Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1916)

February 26, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1351 MADAME CUBIST (Two parts— Feb. 23).— The cast: Madame Cubist (Mary Fuller) ; Tom Decker (Curtis Benton j ; Carl Dana {Herbert Grey J. Written by Elaine Sterne. Produced by Lucius Henderson. Tom Decker, a young society man, loses his money gambling. His friend, Carl Dana, suggests he try the easiest way of making money, which is to marry it. Carl has been in love with a woman of great wealth and beauty, known in society as Madame Cubist. She has laughed in his face, and Carl, eager to be revenged, hides his true motive and urges his friend, Tom, to try to win the beauty. Tom turns from such a proposition with disgust, but his comrades at the club, headed by Carl, bet him hve hundred dollars he cannot land Madame Cubist, and Carl offers to stake him to the courtship. Tom, never having seen the famous lady, save in photographs, hesitates but after awhile consents, Tom meets Madame Cubist unconventionally and soon hnds that he is falling desperately in love with her. She, too, is enamored. But over Tom's head "hangs the thought of the wager, and he determines to tell her all — and thus plate himself at her mercy. But although he tries repeatedly to tell her, she never gives him an opportunity. Madame Cubist plans a brilliant ball to announce their engagement. All their friends are invited. Tom plans to go after one perfect evening with the woman he loves. He decides to go away until he has worked honestly and made himself worthy of her. He writes her a letter telling her all this, and gives it to one of her servants to deliver after he has gone that night. The dance is a gay affair and Madame Cubist is the life of her party. But Carl has not forgotten his rejection. His time for revenge has come. He claims a dance and takes her away to an alcove where he brutally tells her the truth — that the man she loves is marrying her for her money. She will not believe it until he lays the signed note in her hands. After the guests have all gone, she faces Tom and tells him what she has learned, and begs him to tell her it is not true, but he cannot. Dejectedly he tells her it is true. Then he listens to her volume of wrath and leaves her. He returns home while she sobs her heart out, but even as she is crying the servant gives her his letter which was to be delivered after all had gone. She reads it. It is a full confession telling her how he has learned to love her. but is going away until he feels he deserves to strive for her love. In a flash she has forgiven all as she sees the bigness of the man. She flies to the telephone. "Tom," she sobs, "if you are going away tonight, I want to go too. Will you ask me to elope or must I ask you?" Needless to say he asks her and all ends well. AFTER THE PLAY (Feb. 25).— The cast: Warren Prescott (Herbert Rawlinson) ; Princess Olga (Edna Maison) ; The Husband (Herbert Barrington) ; East Indian (George Gerunger). Written by Ben Cohn. Produced by William Worthington. As Warren Prescott was sitting by his fireside he heard a gentle tapping against the window pane that attracted his attention. Ho saw a form bending low. The person manifested that he wished to enter, and Warren opened it, only to find himself looking into the barrel of a revolver. After binding and blindfolding his victim, the intruder escorted him to an automobile. After a long ride Warren was taken into a house where he was released of his bonds. When he opened his eyes after the bandage was removed, he saw no one, but as he looked around he saw lying upon a tiger skin, the most beautiful woman he bad ever seen. The woman looked at him for a moment with a sort of languid look, and then a slight smile played about her lips, and she began to speak. "You no doubt wonder what this is all about?" "Warren could do nothing but nod in assent, so bewildered was he. "'Im the Princess Olga, my father is a reigning prince in India and has betrothed me to a neighboring prince whom I dislike, and, to avoid him. I came to New York, but he has followed me, and is now on his way to this house. I saw you on the street today, and felt sure that you would help me. Will you?" "The reason that I do not seek help from someone else is that the Prince must be done away with without anyone knowing of it," said the Princess. "What is the matter with your man Friday who brought me here?" Warren answered. "He seemed to understand the work thoroughly " "No. he is of my tribe, and that could not be, besides even he must not know why I had you brought here." When Warren indignantly declared he would take no part in the contemplated murder her eyes flashed fire. "Very well then, you shall never leave this house alive, for when the Prince arrives. I will tell him that you have forced yourself upon me, and he will kill you and if you