Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1914)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 413 "MARRIED MEN'* (Lubin), January 10. — An eccentric comedy, in which the henpecked Irishman revolts. The chase scene works up some amusement of the slap-stick type. "TELL-TALE STAINS" (Kalem). January 10.— There are some very attractive and weil-staped scenes in this, including the chief one showing the masquerade balL B'ut the plot itself has a conventional and "made up" effect in its impression on the observer; hence, the lack cf suspense. One of the m3st interesting moments was when the girl recognized her dancing partner as the crook by the cigarette stains on his fingers. "SNAKEVILLE'S NEW DOCTOR" (Essanay). January 10.— In this characteristic Western number Marguerite Clayton appears as a young lady doctor, pursued by male patients with all sorts of assumed ailments. Some of the situations are amusing and, of course, in the end Broncho Billy marries her. The plot is not overly strong even for light comedy. "CONCENTRATION" (Biograph). January 12.— There have been a good many pictures dealing with inventions, yet they seem to go with the public with whom an invention stands (happily for the script writer) for success. Tliis story, with Claire McDowell in a leading role and well supported, will be liked. It has a touch of the quality that passes for depth: is clear and romantic enough and has suspense, mostly due to the skill of the players in simulating concern as to the outcome of the developing situation. "TOBACCO INDUSTRY" (Lubin), January 12.— A clear and interesting picture taken in Cuba, perhaps. This industry has been shown in pictures more instructive, but makes a worthy offering. "SMILES OF FORTUNE" (Lubin), January 12.— An acceptable little farce, freshly conceived and with a situation that one can sympathize with. It was written by Emmett Campbell Hall and produced by Arthur Hotaling. The hero had bought a "success smile" at the beauty parlors and it can't come off, so it gets him into trouble with his cranky old relative who has money to leave, but his sweetheart also is a relative and to her the rich uncle really gives the money, so it becomes a smile of fortune. The audience seemed to be amused and there was a fair measure of laughter. "PATHE'S WEEKLY NO. 4" (January 12).— The high waves along the Jersey coast and several other items of more than usual interest make this an exceptional offering. "THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG OF IT" (Vitagraph), January 12.— There is a very commendable attempt in this picture to criticize a tendency of modern life and it does succeed in stating human experience in dramatic terms. Yet there is a feeling that it lacks authority; we are willing to believe it in general without being compelled to believe it in particular. That going back to work of the business-woman-wife hardly happened quite that way — that part ought to have been developed; she should have been tempted by some sort of offer. The script is by B. C. Flanders and was produced by Ralph Ince. Licensed Specials "THE SMUGGLER'S SON" (Cines), January 6.^These two reels are well photographed and well played. It is possible the acting department would have been benefited had the two women changed parts. The second lead, who had little to do, possessed the magnetism the leading woman lacked. The story held all the way; in some respects it had novelty. "JERRY'S UNCLE'S NAMESAKE" CVitagraph). January 6.— There is continual laughter in these two reels. The parts are played by the best that could have been selected — or surely none better could have been found. The fun comes from the story as well as in the excellent acting. The author is announced as Mrs. Russell. Sidney Drew is Jerry, and Louise Beaudet is Mrs. Jerry. These form one team of the combination. Then there are William Shea and Kate Price for another. Rogers Lytton, the uncle of Jerry, by his make-up kept the reviewer puzzled for some time as to his identity. He, too, contributed his share of the f unmaking Ethel Lloyd, the maid, made much of her part. Mr. Drew and James Young were the directors, and they put over a story that will rank well up with the Vitagraph's best two-reel comedies. "HER HUSBAND'S FRIEND" (Kalem), January 7.— Beautifully staged and perfectly photographed and with many pretty light effects this twopart offering entertains the eye. Its story is a melodrama built after a well-known type and with freshness of incident, due mostly to arrangement of the business, rather than to anything really new, yet it never fails to keep going a thread of interest. Mrs. Alice HolHster, who plays the weakwilled heroine, appears in a number of pretty dresses that come out extremely well in the print. Such things are of no great value to the picture however much they may please uninstructed simple minds. That they please is true. Then there are some fine scenes. The acting was not good enough to put real life in the corpse of this old story, but was good, intelligent work. "THE WARDS OF SOCIETY" (Patheplay), January 8.— A tremendous picture, truthful and instructive, but at the same time one that has a quality far beyond all kinds of ordinary instruction. It is of tremendous importance to the public, and what is more the public will be very quick to recognize its importance. We earnestly believe that every exhibitor will be wholly satisfied with the results of showing it in his house. It is not a story nor a tract in any clear sense; but a picture of life. It deals with terrible things; defective children, and shows how society is taking care ot them and what the conditions are that cause mental defects. It also shows what the difficulties are in properly caring for these unfortunates. If we can say anything to further this picture, we will be doing a good work, and we feel, too, that the exhibitor as well as the public will profit by it. Surely the maker of it deserves the commendation of the Moving Picture World and all patriotic minded citizens. "BETWEEN TWO FIRES" (Lubin). January 8.