Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1915)

310 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 10, 1915 lures a young man from his sweetheart. John's efforts to bring him back raise the tone of the story considerably and give it a good motive. Dick kills the actress' lover in a jealous rage and John accepts the blame for the crime. During the trial scenes the truth is brought out in a dramatic manner. The story is a good one of its type, though this is not of the strongest. THE ULSTER LASS (Bison), July 10.— This two-reel Irish production features Gene Gauntler, Jack J. Clark. Albert MacQuarrie, Lydia Yeamans Titus and others. It is the usual Irish tale of a young man surrounded by enemies who wish his life. The girl saves him in the nick of time as he is to be shot. Many of the plot ingredients are familiar, and in spite of this the opening scenes are very vague. Old themes to be successful must have more directness and force than is found in this. The photography and settings are very good and the characterizations are pleasing. V-L-S-E, Inc. THE VALLEY OF LOST HOPE (Lubin), July 5.— Reviewed by W. Stephen Bush on page 1853, issue of December 26, 1'.'14. World Film Corporation. THE FACE IN THE AiOONLIGTHT (Brady), June 2S.— Reviewed by Lynde Denig on page SO, issue of July 3. Miscellaneous. LITTLE SUNSET ( Eiko— Bosworth) , July Bush on page SO, issue of July 3. THE HEART OF LADY ALAINE (Great Northern) by Lynde Denig on page TO, issue of July 3. Reviewed by W. Stephen July. — Reviewed Mrs. Sidney Drew. Mrs. Sidney Drew, a distinguished member of the Vitagraph Stock Company, forsook an enviable position on the concert stage to become a star in the field of expression dominated by the camera. She was born in Sedalia, Mo., April 18th, 1890, and christened Lucille McVey. Her schooling was obtained in the public and high schools of Sedalia and as a student in the Sedalia College of Music and Nebraska Wesleyan School of Expression, receiving well-deserved degrees from both colleges. When she decided to adopt a profession,, she chose the concert stage as the best adapted to her talents. While Mrs. Drew has had practically no experience on the legitimate stage, she spent six years as an entertainer, in America and abroad, under the direction of the Redpath Lyceum Bureau and became recognized as one of the foremost child dialect readers in America. A restlessness that demanded a change of vocation resulted in her making application to the Vitagraph Company for a position as a member of their stock organization, and again her judgment stood her in good stead as she was not only given a part, but was fortunate in being cast as one of the principals in a comedy being directed by Sidney Drew. A mutual interest attracted these two players and resulted in the present combination of the most popular artists in the field of silent drama. Mrs. Drew besides playing in all the pictures produced by Mr. Drew has written many scenarios and elaborates and constructs the majority of the stories in which she appears. Her best literary work is in a picturization of Richard Harding Davis' story, "Playing Dead," which, when completed for the screen, will be her greatest acting drama. Mrs. Drew has become identified with comedy in her picture acting but has also proven, in several instances, as "Playing Dead" and "Between the Two of Them," that she is equally at home in dramatic subjects. Besides the two mentioned above, what she considers her best pictures include "The Hair of Her Mrs. Sidney Drew. Head," "The Timid Mr. Tootles," "Boobley Baby," "The Story of the Glove," etc. Mrs. Drew's principal stage experience was obtained during the run of "What the Moon Saw," playing opposite Mr. Drew, when this delightful domestic drama was presented at the Vitagraph Theater, New York City, for a run of four weeks. "Peer Gynt" with Cyril Maude in Films. AT THE Los Angeles studios of the Oliver Morosco Photoplay Company, work on this concern's latest screen production, "Peer Gynt," with the well known actor-manager Cyril Maude, is rapidly progressing and it is Oliver Morosco's Principal Film Players in "Peer Gynt" at Palm Springs, California. readily expected that this release will present the largest subject yet put out by the Morosco film forces. In addition to the unusually large sets which are being prepared for the interior scenes of this play an exceptional cast of large proportion and including such able players as Herbert Standing., William Desmond, Myrtle Stedman, Charles Ruggles and many others, together with a most generous supply of extras, has been selected to support Mr. Maude. Inasmuch as the subject embraces the world wanderings of a poet-souled adventurer typical scenes of every clime and people will be presented. Already an ocean trip to Catalina Island, another to the desert in the Imperial Valley, costing $1,000 a day, and to many canyons in the Sierra Madres, as well as a journey to the San Bernardino Mountains, have been made by the principals and an army of others including supers, riders, stage and property men, camera-men, directors, etc., to say nothing of the rather unique collection of live-stock which will play an important part in the film. Other big trips are at present being arranged by the producers in order to get the desired atmosphere into the subject. "Peer Gynt" is an adaptation from the famous dramatic poem by Henrik Ibsen, published in 1867. In February 1876 the first stage presentation of this subject was made with Edward Grieg's famous incidental music at the Christiania Theater, Christiania, Norway, where after having played thirty-seven times, it was burned out in a stage fire. The production was revived in the same theater in 1892 and met with big success, Bjorn Bjornson, the celebrated poet and dramatist, playing Peer. The play was first staged in English by Richard Mansfield in 1906 at Chicago, where its European success was duplicated. Its splendid screen qualities will readily assert themselves to its viewers and a big subject in quality as well as quantity is promised by the producers. COAST TO COAST SHIFT FOR MANNY FELDSTEIN. General Manager of the United Film Service Exchanges of Montreal and Toronto, Manny Feldstein, will enjoy the first vacation he has received in his many years of activity in motion picture affairs when he takes the trip from Monr treal to California in the interests of his company next week. Although Manager Feldstein will be called upon to get back into the harness again as soon as he reaches the coast, he has arranged his trip in such a manner that he will have a couple of weeks of much needed rest before he takes up his new duties.