Motography (Apr-Jun 1916)

April 22, 1916. MOTOGRAPHY 939 her on the evening her husband is to be out of town. Ned is discharged by John's orders. He calls on Alice to help him again. She relates her trouble to him, telling him that she was tempted to steal the money from her husband's private safe. Ned opens the safe and is counting the bills contained there when John, who misses the train, walks into the room. Ned is arrested and the picture of his mother is seen by John when the police search the prisoner. John then asks the judge to dismiss the case and takes his younger brother to his home. There seems to be no good reason why Ned should open the safe and handle its contents, but this brings about a happy ending and a scene that is well acted so most every one will gladly pass over it lightly. The settings are all appropriate. George Anderson, Jean Shelby, Frank Beamish and Lillian Allen are praiseworthy members of the supporting cast. of the story. One cannot enthuse over the story, but then the story in an offering of this kind is successful if it suggests a way for the production of thrilling incidents and spectacular scenes. Considered in this light "The Race" is a. "Realization" Three Reel "Flying A" Drama Released April 22 Reviewed by Genevieve Harris WHILE not unusual, this is a pleasing little story, clearly and interestingly presented. Vivian Rich, Alfred Vosburgh and George Periolat have the principal roles, directed by "Frank Borzage. Miss Rich, in this story, is Elsa, a singer, while Mr. Yosburgh is Carl, the first violinist in a theater orchestra. Elsa goes to the city, with her mother, to earn her living. She is given a place in the chorus of a musical stock company. Carl, the violinist, falls in love with her. Then she meets a wealthy man, Brown, played by George Periolat, who gives her presents and entertains her. Carl tries to warn her of danger, and the result is a quarrel between them. Later Elsa herself is disillusioned concerning Brown, and turns again to Carl. There are other misunderstandings and complications so that the course of their love does not run too smoothly, but all ends well. The play contains a number of very pretty scenes, for instance the fanciful cut-in scenes which show Carl's fancies as he plays. These are used several times, to show his growing interest in Elsa. At first the scenes are of beautiful gardens, forests and sea views. Later, in these dreams, Elsa is always present and when danger threatens her the pictures show her near flowers under which a serpent is coiled. Louise Lester plays the role of Elsa's mother. Edna Frawley and Joseph Beaudry are also in the cast. "The Race" Victor Moore and Anita King in Lasky-Paramount. Reviewed by Thomas C. Kennedy THE first two reels of "The Race" are given over to the A Building of a romance which serves to instill into the remaining scenes which show Jimmie and Grace as auto drivers competing in a coast to coast run, a human interest which adds much color to the exciting scenes along the road. The romance is rather cumbersome in the beginning, and it is not very interesting, but once the race is commenced "The Race" becomes one of the most interesting and entertaining of pictures. Hector Trunbull and Clinton H. Stagg are the authors good story. YVe cannot recall the time when we looked at the screen with more strict attention than during the projection of the race scenes in this Lasky production. \ ictor Moore is Jimmie Grayson, whose father puts him out in the world to earn his own living after getting his name in the papers. Jimmie secures a job in a garage through Grace Van Dyke, a pretty and attractive chauffeuress. Jimmie owes a friend ten thousand dollars, and it must be paid within a month. He and Grace's father perfect an invention for motors, but it will be three months before they receive any money for it. So to earn the ten thousand dollar prize for driving an auto from coast to coast Jimmie induces his father to permit him to pilot the Grayson car over the route. Grace Van Dyke's father will also go to jail if he cannot pay nine thousand to a debtor, and Grace is hired to drive the machine entered by Grayson's rival in the auto manufacturing business. After happenings that thrill and others that are humorous, Grace wins the race; because Jimmie stands aside when he learns that she needs the money to keep her father out of prison. At the finish Jimmie is arrested, but the unexpected payment of royalties on the invention brings "The Race" to a happy close. Anita King is a pleasing Grace and a daring driver. Mr. Moore loses no opportunity to add humor to the picture. The auto which plunges from a washed-out bridge produces an exciting effect, and there are numbers of other incidents which make "The Race" a real thrilling picture. "Human Driftwood" World Melodrama Plays in New York and Alaska. Reviewed by Thomas C. Kennedy THE melodramatic situations on which "Human Driftwood" is built are the outcome of sordid schemes by underworld characters. The climax is reached when Myra informs Robert that the little girl he loves and wishes to take away from her present environment is her daughter and that he is the father, and the play throughout is in this same somber tone. The story is not as strongly melodramatic as developments of this kind are capable of, and that in truth is to the advantage of "Human Driftwood," for as it is the picture has not the depressing effect usual with such a story. Robert Warwick and Frances Nelson are the featured players in a cast of uniform ability. The cast is stronger than the story and the acting is easily the most pleasing thing in this picture. Mr. Warwick is always commanding as Robert Hendricks. He makes Hendricks as convincing as possible. The fact that one wonders why Hendricks does not take little Velma away from the low dance hall where she is subject to the advances of rough men frequently made more brutal by the whiskey they drink at the place is one of the handicaps under which Mr. Warwick labors in portraying the part. Frances Nelson has little to do. She is prettj' and appealingly sympathetic as Velma, but the story makes Velma too stupid or too lacking in spirit to leave her supposed aunt and the dancing platform of a notorious resort in "Alaska. Velma therefore is a girl who impresses only