Moving Picture World (July-Dec 1909)

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THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 579 Stories of the Films. BIOGRAPH COMPANY. HIS LOST LOVE — A brother's sacrlflc and its outcome. To yield, our beloved for tbe sake of tbeir bapplness is one of the noblest sacrifices man can make. There is a note of unselfishness in it that is without parallel. Such was the deed of the hero of this story. Luke and James are brothers in an old English family. James went to London when quite a boy to engage In business, but Luke remained at home among the simple country folks. Mary, the daughter of a neighbor, and Luke and James were playmates in their early days, and Mary and James were childhood sweethearts. As years went, with James engrossed in the busy whirl of the metropolis, he forgets Mary, and Luke's honest, noble nature appeals to Mary, and they become engaged. James at this time is obsessed with a desire to visit his old home, and, upon his return, the meeting of he and Mary revives the old memories and enkindles the love of their childhood days. Mary, of course, is irresistibly attracted by the manly bearing of handsome James. Luke realizes the situation, and with almost breaking heart surrenders in favor of his brother, considering only Mary's happiness. Oh! the suffering attending a love-blighted life — but Luke is content to suffer if it means happiness for Mary. The young couple marry, and their life is one of sunshine, until Mary's sister pays them a visit. There is at once a mutual feeling between James and the sister, and though they struggle against self, the fight seems hopeless. Meanwhile, a little child blesses the union of James and Mary, and one would believe that Ibis at least would be the means of determining for them the path of duty, but not so, and the sister finally resolves to leave, fearful of the consequences. The announcement of her determination to James makes him forget all else but her, and he goes so far as to declare his intention of leaving with her. All this is heard by the young wife and Luke, who would have struck him at his feet but for the interception of poor Mary. .Tames leaves, however, and the poor wife's heart breaks. She falls into Luke's arms, never to rise. Her death is the harvest of James's weakness. Noble-hearted Luke now kneels by the side of his dead sister-in-law, crushed in spirit, for he reasons tkathis sacrifice, instead of bringing happiness, had brought death to Mary and orphanage to her child. The thought of the child arouses him. That, at least, could he do — protect the little innocent. So taking the baby from its crib he resolves to give his life for its welfare. Years after we find the baby grown up to innocent girlhood. But the world has not been too kind to Luke, and it is a struggle for him to get along. On the otheer hand. James lias prospered, but his success is only a means by which his conscience may all the more taunt him. His life is unhappy and he longs for his child. Seeking his brother's home, he makes himself known to the little one. and Luke gives her the right to choose between them. She will not leave Luke, for she loves him as the only father she has ever known. James is denied even the love of his own child. In this production the Biograph presents a subject that is bound to sink deep into the hearts of the spectators. Length, 958 feet. THE EXPIATION.— Atonement of a self-accused wrong. Expiation is almost invariably the act of a noble heart. It is a self-satisfaction as well as reparation for a deed the world may fully condone, but the consistent mind will accept no such condonation if the conscience is disturbed. Hence, voluntary expiation is the most commendable form of atonement. Such forms the theme of this Biograph production, though the real cause of suffering Is through tlie curse of drink. Edward Waterbury is a confirmed dipsomaniac and is assisted to his home from the club by William Trevor, a friend of the family. Trevor's kindly nature has impressed Mrs Waterbury, and there is a slight suggestion that they love, but both being the souls of honor, hide it from each other. However, Trevor, appreciating the fact that Mrs. Waterbury is wedded to a hopeless drunkard, feels half-inclined to declare his love for the suffering woman, and persuade her to leave Waterbury. But. no. He reasons such a step would not be honorable, so he decides to go away to avoid a wrong. Hence, he plans to go to the far West. He cannot leave without saying goodhyp, and repairs to their home with this intention only. Waterbury from the next room, whither he has gone surreptitiously to drink, witnesses their parting and misconstrues tile intent of the meeting deeming it an intrigue. Trevor leaves for the .West and Mrs. Waterbury retires to Iter room. Waterbury enters and seizing a revolver is at first in plinod to satisfy his jealous rage: hut on second thought he feels that lie himself is to blame, and the weapon he would use on them should more justifiably he turned on himself. This decides him, and I lie writes the following: "My Dear Helen — I realize iny weakness is incurable. I am your curse. Will lie so no longer. You and Trevor love. My last toast — To you both." Leaving the letter on the table, lie rakes n glass of brandy in one hand and jjjjth the pistol in the other, makes good his asser linn. The house is at once panic-stricken, and when Hie wife sees the lifeless form of her husband in