The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

■THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY 13 "Honor Thy Couiitry" --Universal Special A BEN WILSON, who has long enjoyed a reputat i o n for good work both as an actor and a director for Universal, is making a new record of excellence for himself since his transferrance from the eastern studios to Universal City. Recently he struck twelve with a three-reel picture, "Society Hypocrites," and in "Honor Thy Country," he has gone and done it again. The story, by Willis and Woods, has an imaginary South American Republic for a background. N o wadays, if authors wish to write an up-to-date story of intrigue and corruption, of go.ve r n m e n t s which change over night, and of armies com manded by Amer ican adventurers, they have perforce to locate the tale in the southern half of our hemisphere. The Balkans, which have been the classic background for such affairs ever since the king was imprisoned in Zenda, are otherwise occupied just now. So Mr. Woods and Mr. Willis have chosen a sort of vague Central American republic, in which the villain (played by Joe Girard, who fairly revels in his wickedness) can gnash his teeth to his heart'^ content; conduct political intrigues which involve the safety of the American visitors, including the lovely heroine; and give wonderful opportunities to the hero, an American officer serving as a mercenary in his rather comic opera army. A feature of the picture is the use of a real United States torpedo boat destroyer, the "Farraguet," which was lying off San Pedro. She was "all shot to pieces" by a battery of cameras for the occasion. Permission to use her was obtained by the officials of the Universal Film Company, who wired to Secretary Daniels direct. In his answer the Secretary stated "He is an American! You must spare him!" STRONG three-reel picture with an irresistible patriotic appeal. Story by Willis and Woods. Scenario by Alice Von Saxmar. Produced by Ben Wilson, with Neva Gerber, Charles Perley, Joseph Girard and Edward Cecil prominent in the cast. A real United States torpedo boat destroyer, the "Farragut," figures in the action, by special permission of the Secretary of the Navy. CAST. Dick Sterrett Edward Cecil Betty Thomas Neva Gerber Count Del Vaine Joseph W. Girard Lieut. Scott.. Charles Perley Florita Rhea Haines Boyd Thomas Robert Emmons that he had instructed Commander Hudson, of the destroyer, to aid Mr. Wilson in every possible way in making the picture. So the hero is rescued by a file of real marines from a real ship. Dick Sterrett is a soldier of fortime who is the commander-in-chief of the forces of Count Del Vaine in a little South American republic. Lieutenant Scott is an American naval officer on leave who has been amusing himself with Florita, the niece of the ruler. Dick tells the other that it is dangerous to trifle with the honor of the girl, but Scott scoffs at the idea. Boyd Thomas, a wealthy American who is touring the country, arrives with his daughter Betty. The girl despises Dick, as he sells his services for gold, and likes Scott. There follows a rom a n c e between the two as Betty thinks that she loves the man. When Florita tells her uncle that her honor demands that she marry Scott, the Count is furious. He asks an explanation of Scott and when the other refuses to make good the wrong that he has done, the Count swears revenge. One day while on shore Thomas gets drunk and insults some natives. As a result he is put in prison. Betty is very much worried when her father does not return and tells Scott of her fears. He de cides that he can get her father out and goes to the Count to demand an explanation. The result is that the Count lets Thomas go, but imprisons Scott. He has the American officer put in the torture room and whipped. While this is going on Dick comes in and the Count in glee shows him the torture that is going on in a room below. It so angers Dick to think that an American citizen should be treated in thisway that he makes the Count sign Scott's release at the point of a gun. He also has word sent to have him hold the boat so that he can make his escape, and gives him a note to give to Betty saying what he has done. Dick is captured and Scott forgets to give the note to Betty until the boat is about to sail. She is indignant at the thought that they are going away to leave this hero to his fate. She visits an American warship that is lying in the harbor, and with the aid of the men that they furnish she goes to rescue Dick from the terrible torture that they are putting him through. At last she realizes that it is Dick whom she loves, and so the picture ends.