Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

May 25, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 999 Next Normand Feature "The Venus Model" Star Takes Role of Working Girl Who Pulls Business Out of Rut and Makes Man of Owner's Profligate Son /""^OLDWYX announces Mabel Xor^* mand in the successor of "Joan of Plattsburg." It is "The Venus Model," written by H. R. Durant. The title is derived from a bathing suit created by Kitty O'Brien (Mabel Xormand), who is employed in the factory of Braddock & Company. The business is going to the dogs by reason of old-fashioned methods, which means that Braddock bathing suits are without the snap and style demanded by alert buyers, of whom Bergman (Alfred Hickman) is the most exacting. And Braddock (Alec B. Francis"), the head of the firm, has other troubles. His health is failing, for one thing, and his son Paul (Rodrique LaRoque) is wasting his time at college on associates who can do him no good. Hattie Fanshawe (Una Trev«lyn) is the chief parasite. Kitty has her troubles, too. "Dimples" Briggs (Xadia Gary) is in imminent danger of being taken from the warm-hearted factory girl. Dimples is a child whose scapegrace father turns up at intervals to wring money from Kitty by threatening to take Dimples from her. Briggs (Edward Boulden) makes the lives of both a burden, but Kitty is helpless in "her love for the little girl. But when Braddock goes away for his health the resourceful Kitty determines to straighten out his tangled affairs. She designs a smart bathing dress which she calls "The Venus Model,'' and against the opposition of the manager, Bagley (Edward Elkas), the model is made up and promptly creates a sensation among the buyers. Kitty is promoted to the exalted post of chief designer and business takes an upward spurt. Then comes Paul Braddock, touched by a letter written by Kitty explaining the condition of his father. He does not tell the girl who he is. contenting himself with asking for a job. Kitty offers him work and under her tutelage Paul makes himself a useful member of the company. Paul decides he cannot live without Kitty as his wife and comes to her little home to ask her to marry him. Kitty refuses, resolved to be a successful business woman before she thinks of love. In another room Dimples is struggling in the arms of her father, who means to kidnap her until Kitty comes across with enough money. Dimples kicks and claws herself free and rushes into the living room, followed by the enraged Briggs. Paul springs to the rescue and a furious fight is waged, Briggs firing at the youth, who falls unconscious. At this point the police enter, on the lookout for Briggs, an old offender. Then Kitty, fearful that Paul is dead, knows she loves him. When he opens his eyes he realizes that the girl loves him as he loves her. The return of Braddock, Sr., brings the play to a close. Restored to health and rejoicing in the success of his business, he listens to Kitty's story of the young man who has helped her. The old man regrets that his son has no taste for business. Kitty laughingly flings open the door and introduces to Braddock the new assistant, his own son. Gets Western Role to Liking During the years that Henry B. Walthall, Paralta star, has been one of the most popular players of the silent drama, he has appeared in a great variation of types, from "the little colonel" in "The Birth of a Xation" to a judge of the supreme court of Xew York State, in "His Robe of Honor." But until the making of "With Hoops of Steel," Mr. Walthall had never appeared in the role of a cowboy. The reason is easily understood, for Mr. Walthall has never consented to appear in any story the basis of which was overdrawn to any great extent from life as it is really lived. In "With Hoops of Steel," however. Mr. Walthall has found a story that depicts the life of the cattle ranges of Texas in a true and graphic manner, at the same time containing all the elements of red-blooded action and romance that are needed to carry a story of this kind successfully. In the role of "Emerson Mead," he portrays the character of a man at the head of independent cattle owners, who have been oppressed by the high-handed methods of a large cattle syndicate. He is accused of murder by the head of the syndicate, and is captured after a series of thrilling incidents. Circumstantial evidence is so strongly again>t him that conviction seems certain. Then there comes that twist in the .story when gunplay, law and prejudice are swept away by the vindication of the man through love. Most of the scenes of the picture were taken on the cattle ranges of Texas and in the desert countrv of Arizona. A scene from "Honor's Cross," a Selexart picture starring Rhea Mitchell, which is being distributed through Goldwyn World Gets Paul West Story "The Love Wraith" is the title of a story by Paul West which has just been purchased by World Pictures. It is considered one of the best Mr. West has ever written and he has penned scores of the best stories seen on the screen in addition to writing great quantities of material for various publications. Since the deal was made Mr. West has been called to England by a cable message from H. P. Davidson, director of the American Red Cross work abroad.