Moving Picture News (Jul-Dec 1912)

30 THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS he had wronged had saved his miserable life. And full of remorse he made what amends he could. The banker's confession resulted in the teller's pardon. The wife took the precious paper to the prison, received her husband with joy and thankfulness and hand in hand they le'ft the gloomy penitentiary to take up a new and happier life. STORY OF THE RANCHMAN AND THE HUNGRY BIRD Thanhouser Release, July 19 He was just a ragged little urchin, homeless, friendless and hungry, skulking through Central Park one day, he noticed a big man busily engaged in feeding bread to birds who flocked around him. On the bench beside him the big man had a big piece of bread and the boy decided that he needed it more than the birds did. He was afraid to ask for charity, having received many rebuffs in his young life, so he just slipped up quietly, clutched the bread and began to eat it ravenously. The big man turned and saw him. The boy started to run but was captured before he could get aw-ay and stood trembling, fearing that some horrible punishment was to be inflicted upon him. Much to his surprise, the big man showed sympathy and insisted on hearing his pitiful story and took him off to his hotel where the boy had the first bath and the first real meal that had come his way in a long time. The big man was a kindly ranch owner from the West who was simply in New York for a few days on business. Filled with pity for the child he decided to give him a home, and the youngster gladly went with him to the far West. The ranch owner had many friends, but like all good men he had some enemies. One was a half-breed servant who had been detected selling liquor to Indians and had been promptly kicked off the place. Wrathfully he determined to be revenged and the disappointed Indians agreed to help him in his plot. They selected a night when all the cowboys had gone to a dance some distance away and the ranch owner and his little protege were all alone on the place. Then they attacked the house, confident that they could overcome any opposition before help could arrive. They failed to count upon the child, however. While the rancher was keeping them off with his gun. the boy made a daring escape from the house, leaped on his pony, and rode off during the night. He reached the dance hall in safety, summoned assistance, and the galloping cowboys got back in time to capture the Indians and the half-breed, before any serious damage was done. And all the glory of the capture went to the small and formerly dirty boy who had been picked up among the other hungry birds in the far eastern city. LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF OLD KENTUCKY Comet Release, July 13 This story deals with native Kentuckians during the late feud days. The daughter of one family, the son of the other learn to love each other, the father of the girl opposing, with the full strength of his nature, the union. The young people are cautioned by the girl's father to not carry it any further, that the engagement must be broken, and if Jim persists in his courtship, he will kill him. Later, the father finds them planning an elopement and at the point of a gun holds Jim at bay while he horsewhips the daughter with a long mule driving snake whip. The father in his fury drops the point of his gun for a second while whipping the girl, and Jim who has been driven frantic through witnessing the whipping, draws his gun, and fires. "The father falls to the ground to all appearances mortally wounded. The poor hard working mother rushes upon the scene. Meg (the daughter) tries to induce Jim to escape before the officers arrive, but he refuses to go without her. Realizing that she is the cause of the shooting, she decides to go with him. She, tells the mother so, and says that she will' stop at the home of a relative who lives a short distance away, and they will come to her at once. Meg rushes to the stable, saddles and mounts her horse "Spot." We see her riding out of the barn. Jim waiting on the outside mounted. They ride hurriedly away. The uncle is notified. He starts to the assistance of the mother. Meg rushes back to where she has left Jim holding the horses. They mount, ride to the cliff overlooking the river, dismount, slap their horses on the flanks, horses gallop away. Meg and Tim descend the cliff to the river, board the river steamer, the planks are drawn in, and the steamer glides into the stream. The lovers are soon to begin a new life across the boundary line. Later they learn that Jim's shot was not fatal. There is a happy reunion, and the curtain descends midst an atmosphere of peace and harmony with the suggestion of the harmonious strains of "My Old Kentucky Home" permeating and vibrating around the happy surroundings. REGGIE BREAKS THE COLLEGE RULES Comet Release, July 15 "Reggie." the pampered son of a fond and doting mother, after months of preparation, starts for the college selected by his parent, to take up his finishing course that it is hoped will some day make him one of the leading lights of the legal profession. His attractive personality excites the envy of his less fortunate college mates, and shortly after being installed in sumptuous quarters his wealth and social standing cause him to be much sought after by the young lady residents of the college town. Wherever "Reggie" appears he is immediately surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls, who lavish attentions upon him and he seems to possess a faculty for occupying their entire time to the exclusion of his fellow collegians, who in consequence make him the object of many mad college pranks. He accepts the inevitable with exceeding good nature and succeeds in holding his own through the many indignities that are heaped upon him. and proves himself a hero in the end. A conspiracy is on foot to "haze" him and he learns of the fact in time to outwit his would-be tormentors, and turn the tide in his favor. The accidental meeting with a lightweight pugilist of note in the town on the night he is to be made the victim gives "Reggie" an unlooked for advantage. He relates to his friend the story of the intended assault, and the fighter volunteers to take his place. So he is secretly smuggled into "Reggie's" room and serenely throws himself