Motography (Apr-Jun 1916)

May 6, 1916. MOTOGRAPHY 1053 sweetheart's innocence. Stone disdainfully orders his servants out of the house, but as they leave, Nora sees the family in a happy scene, and admits that the children's future is worth her sacrifice. 'The Law Decides" A V. L. S. E. Blue Ribbon Seven-Reel Drama Released April 24. Reviewed by George W. Graves THIS offering, a lengthy but entertaining sociological drama, holds steadily to its story and relies upon it, together with impressive acting, for its appeal as a seven-reel feature. Sensational feats or spectacular efforts hold no place in it. The story is told in leisurely, narrative style, and in its completeness and stability is most interesting. It is from the pen of Marguerite Bertsch, and has been given forceful interpretation by Director William P. S. Earle. Dorothy Kelly, Donald Hall and Harry Morey play the important roles. It is good to see Donald Hall in a more prominent part than he usually gets. As an impersonator of the polished gentleman this actor is in a class by himself. Other members of the splendid cast are Adele Kelly, Bobby Connelly and Louise Beaudet, the latter making a coldblooded, intriguing step-mother par excellence. Dorothy Kelly, as capable of deep emotion as of vivacity, portrays with fine human feeling the part of Florence Wharton, the wife who suffers separation from her husband because of the carefully laid plot of her husband's stepmother, who tries to arrange things so that Wharton will marry her daughter, Beatrice. Mrs. Wharton knows that if John Wharton marries her daughter, his fortune will revert to them. The mother's instrument is Lorenz, who wins Florence awaj' from her husband by trickery. Wharton divorces Florence, whose only honorable recourse is to marry. Lorenz. The custody of the child is awarded to Wharton. A pathetic part of the story embraces the secret meetings Florence has with Bobby. Beatrice, who really loves Lorenz, is finally persuaded by her mother to marry Wharton, but before the wedding, she and Lorenz decide to elope to distant lands. Florence at last learns of the part which John's step-mother played in their separation. When Lorenz learns that all is known, he commits suicide. Florence and John, whose enduring love has long since been discovered by each through Bobby, now are reunited. The repentant Mrs. Wharton, punished by her daughter's suffering, packs up and leaves the Wharton home for good. "None So Blind" Three-Reel Lubin Drama Released May 4. Reviewed by Genevieve Harris A STORY worked out naturally and with a number of interest** ing developments is this three-reeler which Melvin Mayo directed from a story by C. A. Frambers. It deals with an unjust accusation brought against Lieutenant Fred Watson (Walter Spencer) an inspector for the U. S. navy. The title of the play refers to the blindness of legal justice, which in this case makes a mistake. Milton Hesser (Cecil Van Auber), agent for a company building a submarine for the navy, tries in vain to bribe the inspector. The submarine is rejected as unfit for service and Hesser in revenge determines to ruin Watson. He gains an influence over Watson's secretar}-, Madge, a role especially well played by Ruth Saville. Together they arrange a letter written by Watson, making it appear that he asked for a large sum of money for approving the ship. Since Madge has destroyed the carbon of the original letter, Watson cannot prove his innocence and he resigns from the service and goes to the Philippines. Watson is in love with Gladys Remington (Evelyn Page), but her parents prefer that she marry the wealthy Hesser. With Watson away, Hesser's affair with Gladys progresses until it arouses the jealousy of Madge, who threatens to reveal the plot against Watson with her short-hand note book as evidence. Gladys overhears the conversation and persuades the girl to help her gain justice for Watson. They are successful and the inspector is cleared. In the meantime, Watson, in the Philippines, has been drowning his troubles in drink until he is reformed through the influence of a native girl, Ukana, a role taken by Nona Darkfeather. He promises to marry Ukana, but before the event takes place, Gladys, her mother and party in a private yacht, arrive in the village. Watson still loves Gladys, but feels bound to Ukana. However, a group of ruffians plan to rob the yacht, and Ukana, who overhears the plot, warns Watson, who is on board. But she is killed in a struggle with the robbers, leaving Watson free to return to his old life with Gladys. There are a number of very pretty scenes in the part of the play depicting the island life. The story is attractively presented, the events clear and the characters well portrayed. 'The Closed Road" World-Paragon Five-Reel Feature Scheduled for Early Release. Reviewed by Hugh Hoffman OOUSE PETERS and Barbara Tennant are the featured 1 A leads in a most original story in this offering. House Peters has not had a better part than this in a long time. He is always at his best when playing the part of a bachelor who is suddenly thrown in with complete strangers under circumstances that are most peculiar, and this is one of those parts. Barbara Tennant in the opposite role plays the part in her usual charming and efficient way. It is a story that is not too full of the love element. It is not apparent at the very outset that Miss Tennant is eventually going to become the bride of Mr. Peters. At the beginning they are as far apart as the two poles, so far as any chance of their knowing each other is con cerned. In fact the two lovers do not meet until well beyond the middle of the story, and right up to the end it does not seem that there is a chance on earth for their ever getting together. By the girl's efforts, he is saved from the electric chair at the last moment, and the rest is easy to imagine. This is one of the best features that has come along this season. It holds water at all points. The story is logical and original, the direction is artistic and clever, the photography is brilliant, the acting is very fine, and the settings are gorgeous and magnificent, according to whether they are indoors or outside. What more an exhibitor could ask in the way of a feature would be difficult to imaine. The story