Motion Picture News (Oct 1913 - Jan 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 43 Finally he kills Dick in a moment of passion, the act being witnessed by an engineer he had discharged. The workman is reinstated and drives his train past danger signals and into another engine. The wreck scene is wonderfully portrayed. Carlyle and his son are both killed in the wreck. Static streaks show in one scene. One or two inconsistencies do not materially hurt the picture. "The Black Countess." (Patheplay. Three parts. Dec. 2. General Film Co. Exclusive Service.) — Made by the Paris Pathe Company, probably. The title is clever, though meaning little. Two reels would have been better than the three given, the action appearing padded and consequently interest is lost. The story tells of a young doctor and his colleague to whose daughter he is engaged. He meets the Countess and she fascinates him. By a clever ruse the Countess gets the doctor's daughter to break her engagement, but later when in kreat need of professional services she confesses that her love for the young man had caused her to hunt the doctor. Pathe's Weekly. (Pathe, Dec. 1.)— A number of the weekly which does not contain much news of vital interest. The recent meeting in New York City of the Salvation Army forces under Booth, and Cardinals Gibbons and Farley in Washington, are perhaps the most interesting items. "The Blight." (Patheplay, Nov. 29.) — In the last few months a large number of dramas have been produced dealing with psychological subjects. This is one of them, and rather better than the average. A boy, the son of a criminal, becomes very influential in business. He becomes engaged to his partner's daughter, but the affair is stopped on their wedding day because of the taint in his blood. "Turning the Tables." (Lubin, Nov. 29.) — One of the Lubin Mexico stories that have achieved an enviable reputation for that company. Bob, a ranger, while really in love with May, becomes infatuated with a Mexican girl, who leads him in the mountains, where he is captured by the bandits under her father. The boy is rescued by May, and together they lead their rangers to the attack and capture the outlaws. Plenty of action carries the story "across." "Melita's Sacrifice." (Lubin, Dec. 1). — The story is laid in Mexico and makes a good release. Jess Mason, a cowboy, protects a Mexican girl from an insulter, thereby provoking the Mexican's hatred and arousing the girl's love. He is captured later when with his fiancee, but both are saved by Melita. "The Cypher Message." (Selig. Two reels. Dec. 1.) — One scene where the detective gets the other's coat by mistake and wears it is inconsistent. The story deals with two society crooks who communicate by cypher letters. They are at last caught through one of their letters being translated. "Princess Elena's Prisoner." (Great Northern.) — This multiple reel release serves to introduce to the American motion picture public a new European actress, Betty Nansen, whose reputation has been swiftly made. Large sums have been paid for her services. She is to appear in six Nordisk pictures, of which that under review is the first. Viewing the picture, it must be conceded that Miss Nansen has the gift of tragedy of a high order. She is a mental actress of the calibre of Mrs. Fiske — and, like that lady, obtains her effects by an apparent minimum of physical effort. The story has to do with her intrigue with a young officer, who is discovered and is ordered to be shot, but the princess secures his escape. Discovery confronts the princess with the necessity of dying' with her lover. He, however, prefers to live for his country. She aids him to escape and herself dies from shock, not, however, before undergoing great mental agonies at his desertion. In this character Miss Nansen acts with superb conviction, the part of the film where she surveys the hand which her lover has kissed before he goes away being very finely rendered. The photography of this picture is alone worth study — it is so true and at the same time so artistic — there is nothing faked about it. It is a fine picture, acted and produced well. Miss Nansen is sure to be popular with audiences here. We would like to hand a compliment to the actor who plays the part of the Prime Minister in the picture. He signs a death warrant like a Spartan and then lights a cigar with such convincing coolness that you would think signing death warrants is the business of his life. T. B. \ K EXHIBITOR MfDEAXER. 1"H. OPERATOR REGARDING OUR SPECIALTIES Pertaining to Motion Picture Equipment INCLUDINC ECONOMIZERS RHEOSTATS HEATERS TRANSFORMERS Et WRITE US IMMEDIATELY MONARCH ^ECONOMIZERS y. General ElectriTutilities Co.. 145 West 45* St. AGENTS WANTED IN ALL SECTIONS OF U.S. AND CANADA MR. EXHIBITOR— Here is an Opportunity for you THREE SLIDES F^OR 50 CENTS CHRISTMAS GREETINGS NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY Each slide is appropriately illustrated and beautifully colored. All three mailed to you for f>0c. Stock announcements and feature player slides. !f 1 .25 for six. Slides of every description. GREATER NEW YORK SLIDE COMPANY, ... J36 Third Avenue, NEW YORK CITY In writing to advertisers please mention "THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS"