Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 319 Comments on the Fil ms Licensed "ALL ON ACCOUNT GF A PORTRAIT" (Edisoa), July 2.—A little romance my Mark Swan. Mary Fuller and Benjamin F. Wilson play in it an engaged couple who quarrel and return each other's gifts, because Mary buys a portrait of a noted pianist who has very long hair. This has been worked up into a pleasing, light story which C. Jay Williams has produced in a natural, human way. It is a pretty offering and the best things in it are its scenes that are often full of charm. What humor it has rings true, except at the end, which is theatrical, though it doesn't harm the picture much. The leading characters are supported by a large cast of conrpetent players. The photography is very fair. "THE STRONGEST LINK" (Essanay), July 2.— The story behind this picture is weak, chiefly because it ask^ our sympathy for a pickpocket without giving any adequate cause of his repentance; in fact, it shows him as a scoundrel and then, merely because he is deserted by a villainess who had been his mistress, he becomes a man with a bruised soul. Eut, the author will protest, my intention was to shov/ how dangerous it is to have a strong link that is evil in one's past history. The author's fault is one of wrong em.phasis, he has been a bit tactless. The offering is well photographed and has some very good scenes which give interesting backgrounds. A good deal of Ihe acting is very fair. "THE RAIDERS FROM DOUBLE L RANCH" (Kalem), July 2.— A cow country love story with a =trLiggle beiwecn cowmen and sheepmen as its background. It is rather loosely put together and loses something of dramatic force; but it is well acted by Ruth Roland and Francis Newberg in the romantic roles There is a prairie fire in it which, at one moment, is exciting (as a spectacle) and there are sev2ral fine pictures of herds both cattle and sheep that are well worth seeing. The photography is very fair. "THE TIGER LILY" (Vitagraph), July 2 —This three-part special offering has been reviewed at length on page 4,66, issue of The Moving PlCTUSE WosLD for May 3, 1913. "SULT.AN OI SULU" CSelig), July 2.— A v/orthy topical offering that opens with a good poi trait of cne of the most interesting characters in the Philippines, the Sultan of Sulu. The film shows also some of the villages where the young Sultan lives. The subject will interest widely and the photography is very fair. "ARABIA AND THE BABY" (Selig). July 2.— A light offering that introduces the wonderful tricks of Arabia, a trained horse that we have seen several times. The story that Arabia is made to play is pleasing and the picture will be fairly acceptable. It is pretty well photographed. "THE SONG-BIRD OF THE NORTH" (Vitagraph), July 2.— A patriotic offering founded on the story of Mrs. John Fowle, who did good service during the Civil War by singing to the wounded soldiers. It is shown that her sweet singing of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," at a concert in Washington is also instrumental in persuading many to enlist. The story lacks dramatic quality, but it gives a well utilized chance of making thrilling, emotional scenes and the offering, as a whole, will be waimly received at this time, when war anniversaries are stirring old memories. It IS a commendable picture, but it needs good, stirring music to help it out. Anita Stewart plays the singer and Ralph Ince appears again in his notable role as Abraham Lincoln, and surely he makes a picture of him that will be very popular; he does excellent work. The photography is clear. ■ "THE PENALTY OF CRIME" (Lubin), June 30.— A sensational twopart offering well described by its name. It was written by Lawrence McCloskey and produced by Joseph Smiley. The story cannot be called a big one; but it has been produced with care and impresses one as a finished and even artistic picture. Its appeal is to the emotions, not to the intellect, and its center of interest is a girl, very charming in herself ^Peggie O'Neil), who consjits to be the decoy of two crooks. They set her to gaining the confidence of a jewel merchant, who is to be their victim, and she ends by falling in love with him. Afraid to have him. find out her past and threatened by the two crooks, she lets the plot go on and works with them until his gems are stolen. The action of the second reel takes place on a train and an exciting automobile race follows the discovery of the robbery. This series of incidents is of the most sensational character, is clearly photographed and effective. It will be a popular picture. "SWEET DECEPTION" (Vitagraph), July 3.— A story of a married couple who had separated, but who, when the man's mother, whom both love, is coming to see them, agroe to pretend they still are happy. They set up the old home again to entertain her. She expects to stay but a few hours, then loses her train and decides to remain all night. The theme is most delicately treated; but the picture lacks vigor, is even slow. It is an offering of lovely scenes and beautiful poses more than of human passion or fates. Sydney Drew plays convincingly the man. with Anita Stewait in the rcle opposite to him, a part that seemed to us a bit beyond her depth at present. It is a role that calls for experience and when Miss Stewart has had a chance to watch the world a few years longer, she will have the skill to play such situations with much power. Mrs. Maurice plays the mother. The man's valet deserves notice; in fact, there is much to commend in many of the lesser figures. The photography is good. The script, by George Cameron, has been produced by Ralph Ince. "THE LIFE WE LIVE" (Essanay), July 3.