Motography (Jan-Jun 1917)

March 3, 1917. MOTOGRAPHY 487 Brief Stories of the Week's Film Releases Genera! Program A Four-Cent Courtship — Black Cat Feature — Essanay — (Screen Time Twenty-eight Minutes). — Reviewed in this issue. A Flyer in Flapjacks— Kalem — (Two Reels). — Featuring Ham and Bud. Ham and Bud are decorating a park bench, under the eagle eye of a none too friendly copper, who threatens them with the village cooler if they don't immediately get to work. Work is not in their line and the park bench soon claims them again. Ham provides Bud with a policeman's whistle and orders him to keep one eye open for their common enemy while he carries on a flirtation with Flossie Flapper. They are soon in flight again, with the vigilant cop behind them, and as they pass a pancake emporium a brilliant idea hits Ham. They seize the surprised dispenser of the golden brown cakes and into his own flour barrel they dump him, covering it with a table. Soon they have donned aprons and caps and begin to execute orders for flapjacks. What goes up comes down is no more definite a proposition than what happens to Ham and Bud in their newly found roles of syrup slingers. The Screened Vault — Grant, Police Reporter Series — Kalem. — George Larkin featured. Grant, having some money to deposit, goes into a bank, and while making out the slip sees a piece of plaster fall on the desk from the ceiling above. As he crosses the street and looks up at one of the windows over the bank he sees a woman's silhouette as she pulls down the shade. He recrosses the street and proceeds to the second floor. He knocks just as the shadow of a woman's head flashes on the ground glass of the door. On his way to the office he meets Maddox, a shrewd detective, to whom he confides his suspicions. Maddox laughs at his idea that the bank is being robbed in broad daylight and tells him that onlyone man, Cris Monk, would have the nerve to attempt it, and he is lying low. Grant reads up on this crook and learns that he has a daughter, Inez, who has secured her father's parole. At six that evening Grant returns to the bank where he finds a hole cut in the floor, just as he had thought. He is caught bv the crooks and bound. Monk descends to the bank through the hole, bearing a painted screen to place in front of the vault and deceives the policeman passing. The brave young reporter struggles with his bounds while Inez keeps watch in the hall and reaching the telephone jiggles out a Morse code to Central with the receiver. Maddox and the reserves come to the rescue, surround the bank, and after Grant has jumped from a high scaffold to the ground to prevent the escape of Monk, the crooks are arrested. The Battle of the Somme — The War series — Official Government Pictures, Inc. — Pictures of the military camp, showing trenches, dugouts, guns and aeroplanes. Actual pictures of this enormous battle, and the terrible results. The Redemption of Red Mullin — Selig — When Red Mullin has completed a penitentiary sentence he returns to his home and there is a celebration among the folks of the underworld. The merrymaking grows so noisey that Mrs. Fleming appears and asks them to be quiet, stating that her baby is near death in the flat below. They throw her out and she summons the police. In a free for all fight Red escapes. Betty his sweetheart throws the police off Red's track and he hides in Mrs. Fleming's house. The baby awakens and cries so pitifully for toys that Red comes out of his hiding place, deeply moved, and goes out to find some. He finds the toy shop closed, so he breaks in, takes what he wants, and leaves a bill to pay for them. He takes a taxi to drive to the child's home with the toys and the driver thinks he has robbed the store. Betty goes to the drug store for some medicine for Mrs. Fleming's baby and hears the driver phoning for the police. Red returns to the flat with the toys and when he hears the police coming he attempts to escape but is caught. After investigation he is released and he rejoins his sweetheart. For Reward of Service — Selig — Featuring George Fawcett. Reviewed in this issue. The Great Treasure — Selig — Featuring Gasson Ferguson, with Fred Eckert, Maybelle Spaulding, F. Hamilton and M. von Betz. Two river rats, Red and Skinny, incur the gratitude of JackCurtis by buying food for his dying mother. Henry Rowland, facing ruin through a slump in the market borrows money on some stock certificates which have been entrusted to him by the court. Stevens, from whom he borrows, is an old rival in love, and therefore hates him. When Stevens informs the court