan gets a lot of fun out of the role and he is assisted by Lillian Walker, Joseph J. Dowling and others. Mr. Dowling has a weak role, but he makes the most of it. — Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Burke Harlan J. Warren Kerrigan Anne Warren Lillian Walker Wilbur Warren Joseph J. Dowling James Roth Albert Cody Jimmy MacDonald... Pell Trenton James MacDonald, Sr. .Alfred Hollingsworth By Jack Cunningham. Directed by Ernest C. Warde. Photographed by Charles Kaufmann. PRESS NOTICE— STORY J. Warren Kerrigan, the popular romantic actor, will be seen at the theatre again on of week. His latest picture is " The Joyous Liar," and judging from the praise it has merited from reliab.e critics it is one of the best in his highi> pleasng series of picture productions. F.om the opening scene to the final fade-out the action mingles thrills and laughs in such alluring proportions that the interest is never once allowed to drop. The story for " The Joyous Liar " is written by Jack Cunningham and produced under the direction of Ernest C. Warde. He has kept the action moving spontaneously throughout and the original way he has of creating his effect makes the story appear in a refreshing light. Mr. Kerrigan assumes the role of Burke Harlan, a wealthy artist who is arrested for an alleged attempt to steal Anne Warren's car, resulting from his having in reality saved it from the thieves. The girl's father, Wilbur Warren, is a scientific criminologist who has a theory he can cure criminals by studying and reforming them. Burke is released from jail and taken into custody by Warren. Of course he could easily prove his identity, but when he is offered a chance to reform he accepts it in a spirit of fun. Besides it gives him an opportunity to be near the girl with whom he is infatuated. She does not know that he is a " criminal " and he tells her blood-curdling tales of his exploits not only to arouse her curiosity but to excite the wonder of her father, who declares that Burke is the worst criminal he has ever attempted to reform. A rival lover, the police commissioner, is desirous of taking Harlan back into the custody of the law. So he awaits an opportunity to frame him. But Harlan proves his resourcefulness by outwitting them all and elopes with the girl and marries her. With the complications swept aside he reveals his identity. The star does fine work in his study of the pseudo-crook and he is ably supported by Lillian Walker and Joseph J. Dowling. PROGRAM READER Why did the authorities arrest him as a desperate criminal just because he was trying to rescue a captivating girl from a group of auto thieves? He had commandeered her car when they caught him and lugged him off to jail. Why was he placed in the cus tody of the girl's fatlier, a criminologist, and compelled to have the latter study him at close ranger He didn't know, but he accepted it all in a spirit ot miscniif. He would become a joyous liai and make himself out a desperate criminal and prove to the old man that he was wrong. Anyway he was in love with the girl and she with him. And he was glad to suffer any experimenting on the part of her father to be near her. This is the brief outline of " The Joyous Liar," J. Warren Kerrigan's new picture which comes to this theatre next . The climax brings a scene full of humor and excitement and the entire story is chock full of comedy high lights which are brought forward with effective expression. Sounds pretty interesting, doesn't it? Be sure and see it. SUGGESTIONS If you've played the other Kerrigan pictures recently you should have no trouble in bringing the crowds in for this one. Reports indicate that this star's offerings are going over big no matter what locality they are shown in. He is one of the oldest actors in point of service on the screen and he has a well established following. So you don't have to go to any length in emphasizing his personality. Merely mention that J. Warren Kerrigan will appear in his newest picture. But use stills of him and also a teaser campaign. Tell that he is seen in a new sort of role here. Tell that the picture is a joyful comedy — a comedy rich in romance and adventure. All that is necessary in announcing "The Joyous Liar" is to lay stress on the action and the comedy and the troubles which come to the star. You can't go wrong if you follow this course. For the rest of the picture will advertise itself if you give it a chance by playing it successive days. CATCH LINES They thought him a criminal, and he led them to believe that he was beyond redemption. Why? Because he was in love with a beautiful girl. See Warren Kerrigan in " The Joyous Liar." He told some big whoppers and she believed him. And no matter how black he painted himself it only made the girl love him more. See " The Joyous Liar," a comedy with thrills and adventure and romance. He was arrested as a criminal and placed in the custody of a criminologist. The latter would reform him but gave it up as a bad •ob when he found that his daughter loved the young man. What happened? See " The Joyous Liar." See " The J[oyous Liar," J. Warren Kerrigan's new picture. The breeziest role he has ever played. THE LAST OF HIS PEOPLE" (SELECT) Lewis Has Characteristic Role Here Il\ The Last of His People ' Mitchell Lewis has a story which is a reminder ot the nicKelodeon days as fa;r as the characterization IS concerned. He plays the part of an Indian and the long recognized barrier between tiie red race and the while composes the central idea. I' or it is a romance between the red man and a white girl that gives the story its sustaining point, although a wealth of counterplotting is ottered to carry oui the adventurous hne of action. Make up your mind that it unfolds as rich an assortment of picturesque scenes as were ever contained in a Western. Ihese backgroimds are truly enchanting and give the ottering an appeal quite aside from its sympathetic cnaracierization. . Mr. Lewis is a sort of last