Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1912)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD •THE SHEEPMAN'S ESCAPE" (Essanay). There is a big, powerful plot in this spdendidly acted dramatic photoplay of life in the West. It is a story which might easily be true, for its plot is founded on the early wars of the cattle and shepherd kings of the great Western ranges, when these were trackless, fenceless grazing pastures. It is a story which undoubtedly has its parallel in actual history, and it i? a story told in a manner which convinces. Tom Harper, with his widowed mother goes into the West and with his savin.gs purchases a large flock of sheep. He is not unacquainted with the despotic rulings of his greatest enemies, the cattlemen, but he is not afraid. It is not long after his immigration that he hears from them in an anonymous warning, posted on the door of his cabin. The note is brief and to the point. "Warning," it reads, "This is a cattleman's country and not good for a sheepman's health." Tom hesitatingly shows the note to his mother and she is apprehensive of trouble to come. She begs him not to carry any weapons, believing that without them, he is less likely to be shot, but he tells her firmly that he has as much right to the country as the cattlemen and will protect his flock at all costs. He then goes to the sheriff, shows ... ^^^^^^^: Scene from "The Sheepman's Escape" (Essanay). him the note and points significantly at his gun. "I'm not looking for trouble, sheriff," he explains, "but they had better let me be." Tom is on his way back to his cabin, when, from out of a clump of bushes there comes a flash of smoke, followed by the sing of a bullet past his ear. Tom's horse wheels about, but not before its rider has fired into the ambuscade. The answer is returned in the loud shriek of a wounded man back of the bushes, and with a self-satisfied smile Tom swings his horse about and gallops away. Buck Brady, the wounded cattleman, is carried by two of his pals to a shack on the opposite side of the hill, which is opened by a gray-haired lady, who solicitously makes up a bed for the wounded man and binds up his wounds. In the meantime, Tom has ridden to the home of his sweetheart, a young widow, whom he tells of the shooting and of whom lie asks shelter. It is not long before the couple hear the sound of galloping horses and the young woman opens the door to tliree revengeful cattlemen, who. though not sure that Tom is in the house, demand the right to search for him. This is refused and with the warning that "they will get him if it takes a week" they post themselves about the house to wait quietly for either Tom's coming or his leaving. By a clever ruse Katy Lee's little girl is dispatched for the sheriff and this official is hurriedly summoned. He arrives at Mrs. Lee's cottage, orders the cattlemen oflf the premises, then escorts Tom to the county jail, where lie is ofiered protection in a cell. It is not long before a committee of the cattlemen arrives at the sheriflf's ofiice and demands the prisoner. The sheriff stands them off with a gun and, threatening to shoot the first man who advances a foot, holds them at bay. In the meantime, when things are looking darker for Tom, Buck Brady has learned that the good Samaritan who has nursed him is the mother of Tom Harper, and moved by her tender solicitude he confesses that he had tried to shoot Tom and had been shot by Tom himself. He then declares his intentions of confessing to the sheriff, being fully aware that if Tom has not been hung already, his friends will see that little time slips by before this is accomplished. Consequently, he arrives at the sheriff's office, just as the others are about to take the sheriff by force, and stumbling through the crowd hands the sheriff a signed confession that he and the others had plotted to kill the sheepman and that he had been wounded by Harper, who acted solely in self defense. Cheated of their prey the surly cowboys turn away and Tom is liberated, and told by Brady that he need have no further fear of violence at the hands of the cattlemen. This photoplay is booked for release Saturday, January 13. "THE TRINITY" (Imp). An old taxidermist, whose bachelor companion is a yoimg artist, receives a letter from his brother in Germany informing him that he is sending his baby for a short stay with her uncle. The taxidermist and the painter are alarmed at the imminent invasion of their peaceful home by a baby. ' Nevertheless they buy her toys and go off to meet her. "Baby Lena" turns out to be a handsome young woman^ with whom, in due course the artist falls in love and she .i/ ilBJ Ml iP^k'JH ratofi^^H ^ ■S^l K^^Hv^^^^^^ ' ^f^^^^l ^^ Wjrfi^ F^^^^^^^^^ti ;>. -^^^^|i^^^H fj ^^Nll J^^ '^^ "^ .jFTlbBi Ijiii,,,, V' '1 Scene from "The Trinity" (Imp). with him. The old taxidermist is fearful lest he should lose the companionship of his artist friend. This is averted by the young couple agreeing to have their new home next to his and thus a trinity of friendship is established. This delicate piece of sentiment is exquisitely rendered by King Baggot, Miss Fischer and William Robert Daly. The settings are in liarniony with the pretty story and the film appeals to all in virtue of its quiet restfulness and poetry of theme. "The Trinity" is to be released Jan. 4. NEW THEATER FOR TROY, N. Y. E. O. Weinberg, manager of the Novelty Theater, Troy, N. v., is building a new picture theater which will be called the "Plaza." As soon as the new house is completed Mr. Weinberg will devote his entire time to the enterprise.