Moving Picture World (July-Dec 1909)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 585 INDEPENDENT FILMS CENTAUR FILM COMPANY. ALMOST A SUICIDE.— Clarence Smythe is married to a charming young woman, whose only fault is that she will sing and accompany herself on the mandolin. During one of these performances, after dinner, wifey catches Charlie asleep. She shows her displeasure at his lack of appreciation of her singing by breaking the mandolin over his head, and announcing to him that he is a horrid man. and that she is going right hack home to mother. Despite Clarence's appeals wife flounces out of the house. Clarence is heartbroken. He determines to commit suicide. Writes wifey note: "Life is not worth while without you, so I am going to commit suicide. — Clarence." First he tries hanging himself with a curtain cord to the chandelier, but the cord breaks and Clarence lands on the floor with a dull, sickening thud. There are other ways. He looks about and finds a revolver. He points it at his head and pulls the trigger. But the revolver will not shoot. Then Clarence remembers that there is some rat poison in the kitchen. lie is about 1o take a dose of it when he notices that the label guarantees a slow and painful death. "Not for me," says Clarence. "There are easier ways." He goes to the kitchen and gets a carving knife. Meanwhile Second Story Bill, an enterprising burglar, enters the house. As Clarence comes in with the carving knife uplifted the burglar seizes him, and then gets the surprise of his life. Clarence begs the burglar to kill him; and when the latter refuses to do so, Clarence gives him a large sum of money to plunge the knife into his vitals. Wifey. who lias changed her mind about going home to mother, re-enters ,iust as the burglar lifts the knife to kill her Clarence. With a shriek she grasps the burglar's arm and pleads with him not to kill Iier beloved Clarence. The burglar insists on finishing the job he has been paid for Wifey gives him all her jewels, and the burglar With a laugh takes his leave. Clarence and wife\ embrace. Clarence reaches behind wifey, picks up the note that he had written telling her of his intention to kill himself, and tears it into bits. THE PURSE.— A laboring man returns to the wretched attic room that shelters himself and hl-j sick wife after a fruitless search for any work that will save them from starvation. The sick wife's pitiful pleadings for food drive the de'spairing husband to resolve that he will get money regardless of the means. We see the poor fellow begging from a well-to-do gentleman and bis richly clad wife in front of their mansion. The rich man refuses the poor laborer's plea, and the latter, hardened by despair, snatches the silver purse from the hand of the lady and runs away with it, pursued by the rich man and a policeman A thrilling man hunt follows. The laborer jumps over a fence and thinking he is safe he goes into a grocery store and buys some food, wine, and firewood. As he comes out full of the happy thought that he can bring food and warmth to his sufferinc wife, the policeman seizes him. A struggle, short but exciting, follows. The laborer knocks the policeman down and escapes. The laborer enters his attic room and forgets his dangerous position at sight of his wife's smiling face when he shows her the food and wine, and explains that he has "found some money." Footsteps are heard. The husband hides the purse just as the policeman enters the room. Deaf to the agonizing appeals of the sick wife to release her husband, the policeman drags the poor wretch toward the door. At this moment the rich man enters. At a glance he realizes the awful situation of the poor laborer A generous tip to the police secures the release of the laborer: the purse is given back and the benevolent rich man offers his hand of friendship to the laborer, then exits. When the has gone, the dumbfounded victim of a terrible temptation finds in his hand a hundred dollar bill. With a cry of joy the poor laborer clasps his wife in his arms and hope shines in their faces. NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE CO. IONA, THE WHITE S&UAW.— A small child, not yet worldly wise enough to join in the wild rush made by the men and women of the mining settlement to inspect a gold nugget found by one. Is carried off by an Indian. The women upon return ing to their duties, and discovering what lias hap pened, gives the alarm, and the men go in pur suit, but are unsuccessful in finding the little girl The Indian rides into his camp with the child and tells of her captive. A young girl befriends her and taking her into a tepee, dresses her as an Indian, to the delight of all. The proprietor of a Western inn reads that a large reward is offered for the return of a girl stolen by Indians fifteen years ago. He and his friends are discussing the matter, when a stage coach pulls up to the tavern and a young man alights. He makes known he is the brother of the mining child, and tells the story of her disappearance. One cowboy leaves the party, and when an Indian boy rides up he asks him about the little girl. He will reveal nothing but after he is presented with liquor, tells thai the child is at bis camp. The