attempt to leave, I have given orders that you be shot at dawn. As Warren was trying to think out a solution, some way out of the dilemma, the noise of an auto was heard. The Princess arose and hurried to the window. She turned towards Warren, and as she looked at him. she seemed to melt before him. and tears filled her eyes. She fell on her knees and pleaded. She became hysterical, she told him that she believed in him. and that he was a real man, and that he would help her. Her orders that he be shot if he attempted to escape were given in a moment of thoughtlessness ; she was sorry, but now it was too late; her man was deaf, and could not be called, and was standing ready to shoot. At last a knocking at the door was beard, and a demand for admittan*;e, and the Princess bade Warren to open, which he did at once, but as the key turned in the lock, he remembered that he had no weapon, not even a penknife. It was then too late, and a burly fellow entered. As Warren and the man stood face to face, he could see no trace of an Indian Prince in him. The man accuses Warren of being in his wife's room and demands an explanation. Warren realizes he is the victim of a "badger game" and writes out a good big check. The woman leaves to cash the check. Warren, sitting reading, turns the last page, reads for a moment, then slowly goes to the window and looks out. The rain Is still beating against the window. He turns, looks at the book, smiles, shrugs his shoulders, tosses the book on the table, picks up a cigar and sits down as the picture fades out. JOKER. MARRIED ON THE WING (Feb. 26).— The cast; Ernest Smythe (Ernest Shields); Grace Darling (Lois Wilson): Jay Lee Bean (Sherman Bainbridge) ; The Attorney (Roy McCray). Written by Ben Cohn. Produced by Ernest Shields. Ernie has Just been notified by his attorney that his uncle has bequeathed his entire fortune to him on the condition that he marry Grace Darling, a girl to whom he has been engaged for some time. Owing to an unfortunate delay in getting the will, It happens that the same day on which the condition expires Is the same day that Ernie is notified of his inheritance. In case Ernie fails to carry out his uncle's wishes as expressed In his will, the estate will revert to Ernie's cousin. Jay Lee Bean. While the attorney is telling Ernie of his good fortune. Jay comes in ; and, hearing his name mentioned, hides behind curtains and waits to learn more. Ernie is a good looking young man. While they are talking. Jay sees Ernie frequently drinking cough medicine from a bottle and he gets a brilliant scheme to get possession of the estate himself. While Ernie is showing the attorney out. Jay dilutes the cough medicine with strong whiskey, and when Ernie returns, he finds the cough medicine has quite a different taste. While he is talking to Grace ovex the 'phone, telling of the condition of the will, he Is seized with a violent coughing spell, and has access to his bottle of medicine. It takes only a few swallows of the potent remedy to put Ernie in an Intoxicated condition. Jay comes in at this moment, pretending he has just arrived. He Is greeted by Ernie as a long-lost brother. Jay persuades Ernie to take a cold plunge, and while the latter is In the bathroom. Jay locks the door and takes all of Ernie's clothes and hides them. The cold water revives Ernie, and he realizes that he has only a short time to have his marriage performed. Unable to get out the door, he escapes through the window, clad only In his B. V. D.'s. In attempting to enter the house through a window to get his clothes, he is arrested by a policeman who takes him for a burglar. Grace, who is impatiently waiting at the church for Ernie to show up, finally calls up his home, and, unable to get a response, communicates with the police station. Ernie recognizes her voice, and grabbing the ■phone from the astonished sergeant, quickly tells her of his predicament before the police can grab him. Unable to get any reply, Grace determines to investigate conditions at the police station. Ernie meanwhile has persuaded the police to allow him to go to the church, accompanied by an officer, and he and Grace miss each other on the journey. Ernie, learning that Grace has gone to seek him at the police station, grabs the preacher and hurries back to the police station. Grace, having missed Ernie, starts back for the church. The God of Chance is with them, for half way between the two places they meet, and the ceremony is performed in the middle of the street. Just as the clock strikes twelve. The discomfitted Jay has been foiled In his attempt to steal the inheritance, and for his pains is taken to the police station on the charge of speeding, while the happy couple hurry home to dress Ernie in more appropriate attire than that which he obtained In an old barn In his escape from the policeman. BISON. HIS MAJESTY DICK TURPIN (Two parts— Feb. 1'2.