Mohican, an adopted son of a white man. A chance comes for him to denounce tiie ways ot the paleface when an irresponsible girl from the East makes a mockery of his love. And when an accepted suitor attempts to violate the honor of tlie Indian's sister, you are in for an old-tashioned Mitch Lewis light — one of those fignts staged upon a precipice, with man to man and knife against knife. A Lewis tight is as sure as his homespun shirt. It is a story of the primitive elements of man, balanced with softened attitudes. You have your conflict and your contrast ol characters. Some of these are rather inconsistent in their actions. And the plot does not always hold you in its grip, ibis is a minor flaw in a picture calculated to please for its vivid and vital quaUties. Mr. Lewis has never given a more rugged portrayal ana one more thoroughly in character. His study ot the Indian can be put alongside of his Canuck and not suft'er. Such is his abihty to portray the son of the soil as it flourishes in the Aorthwest or Cod's vast cathedral as some will have it. Kobert North Bradbury wTote and directed the picture and his work is meritorious. — Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Keid. THE CAST Lone Wolf Wolt Briggs Mitchell Lewis Anthony origgs harry Lonsaaie Wa-ta-Ue Yvette Mitchell Yvonne Lacombe ....Catherine Van Buren Kobert Lacey J. J. Bryson Keynard Lacey Ldoie Hearn Baron Bonart Joseph Swickard By Robert North Bradbury ana Frank Howard Clark. Directed by Robert North Bradbury. PRESS NOTICE STORY Mitchell Lewis, the virile star of Western pictures, will come to the theatre on of week in his latest oSer ing entitled " The Last of His Peopie. ' This is a vital drama of the Northwest and It afforos the star a picturesque roie — one in which he takes the fullest advantage. It is an Indian story with Mr. Lewis cast as Lone Wolf, the last of his tribe, who, with nis sister, Na-ta-lie, is adopteu ana reared by an embittered white man who had cast himself to a life of isolation in the forest of the Northwest. Anthony Bfiggs had taken up this life through disillusionment — brought of course by his wife who has eloped with the foreman of the lumber camp, Robert Lacey. So Lone Wolf and his sister grow to maturity. He is educated in the ways oi the whites, but never having seen a white woman, he is startled one day to see a pretty white girl, meet with an accident. Lone Wolf rescues her and is at once captivated by her charms. She returns to her hunting lodge where her frivolous companions from New York at once design the unsuspecting Indian as the victim of a practical joke in which the girl, Yvonne, is to encourage his attentions and win his love on a wager. This she accomplishes but in doing so she failed to reckon vrith her own heart and the deception she played upon the honest Indian. So he denounces her and puts aside the ways of the white race as too deceitful to countenance. His sister has been intrigued by Lacey's son, who is also a member of the New York party. And Lone Wolf pursues him to bring him back. When they meet Lacey puts up a fight — a fight which ends in his death. The working out of this story requires all the skill of the author-director. It is a powerful drama which contains not only magnificent scenery but a plethora of dramatic situation. The star is well qualified to enact the leading character. A capable supporting cast is one of the features. PROGRAM READER Do you like to see a picture of the Great Outdoors where the vast silences take hold of man and make him a child of nature? Do you like to see a picture of the Creat Northwest in which a vivid, vital drama of life IS enactea?. Do you enjoy seeing a picture of the woods and snow capped hills wicn Mitcneil J-ew.s enatiing one of h s colorful roles? If so then " The Last of His i-eopie is the picture tor you. iierc you will see the rugged star portraying an Indium, who is the last of h.s race. You will see him teike up the ways of the white man only to discard them in the end. You win see a picture which expresses rich dramatic action, sympathy, pathos, sentiment and romance. You will be thrilled with the hair-raising situations; you will respond to the marvelously beautiful scenery. " The Last of His People " is one of Mr. Lewis' greatest pictures. No actor knows the woods and hills better than Mitchell LewiS) and no actor is better qualified to enact a powerful drama of love and adventure. •■ The Last of His People " will be at this theatre next . SUGGESTIONS Here is a Mitchell Lewis picture and if you've played this virile star in the past you shoud have no trouble in filling your house. He is quite the best interpreter of Northwest pictures on the screen. So take advantage of his art and bill him as such. Play up the title. It is catchy. It suggests an Indian and so it is. If you go in for lobby display you can decorate your house in Indian trimmings and trappings. Tell that the picture is a story of love and adventure — action and thriUs, sentiment and pathos enacted against a background of marvelously beautiful scenery. By all means play up its grandeur. Feature the star and emphasize the work he has done on the screen. Distribute dodgers, circulars and throwaways of the picture. Lithographs for " The Last of His People " are attractive and should be user: freely. Play up the punch points. Feature it as a vivid and vital story in which the virile Mitchell Lewis is the star. You can make a lot of atmosphere for the picture if you want to go in for a lobby display. If you employ an artist have him draw a colorful sketch for the exterior of the house. CATCH LINES He fell in love with a white girl and she toyed with his affections. Disillusioned, he resolved to cast aside the ways of the wh.f race. What happened? See "The Last of His People." He was the last of his race. See Mitchell Lewas in his powerful characterization of an Indian. See a vital, vivid drama of the Great Northwest. See " The Last of His People."