Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1914)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1067 "Let No Man Escape" Released Through General Film Company. Reviewed by James S. McQuade. THE two reel subject by Essanay, entitled "Let No Man Escape," has a story that is not infrequent in topic, yet it possesses some features that are quite unusual. In order to bring the spectator from the very outset into an atmosphere of niysterj', the first scene is that of a tragedy, and there is nothing to show the motive that caused it nor yet a single incident that has led up to it. We simply must accept things as they are, in the nature of a postulate, and Scene from "Let No Man Escape" (Essanay). confine ourselves to following the working out of the problem that follows. One must confess that the interest aroused by the development of the plot causes the spectator wholly to lose sight of the abrupt introduction. The story is didactic, as it aims at convincing the onlooker of the remarkable influence of faith in God on the life of an innocent man, around whom circumstantial evidence has woven a net of guilt, as well as in the fact that it shows the apprehension and punishment of the guilty one. As .-i Scene from "Let No Man Escape" (Essanay). rule the drama, ur the photodrama. or the story that is written to point a moral fails in its object. In all these one must be shown life as it is, even to the extreme of witnessing the punishment of the innocent and the escape of the guilty. True' art "holds the mirror up to nature," heedless of what one's wishes may be. The cast offers us three important characters--the innocent man, John Brannon; the guilty man, Gordon Thorne, ana the essential detective, Gunther. The first two are respectively represented by Richard C. Travers and John H. Cossar. and the last named by Wm. Bailey. .\\\ three characterizations are well drawn. Brannon's daughter is shown at the ages of four, seven and seventeen years. Miss Ruth Stonehouse is attractive in the part, at the age last mentioned. The reels are marked by fine photography and careful settings. There is quite a thrilling chase near the close, where Gunther pursues the fleeing Thorne. The assassin has made a good get-a-way in a buggy, but is soon overhauled by the officer in an automobile. Wm. Bailey as Gunther makes a daring leap from the fast moving machine into the recklessly driven vehicle occupied by the fugitive. John Brannon's besetting sin is strong drink, and the habit gains on him after the death of his wife. She has left him a dimpled little daughter of four years old whom he worships. One night, in his own home, he is overcome by his oIq enemy and when he is awakened by his false friend, Gordon Thorne, in the morning he finds a pistol in his hand, one cartridge in the magazine exploded, and a dead man lying beside him. Brannon is overwhelmed when accused of murder by Thorne, the real murderer. Half an hour later he takes his child and boards a train for a spot in the wilderness, which he had discovered during a hunting trip. In the meantime, the supposed dead man recovered consciousness and was able to write a note clearing Brannon of the crime and accusing Thorne, before dying. Detective Gunther is callea and discovers the note, also the disappearance of Brannon. He immediately proceeds to Thome's apartments, but Thorne has flown. Then he vows to find him. Years pass and Brannon, who has changed his name to Warren, is thought so well of by his fellow citizens of a thriving western town that they nominate him for mayor. About this time Thorne, under an assumed name, is operating a swindling scheme in the same locality. He inveigles the fiance of Brannon's daughter into buying worthless stock. Brannon calls at his office to demand restitution and both men recognize each other. Thorne threatens to expose Brannon to the citizens unless he permits the sale to pass. Brannon refuses. On the eve of election day, during a speech made by Brannon to his constituents, Thorne, true to his threat, denounces Brannon as a murderer. Amid the ensuing confusion Gunther appears and arrests Thorne. He then conducts the real criminal to the platform, so that all can see him, and charges him with the crime. Thorne makes a dash for liberty, but is rearrested and taken back to the place of the murder to suffer the penalty. The release date is February 27th. British Notes (Special Correspondence to The World.) A CASE of interest and importance to the moving picture industry in all countries occupied the law courts for two days last week when a leading London theater syndicate successfully petitioned to restrain a famous comedian (Mr. Will Evans), from appearing in certain of his sketches upon the screen. It appears that Mr. Evans had contracted to appear exclusively in. the sketches "Harnessing a Horse," "Building a Chicken House," and "Whitewashing the Ceiling" at the halls of the syndicate in question, but since had permitted a film manufacturing company to circulate pictures of his performances. Justice Bailbachc i^ave judgment for the plaintiffs and his decision has raised a furious controversy in theatrical circles. General opinion among variety artistes holds that a performer has two distinct rights in making a contract of this character; a right to make a contract for performance in the flesh and also a separate right of reproduction of that performance. In view of this point not being defined when a number of artistes have negotiated for similar contracts it seems more than possible that other cases of this character will be on the tapis at an early date. Will Evans, by the way, has given notice of appeal against the judge's ruling. * * * The chairman of the Kinematograph Manufacturers' Association, Mr. E. Reed, resigned his post as manager of the Charles Urban Trading Co. a few days ago. * * 4: That idol of the American literary public, George Bernard Shaw, has been leading in one of the London dailies a discussion upon the appropriation of film titles. He deplores the duplication of good and expensive films and adds that if the popularity of an expensive film leads to the manufacture of a dozen imitations with the same title the game will not be worth the candle. T. B. SUTCLIFFE.