that Rowland has realized on the stock, the court orders Rowland to produce the certificates. He determines to have Jack Curtis, who lives in one of his tenement houses, rob the safe and does so. Jack has chanced in a settlement mission where he sees, Dorothy, Rowland's daughter. He finally presents himself at Rowland's office and explains his desire to go straight. He is given the opportunity and makes good. In two years he wins the love of Dorothy and when Rowland discovers the fact he denounces the man as a thief. Eater Dorothy realizes through the instrumentality of Red, one of the river rats, that Jack Curtis has been sheilding her father at the sacrifice of his own happiness, and the lovers are reunited. A Brother's Sacrifice — Selig. — Mrs. Madden, mother of Tom and John, on her deathbed exacts a pledge from John that he will always care for his younger brother. Tom is a ne'er-do-well, and later resumes his unruly habits, and through his weakness for liquor, loses his position as brakeman on the railroad. His sweetheart, Bessie Bowman, also breaks her engagement with him. John has never forgotten the promise he made his mother, and he follows the unruly Tom through his many temptations, finally winning for him another position with the railroad. John is also a railroad man. They go out on the same train together. The train breaks in two. Someone must leap from one section to another in order to apply the brakes to stop the freight train before a section crashes into an oncoming passenger train. John, remembering his promise to care for his brother, makes the leap at the risk of his life, applies the brakes and saves hundreds of lives. But, through his daring, John becomes an invalid for life. His act has brought a sense of responsibility to Tom, who vows never to take another drink. He finally marries Bessie Bowman, and together they make a happy home for the faithful John. Seeing Double — Vim Comedy. — Dud, a henpecked husband, while doing the weekly ironing burns his hand and decides to seek a more amusing occupation. He leaves by a window and is met by his friend Bert, who has jilted his wife because of her bullets which she serves as biscuits. Bert has been sojourning by a cigar stand and has succeeded in stealing a cigar cutter. The two ex-husbands enter a thirst parlor followed by a cop. The cigar cutter now serves as a weapon of defense and after Bert has succeeded in ejecting the proprietor and the cop, the two ex-husbands take over the thirst parlor and to their delight become highly hilarious, proceeding to invite all who enter to join them on their jamboree. While in hiding the two heroes see double and they decide to visit their wives at Bert's home, where they receive a peppery reception and are forced to retreat to the dog house where, wrapped up in each other's arms, they depart for the land of dreams. Harry's Pig — Vim Comedy. — Harry LaPearl, a rural favorite, visits the town grocery store to make his weekly purchases, but as he is about to leave he is attracted by a pretty girl, and when endeavoring to make a hurried exit from the store upsets things in general, including the flour barrel, fruit stand, etc. Harry's wife, however, is closely upon his heels and to make his getaway he steals a large pig and rides him through the town closely followed by his wife, the town marshal and numerous others attracted by the amusing sight of Harry riding a pig. Many amusing incidents ensue before Harry's pig finally finds his way back to his pen where Harry is captured by his wife, and he then resolves not to look from the straight and narrow path in the future. The Meeting — (Two Reels) — Yitagraph. — Sonny Bov and his mother move into Seaport, fishing village and pleasure resort. He has a fight with the town bully, winning thereby the admiration of Sue, the constable's daughter He meets Capt. Barnacle, old sea-captain, who is regarded as queer by the natives. The two become good friends, and the bully attempts revenge by poisoning the Captain's billy goat. He is caught in the act, and while punishing him. the bully's father, a real estate agent, with a mob at his heels, arrives on the scene. He attempts to evict the old Captain from his home. Mrs. Brown, Sonny's mother, learns that her son is in the house of the "queer 'un" and arrives just in time to save Capt. Barnacle. She reveals the fact that she is the owner of the land on which the old boat house stands, and secures the old man in his home, rent free, and she. Sonny. Capt. Barnacle. Sue and the constable are very happy. The Gang — (Dangers of Doris