Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

December 31, 1921 Motion Picture News “THE LITTLE MINISTER* (Vitagraph) HER January 7, 1922 H1B1T0RS December 31, 1921 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW . delightful and inter J most deng tames nictunzation ot J , audience David Snuth, * Excellent Production Made From Barrie's Classic V JAMES M. BARRIE’S celebrated story (not the. play) has bee/ This IS a nictun^ «*■» — , made into a feature production by Vitagraph, and it behooved eSt holding P1'" tory every exhibitor to book it because of its excellent qualities -Rnrrie’s famous => J snlen > Some of those who have been showmen over a score of yeah M. 15,11 presented W111 ErYhV N will doubtless remember the three-reeler which Vitagraph made same name* F photography » \ from the same story. With the advance in technical equipment— \ j acting* beaut r scarcely ^ without advance in the art of translating a story for the screen, th<* aiu. direction that w Great ' producers have done extremely well by this charming document^ and ou ;mnrOVement. j which is entitled to classical honors. The lovable figure of Lady’ permit °l Directed J g Babbie, the quaint character of Gavin Dishart, the little minister, and / audience picture. the picturesque natives of Thrums — these are all given life and color/ auu * * here. j Not even the stickler for truths will be able to find any flaw in this! production. From a technical viewpoint, the offering is richly deco-S rated. The thatched cottages, the simple interiors, the charming' backgrounds — th$se are all caught. You become an actual particii pant in this fragrant story of old-world sentiment and romance. You / follow the adventure of Gavin with the deepest interest, even thoughS, you have been made familiar with the plot through the story or play, li It carries the deepest sort of heart interest. There is sympathy for A nearly every character. And when the soldiers surround the little ; village in order to compel the simple weavers to obey the laws of the country, you are stimulated with desire to be with them and help them in some way. The minister tells the natives to find a way to peace. But they rebel because of the insistent demands of the “gypsy girl,” Babbie, who eventually proves to be the ward of a neighborly baron. . j There is rich incident offered when Gavin upbraids the wicked Rob Dow during church services. And you almost catch the spiritual inspiration as the young preacher finds a champion in his tormentor. The story revolves around this little circular town of Thrums. The walls are penetrated and you see a simple folk, deeply religious and eager to live their lives in their own way. It is a charming moment when Lady Babbie runs to the home of Nannie to discover whether her beloved is dead. She is betrothed to her guardian, but she willingly elopes with the minister, and th'y are married according to gypsv ' \being a g.ypsy camp nearby. The subse— et * Tramatic note, as Gavin ■ -disappointed baron, figure of Rob Gow J rainstorm is elo V'licity and charm <mt with naivete ■^picture. James ■The little { 2 V. e vet proauc.^ . 0.. °i «» s»r “to * 7aum0rwnBirtie ( the chai-mmg bcr Lady older nothing i*1?* b „vi mark f°r ters to \ she has .et^ ^ced screen worU \ and mor / undoubted^ screen \ hv this P°P“'a,V,r fut \ ... Alice Calhoun .James Morrison aim at. * tb: yet done hy yet “""j augnrs^rveh" for ^{“pUasing. i V rap''"" A\'€« ,w*''*ed C^ Cli"ou'’ Hoc' :V««" Henry Hebert ......Alberta Lee 4 William McCall il irothea Wolbert \ Maude Emery \| George Stanley j I'.lichard Daniels 1 liirlpt Whfflnrk Bahbie--"\. uij .v. \ u«'’ '>0\vebs'er ' hirles Wheelock ■•"WC Worrtso" ,• Colbert o "Ueorsc ’ ttlchnrrt . wcVi ,\.3l which ■<-wr'c:Jo w >;• • * secnav. \e. charming Ali>\r ' •' is irresistible, t \ .!<“•" . (\*\CC" • • * of the village \ \n\ w . ,, > .V, «d .harm win him^ . \ ^ nX iJilfc'-** „ \ t 'ancies and dreams of \ . -vi B^T* \ V of the Auld Lict Kirk ; 'a \ »»\jot<>6r3V ot * ’ . \ J him. Miss Calhoun g\ \ 1 ° L \ \ » the at>V ..Tbe Lit"* je ond \\ » are efbC \'\to8v: ■ Barnes to in the ^‘ll,sheou\d go * fto“y£^U!of the p'°°[rTh?umsrS “ houses v/hh the characterS, «*ayed turning Jo! t customs P pictur L; "" (Vitagraph Production. From the Story by James M. Barrie. Scenario by C. Graham Baker. Directed by David Smith. Cameraman, Steven Smith. Length, Approximately 5800 Feet. THE CAST Lady Babbie Alice Calhoun Gavin Dishart James Morrison 1 . Lord Rintoul • . • • Henry Hebert fl Margaret