} The cast; Old King Corona (Peter Gerald) ; The Madcap Queen (Grace Cunurdj ; Count Charles (Jack Holt) ; Prince FreUericlc (Francis Ford) ; His servant (1. Lippner) ; Captain of Guards (Neal Harding). The old King of Corona, by his heavy taxation, has heavily oppressed the peasants. His young wife, by her trivolous ways, baa earned the name of "The Madcap Queen." Prince Frederick sympathizes with the poor peasants and an unsuccesstul endeavor to lowyr this burden by reducing the tax. The charming personality of the madcap queen has quite won the heart of Prince Frederick, but he congratulates himself that he has kept the secret so well hidden that no one suspects him of loving the queen. Count Charles has the good will of the king and resents the popularity of Prince Frederick. He is outspoken in his admiration for the pretty queen and his attentions to her have become a matter of talk. Prince Frederick, leaving the palace one day, sees the miserable condition of the peasants. At home that night he picks up a book of the adventure of Dick Turpin. He reads of how that famous highwayman robbed the rich and gave the money to the poor. He decides to do the same thing, and a short time later the count and several others come in with the news that they have been robbed. In another part of the town a mysterious person leaves a bag of gold with a crowd of peasants, telling them that it is the gold of the rich to pay their taxes. The robberies of the rich continue, even the king and queen being made victims. Later the king remarks on the familiar appearance of the bandit and says that he reminds him of some one he knows well. The queen suspects the identity of the gentlemen bandit and through strategy learns who he is. The king orders out every available soldier and tells them to capture the bandit. The queen learns of the plans of the pursuers and believing that the bandit will be captured makes a quick trip in her car and manages to hide the man in her car and take him through the lines of the pursuers to safety. Some one has seen a man in the queen's car and tells the king. When the king asks the queen if it is true that some one was in the car, she says, "Certainly, I was in it myself !" The queen slips Into Frederick's apartments and when he returns from one of his robberies hides behind the curtain. Prince Frederick comes in accompanied by his servant and dismisses the latter with a warning that if he should ever disclose the adventures they have gone through his reward will be a home in a dungeon or possibly death. Frederick discovers the intruder in his room and orders her to come forth. The prince Is very much disconcerted when he recognizes the queen. She tells him that she is going to tell the king because he did not thank her when she assisted in his escape. He pleads that if she does It will mean his death and asks if she really intends to let him die. Upon her assertion that she does, he tells that as he must face death, he may as well confess that he loves her. His surprise is very great when the madcap queen tells him that she has been tryine: to get him to say that he loves her for some time, and they agree to keep the matter secret. In the excitement which follows the news of his capture the old king dies and there seems every prospect that peace will come to the country and its queen. A RECOILING VENGEANCE (Three Parts— Feb. 19). — The cast: John Clifford (Edward Hearn) ; Helene, his wife (Betty Schade) ; Mme. Aimee Ledoux (Rosita Maristini) ; Nysam of Thrahore (Albert Miller) ; Thesba, the Nysam'a favorite ((Caroline Meredith). Scenario by Ruth Ann Baldwin. Produced by Nerval McGregor. To John Clifford, confidential agent of the British Secret Service, is given the task of delivering into the hands of the Ameer of Afghanistan important papers. Mme. Aimee LeDeux. adventuress, and in the employ of tho Turkish government, is sent to get the papers away from Clifford. She and her three confederates board the ship, Brama, on which Clifford and his young wife sail next day for India. As Clifford, his wife, and the adventuress are walking on the deck one of Mme LeDoux's confederates drops from an advantageous position on an upper deck a pail of water on the head of Clifford. Instantly the two other agents run up as though to help. Helene kneels by her husband's side and Mme. LeDoux stoops to aid her, thus shielding the actions of the two men who search Clifford's pockets, securing a mass of papers before the captain and other passengers come up. The Injured man recovers (^onscinusnp'^s and is taken to his cabin where it Is found that he was only stunned. He then tells his wife that he felt the men going through his pockets. But the two men did not get the much-wanted Dapers. He is alarmed for their safety, but his wife offers a plan. Carefully she folds the papers and pins them around her Panama hat.