Motography (Jul-Dec 1914)

586 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XII, No. 18. Siberia, and that his reputation as a roue extends all over Russia, she positively loathes him and welcomes the uprising of the Jews of the neighborhood, which results in the defeat of Ivan's Cossack guardians and her own release from his home. Years later, we behold Miriam on a ranch in Arizona, the wife of Feodor Tomsky, a thrifty young Russian, and the happy mother of a little boy (William Thaw) while as neighbors she has a whole colony of Russian settlers, chief among whom is Alexis, the lover of Rachel. Rachel herself is now the friend and companion of Miriam. Life on the Arizona ranch moves smoothly along and all are learning real happiness for the first time in their lives, when Feodor receives a note from his cousin in Russia, announcing that he is to visit Arizona on a mission for the Czar. The note is signed Ivan Rusek, but asks that Feodor will permit him to appear incognito while on his visit. Miriam is amazed and horrified when she beholds in Feodor's cousin the hated Rusek, and all her fears prove well grounded when, a day or two later. Ivan tells her that he will reveal her whole past to Feodor, unless she consents to depart with him. Terrified, Miriam consults with Rachel and the latter hastens to warn Alexis of the presence of the much hated Rusek. When Feodor is compelled to spend a day in the distant town, Ivan takes advantage of his absence to insist upon Miriam meeting him that night in a lonely cabin at some distance from the ranch. By means of a forged note Alexis postpones the meeting time and after consultation with other Russian's in the colony has a bomb planted in the lonely cabin. Ivan goes to keep his appointment and is blown to atoms when the bomb explodes, thus releasing Miriam forever from fear of his further attentions. "The Million Dollar Mystery" Some splendid water scenes make episode nineteen of "The Million Dollar Mystery" one of the most interesting of the Thanhouser series. The entire cast, near the close of the second reel, plunge overboard from boats, launches or other craft, and it becomes well nigh a submarine drama, though, ere the picture ends, the hero and heroine are once more on terra firma and the villainous conspirators are still "in the drink." Shep, the Thanhouser dog, really is entitled to a place among the principals in this episode, for he performs like a real star, and undoubtedly does much to add to the interest of this particular portion of the fascinating serial. Florence Gray, seeking her dog, chances upon a spot in the woods, where she beholds Countess Olga rolling aside a heavy boulder and entering a subterranean passage. Her curiosity aroused, she follows Olga, and manages to conceal herself in a niche of an underground cave, where the conspirators are meeting. After the various members of the band have assembled, Florence learns that Braine possesses a paper which will relieve millionaire Hargreave of further persecution, and she craftily manages to procure the document without Braine's knowledge. After the meeting has broken up, Braine and the conspirators depart and Florence conceals the priceless paper in her hair, doffs the riding boots she is wearing, and plunges into an underground stream which she hopes may lead her to open air and freedom. Jimmy Norton, meanwhile, has been seeking Florence, accompanied by Shep, her collie, and is led up to a big stone which guards the entrance of the subterranean meeting place, but, though Shep barks loudly at the entrance and endeavors to make Norton investigate farther, the latter cannot believe the dog is on the right scent, and so passes on. Braine, at last, discovers that he no longer has the paper, and returns to the cave to seek it. There he discovers Florence's discarded riding boots, and immediately suspicions that she has the paper, and has escaped by way of the underground stream. Entering a row boat he paddles along the perilous channel and emerges at last into the harbor, where he beholds Florence gamely swimming for shore. Overtaking her, he drags her aboard his boat and prepares to carry her to one of the conspirators' dens. Jimmy, however, has seen the struggle from the shore and plunges in, to swim out and rescue Florence, followed by Shep. Further complications are added when others of the conspirator's band board a fast launch and mingle in the fray. In the scuffle aboard Braine's boat, Braine, Jimmy and several of the conspirators are thrown into the harbor, and in the fight in the water, eventually Jimmy overcomes his opponents, and boarding a launch with Florence sets out for shore, leaving the conspirators to rescue themselves as best they can. N. G. C. Prizes Awarded The judges in the comedy scenario prize contest conducted by the New York Morning Telegraph and Chartered Theaters Corporation have awarded the three prizes as follows : First Prize — Roy L. McCardell of New Rochelle, N. Y., for three-reel comedy, entitled " A Jay in Peacock Alley." Second Prize — Miss Elaine Sterne of New York City, for three-reel comedy, entitled "Without Hope." Third Prize — Miss Caroline Benbrooke Wells of St. Louis, Mo., for three-reel comedy, entitled "A Puritan's Conscience." The contest was inaugurated on June 15 and closed September 15 of this year. During the three months 3,654 manuscripts were received. But 511 of this number stood the test of the first reading. From the remainder it is probable that fifty high-class motion picture comedies will be retained as worthy of production. The comedies submitted in the contest were subjected to the most critical reading and the prize winners were only decided .after more than a score of expert scenario readers and writers had passed upon their merits in conjunction with the judges. The three comedies awarded the prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively are certain to endure in motion picture presentation because of their originality, dramatic and picturization values. Julius Caesar Next The George Kleihe offices announce that "Julius Caesar," the mammoth six-part spectacle which required eighteen months to complete and the services of nearly 20,000 people, will be ready for booking through the various Kleine branch offices on or about November 10. Advance reports hail "Julius Caesar" as the greatest of the Roman cycle headed by "Quo Vadis." The big subject is correct historically and quite the most pretentious from an educational standpoint, ever produced.