Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

April 20, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY Gambling Den Feature in "Stolen Orders Set Resembles Club Exposed in Recent Sensational Scandal by District Attorney in New York WITH public attention focused on gambling and gamblers and with the recent sensational events incident to the prosecution of the John Doe gambling inquiry by District Attorney Swann of New York, one of the most interesting scenes in William A. Brady's big feature picture, "Stolen Orders." promises to be that depicting a fashionable gambling club operating under full steam. This institution is said to resemble closely — in fact, almost to be a reproduction of one of the clubs recently brought out of its discreet retirement in richly furnished quarters through the activities of the New York authorities. This particular place and its less particular methods of separating patrons from their cash has been the unwilling recipient of considerable attention from the newspapers. Kitty Gordon, playing the wife of an American admiral and possessed of an uncontrollable desire to make big bills grow from little greenbacks, gets into the toils of certain suave men whose business it is, apparently, to offer every facility to that end. She is introduced to the club and to the paraphernalia incident to chemin de fer and other indoor sports. She plays, winning a little at first, as is ever the custom of the newcomer in these select circles, and then the game of chance becomes one of certainty for those on the right side of the board. The wife of the American admiral, to use the proper parlance, is cleaned out, and it is then that the sinister force behind what develops to be a carefully concealed plan begins to make itself manifest. What that force is and how its machinations eventuate is part of the stirring story, which is interpreted by a remarkable cast of favorites — Kitty Gordon, Carlyle Blackwell. Montagu Love, June Elvidge, George MacQuarrie and Madge Evans being in the principal roles. Thrills in "House of Silence" In the new Paramount picture starring Wallace Reid, "The House of Silence," by Elwyn Barron, there is everything that goes to make a story full of mystery and strange adventure. Darkened chambers, wherein mysterious crimes are committed; rooms with trap doors, fights in the dark, underground passages, a pretty girl and a young millionaire clubman with a leaning toward detective work — these form some of the elements of what should prove one of the most exciting stories ever devised for screen entertainment. And it is to be entertainment purely; the sort that between book covers keeps you up reading till all hours and which on the screen will hold the spectator on the edge of his chair, ready to jump at the least noise, tense and thrilled to the inner fibres of his being. 763 Not often is a picture of this character offered by Paramount, but when one is presented it is certain to be a good one. It may be termed a sublimated detective story, not the trashy sort, but genuinely clever, difficult of solution, with thrill after thrill and a big, sensational climax for a finish. Wallace Reid is the detective — the analytical sort, who reads men's purposes and characters from their hats or coats; Ann Little is the charming girl, involved in the network of crime and mystery. Adele Farrington is a very wicked villainess. Winter Hall, Ernest Joy, H. A. Barrows and others are in the cast. Donald Crisp directed the subject, assisted by Nat Deverich. Miss Fisher Proves Agile Margarita Fisher, the sprightly little comedy star of the American Film Company, who has just finished "A Primitive Woman," in which she displays some beautiful gowns, is an expert at turning somersaults, which doctors say are wonderful for unkinking tense muscles. In this play Miss Fisher turns somersaults one after another so rapidly that the audience follows with a prolonged "o-o-o-h-h-h-h-!" She tries to teach the dignified professor — played by Jack Mower — but the "prof" is a bit too heavy for graceful somersaults and keels oveT on one side every time he tries it. But little Margarita can turn somersaults square in her tracks — every time. Uses Church Soloists Manager William Griffith Mitchell of the Regent theatre, Toronto, presented a special program during the week of April 1, when the feature attraction was "Mother." A church setting was used on the stage and as an introduction to the picture ?. chorus of church soloists sang several selections under the leadership of Director Arthur. The choir was enhanced by the presence of Alan Turner, a professional soloist, who had just terminated an engagement at the Imperial theatre, Montreal. Carlyle Blackwell, June Elvidge and Montagu Love in William A. Brady's new picture, "Stolen Orders." Confer Over Wage Scale A committee of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce consisting of A. G. Hettesheimer, chairman. John Weinig and I. Libson, met with a delegation from the Moving Picture Machine . Operators' Union, local No. 65, headed by John Kirsch, last week to consider raising the operators' pay. No agreement was reached and both committees reported back to their respective organizations for further instructions. In all probability another meeting will be held in the near future.