Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1917)

May 19, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1141 has been saving her money and has almost ten thousand dollars for a house for herself and her mother. The boss, Edward Royle, played by Thomas Meighan, falls prey to a society woman, played by Mabel Van Buren, who marries him for his money, though she really loves the former (George Herbert) partner, whom Royle has turned off. These two conspire to ruin Royle so that the former partner will get his money and give them enough to run away on. The situation is built up with continuity till, as it approaches the climax, Royle is absent from the office at the time of the Wall Street break engineered to effect his ruin and the stenographer is left to face the battle alone. She throws in her own ten thousand and saves the day. The villainess is shown up, and in the end the silent partner becomes the actual partner for life. It is a Lasky-Paramount picture. "The Primrose Path." Mae Murray has the lead in this fairy story, written by Ruth Sawyer and prepared for the screen by Marian Fairfax. Its background is a hospital and its intention is to exemplify the courageous escape from pain through human fancy, and at the same time to tell a story. It is more successful in the former. One of its best touches is "the make-believe dog" that the little incurable cripple plays with under the guidance of the nurse, Mae Murray. The sentimental story hardly fills the length of film it comes in, and, thoUgh it will be acceptable to younger folks, will hardly interest men deeply. But. taken with the fairy atmosphere in it, the children, and the pity it engenders, it will be a very acceptable offering for children. Little Billy Jacobs as the litle emotional cripple is delightful. Tom Moore plays the very scientific doctor who doesn't believe in fairy stories till he himself is hurt and feels the reality of the Ogre Pain. Then he, too, becomes sympathetic and gives the story its happy ending. Second Forum Films Program "Kidnapped,". "The Portrait in the Attic," and "He Couldn't Get Up in the Morning." Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. "Kidnapped." THE principal number of the second Forum Films program is a four-reel screen version of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous story of adventure, "Kidnapped." The picture Is vastly entertaining. It is well acted by a cast which includes Raymond McKee as David Balfour, Robert Cain as the Scotch outlaw, and Joseph Burke as Ebenezer Balfour; and has been ably directed by Alan Crosland. The necessary local color is maintained correctly, a number of winter scenes in the Scottish Highlands being counterfeited with beautiful effect. To the many persons familiar with Stevenson's story, the opportunity to see it reproduced on the screen will be highly prized. The adventures of young David Balfour, after his uncle plans to have him put out of the way and hires Captain MacPherson to kidnap him, are so full of danger and the strenuous life that the interest is always at fever heat. The writer of the scenario has acquitted himself admirably, and Scene from "Kidnapped" (Conquest). preserved much of the spirit, and most of the essential points of the work. The other members of the cast are William Wadsworth, Ray Haller, Walter Craven, John Nicholson, Franklin Hanna, Sam Niblack and Horace Hain. "The Portrait in the Attic." Viola Dana is featured in the one-reel (SOO feet) drama, "The Portrait in the Attic." The picture is not of recent manufacture, but has distinctive merit. It is a rather pathetic tale of a young girl who resents it when her father brings home a new wife. The girl refuses to call her mother, until she Is imprisoned in the attic one night and dreams that her own mother comes to her and bids her, for her father's sake, to do as he asks. The picture is acted with skill by Miss Dana and her associates. "He Couldn't Get Up in the Morning." Raymond McKee is the leading player in this one-reel comedy (700 feet), and gives an excellent performance of a part that requires a large supply of agility. The fun moves along briskly, and the desperate measures that the hero takes, in his endeavors to arise and reach the office on time, are carried out very cleverly. All in all, the second Forum Films program, has been selected with admirable judgment. The O. Henry Series "The Green Door," "The Marionettes," and "The GuiltyParty," a Trio of Entertaining Two-Reel Screenplays Founded on Stories by Famous Maker of Short Fiction. Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. THE General Film has ready for release three screen plays made from stories by O. Henry. Their titles are "The Green Door," "The Marionettes" and "The Guilty Party." They can be recommended to spectators that like to think as well as to laugh, and consider it worth while to got a new viewpoint on some of the unsolved questions of life. Whether grave or gay, the king of modern short fiction was always original, always whimsical and very often startling in his truth. He also never failed to be entertaining and this great virtue has passed to the three photoplays now under discussion. "The Green Door." The scenario of "The Green Door" was made by A. Van Buren Powell, and Thos. R. Mills directed the picture; also the others of the trio. The principal parts in "The Green Door" are played by Mildred Manning and Walter McGrail. It has no serious moments, but possesses an unfailing string of humorous incidents. Readers of the story will recall the hero, who is always on the watch for romance and adventure. Nothing daunts him, and the series of mishaps that befall him are vastly amusing. Then comes the adventure in which the green door figures, and he finds romance and happiness on the other side of it. The picture is well made in every particular. "The Marionettes." Helmer W. Pergman is responsible for the scenario of "The Marionettes." The story tells of a versatile physician who combines the practice of medicine with safe blowing. He, also, has an adventure one night while returning from a professional visit to an overfed strongbox, and uses his share of the plunder to relieve the pangs of poverty. The picture is dramatic throughout, well removed from the beaten track, and searching in its revelation of what strange codes of honor are cherished by different human beings. J. Frank Glendon Is uncommonly proficient as the doctor. "The Guilty Party." This two-reel picture is a tragedy of the slums, and the leading part is given a truthful portrayal by Patsey DeForrest. Frank Brule is equally successful as Kid Mullaly. The story is not new, but powerful, and the question it propounds is answered by the author in an unexpected but convincing way. "The Guilty Party" will make you think. "Little Miss Fortune" Marian Swayne Featured in Five-Reel Comedy-Drama Produced by Erbograph Company for Art Dramas Program. Reviewed by Ben H. Grimm. WHATEVER success is attained by "Little Miss Fortune," five-reel comedy-drama produced by the Erbograph company for release on the Art Dramas program, will depend largely on how an audience feels toward Marian Swayne, the featured player. The story screened is of the type that has always been popular with a certain class of picturegoers. It is the old tale of the poor, much-abused orphan girl "who makes her way from rags to riches or fame via the well-known route of cuteness, smiles and appealing personality; the girl who always meets her fairy prince along about the second or third reel, and who, after many vicissitudes, lives happily ever after the last fifty feet of film. In this particular case the poor orphan girl has theatrical ambitions. Of course, she goes from the orphan asylum to a hard-hearted farmer's home, from "which, as usual, she runs away. She gets a job in the city as a waitress at a theatrical boarding house, where she meets the hero, who sees her latent talent and brings it out. The hero saves the girl from going to prison on a false charge, and at the psychological moment the leading lady gets sick. The expected happens here, as It does all through the picture. Miss Swayne is pretty; she has a winning smile and an amount of acting ability. But her appealing personality Is needed several times to make us believe that she is a sixteenyear-old ingenue. Her support is adequate, and includes Bradly Barker, Hugh Thompson, Lucile Dorrington, Anna Day Perry and Charles MacDonald. The picture was directed by Joseph Levering, who has dona his best with the story, which was written by Rev. Clarence J. Harris.