cowboy returns with the Indian and is shown welcome by all. He sees Iona, the white girl, and succeeds in speak ing with her, arranging for her escape. Tliej mount a horse and ride to the tavern. The eowbo> gets the reward from the girl's brother for her recovery. The Indian boy comes into the inn. but is prevented from doing harm by Iona's rescuer He finally leaves the place and Iona with her brother and another get into the stage coach and start away. The Indians, who have been warned by the boy of events, overtake the coach and re capture Iona. They return to their camp, and pull down the tepees and pack preparatory to moving. The driver of the coach returns to the tavern, tells of the mishaps, and the cowboys go in search of Iona. They reach the Indian camp, and finding it deserted, go further on. The Indians are overtaken and a fight ensues. The chief is about to end Iona's life, but a cowboy lassoes him, and the girl is rescued. From the opening scene to the finale, this picture is one of lively interest. The portrayal of Indian life is remarkable for its truth. PHOENIX FILM CO. THE TELEPHONE CALL. It tells the story of a man who lives in a suburban town and who is called to the city on business. While away, burglars enter his house and overcome his wife. She communicates with him by telephone, telling him that burglars are in the house and he finally, after an exciting ride, arrives in time to capture the thieves. The story opens showing a desperate-looking character sitting in the park. A little girl, our hero's daughter, sees him there and they become quite friendly. Their acquaintance ends when her mother takes her away. As they leave the park he is approached by a fellow cracksman. Jim, with a plan to burglarize the little girl's home. They are talking about it when the butler comes on the scene and gives them the ground plans of the house. A beautiful outdoor scene showing the road leading from the park, the mother and little girl walking along it will bring utterances of "Oh! how grand!" from all who see this film. It is here we again find Joe looking longingly after the little girl, but Jim, his pal, chastises him, and drags him away, warning him that they had some important business on hand. The next scene opens showing Mr. Martin bidding his wife and child good-bye and leaving the address of the hotel at which he intends to stop. In order to drive away their fear of being left alone, he places his revolver in a drawer and calls his wife's attention to it. He then kisses her and the child good-bye and leaves. He reaches the hotel in the city in the next scene, unaware that his butler enters his home, takes the revolver left for his wife's protection and makes an excuse for leaving the house. As soon as the butler leaves, his wife telephones and you can see him in the hotel cafe trying to cheer her up as she talks. The scene ends with the mother holding the little one up to the phone to exchange kisses with her father, and the butler on the out side showing his pals how to enter the house. His wife seems to scent impending danger and her fear becomes greater. Suddenly she notices a shadow and hears someone trying to unlock the door. She hurriedly puts the child in a chair and places an extra key in the lock and rushes to tell her husband. It is in the next scene where the acting is superb. The husband iu the cafe is called to th" phone and his wife at the other end tells him that burglars are trying to enter the house. He reminds her of the revolver he left in the bureau drawer; she goes there only to find it gone and then rushes back to the phone. As she speaks to him she sees the burglars enter and her poor husband hears her scream. You can tell his agony from his facial expression as he listens for her voice again. The burglars seize her and as they do the frantic man rushes out of th», cafe and makes his way to the depot, but upon arrival learns that all suburban trains have gone. He must get to his wife in some way and the closing scene shows the frantic father racing for life in order to get to the rescue of his wife and child. But they are not to be harmed, as Jim recognizes the little "girl as the one he met in > the park and decides to protect her and her mother. A hot fight between him and his former pal is taking place when the father enters l>> * C/} UJ 0 5 u be a 0 • O a 0 > CB bean the y At O •»-i s CO -t-» UJ CB in ■J >-, 0 > u 0 v friii 0 £ £ CD 5s 7u *7 -tJ (0 bJ C/D n "5 »% ^U .x Q. z LU x z 0 05 -1 .22 B c " (Shap naid" ( O O O 53 CB it i» a •a 1 0 0 < 5 8 < -j ■E <n Di u be 2 UJ ■V 0 UJ "O c 0^ •«-» 0 m 0 *! m 0 (/J 0 0 CM ii c 0 DO % 9 UJ (A UJ QO K5 t/5 Mention the Moving Picture World. FILMS HOWARD MOVING PICTURE GO. Repair Work a Specialty. Agents for Motiograph, Power's and Edison Machines. Supplies and Sundries. FILMS 564 Washington Street, Boston M Established 1891. (Opposite Adams House). Incorporated 1908. THIS WILL GET THEM GOING We Make Slides at This colored 28 cents postpaid RIGHT PRICES ANNOUNCEMENTS Colored 28c. each Slides from Photos for Contests SINGERS and ADVERTISERS Plain 40c. each Colored 50c. each TICKETS— Contest Coupon 22£c. (1000) OUR BABY SHOW GETS THE MONEY Economy Supply Depot 77 So. Clark Street, Chicago