the chair and rends his letter, she at once blames In-self for his ant. although drink was really the pause, and resolves to expiate her self -accused wrong. A friend of Trevor writes to him of the sad affair and he determines to return and declare Ills hup for the widow. However, the poor woman baa avowed to lead a penitential life, and no persuasion can induce her to change her determination, so Trevor must bow to the inevitable, and leaves. The subject is rather out of the ordinary, and being beautifully staged and acted, will prove intensely interesting. Length, 1)92 feet. ESSANAY FILM MFG. CO. THE, WIDOW. — Robbins owns a fast horse named "The Widow," regarding which his wife is in blissful ignorance. While Mrs. Robbins Is visiting her mother Robbins gets a message from his trainer to the effect that The Widow is in fine shap and requesting him to come and see her. Robbins goes, but he leaves the telegram where it falls into Mrs. Robbins' hands. Suspecting that The Widow is a woman with whom her husband is flirting, she rushes over to her mother for advice. The mother hurries her to the police station, where a warrant is sworn out for the unfaithful husband's arrest for abandonment. Robbins is sound asleep in a country hotel, when the police arrive, and is dragged to the station. He gets bail an then goes to the mother-in-law's home to find out what the trouble is. Explanations will not go with the mother-in-law, who tells Robbins he can explain in the divorce court. The final scene is in the court room, where the divorce proceedings are in progress. The wife testifies that her husband left her for a widow, and produces a telegram to prove it. Robbins now understands and produces a picture of "The Widow." This convinces Mrs. Robbins that she has made a mistake and there is a happy reconciliation. A WOMAN'S WIT.— What would you do if ypu found a burglar in your house? Here is one way as told by pictures. Mrs. Lee returns from the theater to discover that someone has entered her house; she sees a man's face in the mirror of her dressing table. Composing herself as much as possible, she continues to remove her jewels, laying them on the table. Then she makes an excuse to leave the room and goes to the library where she telephones to the police. Returning to her room, she starts to open the safe in which she keeps her jewels, but hesitates and sits down in a chair as though tired, in order to gain time. Then she hears the bell of the police patrol and again starts to open the safe. As she gets it open and takes out her jewel case the burglar grabsy her by the throat and chokes her into insensibility. But she comes to in time to see the thief in the corner covered by the revolvers of two policemen. Her jewels are restored and the burglar taken away. The story is worked out carefully in every detail and shows what a woman of nerve might do under such circumstances. GAUMONT. (George Kleine.) HIS HELPMATE.— When the wife is the head of the house. The farce is built on the sentence in the French wedding ceremony which says, "A wife should follow her husband everywhere." In this particular case it is a policeman who marries, and naturally he leads his wife a merry chase when she attempts to fulfill her duty before the law, literally. However, she proves herself very able in all incidents where help is needed by her husband. On one occasion her husband and a fellow officer are attacked by ruffians and are being worsted badly when she arrives and by a few well-planned moves saves them. After, at different times, having proven that she is more agile and of better judgment than her husband, she finally assists in the capture of a thief whom it is necessary for her to follow down a chimney. Arrived at the police station, she pre sents. after convicting the prisoner, the idea that she is as strong in every way as iier husband, and that the law is weak in requiring her to follow. The judge agrees with her. so the man and wife leave in the new order, she majestically leading the way. HUSBAND'S STRATEGY.— How he won his own wife's love. Costumed and staged to represent the people of 1830. The play opens in the home of a young couple who have been recently married. Although almost strangers at the time of tbeir wedding, it has seemed wise, because of financial reasons, that they should wed. The husband is quite infatuated with his young bride, hut she is discontented, for she had hoped for a more romantic marriage. Her every nelion shows dislike for her husband, while at this particular time she especially wishes to lip rid of him. for she is expecting a gallant soon to play upon his mandolin beneath her window. He has serenaded her very often -in thp short timp slip lias gppn living in hpr new home. The husband's efforts to please iter with gifts or with attention, proving futile, he leaves, presumably to spend the evening in town. Soon the unknown lover arrives to sing without her window. She is delighted with the message be brings to her. After the serpiiadp slip admits that slip Iovps him pnd importunes him to rpmovp his mask. When, after sonip hesitancy, he complies with her request, she is greatly surprised to find the faithful singer of ballads is her husband. W^ has pmploypd this method of Graining hpr notipp and affpction. The young wife is. of course, delighted with his accomplishment. Willingly now she gives him her affection. CROWN PRINCE OF GERMANY DRILLING BATTERY. — This film will he viewed witli intpnsp in