Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

428 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD VITAGRAPH NOTES. \ memoranda ol the good things to be served by the \ graph expi "< apital vs. Labor," ;i great drama oi national interest and aptness, on March 22; 'The Hand ol ," another drama mi one of life's greatest truths in which enery portraj the rugged beauty of life am fastr oi the Carolinas, on March 25; "The Broken Spell," a drama of surpassing charm and bewitching attractiveness, on March 29; "The Tongue of dal," to b d on April 1, characterizes a peculiar human nature and a type of mentality common to mmunities where j^wssip forms the chief budget and very often leads i" near tragedies of social ruin and destruction of character. "The Fruits of Vengeance," the evidence of how great a matter a little lire kindleth. An everyday occurrence with a practical moral, a family feud and a division neighborhood by a children'.-, quarrel, the growth of a mountain from a mole hill. These last two subjects are particularly far reaching in their influence, immensely truthful and will always arouse a welcome enthusiasm in their reception by the public. In the lire scene for the great production, "The Feud," to be issued in the near future by the Vitagraph Company, so much realism was given by the burning of a barn purchased for the purpose that it brought hundreds of persons from far and near intent upon witnessing the burning or lending a hand in extinguishing the flames. Their services were not needed, however, for the Vitagraph's fire brigade was on hand with tire extinguishers. When the flames were at their height and the picture had been taken, they easily put out the lire amid cheers and shouts of the assembled crowd, who could hardly believe that it was not an accident instead of a feature in a moving picture play. ESSANAY NOTES. The Essanay Company have announced for early release a great dramatic picture, entitled "The Hand of Uncle Sam," a production of marvelous scenic effects and thrilling episodes. Slight defects in certain parts of the first negative made it necessary to delay the release of the picture until these portions of the picture could be remedied. It is worthy of note that the scenes of the picture have been obtained from various parts 'of the continent, the West, the Isthmus of Panama and in Mexico, while the indoor scenes were all made at the Chicago studio. A United States torpedo boat destroyer was put to the Essanay's disposal and is shown in the picture. Great care has been taken to present correct traditions in the way of costumes and settings, while the picture, on the whole, is both dramatically and photographically perfect. The story is founded on the recent American-Xicaraguan controversy and tells of a young American mining engineer, who has established himself in one of the Isthmian republics, is arrested and accused of conspiracy against the government. He is court-martialed and sentenced to be shot, but at the dramatic moment, when he is dragged into the prison yard, United States marines arrive and prevent the execution. In the meantime the real offender, the American's native clerk, is arrested and evidence clearing the American is found. The film is a feature and will be released March 23. The Essanay's "The Fence on 'Bar Z' Ranch," a Western drama lately released, has been pronounced by many exhibitors and exchange men one of the most perfect and de interesting and pleasing subject. "The Airship Gaze" is an oddity and a novelty and reads like another Essanay hit. It is prophetic of what may happen when the airship is as popular as the automobile. An actual and practical aeroplane, in flight, is shown in the film. "His Hunting Trip" is another full reel comedy subject, which appears to be something as substantial as "An Interrupted Honeymoon," released last week. Sportsmen who view this film should be interested as it includes a number of exciting chase scenes with dogs and rabbits, with all the funny incidents which occur to Ximrod's followers. The principal and important parts of the story, \er, are with little wifey at home. The idea is original and interesting, and, produced with the liveliness which figures in all Essanay comedies, should prove a winner with the exhibitor and his audien<'< EDISON NOTES. "Frankenstein," which will be released March 18, is a liberal adaptation of Mrs. Shelly's famous story under that title. As told in the film, the story shows Frankenstein, a young student of the sciences, leaving his father and sweetheart to pursue his studies at college. In the course of his researches he discovers the awful mystery of life and death and immediately determines to realize his one consuming ambition — to create the most perfect human being that the world has ever seen. The actually repulsive situations in the original version have been carefully eliminated in its visualized form, so that there is no possibility of its shocking any portion of an audience; but the dramatic strength of this gruesome story clings to its dramatization, and it is safe to say that no film has ever been released that can surpass it in power to fascinate an audience. The scene in the laboratory in which the monster seemed to gradually assume human semblance, is probably the most remarkable ever committed to a film. "Frankenstein" is a production that will hold an audience spellbound and is certain to excite a very great deal of attention and comment. E. W. Townsend's latest contribution to Edison films will be released March 25. It is a dramatic subject entitled "The Suit Case Mystery." Don Fulano, the world's greatest living educated horse, which recently won favor in "An Equine Hero," will make his next appearance at an early date in a film entitled "Bradlord's Claim," in which it is said his work is even more remarkable than in the first subject. Among the subjects slated by the Edison Company for an an early release are "Michael Strogoff," Jules Verne's great story of the exciting adventures of a faithful courier of the Czar, and "Her First Appearance," especially prepared by Richard Harding Davis. "A Western Romance," released March 22, tells an absorbing story which has its foundation in the betrothal of a little boy and girl, brought about by their parents in order to conform to a clause in a will, by the provisions of which a fortune is left to the girl providing she marries the boy before her twenty-fifth birthday. The two families separate, the young girl growing up in the West, where she not only learns to forget the sweetheart of her childhood days, but also to cherish a resentment of the contemplated alliance as she grows older. Under an assumed name the young man, who has since fallen in love with the girl through the medium of a photograph which her mother has sent East, starts for the West, determined to overcome her objections and win her heart. This he succeeds in doing, after their successful escape from the plottings of a rival, who has brought to his assistance a band of Indians and desperadoes of the plains. The attempt of the hirelings of the rival suitor to waylay and murder the young fellow is thwarted by his sweetheart, who has overheard the plot and wdio effects his rescue in a daring and thrilling manner. The pictures were taken at a considerable expense in the West, and outside of the two principals the actors are natives of that section, real Indians and real cowboys being employed. A story that teems with realism, splendidly photographed and superbly acted. lightful Western subjects ever released by the Essanay Company. The photography, it is said, is simply wonderful. The story is something out of the ordinary and splendidly acted. "The Essanay Guide," for the last two weeks in March, describes several more bully comedies, one a Western, and another full reel subject, "A Ranchman's Wooing," is an PATHE NOTES. Pathe Freres are outfitting the Nelson-Wolgast fight pictures. Five Pathe machines are to be used for these pictures on their tour through the country. They are to be seen first at the Casino Theater. Brooklyn; Columbia Theater. Boston; the Lyric Theater, Chicago, and the Star Theater, Milwaukee, where they will appear simultaneously. This order was placed through the Pathe representatives, Turner & Dahnken. in San Francisco, and the selection of the Pathe machine for these pictures was made after careful tests of various other makes. The "Pathe Professional" is consid