— This picture has a good, refreshing story and will be a popular offering. It has for its center of interest an elderly couple, Arthur Maciey and Jane Selby, who can no longer earn a living and are facing starvation. A package of bills is lost and Arthur finds it; but after he has spent a little of it on groceries, gets "a hunch" and takes it to its owner, thereby giving a happy ending. There is a good deal of humanity in the way it is developed and, as it is unfolded, Arthur Maciey does some of the best acting we have seen recently. We enjoyed it, ourselves, very much. Yet it was drawn out at the beginning unnecessarily; there was no call to show us the station master who kept the .-tory waiting. Some of the backgrounds are full of interest and beauty and the photography is fine. "THE RICE INDUSTRY" (Melies), July 3.— A fairly well photographed series of views that, in fact, give us the real history of Java. Java lives on its rice and here we are shown how rice is grown by Javanese and we get the whole process from the seeding to the eating. Motion pictures have been a fact for years, but we can wonder at them still and be astonished, thinking of how much they mean to us. '■THE JOY RIDE" (Patheplay), July 3.— Three pretty girls make cute, and often lovely, scenes in this farce which, in its plot, is a bit too far fetched even for a farce. It is lively, though, and there are plenty of good things in it. "THE ANGEL OF THE SLUMS" (Lubin), July 3.— The chief trouble with this picture is weak acting, though even on this point, there are true things to be said in commendation. The gangster, Ben Hendricks, did very fairly, as did the heroine. Maibel Turner. Clarence Elmer has ability, but in this picti^rc he tried too hard and showed his lack of experience in a way that makes his very failure a promise. Francis Carlyle seemed to be hearing the clicking of the camera and was nervous. The picture's story is well planned, but lacks punch; because it is not very novel or a very imaginative piece of work. The photography is clear. The script was written by George Terwilliger and produced by L. B. Carlton. "IN GOD WE TRUST" (Selig), July 3.— A picture of sentiment dealing with a poverty stricken man who becomes a hurglar at Christmas time. Of course, good use is made of children; the burglar has two a* home who have prayed that Santa Claus might come, and when the man breaks into the rich house, a child who has come down to see his presents finds him. The story, by E. L. Summers, is interesting and wholesome, though not at all great. E A. Martin produced it and has made a pleasing, commendable offering. The role of 'Durglar is taken by Hobart Bosworth, and "Baby" Lillian Wade plays the rich man's child. The photography is clear. "FAUST AND THE LILY" (Biograph). Jidy s.—A burlesque comedy. Such pictures as this have to make us astonished before rhey can really amuse us. This does succeed in making us gasp once or twice and a good laugh follows. There is a sood deal of it that is not verv funny, "AN OLD MAID'S DECEPTION" (Biograph), July ^.--A farce of comical characters that cannot be counted a big success. There is very little in it that is new and it did not make a great deal of laughter. "PATHE'S WEEKLY NO. 29" (July 3).— Among other interesting items in the mid-week topical, we find an excellent view of the destruction caused by a terrible fiie in the old city of Pressburg, in Hungary. It is interesting to get this chance to look into the in^ides of one of those old time foreign cities. There is, also, a picture of the opening of the Keokuk Canal, showing a MissiFsippi boat passing through. "THE HIDDEN WITNESS" (Kalem), July 5.— There are scenes in this story in v/hich the action, through its own quality, does get over briskly; but most of it is hampered, -nore or less, by acting that fails to be really natural. Few will be carried away by interest in it, but all may watch it closely. The situiition is old without being tried and shows a go\erness heroine falsely accused of theft by a wholly conventional villain. The hidden witness is two children ensconced behind portieres and by them the villain is confounded. The photography is clear and the staging of the story commendable. "HIS NIECE FROM IREL-\ND" (Lubin), July 5.— Tells a good story that is original and brisk and does it clearly and effectively, although, if it had been produced in two reels and care had been taken to make the causes of the Irish niece's (Lottie Briscoe) position clear early in the picture, our sympathy for her would have been heightened. This sympathy is the offering's most valuable feature as it now is. It was produced by Arthur Johnson with his usual care and finish and the sets, with all that goes in the staging of the production, are fine. While not up to this leading man and producer's best, it pleased us as well as any offering we have seen todays "A MODERN GARRICK" (Patheplay), July 5.— A farce burlesque that made laughter. It is just a conglomeration of funny incidents with a touch of satire now and then that helps it. It is light and will, we think, please the many.