Moving Picture World (July-Dec 1909)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD but one who follows the different films will undoubtedly admit that this picture is successful and faithfully represents what it purports to do. It is technically good and there is the same life and energy displayed that characterizes all the Kalem films. Altogether it seems to be one of the best things this company has yet done. "How to Get a City Job" (Gaumont). — A travesty upon civil service examinations in the effort to secure a city job. The examinations were in all sorts of absurd studies; not more absurd, perhaps, than some of the questions actually asked, but they show graphically how silly some of the civil service rules are actually. But the seeker is ultimately rewarded by securing the coveted place. "X-Ray Glasses" (Gaumont). — A series of interesting pictures showing numerous magical changes, in geometrical forms and otherwise, all worked out in the admirable manner for which Gaumont's films of this character are famous. Some of the magic films produced by this house rank with the very best anywhere and this one will not detract from the reputation of the producer. "His Reformation" (Essanay). — A lesson might be drawn from this film useful to those who have in charge the numerous attempts to reform criminals as well as to the multitude who are ready enough to turn their backs upon the man who may be honestly trying to improve his ways. In this instance the road agent, unable to find anything to do, goes back to the original calling and holds up a stage, only to find his mother among the passengers, and with his face buried upon her shoulder his reformation is complete, and the picture closes leaving the impression that in this instance the one influence which could make the reformation genuine and permanent has unexpectedly been injected into this outlaw's life. "Listen" (Gaumont). — A fussy old bachelor gets a bump on his head, and rushing out to secure same balm from the nearest drug store to cure it he meets a number of acquaintances and in his efforts to explain the occurrence gets additional bumps until he gets one from a park statue that puts him out of business. The incidents furnish considerable amusement as the film runs. "Top Heavy Mary" (Gaumont). — Mary, who is a decided heavyweight, is advised to reduce her weight by exercising on a bicycle. It is sufficient, perhaps, to allow the imagination to conjure up the long series of mishaps that befall Mary in her attempts to navigate the contrary machine. "In a Pickle" (Gaumont). — A series of incidents supposed to portray the experience of an absent-minded professor. The many mistakes he makes and the difficulties he encounters are sufficiently funny to keep the audience in extremely good humor. If ever a man was as absent-minded as this one is supposed to be he needs a guardian at any rate. "What the Card's Foretold" (Edison). — Fortune telling with cards is caricatured in this picture in a very funny way. Mammy tells her own fortune, which, of course, is very bad and always brings bad luck in one form or another. Mammy discovered too late that she had made a mistake. She was present when all the things foretold by the cards occurred, but unfortunately none of the good luck came her way. The complications are indescribably funny and must be seen to be appreciated. "My Lord in Livery" (Edison). — This film will bring pleasant memories to thousands of people who have either seen this popular amateur dramatic production or have taken part in it. The numerous interesting complications are carefully wrought out and the play runs through with all the entertaining mixups which have made it popular so many years graphically portrayed. Evidently the Edison Company has produced another of its successful comedies in this picture. To reproduce a drama as popular and as widely known as this indicates that the producing company appreciates the value of the simple comedies in attracting attention in motion pictures. The photography is clear and the acting is quite in harmony with the subject. "A Lesson in Domestic Economy" (Vitagraph). — One of those comical domestic dramas which may or may not be exaggerations. It is, perhaps, more of a subject for pathos than humor if such arrant incompetency in domestic affairs is possible. But whether this picture is true to life or whether it really represents some of the misguided efforts of those who don't know, it is interesting and amusing and keeps the audience guessing what fool thing the experimenting young couple are going to do next. "A Day with Our Soldier Boys" (Vitagraph). — A day in the life of a company of United States soldiers is here very graphically set forth. The routine is all reproduced and coupled with this part are the sports, the tricks and jokes which the soldiers play upon each other. The film wins hearty applause from all the audiences that see it. "Through the Breakers" (Biograph). — An alarming rumor having spread around New York City that the famous Biograph girl — our girl, our only girl, whom we have silently worshipped in effigy these many months, and to whom, by I lit way, in this column we have made many references which surely indicate our favorable opinion of this lady — rumor having gone around that "she" was no longer to be .seen in the Biograph pictures, we went specially to inspect Monday's release for the purpose of satisfying not only our own doubts on the point, but those of many of our readers. For the number of this lady's admirers is legion. She is the heroine of many charming stories on the silent stage. Indeed, she is just as much a personality in the Biograph Stock Company as any well-known actress would be at a Broadway house. Our doubts were set at rest as soon as the film "Through the Breakers'' commenced to appear. "Through the Breakers" is a society story, written, as it were, from life. A pleasure loving wife and a club loving husband neglect a little child who suffers and dies before our eyes whilsther parents join in the social whirl. This is a Fifth avenue tragedy and it works out as all stories do: strictly according to law. The parents come to their senses when it is too late. The subject is, perhaps, somewhat melancholy, but it is well carried out by the Biograph Company, who show us some very finished acting. But we do not like the morbid or the melancholy on the moving picture stage and we prefer to see our own heroine in light comedy. Anyhow there she is, and we hope to see her again taking her part in the well dressed, well mounted, well finished Biograph pictures which are always such fine, rich, even, uniform specimens of moving picture photography, flawless of their kind, and object lessons in technique to recent entrants into the moving picture making field. "The Fatal Ball" (Melies). — A certain fascination attaches to this pictures even though the three deaths in it have a tendency to make it appear more or less bloody. A girl wronged under promise of marriage and shot as she rushes between her father and her love to prevent a pistol due, the flight of the murderer, the vow of the miner to kill the murderer of his daughter, his discovery disguised in another mining camp and the death of both are sufficient to hold the attention of the audience throughout the film. While the picture is wholly melodramatic, it is interesting and the acting seems quite in harmony with the subject. Somehow death and bloodshed in pictures depicting the rough life of the plains or the mining camp does not strike such a chill as it does in some other instances. The satisfaction of the rude, but generally accurate, ideas of justice may be considered accurate and perhaps this is the reason the same chill does not accompany the death scenes that is true in some other cases. Photography and acting are good in this film and it is so fascinating that one wants to see it a second time, "The Secret Chamber" (Urban). — Here is a picture which will rouse the interest of the audience to the highest pitch. First, a girl is forced to marry against her will to save the life of her real lover. In wandering about the castle, now her home, she discovers a secret , passage which leads to a chamber filled with jewels and money. This convinces her that her husband is a highwayman. In attempting to hide from him and his pals she is wounded in the arm. She informs the police. The robbers find the girl's tracks and soon reach her. They want to put her to death, but are prevented by her husband, and in the fight that follows he is killed. Then the police arrive, the brigands are driven away and the newly made widow throws herself into the arms of her former fiance. This long description seems necessary to make the film plain. It is full of the melodramatic, romantic action which goes with subjects of this type. The photography is good and some of the scenes about the castle are unusually picturesque. If action is wanted in a motion picture the audience should be satisfied with this. "Capturing the North Pole" (Urban). — A clean bit of comedy posed upon the recent Cook-Peary controversy, but in this instance the baron, who is a very famous explorer indeed, brings back the pole, proving beyond peradventure of doubt that he actually discovered it. No one can dispute the evidence of his own eyes and his own sense of feeling, consequently it seems right that the doughty baron should be hailed as the unquestioned possessor of the long sought pole. "Impossible to Get Sleep" (Pathe). — A series of amusing incidents which prevent the unfortunate Scuppy from getting to sleep. After passing through a series of trying and very disturbing experiences he lands in a station house cell where he is permitted to sleep as long as he chooses.