Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

February 25, 1922 1271 "THE WAY OF A MAID” (Selznick) << TILLIE” ( Realart-Paramount) Society Comedy-Drama Is Interestingly Presented HERE is a comedy-drama polished off with excellent treatment in every respect. It carries a simple little story which does not tax the spectator and while it is obvious and easily anticipated from scene to scene, the contents are so well balanced with romance, humor, satire and surprise touches that it must be classified as something really worth while. There is not the broad humor exposed in “Why Announce Your Marriage?” It depends more upon its romantic note. And the story is so logical in development that it actually bears a resemblance to a slice of life. The humor is subtly handled — the delicate touches being emphasized with just the right strokes. And while it gives evidence of losing its substance here and there, still the story always manages to finish a weak scene with a happy flourish. It is all about an aristocratic girl who masquerades as a lady’s maid and who is compelled to follow the deception because of financial embarrassment. She has gone to the home of a friend and encounters the hero, who mistakes her for a servant because of her attire. The heroine, being an impulsive creature, carries out the whimsical touch, partly because of a mischevious streak in her character, and partly because the wolf is howling at her door. Her home is leased by the hero’s mother and she becomes a social secretary. Thus thrown into intimate contact with the youth, it is easy to see that the romance is developing in a handy manner. The action is smooth and filled with some charming incident — with none of the scenes being overdrawn for the sake of bringing out a vulgar laugh. Sympathy is extended to the girl because she makes the most of her unpleasant experience. She discovers that romance can be true. The youth, not knowing her identity until the denouement, cannot be called a fortune hunter. He is conquered through her charm and personality. There is a proposal of marriage which is accepted and since the girl’s identity becomes known the social aspirations of the dowager are fully realized without her becoming mercenary in her efforts. The comedy of the deception may be imagined. It is delicate, but to the point. This picture is not dull. It doesn’t convey a moral, but simply goes to its climax, releasing high lights of entertainment. Director Earle has staged it in fine fashion, tne sets, both interiors and exteriors being appropriate and the lighting, uniformly good. It is a good box-office bet because it is interestingly told and acted. George Fawcett and Niles Welch contribute first rate performances in support of the star who gives a charming portrayal. Length, 5 reels. — Laurence Reid. Pennsylvania Dutch Story Well Done IN this adaptation of a fairly popular story and play, “ Tillie, a Mennonite Maid,” Mary Miles Minter has an opportunity to appear in character. It will surprise many of her following to see her discarding her Pollyanna personality to find expression in a story which doesn’t permit her to radiate her charm. When she adorns herself in a quaint dress and tops it off with a poke bonnet she makes an attractive person — although the scene is a limited one. Stories of life among the Mennonites have not been shown very much on the screen. “ Erstwhile Susan ” and “ The Shulamite ” are a couple which will be remembered. The entire gist of this tale revolves around the supremacy of man over woman, the idea among the Mennonites holding the gentler sex as mere chattels. Tillie is a young girl who is dominated by a particularly cruel and mercenary father. She toils in the field with the other women — her whole life being given up to working or rather slaving for some man. It develops that she will inherit a snug sum if she adopts the Mennonite faith by her eighteenth birthday. Ana a persistent suitor connives with her father to marry her and come into her wealth. Well Tillie adopts the faith but runs away. The hero is a young artist who has awakened romance in her. He is too obviously dressed to be genuine, though for the purposes of the story he manages to extricate a deal of sympathy for aiding the girl and encouraging her to defy the harsh custom of her people. The picture is done extremely well as far as production is concerned. The correct atmosphere is always present — not only in the costumes of the natives but in the intimate scenes of the homes and fields. The characterization is effective, the different parts being assigned to players who get thoroughly into character — even Miss Minter flashes a talent for character work not usually identified with her pictures. The story builds consistently, releasing a first rate interest and appeal, although the action becomes draggy In several of the scenes. This is due to planting the plot, characterization and moral. And the plot being of a single thread is easy to anticipate. The director has failed to rid the community of the elderly woman who willed the money to the girl. As far as the spectator knows her death never occurred. The titles are gems of characteristic dialect, filled with quaintness and charm, and the acting is excellent, particularly the performances of Lucien Littlefield as an old friend of Tillie, and Noah Beery as her father. There are not many dramatic scenes — it being mostly a slice of lie in a quaint community. Length, 5 reels.Laurence Reid. THE CAST THE CAST Naida Castleton Thomas Lawlor Dorothy Graham Gordon Witherspoon David Lawlor.... Jimmy Van Trent Mrs. Lawlor By Rex Taylor. Scenario by Lewis Browne. Directed by Wm. P. S. Earle. PRESS NOTICE— STORY Elaine Hammerstein Niles Welch Diana Allen Charles Brown .... George Fawcett . . .Arthur Housman Helen Lindroth “ The Way of a Maid ” is the title of the Selznick picture which comes to the