tmst. not only by the vast numbers of Germans and German-born Americans, but also by the American public, for it portrays very accurately the marvelous military discipline for which the German army is so justly famous. The Crown Prince himself, although he is the eldest sou of the German Emperor and heir to the German throne, takes active part in the army maneuvers and shows by his actions and commands that he is perfectly familiar witli every detail of his duties as commanding officer. At his orders the heavy artillery are quickly swung into position, the guns are dismounted, remounted and fired and then driven at a rapid gallop across the parade ground. After the strenuous drill and exercises, the "recall" is sounded and "mess-call" is blown, and th<n an animated scene is witnessed around the steaming camp kettles, and his Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, inspects and samples the fare provided for the men, thereby endearing himself alike to officer* non-commissiond officers and privates. CASTING BREAD UPON THE WATER.— A poor young man traveling afoot through the beautiful orchard country of France is aided by a wellto-do-farmer and his family. They give him work witli tnem picking oranges and helping with the farm work. While working for them he manages to save a little money. In the next scene we see him just opening a little fruit stand of his own in the city. He is striving to win his trade by courtesy and fair treatment. He prospers more than ordinarily well, so it is only a short time until he is seen in richly appointed offices, for he is now the head of a large wholesale business. Meantime, his former employer has died, and now comes word to the voung man that his old benefactor's wife, the one living person who had so nicely started him on his successful career, has met with bad fortune. Bearing in mind the fact that his good fortune began in the orange orchard, he has his men bring him a huge basket of the fruit and within each orange he places a gold coin. He then dispatches the rich gift to the old lady's home. It arrives to time to save the property from the creditors, as well as serving to make her comfortable for tin rest of her life. COUNTRY LIFE IN A FLAT.— A flat dweller, whose business requires him to stay in the city, is possessed of a great love of the country. For this reason he equips his flat with all the chief means of jov to those who live in the rural districts. At his waking hour in the morning he requires his servant to call him by imitating a rooster. He then arises, and after dressing goes to the bathroom where he catches fish whicli his servant has placed in the tub for him. After his angling be dives into the tub and enjoys a swim. His drawing room is used for a garden, where be has numerous species of plants and shrubs. Here he entertains his friends at picnic parties, where they sit upon the earth-covered floor and have little trouble to imagine thev are actually in tbe woods. After tbe oarden lunch he shows them his improvised farm and hunting grounds. His servant acts as a hound and tracks a rabbit from one room to another, while the original farmer and his friends follow wi'h guns and fiually make a successful capture. " TICKLED TO DEATH,— Mr. X. is so ticklish that even the thought of anything touching him has the effect of throwing him into paroxysms of laughter. Trving on gloves or being measured for a suit are exceptionally hard propositions for him. while being crazed by a lady's hat feather throws him on the -round and starts him rolling in a very laughab e manner. Finally, when struck by an automobile and apparently killed, his wife brings him to life again bv tickling the soles of his feet. KALEM MFG. CO. A BROTHER'S WRONG.— The story of a brother's jealousy. The two brothers of our story Jack and William, both love the same girl. Lucile, the daughter of their father's lifelong friend and their own childhood playmate. As to dispositions the brotheVs are opposites. Jack is a ^O^-^-^J fellow, full of animal spirits, inclined to be wild, quick to anger, but as quick to forgive and noble and generous at heart. William is delicate quiet and studious, the model of the town and his father s favorite, but a bit hypocritical. Lucile prefers i the wild Jack and they have secretly pUghted their troth unbeknown to their fathers or to William. Scene I.— Both Brothers Love Lucile. At the onening of thp first scene Lucile and her father are seated out on the lawn of their home. As Lucile is reading a letter the maid has brought her thev hear someone approaching and both rise to greet the two brothers. Jack and William, who have stopped in on their morning ride to pay their rpsppcts. As greetings are exchanged tie hands of the four cross and Lucile laughingly calls attention to the old saying that such a handcrosslng means a marriage within "year Both brothers look self-conscious at this. Now William shows Mr. Ward some investments he made the day before, while Jack and Lucile become engrossed n each other. Soon they stroll away. William plainly show* his displeasure at this and after a moment begs Mr Ward to excuse him and follows them. md Lucile soon reach a secluded part of the grounds. Glancing cautiously around Jack steals a lover's kiss. But here comes William. Up BneerlnglV remarks that he hopes he Is not intruding and reminds .Tack of an important business engagement. As he leaves. Jack and Lucile follow. h,.t manage to steal a kiss while his back is turned.