into "Reggie's" soft and downy couch, while the latter hides underneath. The hour arrives and the enemy force their way into the room. Reggie's supposed figure is seen dimly outlined in the bed. Several violent hands are laid upon him when the fighter rises and begins the assault. Only a few moments elapse until the floor is littered with the attacking party and one of the principal offenders is thrown from the window, while the others are rendered "hors de combat." In the excitement the fighter escapes unrecognized and "Reggie" receives the credit of creating the havoc, and is in consequence held in wholesome esteem for the balance of the term. Roy Nickerson. a well-known pugilist, plays a prominent part in this picture which it is said is a scream from start to finish. LICENSED A BUNCH OF VIOLETS Titagraph Release, July 10 Married to a man who is a drunkard and a general good-for-nothing, Violet Ray, a popular actress, sticks to him for the sake of their dead child. Mabel Wright, the daughter of a florist, aged ten, is a great admirer of Violet and comes every afternoon to the stage door with a bunch of violets. Violet grows fond of the child and one afternoon takes her home with her to her apartment, and in answer to the girl's questions tells her about the little girl she has lost. Mabel reciprocates Violet's love with all her childish sympathy. Alec Lang, a man about town, who is very much in love with Violet, tries to persuade her to leave her brutal husband and marry him. but she refuses. One day. going to the stage door, Mabel is run over and seriously injured; she is taken to the hospital. She makes her father go and tell Violet what has happened and take her some violets. In the meantime Jim has grown particularly brutal, and Violet resenting his conduct, "decides to accept Alec's protection. She telephones him to come to her. While she is waiting Mabel's father arrives with the message and the violets. These touch Violet's heart and awaken her wifely love. She dismisses Alec, and we see her in the final scene, at Mabel's bedside, consoling the little sufferer and happy in her resolution to remain true to herself and the memory of her child. THE FOSTER CHILD Vitagraph Release, July 12 What is more lonely than a childless home? 'Sir. and Mrs. Caspar, home loving, industrious people, long for a little one to bless their lives and their home. Their hopes are not in vain. One night, when they were sitting in the quiet, they hear the voice of a baby. Air. Caspar, opening the door finds a deserted male child lying on the doorstep. Tenderly lifting it in his arms he brings it to his wife, who cares and nurtures it with a mother's love. Their adopted child is just one year old when a son is born to Mrs. Caspar, and an added joy comes to bless their union. The foundling Dick and the real son Jack grow up together as brothers. The real son is idle, morose and disrespectful, and a selfish ingrate, who heaps abuse upon his parents, regardless of their kindness. The foster son is manly, kind and thoughtful. The mother of the child whom she deserted, conscience-stricken and remorseful, one day comes to the Caspar home to reclaim her child. Of course she cannot identify him, and the Caspars hate to part with their boy. They determine to pass their own son off as the woman's. She is very wealthy, and when Jack hears this he is anxious to go with her. Jack, with plenty of money, which he does not hesitate to demand from his supposed mother, soon shows his real nature. He indulges in all sorts of dissipation. In a gambling den he becomes involved in a quarrel. In the struggle he is accidentally shot. He is taken to his home, where he dies. When his real parents hear that their son is dying, they hasten to his .bedside, where they find him dead. The Caspars tell the whole truth to Dick's mother, and then, returning to their home, impart the truth to Dick. With a heavy heart, he bids farewell to those who have brought him safely and lovingly to man's estate. He hastens to his own mother's side, where she clasps her deserted child to her bosom and he lovingly embraces her. AFTER MANY DAYS Edison Release, July 9 This is the story of an old musician and his little daughter. Beginning when they play and sing in the saloons together, passing through the time when she is a coon shouter in a popular priced theatre and then under his careful training becomes a good concert singer, she finally accepts an offer of a leading role in a big production in a large city. This, of course, leaves the old father alone as he cannot travel with her and at their parting she gives him some money to take care of him until the first salary day comes around. As he turns from the railroad station he is followed by two men who have noticed the money. By the river's edge they attack him, take the money and put him, unconscious, into a small boat which is shoved off into the stream. At Rest Haven he is cared for by fisher folk who find him, but he has lost his memory and all idea of who he is or where he belongs. The singer is fairly beside herself because she can get no word and finally employs a detective to trace him,. The years roll by and the great singer comes for a vacation to Rest Haven and is asked to sing at a benefit concert for the Old Men's Home. The detective coming there tells her that his search is over, that he has exhausted every resource and failed to find her father. Later, among the fisher folk, he sees one who resembles the picture which he had. He questions him but the old man can tell him nothing of his oast and so he invites him to the concert. Thus the father is brought face to face with his daughter, but while something in his mind puzzles him, he is unable to place her until she sings an old song which he taught her. Then, of course, recognition comes, his mind is restored to him and the daughter to his arms. The story is tremendously appealing, exquisitely played and sure to make a popular and lasting impression. It is in every sense a worth-while film. THE ARTIST'S JOKE Edison Release, July 10 A wealthy artist lives in retirement in his country mansion with his only son Charles, who is averse to country life and anxious to make his abode in the city where they raise brides instead of crops. One day a sketch club, consisting of a bevy of beauties, arrive by motor from the city to