theatre next with Elaine Hammerstein as the star. This is said to be a highly interesting photoplay which offers Miss Hammerstein a chance to express her talent and personality in the role of an aristocratic member of society who masquerades as a maid and is forced to become one in reality when misfortunes visit her. The picture develops a semi-humorous treatment, uncovering a deal of satire, whimsy and romance. The heroine wins a prize at a masquerade by her impersonation of a lady’s maid. It happens that she spends the night with her friend, Dorothy Graham, and Thomas Lawlor encounters her and naturally mistakes her for a servant since she is attired as a maid. Misfortune comes to her and when she leases her summer home, Tom’s mother takes it. The latter has social aspirations. The heroine becomes secretary to Mr. Lawlor and her identity is carefully hidden until some friends visit her. Before Tom discovers the truth he proposes marriage and is accepted. Thus the girl recovers her aristocratic environment with none of its worries concerning financial matters. The picture is acted by a competent cast that includes Niles Welch, Arthur Housman, George Fawcett and Helen Lindroth. PROGRAM READER Did you ever go to a masquerade dance disguised as a servant? Just suppose you were a member of the upper circle — the exclusive society sphere and you went disguised as a lady’s maid. Suppose through a mischievous impulse you continued to pose in that attire and attracted a youth. Would you declare your identity? There were reasons which prevented Naida from revealing her true name and position. For one thing she was financially embarrassed. So she became a social secretary. And the youth offered a true love because he thought her a maid. He was sincere and not a fortune hunter. This sparkling comedy-romance, “ The Way of a Maid ” is coming to the theatre next with Elaine Hammerstein as the star. In the cast are Niles Welch, George Fawcett, Diana Allen, Helen Lindroth and Arthur Housman. SUGGESTIONS This Elaine Hammerstein picture is similar to some others presented recently in which she has starred. You can feature it as a semi-humorous comedy-drama revealing a sparkling romance and plenty of amusing incident. Tell that it features a heroine who went to a dance disguised as a lady’s maid. Play up that it was a masquerade dance. Then circumstances compelled her to become a true servant. And she loved the deception because it meant taking up her idle moments. She learned how to judge the realities. She also discovered true love. Emphasize the title and make much of it in a teaser campaign. Tell that the picture is a sparkling offering, well acted by a cast that is known to the steady patron. Mention Niles Welch, George Fawcett and Diana Allen in all of your publicity. A prologue can feature a Benda mask dance. Tillie Getz Jacob Getz Jack Fairchild. . . . Doc Weaver Sarah Oberholtzer Sallie Getz Louisa Absalone Lawyer Mary Miles Minter Noah Beery Alan Forrest Lucien Littlefield Lillian Leighton Marie Treboul Virginia Adair Robert Anderson Ashley Cooper By Helen R. Martin. Play by Helen R. Martin and Frank Howe, Jr. Scenario by Alice Eyton. Directed by Frank Urson. Photographed by Allen Davey. PRESS NOTICE— STORY Mary Miles Minter is the star of " Tillie ” which comes to the theatre next . This is an adaptation of Helen Martin and Frank Howe’s play, “ Tillie, a Mennonite Maid,” which scored a hit upon the stage. It is based upon the life of the Mennonites, a colony in Pennsylvania — commonly called Pennsylvania Dutch. It is a story of humor and pathos — this “ Tillie ” and revolves around the life of a girl in the strict Mennonite community. The picture presents the attractive star in a role minus her curls. Her lovely personality is displaced by an entirely straight character. The girl struggles for happiness in the narrow-minded community, a home devoid either of father or mother love. While Tillie has a father, he is so brutal and so stern in his attitude that the daughter is incapable of offering him any devotion. It develops that she will inherit a fortune if she becomes a Mennonite before her eighteenth birthday. And a mercenary admirer attempts to win her for the sake of her inheritance. But love comes to Tillie — a beautiful, unbounded love. And she is rescued from her life of toil and unhappiness. “ Tillie ” is an interesting character sketch, filled with romance, humor and pathos. It is excellently acted by a cast that includes Alan Forrest and Noah Beery. PROGRAM READER “ Tillie, the Mennonite Maid ” is one of the most widely read stories ever published. As a play it scored a decided hit. It now comes to the theatre next as a photoplay with Mary Miles Minter as the star. “ She must obey.” That was the edict of her father. Grim visaged and determined, he threatened her. He would flog her into submission and make her a Mennonite. But Tillie, too, was determined. There must be something better, brighter than life in this Mennonite colony. She led a life of drudgery, abuse and bleak sorrow. But happiness awaited her at the end of the trail. See Mary Miles Minter in her superb portrayal of “Tillie.” You will like this picture. It depicts life among the Pennsylvania Dutch — life among the Mennonites. SUGGESTIONS You have an interesting story to exploit here. It exposes life among the Pennsylvania Dutch colonists in the Mennonite community. This is a creed followed by these people. So the picture is colorful in depicting their lives. Send out your post-cards. Tell them that they will scarcely recognize Miss Minter deprived of her curls. Tell them that it is a picture which affords the chance to give a rich portrayal. Present stills of her in her Mennonite costume. Feature the original story and announce that it is one of the most widely read ever published. Use snappy catch lines and make a great play about the Mennonites.