Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1919)

272 Motion Picture New "MY HUSBAND'S OTHER WIFE" (BLACKTON-PATHEj Satisfying Offering on a Marital Theme J STUART BLACKTONS picture, "My Husband's Other Wife," makes a satisfying offering, all things considered. • \^ hile it brings out nothing new in plot and characterization, yet its assortment of dramatic ingredients are so well emphasized that the spectator is kept constantly interested. The theme is based upon the marriage and divorce question and presents it on that biblical phrase — whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder." Therefore when the actress divorces her husband, a physician, the latter marries an unsophisticated country girl. His rival, a playwright, is desirous of mariying the divorcee. But she discourages him because she is still -in love with her ex-husband. When the playwright discovers him renewing his affection for her he denounces him. Whereupon the doctor takes refuge in the Bible. The author gets out of his dilemma by liaving the actress show a magnanimous spirit and departs, leaving the husband with his second wife. The latter has received her husband's confession of an earlier marriage and her belief in the biblical phrase is sincere. She leavs him only to be reconciled through the efforts of the actress. The picture attempts to show that a leading lady can love her husband and her art at the same time. It does not strike any heights of inspiration, biU it does offer a little drama of family life that contains a note of heart interest, a vein of pathos and a deal of simplicity. The action is fairly well sustained for one is not always sure what the conclusion will bring. The interpretation of the story has been intinsted to Sylvia Breamer, Robert Gordon, Warren Chandler and others. The latter contributes the outstanding performance. " My Husband's Other Wife " may be summed up as a study in contrasts — with the virtues of country life predominating naturally.— Length, 6 reels. — Laurence Reid. "THE LORD LOVES THE IRISH" (BRUNTON-HODKINSON i Melodrama and Humor in This Kerrigan Film MONTE M. KATTERJOHN has concocted a fairly clever comedy-drama in " The Lord Loves the Irish," J. Warren Kerrigan's newest release. It seemingly touches all the elements of dramatic fare, for there are moments of comedy, flashef^ of melodrama and notes of pathos and sentiment. It is an interesting characterization he has drawn even though his plot is somewhat hackneyed. And the title is going to make a lot of friends for the picture. It sure is a winner. The star appears as a product of the New York police force — direct from the " auld sod." Typically Irish, he rises to the top in typically Irish fashion. Oh, yes, he has influence. His uncle is an alderman, but tlien you must reckon on his own native wit and shrewdness and good-natured personality. The sentimental touch is revealed in the opening reel before the hero's emigration and the action is naturally of a quiet character here. But it picks up its melodramatic threads once he arrives in America and finishes with plenty of strength. The meat of the subject is fovmd in an attempt to replace the currency of a bank by a master counterfeiter with the Irish policeman catching the crook eventually. The romantic interest, without whicli no Kerrigan picture could be called complete, keeps pace with its moving moments. The banker's daughter is not sure of her heart and does not encourage the policeman, even though she is of Irish descent. So you have your conflict to keep the spectator interested. The continuity of this subject is clearly defined and progressive. The only criticism of the picture may be found in the action which carries a theatrical flourish at times. Mr. Kerrigan looks better in this picture than he has in a long time. In the first place he has a good characterization to work with and \\s has surely taken advantage of it. Fritzi Brunette is the girl in the case and Joseph Dowling is the counterfeiter. — Length, .5 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Adelaide Hedlar Sylvia Breamer Wilfred Dean Robert Gordon Dr. Mark Ridgewell Warren Chandler Nettie Bryson May McAvoy Rita Rivulet Fanny Rice By Stanley Olmsted. Directed by J. Stuart Blackton. PRESS NOTICE— STORY " My Husband's Other Wife," a Blackton picture, will be presented at the theatre on of week with Sylvia Breamer and Robert Gordon as the featured players. The story, by Stanley Olmsted, presents a famous actress who loves the glamor of the footlights and will not give them up for the husband who has given up his ambitions to be just " Adelaide Hedlar's husband." When a divorce has finally been obtained she hesitates about marrying Wilfred Dean, a playwright, the man who has written her most successful plays, until she knows that her first husband. Dr. Ridgewell, has married again. Even then she hesitates though Dean is a persistent suitor. The first husband, a physician, takes anothe. name and goes to a small town, where he builds a hospital, a school and a church and becomes the guardian of the community. One day Adelaide learns that he has married again, and she, realizing, too late, that her husband was a man whose love was worth having, decides to win him back. She goes to the little town and develops a friendship for the doctor's wife — a friendship which makes her charitable in the end. Sooner than disillusion the innocent girl who has a theory that the sanctity of the marriage vows cannot be violated, she departs, leaving the couple to continue their happiness. The story moves steadily and surely and it has a tensity that is grippingly absorbing. It is rich in sentiment and heart interest. The characterization is well drawn and the plot unfolds a deal of dramatic action. Miss Breamer and Mr. Gordon give satisfactory performances of the actress and playwright respectively, while Warren Chandler portrays the husband with considerable feeling. May McAvoy is charming as his second wife. Mr. Black'.on's direction is capable. CATCH LINES Can an actress love her husband and her srt at the same time and do justice to both? This question is answered dramatically in ■■ My Husband's Other Wife," a Blackton picture. Adelaide Hedlar was a stage favorite. But her home life could not be called happy. Before she realized what her husband meant to her. she had become her husband's "other wife." A drama of the footlights — a drama of the country — a drama of marriage and divorce — a drama of sentiment and heart appeal and one that carries a powerful message. See "My Husband's Other Wife." A picture of home and family — that is " My Husband's Other Wife," which comes here next . First it's Love — then it's Marriage — and then — ? A drama of woman's desire for Display, and a man's cry