The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

-THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY -13 "The Mainspring" HE MAINSPRING" is the forty-fourth I Red Feather Production. » Written by by Charles Agnew McLean, supervising editor of the Street and Smith publications. The scenario is by William Parker, and the photoplay was produced by Jack Conway. It features Ben Wilson and Francelia Billington. CAST. Lawrence Ashmore . -j B ^j, Larry Crsren 1 Jesse Craven W. J. Higby Richard Creelman Henry Holland Edith Craven _ Francelia Billington Wm. Ramsdale C. Benson Israel Famum Marc Robbins James Sharp Thomas Jefferson Jerviss _ E. J. Brady Bernice Mrs. Maurice lOVELS are very often put into scenario form for the screen, but it is not often that the process is reversed. However, Charles Agnew McLean, the editor-in-chief of all the Street and Smith publications, who wrote the I story of "The Mainspring," is convinced that it will make a good novel, and will publish it as a serial in one of his many magazines. The working script was made by William Parker of the Universal staff, and Jack Conway was responsible for the production. Ben Wilson, who of late years has been out of the habit of taking direction from any one, is featured in the leading role, an unusually difficult one, with two distinct characterizations; for the plot is based upon the extraordinary resemblance between two men. Conway has not resorted to the expedient of double exposure to any great extent, but nevertheless, the problem of presenting the two characters and discriminating between them by outward tricks of Larry Craven confronts his friends. Larry Ashmore speaks for himself. manner, walk and gesture, is a great one, and is handled in splendid fashion by Ben Wilson. Francelia Billington has not very much to do except to look pretty, and she can always be depended upon for that. Others in the cast who have important roles are Marc Robbins, as the "Tiger of Wall Street," and Thomas Jefferson, as his henchman. It is a new experience for Mr. Jefferson to play a villain, but his artistry is equal to the task. One of the most convincing shipwrecks ever staged is put on in this picture. Larry Ashmore, the hero, is kidnaped, and taken on board a small vessel. But a great storm arises and the boat founders. It is always difficult to stage a scene of this kind, but the flooding of the cabin, gradual sinking of the vessel, and the escape of Larry by swimming are all carried out with the utmost realism. The story itself, one of the best in recent pictures, is as follows: Jesse Craven, the great financier, is ill, but so closely guarded is he that the public can obtain no details, and are in suspense as to whether he is seriously ill or only slightly indisposed. Lawrence Ashmore, a young reporter, is detailed by one of the papers to obtain an interview. Larry Craven, Jesse's son, is expected to arrive from Europe, and the. chauffeur mistakes Ashmore for him, Ashmore bearing a very close resemblance to the son. But when Edith, Jesse's niece, and Richard Creelman, Jesse's closest friend, see Ashmore after the first moment of meeting, they realize that he is not Larry, and so hold him a prisoner, fearing that he may be a spying reporter. Larry meanwhile has been kidnaped by the orders of Shackleton, who is the confidential man — also the former secretary to Craven — to Famum and Sharp, two brokers, who are bent upon the ruin of Craven and the thousands of stockholders who have entrusted their investments to him. Creelman and Ramsdale, the latter Craven's broker, offer Ashmore a large sum of money if he will pose as Larry, since the resemblance is so strong, and he agrees. He and Edith become warm friends. Farnum and Sharp, thinking they have Larry safe, manipulate the stock market, and things are looking very serious for the Craven interests. They keep the real Larry under the influence of liquor most of the time. In order to carry their bluff further, they plan that (Continued on page 22)