Dishart Alberta Lee v Rob Dow William McCall \ Nanny Webster' Dorothy Wolbert \ Jean Maud Emery ft Dr. McQueen George Stanley uMicah Dow Richard Daniels JCa ptaiu Halliwell, Charles Wheelock f SYNOPSIS ( To the little Scotch village of Thrums comes the newly ordained minister, Gavin Dishart. Little Babbie, tbe gypsy girl, makes fun of him, but when the soldiers attack tbe town she Is protected by him To shield her from the soldiers be preteods she is his wife 'This constitutes marriage in their country. Babble Is in reality Lady Babbie, betrothed of Lord Rintoul. The latter set6 tbe date for tbeir marriage, but Babbie runs away. In a terrific rain storm Lord Rintoul breaks a leg aud is being carried away by the raging river. Tbe Little Minister . swims out to him and rescues him. He and Babbie confess their love and are 1 married in the church. * Practically every essential of \ / good photodrama is in The Little ’ Minister. Vitagraph has selected a splendid cast, from the charming Alice Calhoun to tiny Richard Daniels, All of the quaintness and peculiar charm of the little Scotch town of Thrums pervade the picture, and not only is this manifest in the settings and costuming, but even to the extras, there is evidence of careful picking of types. Sir James M. Barrie’s famous story has been screened with unwavering faith to the original theme and all the good fortunes that may befall an author’s work picturized, haye attended it. It stands out as unique in that its interest begins in the first two hundred feet and in this respect good direction and splendid editing are combined to make a motion picture that should have wide popularity. There are thrills and there is heart interest. The love motive is delightful but never “gushy,” and its climax is swift and pleasant. The flight of “Lady Babbie” to her sweetheart, when the report comes to her that he has been killed is the beginning of a sequence in which one of the wetest rainstorms in motion picture history has been screened. There aUt JoinC’ itorj .■Tbe in l"c tll'c , ° <lUSr. >lorrl«oO .«JiJ „nbblc._ of persuasion througi 1 “intlment of Scottish1. \ ',B'1 "'cninoun M'CC C „a, with the simple a Ei ^cr* . _ p\f a*"1 Ma?* • V <f. . v \\ ts Morrison as the . i dents cbnt“> : ‘ \ 1 \ ,,ire «■ " ,fl,iij ttctca. ,rP o' u,« ■, ao\ ' ' ' , , wool'll bcor>' ' lBbt 10 xiit v cj,yie terrint »«*■ r tense scenes. t^c •wedding same j js n<ything puny about this storm. Disba'l ' here the I The players are drenched in it, “d throu?h°ut jhis jS sr^-‘SA . Me I -The Story is *■•.» Hcnry 1 risen aSj ^’auaro as L\ «<■ ‘^nlbo'”' do' irbo»«'' : l oben *“ b3idc »nJ w„uei into 1 »cc. \ i nbc 'a . treat 1 DoW, Mtcah Dow. r v iws‘7 you ! And A or rather watcl Who will well b« , Vitagraph has ;.eUy..^^e'BnlloW C plena cunr I **\t pl“ye4.i5 V»r4 Si ’« prodigy 7“/bas Tore Wkl“ »< I \ Phe youngster ^ Wesley Bar^J V square i u><* wearing, and he / l !iVV*'“.fvS« “»■ Hi ! S ently ^fnnI thousand. mdes » ■ -E-tUsandhe-s^/iot strongest dramatic action of the story is revealed: Miss Calhoun quite delightfully ponrays tne hoydenish gypsy and her “Lady Babbie” is as charming as Barrie tvr Each new picture in which she is cast sees her in a new light 1 of stellar achievement. James Morrison is the “Little Minister.” Few could so well characterize the very young dominie of the small Scotch hamlet as has Morrison. Not merely is he d:griri”tive, but he registers the minister's gentle kindliness and comparably well. William McCall contributes a fin in bis part as “Rob Dow,” and of said he owns a better understand^ screen player than many grown a< sciousness whatever. And whatei he possesses already. It is a mighty good picture. ■4?irlessness in „t.,ul ol"'ran(l l0”11 \ is all i\pt'pnr * word -*■ « W0r“ v\i0 , sn«E' \ 1 '& \ 5US1 . luat we can s \ Veal, A?, ta5V,wd Daniels. menttoJ.to^-ptetnre v>o"' l\-!-Lr'”i ■ \ > \ , \\ Tbe ^ \ every . TV' ?\er v iui>“ , be a g'eat enj°yabk l^reen j pfove cvV* 1 eW\ posT 4 iino'rs bis wbeo . 't »nc forKEtB ,ii,l\U''s_ j.,.« clvl.\ 'st0AlWo . "of tw/’ w'| • ' i"'1’ ie^'ouT v nrd. ._ Etters, sort ‘LunootR j\\n ^ „ . -a nve» ,wce^ Q^Ws p,cture WORzj) £Hd "7y "9'aw, enCitt/e Af, . °! o s,„ g p'°duct,„ co,,?J°ry . °"ing sspssi£ / rnak.w,“ not ‘ .tl’c classic ,lC P’ctunn rea/ ' “ n?',?" Id *«£«& 'n ’■ r i ■ love . Prffed v ! c,can good l \ • CUV. vc"d eve* .ptsfivie \ l uv ’■ fc0«twnies ( uraes ci on . . ,, " b fSue •«* sin? *r*and u,S,ro"«c r conP^y<*^ Ilf Babb* '?*■>' /.arJ>C s Af_. I t "»o » ™ lrca« ,h rcrri°nv I