Moving Picture News (Jan-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS 23 Manufacturers' Synopses of Films VITAGRAPH THE OLD GUARD. — Decorated with the Legion of Honor for his services in the Imperial Guard, under the Emperor Napoleon, on the burning sands of Africa and the snows of Russia, Havresac, the Old Guard, in his second childhood, lives on the memories of his past. His niece, Melanie, works as a maker of artificial flowers, and manages to keep a .meagre home over their heads. Two French officers, Captain Weston and Colonel Millard, learning of their poverty and the past history of the old soldier, call at their home and provide for their needs. Captain Weston falls in love with Melanie and asks her uncle's consent to their marriage. At first Havresac refuses, but later he places Weston's hand in hers and gives them his blessing. Just after this has occurred, the old man hears the playing of the band of a passing regiment, and, looking from the window, insists upon taking his musket and joining the march. He is restrained by the Captain and Melanie. but, to satisfy the spark of his old-time valor, they allow him to stand in front of the window with his musket at ''shoulder arms." He becomes so inspired it is too much for his waning strength and he falls into his old armchair and passes through the last great battle of life into the presence of the Great Commander of those who have fought the fight and passed into the Great Beyond. On the same reel: GOVERNOR WILSON, — Scenes and incidents about Mr. Wilson's home at Sea Girt, New Jersey, during the recent political campaign for the presidency. Introducing many prominent men of affairs of state, who made up the body politic in the Nominating Committee, notifying him of his selection by the Democratic party. This film gives us a closer acquaintance with the President-elect and shows us some of bis home and family relations. At this time— just previous to his inauguration to the Presidency — there will be much interest centred in this very timely and interesting picture. GAUMONT THE AMATEUR SLEUTH (March 7).— John Plum Duff, man of millions, receives an alarming message. The note is pinned on a ham tree, and reads: "If the sum of $4.98 is not paid within three days and 3 1-3 hours (2 per cent off for cash within 15 minutes) Beware. The Band of Invisibles." Mr. Duff feels that he is in great danger and he advertises for a detective who can detect. Herlock Sholmes is a cabbage manufacturer, but the business1 is not in good "odor" with him. He sees the advertisement and tells his beloved wife that life with a dog, the gold fish and herself is not enough. He tells her that he is going away and he will some day return covered with glory, honor and freckles. He is engaged by Mr. Duff. The desperadoes, who are trying to painlessly abstract Mr. Duff's money from him, learn that Herlock is after them and he is informed by note that he had better go back to the cabbage foundry, otherwise he is enjoined to take care of his wishbone. The band of Invisibles continue to be invisible until Herlock's eagle eyes get on their track. He finds out that the band is partly made up of the millionaire's servants. He hatches a scheme (by sitting on it). By a ruse he obtains entrance to the kitchen, the headquarters of the gang. He decides that he will capture them. However, fearful that he would be caught and his wishbone might therefore suffer, he has written to a friend asking him to put his wife in a Dog's Home and to find a washerwoman's job for the dog. There is a fight when Herlock is found. There is a grand chase, in which he and the gang drop into a river. He finally leads them to where officers are waiting. They are captured. Whereupon Sholmes receives a nifty reward. THE BOND OF BROTHERHOOD (March 11). — Hubert Barry, a painter, is engaged to Marry Mrs. Walters, a divorcee. He is with her when he receives a letter from his brother. It tells a "hard luck story." The brother asks that Hubert find him a job, to once more give him help. The brother, Maurice, arrives, and Hubert installs a laboratory for his brother, a chemist, near Hubert's studio. Mrs. Walters is an incorrigible flirt and shows marked favor to Maurice. This flirtation grows daily in danger. Scandal threatens. Hubert is unaware of the duplicity. He learns the truth at a recepion given by her when he rinds her in the arms of Maurice. In rage, that his kindness be so illy rewarded, grieved that his love for his brother and Mrs. Walters should be so flouted, Hubert orders Maurice from the house and tells him that never again does he wish to see his face. Maurice goes to his rooms and packs his belongings. He then enters his laboratory and experiments with new explosives. There is a confusion of chemical elements — an explosion. Maurice, stunned and scorched by the flames, staggers out of the room and falls unconscious. Hubert, soul wounded, has gone to his mother's house. Although in mental torture, he will not worry her by telling of the deception of Maurice. With his mother he goes to his home. As he enters, there he finds Maurice senseless on the floor. At his side is a note written preparatory to his going away. It is addressed to Hubert and asks his forgiveness for the folly and deception of the brother for whom Hubert had done so much. His anger partly dissolved, Hubert, with the aid of his mother, revives him. As Maurice slowly returns to consciousness, Mrs. Walters enters. It is a trying moment. Here is he whom she had injured almost irreparably in the heart of his brother and who may now be injured for the length of his life. Mrs. Walters, seeking her own interest, advances to the side of Hubert and tries to retrieve his flown affections. There is one to intervene, one to stop in time the alliance of Hubert with such a worthless woman. It is the mother. She steps between her sons, brings them together in body, soul and spirit. She then denounces the woman who had threatened the bond of brotherhood, waves her out of the door, out of their lives. AMERICAN JOCULAR WINDS (Mar. 6).