Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1917)

May 5, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 783 By Marion Howard. A SPLENDID representation of Hub business and professional men making up the City Club were edified the other night with the new film "How Uncle Sam Prepares" shown at their new clubhouse. There was the utmost enthusiasm and the picture compared favorably with those on "How Great Britain Prepared," seen here earlier. Local picture houses are quite in line with matters patriotic and no program is complete without "The Star Spangled Banner" being played and sung by the house, standing at attention, while Old Glory is inspiringly shown in action on the screen. Managers too are admitting men free who wear uniform and they serve to dress up the house when they are off duty. All the short reels picturing events in our present history get a good hand, and in this way the motion pictures more than come into their own in being enlightening, inspiring and educational for those in front who do not, maybe, see the up to date papers. There was a special military showing of the first named picture in Tremont Temple, Monday the 16th, thanks to the courtesy of Mr. Samuel Grant, who is handling it here. This was of additional interest, as several local men posed, Leon J. Dadmon head of the Atlas Film Corporation, impersonating Uncle Sam, and Frank J. Howard, a pioneer in the film business here, made up as President Poincare of France. * * * Most entertaining picture since last letter? "Broadway Jones" by all odds the best in its line and a credit to Artcraft as well as to the author — George Cohan — who offers "his first offense" here. I like it far better than the play which opened with the entrance of "Broadway" in an intoxicated condition. This picture, taking up the small home towji first, then evoluting to the white lights and back to the simple life, was one to enjoy more than once, and it is so free from horse play, grimaces, grins and all else peculiar to some comedians. Hats off to Joe Kaufman for his mob scenes, usually a mass of waving arms, but all right here and sanely shown. Ida Darling in a thankless part was an improvement over Ada Gilman, who created the part in the speaking version. Marguerite Snow, the dainty heroine, is a member of the Film Club, which turned out in large groups to see the star and his opposite. Wasn't that last scene artistic with the young couple in silhouette? I have rarely heard more applause over a picture than this elicited from capacity houses at the Exeter, which means much. * * * I would place "The Price of Fame" pretty well up, and it had some cast with Marc MacDermott playing double. Mary Maurice, the veteran Vitagraph mother, Naomi Childers and L. Rogers Lytton were in support. The double exposures and the political stuff furnished good entertainment anyhow. * * * Can you point out anything better done by Mary Pickford than "The Poor Little Rich Girl?" I have seen all her pictures and rank this as a topnotcher, better even than the play. * * * "Filmland City" is the new name for the exchange district, now complete with the addition of the Mutual Film Exchange, which occupies 10.000 square feet on Church and Melrose streets. Manager Roth is being congratulated on the completeness of the building in every detail. Stanley Hand has departed from the World Film much to our regret, for he was one of the "live wires" and always a delight to meet. It was my pleasure to meet the new manager of the Greater Vitagraph Company. L. M. Watrous went over for a runoff at his neighbor's exchange. He is a cleancut man, affable, businesslike and evidently the right one for the position. * * * It was my misfortune to see a picture Sunday evening at a high class house putting women in a ridiculous light when they were doing their little stunt in aiding the cause of preparedness and duty. Something which looms up large is the part women are taking in this war, notably, across the water. Titled ones are working alongs'de those of the humblest classes, indulging in equal self-sacrifices, doing their best with little training, and so it may be here. To ridicule them on the screen is an offense as unpardonable as it is to caricature the President at this time. These pictures are permitted by a few Hub policemen to be shown Sundays, which goes to show that they do not possess one spark of patriotism. It was gratifying to hear a few hisses. At another theater a different brand of pictures are shown illustrating woman's part, and they are inspiring in their dignity and manner of presentation on weekdays. I don't mind saying that they bear the name of Hearst-Pathe — all clean cut and up to date. * * * I feel sorry for those who cannot enjoy real comedy such as the Drews continually give us, and so diverse in title and action. We had this week "Putting It Over on Henry," a domestic little offering most edifying to the married ones in front, and full of tips for those who may fall for the altar later on. * * * "The Spirit of Romance" gave us something a bit new without any overdose of the sentimental. Herbert Standing had a part quite compelling in its intensely human side, disclosing, too, his versatility. Diminutive Vivian Martin caught the house especially when she ordered a roundup of the kiddies in the slums and fed them with candy — some kids they werel In this we have George Fisher in a part wholly beneath his ability, but he is good to look at all the same. Somehow I cannot keep from my mind his part in "Civilization," his remarkable impersonation of Christ. Little Abby Lou in this play is a sort of Pollyanna and her work goes with young and old alike. This is a splendid offering. * * * We are anticipating. Fatty Arbuckle's' first release by Paramount, "The Butcher Boy," alreadv seen by readers doubtlessly. Mrs. Ayer is also giving us the first picture with Fairbanks done by the Artcrafts, "The Sacrifice," with Margaret Illington in her initial picture, two new ones with Marie Doro and Pauline Frederick and a repeat of "The Argyle Case," one of the best detective plays of the year, so well done by "Bob" Warwick. Speaking of this sort of play, many here enjoyed "Arsene Lupin," the Vitagraph offering, with Earle Williams and Ethel Gray Terry, the young daughter of Lillian Lawrence, one of the local favorites of stage and screen. * * * What a lot of fun when Burton Holmes uses his "speedo" camera even in classic Greece. I have seen staid old men and women of the blue blood stock laughing heartily at the rapidity of the camera. These same good folks thoroughly enjoy the Bray cartoons, and as to Mutt, and Jeff there is continuous laughter, and this is good, wholesome fun, as well as a diversion from the many war pictures thrust upon Some who saw the runoff of "To the Death," a Metro offering, featuring Petrova, writes me that it is quite her best effort. She is a Corsican and vendettas rule. The play was written by Mrs. L. Case Russell, who wrote "The Black Butterfly," which was changed from the original so much so as to make it hardly recognizable by the author. * * * Two Boston people have entered the picture game. One is Christie MacDonald, the clever stage star and erstwhile wife of Thomas Jefferson, eldest son of the late "Joe" Jefferson, and now Mrs. H. L. Gillespie. She has formed a corporation under the laws of New York and opened an office in Saratoga. Her pictures will be viewed with great interest here, where she was born and won her first stage success. The other no less renowned person in another line is John L. Sullivan, of fistic fame, now a motion picture magnate with a chartered company here, with Lawyer Clarence Rowley, treasurer. * * * Well, I have seen four of the deadly sins. Envy, Pride, Greed and Sloth, by all odds the best, since it has features which set one thinking. The first reel opens with the heroine in bed at noon, and with her are two animals — a most unsanitary thing, and it arouses disgust in the minds of all in front, however well they love dogs. My neighbor punched me and said. "The idea of sleeping with dogs, who always have fleas and are germy as a rule." The little heroine too had a big comforter over her entire body and no window open. To most of us the idea of cats and dogs in bed with human beings is disgusting to a degree. In this picture we have a prettv good lesson worked out when sloth took a back seat and patriotism its place. What a finished actress Helen Strickland is, and so graceful! Note her