Moving Picture News (Jul-Dec 1912)

i6 THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS "THELMA'' (Reliance 3 Reel) The filming of Marie Corelli's great rtOvel, by the Reli?nce Company, is in every way an artistic production, and one that does credit not alone to the firm of Reliance, but to the moving picture trade in general. Alice Weeks, a clever young motion picture actress, takes the female lead, while an old favorite, formerly of Pathe Freres, and seen a short time ago to such splendid advantage in the champion production of "Camille,'' Irving Cummings takes the male lead, Sir Philip Errington. Joseph Chaillis plays the father of Thelma, Olaf Guldmar: Lady Clara Winsleigh is taken by ]\Iarguerita Dwight; Sir Francis Lennox by Georgio Majeroni; Violet Vere by Edgena Delespino; Luisa Elsland by Julia R Hurley; Britta, her maid, by Virginia Westbrooke; Sigurd, a dwarf, b}' Robert Sansey. The story has that peculiar weird strain running through it which characterizes Marie Corelli's works. The opening f scene in the filmed version shows Philip Errington, a rich youn| Englishman, repulsing the love of a young woman named Clara Winsleigh, which she persists in forcing upon him. Bored to desperation, he sets sail for Norway, where he meets Thelma, a beautiful Norse maiden, the daughter of Olaf Guldmar. Most picturesque is the scene of the rustic cabin of the old Norseman, with the trailing vines brilliant with blossoms festooning its entrance, the cabin where Philip wins the love of Thelma, and where, with her father's consent, she accepts his proposal to become his wife, and from whence he takes her to London after marriage and introduces her to his society friends. Her first appearance is at a ball given by Lady Clara Winsleigh. A friend of Errington's has married a stage dancer named Violet Vere. A misunderstanding has arisen, and the husband begs Errington to reason with her in his behalf, which he dees. A letter which is written by the actress to her husband works itself into the possession of Lad.v Clara, and she gives it to Thelma, making it appear that the letter was written to Philip. Thelma, thinking that her husband has tired of her, leaves London, alone, and returns to the house of her father. A double grief comes to Thelma, when her father, falling sick, believes he sees the Valkyrie, knowing that he is about to die, and orders that he be placed in his boat, that it be set afire, and sent adrift on the ocean, that he may die as did his forefathers. Beset by troubles, Thelma loses her reason, but is restored to her normal self at sight of Philip, who rushes to Norway to her home. There are many tragic situations throughout the story, for instance, when Sigurd, the dwarf boy, who has been the almost constant companion of Thelma before her marriage, tries to kill Philip in a jealous rage, or when the minister, who also is in love with Thelma, lures her to his home by means of a forged letter, from whence she is rescued by Britta, her maid, and Philip's friend, Duprez. The film has many beautiful scenic bits, as well as a :splendid characterization of the parts. SHOW ON, BACK WITH PICTURES Jay Hunt, the moving picture director whom many friends were surprised to learn through these columns was :a burlesque "magnate," has finished rehearsals of his Western wheel show, "Queens of the Folies Bergere," and sent it out on the burlesque circuits. Upon doing this, Mr. Hunt rejoined the Thanhouser Company as producers, from which post he had been absent for a month while "putting on" his wheel attraction. The "Animated Weekly" (issue No. 24), released by Universal Film Co. August 21st, has the following subjects: A Meal Under Water. — Depicting the strange feat of eating a lunch and smoking a cigar entirely submerged. Thrilling Aeroplane Flight. — Grahame-White's, England's foremost aviator and society favorite, fly at Manchester. Fighting the Flames. — lieroic efforts of the New York Fire Department in quenching a disastrous fire on the Hudson River docks. A Trackless Trolley, — Unique means of transit in actual operation in Pasedena, California. Death Defying Feat. — Law, the Steeplejack, climbs the outside of a twenty story Wall street skyscraper, reaching the eighteenth story, wjiere he was stopped by the police. The King's Prize. — The famous "Bisley Shoot" which decides the champion sharpshooter in the British Empire. Private A. G. Fulton, the winner. National Coiivention Motion Picture Exhibitors. — Representative Motion Picture Exhibitors from every state in the Union convene in Chicago. Society Flower Girls. — Pretty Chicago society girls sell flowers on the street for charity. Army Aftacks New York. — 20,000 troops of the regular armj' and National gttard in a sham attack on New York City.