— A war-time melodrama with little that is really new, although the situation at the end is effective melodramatically. This closing incident comes after a reel and a half of such trite things as lost memory. There are no especially worthy battle scenes, but there are some moonlight pictures in which the smoke of battle rises in silver clouds. We doubt whether such a picture makes a truly acceptable offering, except in places where not many shows have been given. The script is by George Terwilliger and was produced by Edgar Jones. "THE WITNESS TO THE WILL" (Edison), January 9.— One of the good old-time will stories, presented from start to finish in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. The scenario was written by Gordon V. May. and in the cast appear Richard Neill, Harry Beaumont, Gertrude McCoy, Jessie Stevens and Benj. F. Wilscn. George A. Lessey acted as director. The story is allowed to tell itself smoothly and naturally and from the standpoint of general construction it is a model. An old theme delightfully handled. "THE HOUR AND THE MAN" f Essanay"), January 9-— The first reel of this opens up an interesting situation, with two brothers in love with the same girl, but numerous scenes are obscure in meaning. Close, fragmentary photography is often artistic, but was here used at too critical a time. The quality of the photography itself is excellent and helps the picture wonderfully. The scenes in the second reel are strong and convincingly portrayed. Francis X. Bushman, Ruth Stonehouse, Clara Smith and Wm. Bailey appear in the pleasing cast. "THE MINISTER'S DAUGHTER" (Patheplay), January 10.— The story of a hopeless love, beautifully pictured in two reels of sepia tinted film. Hcnny Porten appears as the girl and makes a splendid appeal to the observers. T'le plot is simple and depends for its strength upon the sincerity of the acting and very pathetic situation which develops. The opening scenes in the first reel are attractive, the garden settings being idealistic for the love scenes. The girl dies of a broken heart in the church after watching her father marry Jack to his cousin Dora. A powerful offering of its kind. "OFFICER JOHN DONOVAN" (Vitagraph), January 10.— This is an abforbing two-reel number, featuring Van Dyke Brook as a policeman, who subser|uer tly becomes a detective. Leo Delaney anpears as the wayward son and Kate Price and Norma Talmadge are in the cast. This is a straight-away crook story, with good views of the gang's headquarters. The raid in the second reel is exciting and the substitution of the detective for Mike Ellis was done very convincingly. Realistic crook drama. "INDIAN BLOOD" (Kalem). January 12.— A rather ordinary story of army post and Indian tribe. It is not a love story, but its interest centers in mother and son. One is an Indian woman, the other is a half-breed and they are wife and son of an army lieutenant and live at the no'^t. The dcA'elopment is logical and the script shows carefully writing. Of the staging, too, we can find little, except to commend, but, while it interests^ there is nothing very noteworthy about it. All it shows is possible, none of it is very convincing. It is not a story that has appeal; is a bit unpleasant. Not better than fair. "THE TWO ORDEALS" (Selig), January 12.— This h the second of the "Adventures of Kathlyn" series; a very remarkable picture that is attracting attention. It has been noticed at length in The Moving Picture World' for January 17, 1914, page 266. We still think that it is a mistake to offer motion picture stories serially. The better the story, the more the dis-satisfaction. Independent "A MUD BATH ELOPMENT" (Rex). January 22.— No one can find any objection to this sprightly comedy, unless it be in the exaggerated characterization of the English lord, who competes with a very enterprising young American for the hand of a girl whose father has the gout and a bad temper. Robert Leonard plays the part of the successful rival. The final scenes are laid at a health Resort noted for its mud baths. "ADMISSION TWO PINS" (Victor), January 9.— By giving a show whose admission is two pins, the children of a quarrelsome father and mother teach their elders a lesson in behavior. The manner in which this idea is worked out in this little comedy is very charming. It will have a wide appeal. "THE SAINT AND THE SINGER" (Powers), January 26.— This offering is only fairly successful, the plot being rather weak. It pictures a young husband at a stag dinner who falls in love with a cabaret singer. He is next shown at home in the morning and tells his wife a great story to allay her suspicions. The doctor advises cracked ice on his head for a week. Rather shy on plot. "HER BROTHER" (Frontier). January 17. — The outlaw in this drama of the West is shot in both arms during an exciting pistol contest with a sheriff and while there can be no objection to such an incident, the producer might have dispensed with showing the actor's arms too near the camera. The turn given the story when the Indians appear and force the duelists to join forces against the common enemy, is unexpected and adds much to the strength of the production. "SLIM AND THE MONEY POT" (Frontier), January 15.— Slim, whose antics throughout in this comedy are laughable, falls asleep in a haystack behind a barn and dreams of finding a large fortune in an old iron pot. He is not very long wasting his substance and when it is gone from him he wakes up to find that he has never possessed anything except the shadow. Slim, is a fairly good comic character, but he does not have any great opportunity in this story. It is lacking a little in genuine holdingpower. "ADRIFT IN A GREAT CITY" (Thanhouser). January 13.— This film presents a section of real life, beginning with an accident that was well pictured. It is not, however, a strong offering, as there is not enough plot and the photography is cloudy in places. "TWO LITTLE DROMIOS" (Thanhouser), January 11.— This single reel works up so entertainingly that the story could well be carried through a second reel. Mignon Anderson plays the double part of a country and city girl, double exposure being used to advantage. The country girl comes to the city; the city girl goes to a masquerade as a country girl and' they are thus confused. But the story hardly seemed complete as it stands.