for Love and Home. PROGRAM READER When Nettie Bryson married Dr. Mark Loring, her father, a minister said to her: " Do not forget that what God hath joined together let no man put asunder!" Neither of them knew that Dr. Loring was the divorced husband of a famous actress. And when, after months of happy life, the second wife, learned of the first wife, her narrow training convinced her that she was not his wife. How she abides by her father's advice, how the first wife saved the woman who had come into the doctor's life — saved her from disillusionment, how the actress realized that she loved the man who had once belonged to her, and appreciated the fact that he had gone out of her life for good and all, are events that compose a drama filled with dramatic situations — situatiors of compelling interest. The picture is by Stanley Olmsted and is a Blackton production. In the featured roles are Sylvia Breamer, the Australian actress, and Robert Gordon. A picture of heart interest, home and family. See it. SUGGESTIONS In the first place you have an attractive title which can be exploited to its full possibilities. So use it in catch lines and appropriate teasers — so framed as to arouse curiosity. We have written some catch lines that would fit well in your copy. Make mention that it is a drama of the contrast between the life behind the footlights and the life of a country village. Use questions in your copy. Ask if it is possible for an actress to remain faithful to her husband and her art at the same time. Tell that it is a play of marriage and divorce. Use the theme and outline it in a way to attract attention. The actress was known as her husband's other wife, when he married again after a divorce. Tell that it is a story that shows the desire of a woman for finery and show, and the desire of a man for love and home. Tell of its dramatic highlights. Feature the author and director. Feature the principal players and state that each has been seen in some big production. If you use questions for your newspaper copy you will certainly arouse interest. Bring out its pathos and heart appeal. THE CAST Miles Machree J. Warren Kerrigan Mother Machree Aggie Herring Timothy Lynch James O. Barrows Sheila Lynch Fritzi Brunette Malachi Nolan William Ellingford AUyn Dexter Wedgwood Nowell Dr. Leon Wilson Hugo Strauss Joseph J. Dowling By Monte M. Katterjohn. Directed by Ernest C. Warde. Photographed by Arthur Todd. PRESS NOTICE— STORY " The Lord Loves the Irish " is the name of the photoplay which will come to the theatre on of week with J. Warren Kerrigan as the star. This story is from the pen of Monte M. Katterjohn, one of the best known scenario writers, and it offers Mr. Kerrigan a charming Irish role. He is introduced as Miles Machree, who meets and falls in love with an Irish-American girl. Sheila Lynch, when she is touring Ireland with her father. Shortly after her departure back to America Miles follows her, and gets a position on the New York police force through the influence of his uncle, an alderman. His " beat " is the picturesque East Side and he chances upon clues of a counterfeiting scheme and follows them. Sheila's father is president of a bank and the girl is engaged to her father's secretary, Allyn Dexter, who is the tool of the master counterfeiter. Miles learns that the girl he loves is engaged to Dexter, and shortly after that the latter and the counterfeiter plan to replace the currency of the bank with bad money and escape. At this time the Secret Service takes a hand. Miles arranges a raid on the counterfeiter's den, and rescues Sheila, who had been lured there. In the ensuing scuffle Dexter is killed and Hugo Strauss, the counterfeiter is captured. In gratitude for his pluck and courage. Miles is given a responsible position in the bank and his determination to win the girl is rewarded at last. The picture abounds in atmosphere and offers a novel plot filled with action and suspense. The romantic element is sustained throughout the picture. Mr. Kerrigan gives a fine performance of the hero and he is assisted by Fritzi Brunette, Joseph J. Dowling and others. Ernest C. Warde directed. PROGRAM READER The romantic actor, J. Warren Kerrigan, will be at the theatre soon in his newest photoplay, " The Lord Loves the Irish," a comedy drama by Monte M. Katterjohn, the well known scenario writer. This star has assumed many roles in his career on the screen but it is safe to say that never has he appeared to better advantage than as the son of Erin in " The Lord Loves the Irish." He comes straight from the " auld sod " to New York. And where do you guess he landed? Why on the police force. An Irishman loves excitement and a fight. And the force is the place to find it. Well he finds both all right, but he also finds love. It comes to him because he is the " divil " with the women. It's a romantic picture — a sentimental picture — an exciting picture and it is charged with atmosphere, action and suspense. M. Kerrigan has selected an aggregation of popular players who accord him unusually brilliant support. Among them is the vivacious Fritzi Brunette. SUGGESTIONS Take advantage of this title in the exploitation of the picture. Treat it humorously. It lends itself well to a catch line and teaser campaign, so be sure to emphasize it along these angles. Make mention that it presents the star in a new role. He has played many parts during his career on the screen but he has never played an Irishman before. Feature this actor with the Irish name in a rattling good Irish comedydrama. Emphasize that he becomes a New York policeman, a job he took because it promised adventure and excitement. Play up the theme. The tord loves the Irish, because they look on life good naturedly and take advantage of their opportunities. Mention the other players, part cularly Fritzi Brunette who appears opposite the star. Make the front of your house as Irish in atmosphere as possible. Pasteboard shamrocks could be used and also the Irish fiag. Have your orchestra play strictly Irish tunes. Use stills of the star and the picture. These are colorful enough to attract attention. CATCH LINES No matter how much trouble an Irishman gets into you can depend on it that the Lord loves him enough to help him out of it. See how J. Warren Kerrigan is helped in " The Lord Loves the Irish." A romance direct from the " auld sod " is " The Lord Loves the Irish." J. Warren Kerrigan's picture. See it. He came from Ireland and found a job on the New York police force. See how he found romance, adventure and excitement. See " The Lord Loves the Irish," J. Warren Kerrigan's best picture. He had the luck of the Irish and the pluck of the Irish too. And between the two he won the finest girl in the land. See " The Lord Loves the Irish."