Motography (Jul-Dec 1914)

0< rOREH 10. 1"14 MOTOGRAPHY 497 Essanay's Drama of the Steel Mills Other Big Productions background POW ERFUL acting, spectacular settings, splendid tinting and photograph) of the de luxe sort, all tend to make Essanay's three reel special production. "In the Glare oi the Lights," a most welcome offering. It combines the dramatic with the spec tacular in a satisfying fashion, and gives Francis X. Bushman, Lillian Drew and Lester Cuneo a chance to display their talents. Director Calvert undertook a difficult task when he attempted to put on a story necessitating the taking of many scenes in and about a big steel mill, with the glare oi the huge blast furnaces as a for much of the action. The superb manner in which he has accomplished h i s object, however, undoubtedly adds to his laurels as a producer, so. probably, he considers the finished production as well worth all the care and effort on his part that it took. As the tale unfolds we learn that Glen Duval (Francis Bushman), a worker in the steel mills, is fired with an ambition to become an actor. In his spare moments Duval reads a textbook entitled "How to Become an Actor," and practices heroic speeches on his aunt. Joe Brandigan (Lester Cuneo). who works in the mill with Glen, is insanely jealous of him because Martha Stedman (Beverly Bayne). whom Joe loves, appears to care for Duval, though in reality Glen cares for her only as a friend. While matters are in this condition Wanda Dawson (Lillian Drew), leading woman in a traveling light opera troupe, is left behind when the train on which she is traveling with other members of the company, pauses to repair a broken driving rod on the engine, and then suddenly starts up while Wanda is picking Wanda and the stage are denounced by Duval. flowers alongside the right of way. Wanda, in despair over being left alone, sinks down on the railroad embankment and falls asleep. There she is found by (den while on his way to work the next morning. Duval takes her to his. home, has his aunt care for her and sends a telegram to the manager of the troupe, telling of his leading lady's whereabouts. Before Wanda leaves to rejoin the troupe, Glen tells her of his ambition to become an actor and she not only encourages him in that desire, but helps him to secure an engagement from her manager. On the stage Glen finds himself falling in love with the beautiful leading woman, but hesitates to ask her to marry him because he considers himself so far beneath her. One day his chance comes, however, and Glen, who has understudied Bland, the leading man of the troupe, is able to play the leading role opposite Wanda, when Bland is unable to appear. He scores a tremendous success. With the passing of time Glen rises to the rank of a star and believes the time has come when he can honorably ask Wanda to become his wife He enters her dressing room to discuss the matter with her, and much to his surprise finds Bland there and Wanda in his arms. Wanda explains that Bland is ready to launch a new play and wants her for his leading woman. Glen, in a rage, denounces both Wanda and the stage and, heartbroken, returns home. Back in the steel mill Joe Brandigan has become foreman. He gives Glen back his job when he asks for it, but has not yet succeeded in overcoming his hatred of the former, though by now Brandigan has married Martha, so he really has nothing to be jealous over As the weeks pass Joe drives Glen harder and At the critical moment the old butler intervenes. Duval takes the actress to his home.