Motography (Jan-Jun 1917)

694 M O T O G R A P H' Y Vol. XVII, No. 13. interesting and entertaining, with a note of pathos back of the comedy. The subtitles aid the story. The production is in short, an out of the ordinary. little comedy. The Story: Tom and Maizie McNulty, having an act "the children cry for," the star of it being "Abigail," a trained pig, are traveling with a circus when the "jinx" hits their trail .The -Fat Lady of the., show objects to the company of "Abigail," and there is a quarrel after which the McNultys leave the circus. They are given a trial booking in vaudeville but the "jinx" seems to pursue them. A pickpocket steals Tom's money and Tom himself gets arrested as a suspicious character. After he is released, he and Maizie have a quarrel and Tom drows his sorrows in drink, for which he has traded "Abigail." A friend acts as peace-maker and Tom and Maizie are re-united and "Abigail" is redeemed. Then luck seems to favor them and-they are offered favorable bookings. Tom and Maizie invite the agent" to dine with them. After dinner they boast of their skill but the agent insists that the chief attraction is "Abigail." Whereupon Maizie faints, for "Abigail" had been sacrificed to provide the dinner and, as Maizie explains, they had "eaten the act!" picture is the attraction at the Strand Theater in New York for the week of March 19. When the Meredith child, Beryl, suddenly disappears, each of its parents, who have separated, accuses the other of the abduction. Both, however, finally have the fact inculcated "Her Father's Keeper" Triangle-Fine Arts Comedy-Drama. Released April 1. Reviewed by George W. Graves UTTER FATHER'S KEEPER" is a bright, originalplav 1 * from the pen of Robert Shirley. It presents excellently developed drama interspersed with human comedy of the more supressed sort and therefore is one more film to be recorded under the heading of clean, cheerful entertainment. There, are not a small number of surprise twists in the plot before it culminates in its dynamic climax. The play is not silly or eccentric, but it is a rather convincing story of the world of finance, a daughter arrayed against her father in his own interests, and a lover saved from the unprincipled operations of the weak father. Action is not a lacking quantity of the film. It is breezy, in good tempo, and creative of interest in its main route of travel as well as in its deviations. Jack Devereux as the jolly, energetic opponent of his sweetheart's erring "dad," gives a performance which will be appreciated by audiences, while Irene Howley and Frank Currier do exceptionally well with their parts, given the advantage of being appropriately cast. "Her Father's Keeper" is altogether a fitting release to appear on the Triangle program. It has novelty, suspense, action and atmosphere and its cast could hardly be improved upon. We hope that more pictures of the general merit of this will emanate in the future from the Eastern Fine Arts studio. The picture is one of the best seen in some time on the Triangle program. 'The Dummy" Pamous Players-Paramount Drama. Released March 19. Reviewed by George W. Graves A GREAT deal of interest has been taken in Jack Pickford's work since the production of "Seventeen" and "Great Expectations." In "The Dummy," a screen version of the successful O'Higgins-Ford play which helped to entertain Broadway two years back, the youthful star has a role which, to use the same old hackneyed, but illustrative expression, fits him "like a glove." His naturalness, his ease, together with resourcefulness and personal adaptability to the part, make us forget all about Jack Pickford and see only the rough-andtumble office-boy aspirant to "detectuv" honors, the quickwitted happy-go-lucky youth who grasps his chance to figure in adventures not less exciting than those of the lurid novels he worships. * The play in its picturized form presents an astonishing blending of comedy and melodrama, — lively action, surprise punches and delightful human colorings keeping one's mind ever in a state of pleasurable excitement. "The Dummy" is a successful motion picture adaptation of a successful stage play. It is wholesome, light, and is calculated to send audiences away in a bouyant, satisfied mood. There is nothing distasteful, dreary or morbid to be found in it. The work of the director, Francis Grandin, is exceedingly skillful in the supervision of the cast and effective in atmosphere and general realism. In the star's strong support are Frank Losee, Edwin Stanley, Helen Greene, Ethelmary Oakland and Ruby Hoffman, the work of all being above cavil. Enthusiastic audiences are sure to breed more enthusiastic audiences where "The Dummy" is shown for more than a day. The Jack Pickford in "The Dummy." on their jealous minds by Detective Babbings that an organization of kidnappers is responsible, and rescue work is set in motion. To aid him in his work, the detective secures the services of Barney Cook, a bright messenger boy, whose only fault is, in the minds of the Western Union people, that he "reads too many detective stories." How this "fault" is seen to be decidedly fortunate in future developments and how the boy not only aids in finding the lost baby but practically does the whole job of restoration to the grieved parents, is told in an entertaining and breezy manner. A ve,ry comical touch is applied to the climax, when the boy prevents an over-zealous hick sheriff from grabbing the reward. 'The Eagle's Wings'' "Industrial Preparedness" Is Theme of Bluebird Special Release. Reviewed by Genevieve Harris. ITS timeliness is one of the striking features of this patriotic * offering. It is not merely a plea for military preparedness; it presents a plan for equipping the nation and it gives an insight into the methods of manufacturing military supplies. The offering has unlimited possibilities for advertising and its box-office value is exceptional. Its value is not only from the box-angle angle, however, for it will thoroughly satisfy the patrons it attracts. It is educational and interesting. Local patriotic societies will doubtless be glad to cooperate with the exhibitor showing the picture. The picture is in five reels, and without being sensational, it is a forceful, dignified argument for the adequate arming of the nation, "giving the eagle wings of steel," according to a subtitle. It tells its story clearly, showing the pernicious activity of foreign agents in keeping America preparedness plans from being worked out. Through the plan of the hero, by which the manufacturing plants of the nation become munition factories, there arc shown many scenes of munition factories in operation. The story of the play was written and the production supervised by Rufus Steele. Maude Grange prepared the scenario. The photography, which is good throughout, was under the supervision of R. E. Irish. The large cast of players includes Grace Carlyle, Vola Smith, Herbert Rawlinson, Charles Hill Mailes, Rodney Ronous, Charles Gunn, Albert McQuarrie, Malcolm Blevins and Walter Belasco. The Story: The question of national preparedness is before Congress. A group of foreign secret service men set to work to cause feeling against the bill both in Congress and in the country at large. The formation of a publicity bureau to send out "pacifist" literature is an interesting phase of their work. Senator Wright, manufacturer of pumping machinery, is opposed to the bill providing for adequate national armament. Then he visits New Mexico and is in a village which is pillaged by the Mexicans. He realizes then the need of protection which the country has. After his return to the