Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 42; "The Millionaire's Adventure" (Lubin).— A lively and interesting little skit, representing a girl driven from home by brutality, falling in with a supposed tramp, who turns out to be a millionaire in disguise. The girl, disguised as a boy, travels with the supposed tramp for a month. Then he goes back home, taking his companion with him. where her sex is disclosed. The usual result follows and everybody probablv lives happily ever after. The picture is alive and touches upon a theme which is common enough and which might readily prove to be a basis for an extraordinary interest. With the life that the Lubin players put into it the picture is satisfactory and not infrequently is heartily applauded. "Samuel of Posen" (Selig). — This picture is certain to be exceptionally popular. Probably a considerable proportion of comedy patrons have seen or have heard of M. B. Curtiss in his original role as "Sammy." It was a master stroke when Selig secured, not alone the rights to the play, but Mr. Curtiss as well. The picture starts in Posen, Germany, and after numerous and exciting adventures in different parts of the world, including a pre-arranged fire sale in Baxter street, New York, the picture goes back again to old Posen. There are both humor and pathos, each contributing a portion to the interest of the picture. The acting is sympathetic, offering many touches which increase the strength of the film and add to its popularity. The photography is adequate, and assists in the wholesome interpretation of the story. "The Girl Thief" (Kaiem). — This is a strong melodramatic picture, with plenty of romance, sympathetically acted by the firm's Southern stock company. It is a story of a thief's reformation through a clergyman's love, and presents in the telling a good many dramatic and interesting situations. Like all these plays from the Kalem studio, the development of the plot is strongly dramatic, holding the interest of the audience by causing them to wonder what is going to occur next. The scene is laid in the South and carries with it the picturesque features common to that locality, but which seem, when properly introduced, to add a stronger touch of romance than is possible under most other conditions. The Kalem people have always used these backgrounds to good advantage, adding materially to the attractiveness and interest of their pictures. "History of a Sardine Sandwich" (Vitagraph). — An interesting industrial picture, showing the life history of a sardine sandwich from the beginning to the end. The increase in the number of industrial films released recently indicates the larger number of people who like these pictures. And industrial subjects are endless, each one of which possesses its own share of interest and conveys its own topic of information It is evidence of the improving taste of motion picture audiences, and it is to be commended upon the score of assisting in the education of the people. "Brittany Lassies" (Pathe). — A comedy which introduces some picturesque and attractive features of Brittany life and is sufficiently amusing to keep the audience in good humor The acting and photography are alike good. "The Eleventh Hour" (Edison). — An intensely dramatic and highly emotional picture, representing the struggle of a governor against the desire to pardon a condemned murderer who has been reported as the governor's son. The struggle between the father and the governor is one of the best bits of acting seen in a motion picture in weeks. And then the climax, when the son suddenly appears, leading an upright life. There is a power in plays of this character, which appeal irresistibly by their intense humanity. It is impossible to describe them, or "to convey any conception of their strength, but the spectators closely followed the keen struggle between love and duty and did not fail to show their appreciation at the end. "The Man Under the Bed" (Edison). — A comedy of the boisterous order, capable of keeping an audience roaring throughout its length. It is built upon the timeworn assertion that old maids always look under the bed to see if there is a man in hiding, and this one, when she discovers a pair of shoes, rouses the entire house to assist her in dragging the intruder out. The ending is quite romantic, since when the owner of the shoes appears she seems quite satisfied with him and there is shortly an ending which did not seem possible at the beginning. "Poet of the Revolution" (Gaumont).— An interesting bit of drama, acted with all the intelligence and skill usually displayed in the work of this firm's players and photographers. The play is interesting, the actors are sympathetic, and the film will appeal to a large number in different ways. "The Ostrich and the Lady" (Essanay). — An important addition to the long and growing list of educational films. This one gives characteristic scenes on a Los Angeles ostrich farm and illustrates, in an interesting and definite way, the development of ostrich farming. Many of the scenes are picturesque, and all are novel, adding to the interest of the picture. The photography is clear, -even in those scenes in which rapid movement might lead to blurring. Altogether il is an interesting picture, giving information about ostrich farming in an entertaining way. "The Ranch Girl's Legacy" (Essanay). — A Western comedy, acted with all the snap and dash for which the Essanay players are known. It is a picture which will interest, not only for the interesting story it tells, but for the representa tion of certain phases of Western life which form a considerable portion of the picture. The love story connected with it adds to the interest. "Pierrot" (Pathe). — An interesting picture. The excellent work of the already famous house of Pathe is becoming better known each day. Their character studies, and their depiction of bits of life, are always interesting; nor does this picture detract from the reputation of those who made it. "Beautiful Snow" 'Vitagraph). — A laughing comedy which is not only rich in humor, but develops some sparkling and funny situations. It is acted with the Vitagraph's careful attention to details, and this has its effect in increasing the interest which attaches to the film. "The Thread of Destiny" (Biograph). — A pretty story, containing much of suggestion and much of real life. Probably many have had dreams, have longed for something they couldn't explain, something that would take them out of this life and into some other, or so change this life that it would be like another. It isn't always possible to explain these longings, common to all mankind. The Biograph Company has expressed them strongly in this picture, pointing out in an unusually graphic manner the human tendency in the young orphan girl's heart. Next follows the love story, beautiful and romantic, and the interposition of the picturesque Western touch. The villain is satisfactorily foiled, however, and the lonely girl strolls away with her new husband, the previous unexplained longings satisfied. The scenery, representing the San Gabriel valley, is beautiful, while acting and photography are both of a high standard. A very satisfactory number, which shows that the Biograph Company have got down to business in their new sphere.