Motography (Jul - Dec 1915)

August 28, 1915. MOTOGRAPHY 419 "Drawing the Line" Reviewed by Neil G. Caward i i 1~\RAWING the Line," the two-reel American drama L-* scheduled for release on August 23, is based upon a verse from the pen of the famous poet of the Sierras, Joaquin Miller, which runs as follows: In men whom men condemn as ill, I find so much of goodness still; In men whom men pronounce divine, I see so much of sin and blot; I hesitate to draw the line Between the two — when God has not. Jack Richardson is cast as Fred Harris, whom the villagers "pronounce divine," since he has been raised in the best surroundings and is considered an ideal youth, though in reality he yields to the first temptation that offers itself after his departure from his rural home. Walter Spencer, a new-comer to the American ranks, plays Billy Howe, the man "condemned as ill," since his father had been convicted of theft, and under the stigma thus cast on his family name, Billy finds himself at a decided disadvantage in his home town. Richardson, as usual, gets everything possible out of the role assigned him, but as much cannot be said for Spencer, since the latter appeared to be comparatively lifeless and sadly lacking in the qualities one expects to find in a photoplay hero. Vivian Rich as Edith Lotimer, the girl whom both Billy and Fred love, has one of the best roles in which she has recently been cast and her work in the scene where Fred discovers her to be blind and she tells him the cause of her blindness she is particularly convincing. patents. Edith explains that her blindness was caused by her working early and late in sewing, that she might have more funds with which to supply Fred's insistent demands for money. When Edith shows her preference for Fred, Billy is humiliated, since he realizes that the girl has chosen the other young man merely because his family name is spotless, whereas Billy's own is under a cloud, due to his father's conviction for theft. He feels, however, that in time he will be able to live down the cloud that has befogged his life and so is immensely pleased when he is offered work as a clerk in the village store. Once more, however, fate pursues him, for his employer is told that Billy's father was a thief and cautioned against the boy being given too much freedom in the handling of cash in the store, resulting ultimately in his being discharged. Thoroughly resenting this treatment, Billy visits the store that night and takes enough money with which to purchase a ticket to the city, where he hopes to lose himself amid new surroundings and start life anew. Months later he finds Fred in a gay cafe, spending money with a free hand and ruining his life. When, a day or two later, Fred, while drunk, insults one of the cafe patrons, Billy has him ordered out of the place of which he is manager, and after he has departed finds a note from Edith beseeching Fred to return home or at least to write her regarding his success in the city. Billy determines to visit Edith and tell her Fred's real situation in life and the riotous way in which he is living, but upon reaching his old home he discovers that Edith is blind and has turned over to Fred all the money she possessed, that he may establish her father's right to certain The blind girl tells her sto Realizing the true situation, Billy tells her that Fred is ill, but that he ought to be back within a month. He then returns to the city, hunts Fred up, kidnaps him and places him by force in a sanitarium, where his love for liquor is finally conquered. When Fred is thoroughly cured of his love for drink, Billy tells hirn of his visit to Edith and that the drink cure has been administered in order that he may return to her a new man. Fred, appreciating what Billy has done, swears to restore all the money he has taken from Edith and leaves for her home. "The Man With the Iron Heart" Reviewed by Neil G. Caward "THURSDAY, September 2, the Selig Polyscope Company * will offer exhibitors a three-reel subject written by Henry Kolker, entitled "The Man With the Iron Heart," in which Al Filson is featured. The production is one of those made under the direction of Producer George Nicholls, and like Mr. Nicholls' other plays is well photographed, well directed and well acted. The story in brief runs as follows: I. M. Mann, president of a large corporation, is known as "the man with the iron heart" because he looks upon his workmen as slaves. When James Boyd, cashier of Mann's corporation, is delayed coming to work one morning, because of a dying mother, Mann discharges him. Boyd goes to union headquarters with his story and as a result Mann's employes strike. Later, Boyd, at the suggestion of the workmen, calls upon Mrs. Mann, but Mann returns home and orders Boyd out of his house. Mrs. Mann, surprised at her husband's stoneyheartedness, leaves him, declaring she will only return when he resolves to grant the concessions asked by his workmen. The following day a terrific battle occurs between the strikers