— Mrs. Carlton speculated heavily. Practically every dollar of an enormous income was invested. Her daughter wandering about the big estate, made friends with a charming neighboring girl whom Mrs. Carlton, learning of the acquaintanceship, snobbishly insulted, advising her to stay to herself. Mrs. Carlton needed another hundred thousand dollars or thought she did, which amounted to quite the same thing with her. The wealthy John Morton was sent for and the transaction negotiated, Mrs. Carlton giving her splendid residence as security. Going to his automobile after the transaction, John Morton recognized his long-forgotten niece in the doorway of the modest home next door. Recollections of his ill-treatment of her mother swarmed to his mind, and John Morton knew that he was not far from his day of reckoning. He, therefore, entered the little garden and sought by the one means known to John Morton to in a degree make up for the neglect of her mother — he offered her a check. This she refused. Two months later John Morton passed into the great unknown and left his all to the niece. This included the mortgage on the fashionable property of Mrs. Carlton next door. A time came when Mrs. Carlton's mortgage fell due, and she was quite unable to meet it. Then came to her the news that the little neighbor next door, whose companionship she had forbidden ner daughter, was the present holder of the note. Mrs. Carlton had her_ hour of anguish. And then came the little neighbor and, for the exchange of friendship with her daughter, offered Mrs. Carlton the mortgage. Needless to say Mrs. Carlton felt the exchange most keenly. THE TRANSGRESSION OF MANUEL (March 8).— -Manuel, a Mexican of the West, loved his wife more dearly than life itself. He saw her take sick and her ailment assumed an aspect that even to his inexperienced eye spelled death. Desperate, Manuel went to the doctor, and the doctor, kind-hearted soul, came, wrote a prescription and left. Away to the drug store went Manuel. The prescription filled, the druggist refused to deliver it without money, and Manuel had none. Out again went Manuel, arms flying, his head dizzy with unhappiness. There stood some horses belonging to the boys. Manuel, knowing it certain death, stole a sorrel mare^ sold it to a suspicious looking stable proprietor, hastened to the drug store, got his prescription and dashed home. The wife of Manuel was slowly dying. Frantically Manuel poured out the medicine, but it was too late. Just then the sheriff, leading a band of determined cowpunchers, broke into the room. They were about to seize him, but the sheriff raised his arm. A sweeping glance showed him the true nature of the crime. The dying woman raised her head, stared at the intruders and fell back lifeless. And then Manuel, raising his hands toward the sheriff, announced that he was ready, but the boys, instead, removed their hats and filed slowly out of his room, leaving Manuel, hated Greaser, alone with his precious dead. LUBIN AUNTIE'S AFFINITY (Mar. 1).— Marie and her Aunt Amanda live at the Hotel Borden. Marie is in love with Tom, the landlord's son, but Auntie forbids her niece to go automobiling with him. One day Marie pleads a headache and Amanda goes walking in the park alone. Pietro, the chef of the hotel, dressed regardless, also goes to the park. He picks up Amanda's pocketbook and gracefully returns it. Neither have met before; the chef introduces himself as the Count of Montividio, and an attachment is commenced. The chef buys an engagement ring and, losing it in the kitchen, it is found in Marie's plum pudding. The chef is discharged and Amanda is heartbroken until a letter comes from the Italian Consul certifying that Pietro is really the Count and heir to a fortune. Both couples elope. THE FIRST PRIZE (Mar. 3).— Fishing village, to which comes Duke Mason, a young artist, to paint his prize picture. He meets a lovely young girl, Nell Jason, who falls in love with him, as he does with her. As he paints, she watches and finds fault with his picture so many times that he tells her to paint it, and she takes him at his word. They become engaged, he asking the consent of her father, and they plan many things for the future when the picture is finished. It is finally finished; he leaves her, and tells Nell he will return soon. In the city the picture is a great success, bringing Mason money and friends. He forgets his little fisher maiden and she waits in vain for his return, but the days grow into weeks and months. He left his paint, etc., with Nell when he went away, and to amuse herself she paints. Her father is _ old, and she feels that she must do something to help along. She reads in a paper of an offer of $1,000 as first prize, $500 as second, and so on, for pictures to be exhibited in some art gallery several months later. She decides to try for one of the prizes. She paints late and early and the picture is finished. She names it "Calling." Mason tries for the prize, but his hand has lost its cunning, and some of his friends tell him of a wonderful picture that did win the first prize. At first he does not want to go to see it, but finally does go. The picture is just a barren part of the beach and, standing on an elevated portion, is a girl with back turned looking across the water with arms outstretched. He reads the title, hears her call, and, much to the surprise of his friends, he leaves the art gallery. At the village Nell is standing on the beach the living picture of "Calling." Mason sees her, comes to her and humbly asks for her to forgive, and, like all of her sex, she forgives. EDISON ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A TRANSFER (Feb. 26). — In trying to explain to a big, fat German who has recently arrived in this country, how and where he is to change street cars to get to a certain address, a conductor gives