The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

THE MOVING} PlCTUftfe WfefitLV Service Page for ''Tke Big Adventure ' AT A GLANCE SUBJECT— "The Big Adventure." STAR— Little "Breezy" Eason. PREVIOUS HITS— "The Cowboy and the Kid," "Two Kinds of Love," the boy in "Pink Tights." DIRECTED BY— Reeves Eason. STORY BY— James Edward Hungerford. SCENARIO BY— George Pyper. SUPPORTING CAST— Lee Shumway, Gertrude Olmstead, Fred Herzog, Mollie Shafer, etc. LOCALE — The Slums — the Open Road — On a Farm. TIME— The Present. PHOTOGRAPHY BY— Virgil Miller, THUMB-NAIL THEME— A waif of the city streets runs away from the abuse of his cruel step-father and, with his dog, strikes the open road. He meets with many adventures until he is adopted into the home of a kindly lawyer. The lad repays the man's kindness by opening his heart to a wealth of love, the presence of which he had never before suspected. ADVERTISING PUNCHES 1 — The screen presence of little "Breezy Eason, the four-year-old child wonder of the silent drama. 2 — The fact that the story was written by James Edward Hungerford and has been widely read by the public. 3 — The direction of Reeves Eason, father of the little star, who also directed such Universal successes as "Pink Tights" and "Colorado." 4— The natural work of Mickey, a mongrel pup, who adds a rare zest to the production. 5 — The presence in the supporting cast of Gertrude Olmstead, the girl who is training for stardom at Universal City. 6 — The thrilling incident of a little kid capturing a gang of bandits. 7 — Realistic views of the slums of a great city, contrasting sharply with restful scenes in the country. 8 — The interesting point that "Breezy" Eason interprets his own screen roles and expresses the theme as it presents itself to his little mind. 9 — The presence in the cast of Lee Shumway, one of the most finished leading men on the screen. 10 — The impressive work of Fred Herzog, whose portrayal of a brutal step-father is reminiscent of Bill Sykes in "Oliver Twist." Synopsis of Story The Big Adventure'' PATCHES, a little waif of the city streets, had been given his nickname by the other boys on account of his ragged coat. He lives in a tumble-down shack with his brutal stepfather, Old Whiskers, who makes a profit off the coal he forces Patches to steal from the railroad yards. One day Patches revolts against his step-father's cruelty and runs away. On the way he makes friends with a kind-hearted young brakeman, Tim O'Rourke. After leaving the train, he wanders tired and hungry into the camp of a gang of hoboes. The village constable swoops down on the gang and takes Patches before the local magistrate. Judge Wellborn. Patches tells his story to the Judge who finds a home for him with his sister. In the wholesome environment of the farm the starved little city waif soon blooms with health and happiness. He delights in playing with his dog. Rags, and the other pets of the big farm family. The Judge calls often to see his protege. Patches "gets wise" to the fact that Sally is in love with the Judge and is jealous of a haughty city girl, Eleanor, to whom he is pajnng attention. One day Mrs. Lane and Sally go to town, leaving Patches alone. Old Whiskers, who has become a tramp, breaks into the house and brutally CAST Patches Reeves Eason, Jr. Old Whiskers Fred Heriog John Wellborn Lee Shumway Mrs, Lane Mollie Shafer Sally Gertrude Olmstead forces the terrified Patches to assist him in robbing the place. He then forces Patches to write a not to Mrs. Lane assuming the guilt of the robbery; despite the pleadings of the little fellow Old Whiskers brutally tears him away from the only home he has ever known and takes him aboard a freight train that is just pulling out Sally, who believes that the Judge does not care for her, decides to run away. While walking along the road she sees Patches taken to a deserted shack by his father. When she enters to rescue the boy she is captured by the hoboes. They toss Patches into the back room of the cabin and proceed to draw lots for the possession of the giri. Patches escapes, and returning to the Judge's home, falls exhausted on the floor. After reviving the boy, the Judge goes to the shack and rescues the girl. On the way back to his sister's he realizes that it's Sally he cares for, and asks her to be his wife. She consents and Patches congratulates them both. but lujoi Shouaeo op Theatre Name Here The pudgy fist of "Breezy Eason" Packed a wallop. .. His heart carried a load — but his face wore a toothless grin that will win your heart. Does a ragged little kid and a faithful dog affect you under the vest? Then see "Breezy" Eason, the wonder-child of the screen in "The Big Adventure." He captures a bandit gang, meddles in a love affair, gets spanked and then kissed.