Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1186 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX. No. 25 Title, cast and timeliness make this attraction a pretty sure-fire one. A little circusing ought to make it go over big, except where the spy stuff has been overdone, and even here the melodrama itself is strong enough to pull well. them, you can't go wrong on this. It is not done in an offensive way, however, and the thin ice is never broken. Fox A Fool There Was. — (Five reels) — (Reissue) — Featuring Theda Bara. The daddy of all the vampire pictures. A vampire woman ruins one man after another, finally selecting John Schuyler as her next victim. As she boards the same boat with him, starting for Europe, her last previous victim commits suicide on deck, but she only smiles. Schuyler becomes so mad over the vampire that he forgets his wife and children and goes to Italy with the temptress, sinking deeper and deeper in his demoralization until at last he dies, the vampire still smiling. There are many who regard Theda Bara's early vampire pictures, which founded her reputation, as her best work. This production was made from a story by Porter Emerson Browne, who based his tale on the Kipling poem of the same name. In many respects the mechanical side of picture production has improved greatly since this was made, but so far as the actual story-telling is concerned, this is about the best picture of its type ever turned out. Edward Jose, now a director, was the vampire's victim, and May Allison, now a star, had a minor role. By playing fair with your public, this ought to get money, as many will want to see this re-edited version of "A Fool There Was," especially where Miss Bara has proved a drawing card. But there is no way of getting in bad with the public like advertising a reissue as a new production. Director — Frank Powell. The Bondman. — (Five reels) — Reissue — Featuring William Farnum. A terrific story of hate and sacrifice. Jason, whose mother was wronged by his father, promises her on her deathbed that he will find and kill the man. The father dies, however, and Jason determines to visit his vengeance on his son, his own half brother. In Iceland he meets this half-brother, not knowing who he is, and they are sentenced unjustly to a sentence in the sulphur mines. Jason saves the other from death, and eventually, after discovering the man's identity, takes his place so that the half-brother may marry the girl they both love. This was one of the pictures that originally put William Farnum on the map. It is taken from Hall Caine's novel, and has in it the same elements of appeal as "A Tale of Two Cities," only it is more of the cave man type. Farnum puts a lot of ferocity into the part and the film is full of thrills. Few of the supporting cast are now known to the screen, except Dorothy Bernard. The same remarks made elsewhere concerning the reissue of "A Fool There Was" apply to this picture, both as to its appearance and its value. Director — Edgar Lewis. Paralta Shackled. — (Five reels) — June — Featuring Louise Glaum. A sex story in which the Magdalen fixes things for the others and marries happily. Lola Dexter is saved from destitution by Walter Cosgrove, who, she believes, will marry her some day. Instead, he loses his money and marries Ethel Danfield, an heiress. Lola is tempted by another man, but refuses to fall again, and is about to commit suicide when she is stopped by Thomas Danfield, father of the girl who married Cosgrove. Lola falls in love with Danfield, and for the sake of saving his daughter, reveals her own past. Cosgrove is so annoyed that he falls down stairs and breaks his neck, so Ethel can marry a soldier she really loves, and Danfield then forgives Lola her mistakes and they also marry. Director, Reginald Barker. Cameraman, L. Guy Wilkey. General effect — A very ordinary sort of story, saved from commonplaceness by Barker's direction and the seriousness of Miss Glaum. Star — Miss Glaum would be more attractive in less unhappy roles, as there are few actresses who can look sad and beautiful, but she is a clever actress and holds to her well-known record. Support — Good. Production and photography of the best. It is a question whether or not the public is tired of these sex stories. If your audiences have shown they want World The Man Hunt. — (Five reels) — June 10 — Featuring Ethel Clayton. A light comedy that has melodramatic moments. Betty Hammond, owner of many millions, wants to marry her foreman, James Ogden, but he objects because she is so rich. So she kidnaps Ogden and a minister, with the aid of fifty heavily armed men, takes them to a hut in the mountains and declares she will not let them go until Ogden marries her. There are several dramatic incidents in which it appears that Betty's plan has got her into a mess of trouble, but naturally, she gets her man. Director, Travers Vale. Cameraman, Philip Hatkin. General effect — A breezy story that will get a lot of laughs and that will hold almost any audience on account of the frequent changes in the situation, despite the fact that the outcome is inevitable. Star — Ethel Clayton is always popular and deservedly so. This is one of the last pictures she made with World before going to Paramount. Support — Good; Rockcliffe Fellows in the leading male role, in particular, is beginning to have quite a following. Production — A lot of fine mountain scenes make this picture very attractive. Photography — Good. This is another of those pictures which, without having any remarkable value, ought to go over in good shape at almost any house, as the star is popular and the story clean and snappy. Select The Claw. — (Five reels) — June — Featuring Clara Kimball Young. A snappy production with more pep than recent C. K. Y. productions. Mary Saurin goes to South Africa to join her brother, who lives at a post where the natives are a constant menace. She falls in love with Major Kinsella, to the chagrin of Mrs. Valetta, an unscrupulous woman who thought Kinsella loved her, and of Maurice Stair, who wants Mary for himself. In a battle with the savages, Stair runs away and brings Mary word that her brother and Kinsella were both killed, he being the only survivor. Kinsella was captured, however, but saves his own life by pretending to be insane, and working upon the superstition of the blacks. Stair convinces Mary that Kinsella wanted her to marry him, and she does so, but the very day of the wedding she discovers Stair's deceit. Finally Stair's better nature is awakened and he helps Kinsella escape from the natives, but is himself killed, thus atoning for his cowardice and treachery. Director, Robert G. Vignola. Cameraman, Louis J. Physioc. General effect — This story, by Cynthia Stockley, author of "Poppy," is another tale of South Africa and is well told on the screen, Miss Young putting much more animation into her acting than in some of her recent produc Clara Kimball Young in her latest Select picture, "The Claw."