Motion Picture News (Dec 1920-Feb 1921)

878 ,1/ (> t I o II I' i r f u r e .V e igi scenes from " The Oath," the R. A. Walsh production, one of the " Big Five " to be distributed by First National Chaplin Release Is Due Jan. 23 *<npHE KID," I lin's six-reeler, leased by National Pictures, Charlie Chapwill be reAssociated First Inc., on January 23. This will be the second release of the first group of Big Five productions to be distributed by First National this year, " Passion," starring Pola Nigri being the first, with " The Oath," an R. A. Walsh production-, " Sowing the Wind," with Anita Stewart, and Allen Holubar's " Man, Woman, Marriage," starring Dorothy Phillips yet to come. "The Kid" is the comedian's initial adventure into the field of feature comedy and is said to be a revelation in Chaplin humor. It is the projection of a character such as Charlie has made famous into an intense, gripping, heart interest with a genuine plot. The picture "The Kid" Will Be Released by Ass'd First Nat'l proceeds from the start to the finish in the unraveling of the story and the action is fast and snappy, according to reports, right up to the climax. The comedy is said to excel anything that Chaplin has ever done, and a great part of the effect is gained through the fact that none of the situations are forced to give the comedian opportunity. The logical efforts of the comedian to handle the situations into which he is carried as the story develops scintilates with natural humor. A synopsis of the story indicates that the production is as unusual as First National found it to be when it was included in the first group of Big Fives. The play had but five characters named as The Man, The Woman, The Kid, The Tramp and The Policeman. Charlie Chaplin, dinky mustache, half sized cane, full-grown trousers, over-sized shoes and everj'thing is the Tramp. He finds an abandoned baby against an ash can in an alley and after several atempts to make someone else take charge of it takes it to his own garret room. When the Kid has reached the age of six they have a f ullrfledgeed, efficient business organization running — the Kid makes a business of breaking windows, when Charles, as an itinerant glazier, is nearby to make the necessary repairs. The contrast to make the humor more joyous is furnihsed by the pathos of the mother's search for the Kid. Charlie and the Kid become beneficiaries of her kindness with no suspicion of the actual relationship until one day when the authorities try to separate the Kid and Charlie. The storj' was written by Chaplin himself, and the production of it was directed by the comedian. Jackie Coogan, hailed as a genuine discovery of juvenile acting ability plays the part of the Kid. Edna Purviance, well known for her clever work in previous Chaplin productions, has the part of the Woman ; Tom Wilson, the Policeman, and Carl Miller, the Man. The production is in six reels "and will be released as a super-special. Many Reviewers Praise "Little 'Fraid Lady" Trade paper reviewers of many publications covering the motion picture field are at one in declaring " The Little 'Fraid Lady " in which Mae Marsh returns to the screen to be a production entirely worthy of the event. This picture =s based on Marjorie Berrton Cooke's " The Girl Who Lived In the Woods " and was directed by John G. Adolfi. It is released as a Robertson-Cole super-special. In writing their criticisms of " The Little 'Fraid Lady " the reviewers invariably gave full credit to the past performances of Miss Marsh, and acknowledged the enormity of the following which she won by them in all parts of the world. Incidentally they hailed Miss Marsh's return to the screen as an event of more than passing note. "The Spenders'Tleases Loew Audiences A statement from the headquarters of the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation declares that the enthusiasm displayed by the audiences of Marcus Loew's New York theatre during the recent showing of " The Spenders " at that theatre " was greater than that which had been accorded any other comedy-drama that ever played there." "Film-Osophy" Meeting with Success Luke McLuke's " Film-Osophy," being served weekly by the Pi< neej Film Corporation, is meeting with splendid success and is gaining headway each week in every part of the countr>', according to a statement from Pioneer. " Film-Osophy " is made up of a number of " gags " written by the famous column conductor, Luke McLuke, whose quips appear in over 250 newspapers throughout the country.