Motography (Jan-Jun 1915)

March 27, 1915. MOTOGRAPHY 477 Essanay's "The Little Straw Wife BY CLARENCE J. CAINE ** ON March 23 the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company will release a three reel picture entited "The Little Straw Wife," which abounds in human interest and which will doubtless prove very popular with the "fans" throughout the country, especially those who enjoy the acting of Bryant Washburn and Edna Mayo, for these two stars are seen to splendid advantage. The picture moves along slowly and naturally to its climax and is filled with little touches of human interest, which make every foot of it enjoyable. In the opening scenes the love affair of two children is shown and the child players enacting the leading roles in these scenes are very clever. It is not very often that such a simple yet effective incident as a children's love affair is successfully portrayed on the screen, but in this case it certainly is one of the most interesting parts of the picture. In the second part of the story, when Mr. Washburn and Miss Mayo assume the roles of the lovers the interest is maintained equally as well. In the supporting roles Lester Cuneo appears as the heavy lead, and Thomas Comerford, Mae Edwards and Betty Brown in other parts. The acting of all is satisfactory and the "bit" each contributes, helps make the production a success. The settings are of Essanay quality throughout A WH.TOUK JR 1 warn iiwgsnat ▼f % 1 ■ **: Two scenes from Essanay's "The Little Straw Wife." and the photography is very clear at all times. The entire picture leaves a pleasing memory with one who sees it, and it seems safe to say that it will be welcomed by both exhibitors and the public. The story follows : Zoe Ballentyne, the nine-year-old daughter of an invalid mother meets "Tuppy" Holt, a new neighbor's boy, and the children fall in love. "Tuppy" writes his proposal on an old piece of wrapping paper, which Zoe treasures. Zoe's mother dies and she goes to live with her aunt, who is a social climber. Fourteen yaers later, "Tuppy," now grown up and called by his real name, Dudley Holt, falls in love with Zoe, whom he does not recognize as his childhood sweetheart. Zoe marries him under pressure of her aunt. Dudley, on the wedding day, suspects that Zoe doesn't love him and confronts the aunt with the lie she told him that Zoe did love him. Zoe overhears, and, disgusted at her aunt's treachery, runs away from her husband, and resumes her maiden name of Ballentyne. He pursues her and finds her in the city in time to save her twice from the attentions of two objectionable men. She thanks him, but tells him she doesn't love him and that she will free him whenever he meets a girl he loves. She goes to St. Louis as social secretary in the family of the Razors, newly rich brewers. She finds The wedding breakfast. them expecting the arrival of Dudley Holt, who is anold friend of the family and of whose marriage they have not heard. Mrs. Razor wants him to marry Claire, their daughter. Dudley, on arriving, agrees to help Claire to elope with Bret Jordan, a young man to whom Mrs. Razor objects. Zoe seeing the development of the plot, thinks that Claire and Holt are going to elope. She warns the Razors just as Claire is escaping. Holt sees that at last his wife has realized that she loves him, through her jealousy for Claire. He confronts her with her love for him. She denies it and shows him his boyish Zoe's jealousy is aroused. scrawl on the old brown wrapping paper and says that she loves "Tuppy." He is delighted to inform her that he is "Tuppy," her childhood sweetheart.