Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1913)

588 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD "ODD KNOTTS" (Essanay). This excruciatingly funny comedy is without a question of a doubt one of the most impressive comedy features ever released. The situations are screamingly funny and the portrayal or masterful interpretation of this remarkable piece shows plainly what the Essanay comedy company are capable of doing. Skipper Knott, a bold, bad man, who makes everybody that comes within sight of him afraid, leaves his wife and young daughter and goes on a cruise. Some time later. Mrs. Knott receives a letter from an attorney-at-law, stating that her husl)and has Ijeen lost at sea and lie will send her the small amount of insurance left. The settlement is made. The "Widow" Knott advertises in the local paper that she will take a few respectable gentlemen boarders. Some time later, Mike McCloskey, a boarder at the "Widow" Knotts, is re Scene from "Odd Knotts" (Essanay). quested to leave, unless he can pay his board bill immediately. He discovers an old bank book of his with a dollar deposited. He unhesitatingly writes $10,000 in the deposit column. He is about to leave when the "Widow" Knott discovers the bank book on the floor of McCloskey's room. She catches the schemer before he gets to the front door. His things •are returned to his room and he is served with the best meal of his life, and a bottle of imported wine. A week later, the two announce their engagement. The day the wedding is to take place, Old Skipper Knott returns, and makes things hot around the house. With a big club he ousts all the guests and makes the bridegroom do a three mile race in nothing. This is the screamiest scream ever thrown on the screen. E. H. Calvert as Skipper Knott is exceedingly funny. His portrayal of this character distinguishes him as a man of rare and talented ability. Miss Ruth Hennessy as Skipper's wife demonstrates her remarkable ability as an actress. John Steppling as Mike McCloskey plays the role with a punch. This production is booked for release February nth. JAMES YOUNG WRITES. James Young, who is with the Vitagraph Company, now on a tour around the world under the direction of W. V. Ranous, sends in a program from Yokohama, Japan, with a few words of information. He says that moving pictures are playing to capacity in that city in antiquated theaters, using many foreign subjects. He thinks that there is a great opportunity there for some one who would put up a first class theater showing American pictures. To use his words "The attraction of the 'movies' is weaving the spell of irresistible fascination upon the Japanese." The program which Mr. Young sends to us for the Yokohama-Kwan near the Kanenohashi Bridge, Isezakicho, Yokohama. The performance commences at six o'clock in the evening, excepting on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays when it commences at one o'clock and runs until 10:30 at night. Six reels are run, four of which are Italian and French and two Japanese. The admission price is 50 sen, which includes a chair. The program is changed three times a month. CINES AND ECLIPSE NEWS. George Kleine promises a first-class program of releases for the week ending February 8, 1913, consisting of two splendid dramas and a split reel made up of two comedies filled witli humorous situations and plenty of vigorous actipn. The Wednesday Eclipse release, entitled "Curing a Temper," is worthy of a special mention. It deals with a crisis in the domestic affairs of a young couple whose ship of happiness would have sailed in perfectly tranquil seas if the husband had not possessed an uncontrollable temper and the wife had not had many little habits which tended to irritate it. The plot is extremely well worked out up to a strong climax; the acting and photography are above reproach. The superintendent of the State Hospital at Massillon, Ohio, has obtained a moving picture projector for use in the sickrooms of the institution so that bed-ridden patients will be able to see pictures as well as the convalescents who every Monday night flock to McKinley Hall to see a run of films. Scene from "Curing a Temper" (Kleine-Eclipse). This story has a strong appeal and teaches a little moral lesson in a most interesting and effective way. The film is easily worthy to be featured on any program. The many beautiful lace dresses worn by the wife at the dressmaker's will prove exceedingly interesting to the women in the audience. For the Tuesday Cines, "A Strenuous Courtship" is a regular "scream," describing the wooing and winning of the charming Leah. Her sweetheart, Bloomer, is madly in love with her, but before he can gain the stern parent's consent to the marriage he is put through a series of the most trying ordeals, many of which are extremely ludicrous, especially his attempts to roller skate. However, he is determined to win the girl and his persistence is finally rewarded in a most unexpected manner. "An Invincible Sleuth" is on the same reel. This is short but extremely unique comedy containing a number of clever illusions, showing how a detective, aided by the police, captures a gang of burglars at their work. Just how he does it must be seen to be appreciated. His methods are as ingenious as they are comical. For the Saturday Cines "A Deal in Stocks" is a pleasing society drama of the better class. EDISON STUDIO GOSSIP. Richard Neill, the popular young Edison "daredevil," who was one of the members of the Edison Western Company in Southern California, has returned to the studio at New York. He will be remembered as the cavalry officer who "broke his arm while being killed" in the "Charge of the Light Brigade." * * ♦ Herbert Prior and Mabel Trunnelle, after a year's absence, are again appearing in Edison films and doing the same sort of finished work that has won innumerable friends for them in the past. * * * J. S. Dawley, in charge of the Edison Western players, writes that he has settled for the W'inter witli a finely equipped studio at Long Beach, CaL * * * Barry O'Moore does a beautiful piece ot work in an Edison film which traces his life from schoolboy days to old age. It is a wonderful exhibition of makeup and versatility of action. * * * Mary Fuller still continues to do marvelous things in her character of "Mary." .After her many adventures in Europe, on shipljoard and at home, it does not seem as though there was anything of a thrilling nature which has not befallen her, even to wrestling with a man in a burning house.