Series) — Vitagraph. — Doris is much puzzled at the mystery surrounding a strange man who drops a bundle into an ash can near her home each dav. A thrilling rescue gains her the acquaintance of the man, and later on she determines to investigate. The contents of the package, steel shavings, enables her to learn the plot of the bank robbers' gang. She is captured by them, put on a train, but escapes miraculously. Then while she is battling with the bandits, her sweetheart, Bob, in his racer, speeds to her rescue, and everything comes out all right. Selig-Tribune No. 14. — February 15. — New Orleans, La. — Naval militia guns are shipped to the Norfolk Navy yard. Columbus, N. M. — General Pershing leads his troopers out of Mexico. French-Hindo-China. — The natives from Cambodia strive in their annual boat races. Oakland, Cal.— Society women raise money to feed thousands of wild ducks. Phoenix, Ariz. — Roosevelt dam undergoes its annual housecleaning. Phoenix, Ariz. — Automobile tires manufactured from cotton fibre. Phoenix, Ariz. — The Superior Court seats Thomas Campbell as Governor of Arizona. New York, N. Y. — Members of the Girl's National Honor Guard serve coffee and rolls to the boys of the naval militia. Palm Beach, Fla. — The Young Women's Research Society discovers that cocoa comes from palm trees. Los Angeles, Cal. — News Boys inaugurate the "hand-across the TJ.S.-A." movement by shipping oranges to the "newsies" of New York. Selig-Tribune No. IS. — February 19. — New York, N. Y. — Madame Helen Detrieu, who holds the cross of the Legion of Honor, arrives aboard the Espagne and offers her services as an aviatrix to the United States Government. Washington, D. C. — Henry P. Fletcher leaves for Mexico City as an Ambasador. Goshen, N. Y. — Fred Fulton is in training in the snows of Orange County. French, Indo-China. — Native troops leave for duty in France to relieve the French soldiers guarding lines of communication. New York, N. Y. — The U. S. destroyer Henley, No. 39, guards New York harbor. Chicago, 111. — The "gasoline horse" attracts great attention at the U. S. recruiting offices. Palm Beach, Fla. — Poodle dogs and alligators have had their day. Washington, D. C. — Count von Bernstorff and his wife leave this city on their return journey to Berlin. Shorty Hooks a Loan Shark — Monogram — (Two Reels) — Featuring Shorty Hamilton. Shorty, after hearing from Anita that she still loves him, doubts her word and starts out on a big time. He meets Ralph Simms, the son of the ranch owner, and finds that he has lost all of his money. Anita is notified that a notorious loan shark is operating near the Arrowhead ranch and sets out to capture him. Jebez Sawyer, who loans the boys money gets hold of some bonds through Ralph and he writes and tells Ruby. Ralph's wife, that if she will come to his office he will give her some information regarding them. Ruby goes to the office and Sawyer embraces her. Shorty comes upon the scene just in time. Later Anita arrives and Sawyer is recognized as the loan shark and is arrested. Reel Life — Gaumont — (Onf. Reel)— February 25. — A magazine reel, picturing "Dainty Perfumes," "Teaching Children to Swim," "Logging in Louisiana" and "Making Bottles at Home." The Butcher's Nightmare — (Two Reels) — ■ Vogue Comedy — February 25. — Featuring Ben Turpin. Ben, the butcher, is very much in love with a girl who does not reciprocate his affections. He falls asleep and has a wonderful dream in which he threatens to foreclose the mortgage on the home of the girl he loves. He also makes a regular crook of the girl's brother by having his safe robbed and the money placed in the brother's pocket. Ben is aroused from his dream by his partner who is beating him over the head with a slab of meat. Shorty Almost — But Not Quite — Gets Married — Monogram — (Two Reels') — Ffbruary 26.; — Featuring Shorty Hamilton. Shorty, in trying to be of service to Anita Keller in her assignment of rounding up a gang of counterfeiters, becomes pretty badly involved himself. A nice, benign Parson asks him to change a ten dollar bill and Shorty falls for the old trick. Later he leads a raid on the counterfeiters' den, and succeeds in arresting the gangsters, after a stiff fight. During his convalescence he almost persuades Anita to marry him, but she is a bit dubious about mixing love and work. One of the counterfeiters escapes and tries to get even with Shorty by charging that he is passing bad money. Shorty is arrested and it looks pretty had for him until Anita finally convinces the sheriff that he is holding the wrong man. Anita, realizing all that