Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

468 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD two come together it is quite likely to be doubly interesting. Then, too, there arc the Imp actors to perform their pari tically thai one takes pleasure in watching them in follow all tin little details. This picture is certain popular, i will appreciate its merits after the picture has been seen. The photography ^ is an im provemenl on some previous Imp releases, but it could be mad( better in some places now. "The Time Lock Safe" | Imp).— One hardly knows whal say about tins picture. Here i • running around ting safe blowers to open a safe for the recovery of a child. and the latter is discovered in a basket. Probably the who is supposed to hav< performed this felt quite as angry as he looked. And cue can sympathize with him. The play II acted and the sudden turn of events adds a piquancy which makes it all the more catchy. In reality it is what it promises to be, a highly emotional drama turned into a screaming farce. "Aspirants to the Hand of Helen" (Eclair). — A novel test worthiness of a young man as a husband. Out of three the maiden chooses one who eems most familiar with ho duties. Some of the scenes are distinctly humorous, and there is a thread of fun running through it all which adds much to the interest and keeps the audience in good humor. "For His Sister's Honor" (Bison). — A dramatic picture which represents a brother confessing to a theft committed by his sister, then being confronted with the accusation years niter. Fortunately he is able to prove his innocence to his wife and thus save a tragedy. The acting is satisfactory and in most instances the photography is clear. "War Time Pals" (Powers Picture Play). — A war story which will stir the emotions, since it denicts the kindness and helpfulness which are inseparable from true friendship. There are dramatic moments which will remain in one's memory, and there are incidents which will stand out clear and distinctly even after the main portion of the picture is forgotten. The recognition of the pals and the warmhearted "way the successful one takes to testify to his lion are reassuring to those who may have been influenced to believe that friendship is a matter of dollars. Acting and photography are both worthy of the theme. "The Actor's Children" (Thanhouscr).— Here is a picture which will interest by its fidelity to life and thrill with its appeal to the emotions. There is pathos, there is humor. Love and hate, the two most powerful passions of the human -.ill. are clearly depicted. In some respects this picture appeals even more strongly than the average which undertakes to illustrate those emotions which the principal controlling agencies in human life. The acting seems convincing and there is an evident comprehension on the part of the actors which adds to the film's attractiveness. The firm is to be congratulated upon thus developing a subject and then reproducing it with adequate photographic work. COMING HEADLINE!?. facturers as void of any special feature. Vet Mr. Gaumont makes you feel that, after all, the world is not so bad and that if boys will be boys they are not devoid of filial sentiments. It is indeed a very impressive picture. "In the Shadow of the Cliffs" is another very simple story, a story in which the producers show the intelligence and faithfulness of a dumb animal — the dog — instead of putting forth their effects to show the brutality of the smugglers, etc. Mr. Gaumont makes a success of the simplest scenario because he knows how to produce, he knows how far he can go, he knows how to sustain the interest, he knows and Studies the details, while some producers make a failure of the very best scenarios. I was surprised to see two scenic films in the coming releases, "In the Foothills of Savoy" and "A Trip Along the Rhine," but some exhibitors who were present at this advance exhibition told me that the public wanted some scenic and educational pictures. This also was confirmed to me the very same evening, while in the company of a prominent Independent renter. He told me that many of his patrons wanted one scenic and one educational in every film shipment. This is certainly a good sign and another bad blow at the exhibitors who claim that they cannot run a show without vaudeville. J. M. B. At Mr. Geo. Kleinc's offices I was shown an advance copy of "The Fall of Babylon" and the releases of the coming To the best of my knowledge, "The Fall of Babylon" is the grandest biblical subject ever produced in moving pictures. Tn this remarkable film wc can see the master hand of Mr. Gaumont for details and accuracy. All the characters are well studied and this film is perhaps the first production in which the principal character does not assume these languishing expressions shown in other films. Daniel is a man of God. he is pious and appears manly, he does not cry all the time, does not give the sad impression that the work of God is a hard and sad task to perform, he is firm, dignified and does not appear like a discouraged servant. Belshazzar, Cyrus, in fact all the other characters, arc as good; the costumes and details are correct to the times. The acting is as perfect as can be wished for, while the photography is of the highest quality and the tinting offers some of the best and softest shades ever shown on a screen. A few more films of this character and we will have the churches adopting motion pictures, as the pastors will have no more reason to say: "Xot correct to the Bible or the times." We must have the churches, schools and other educational bodies to help us and to make such productions profitable to the manufacturers, as we cannot depend on the exhibitors, who refuse to show the same film two or more days in succession. Mr. Gaumont knows how to make the most of a very simple storv. "Little Jack's Letter" is a very simple scenario, a scenario that would have been rejected by most of the manu VITAGRAPH NOTES. "The Merry Widow" of current release will certainly prove that she is not only a taking widow but a sure enough winner of laughs and merriment, an excellent tonic for a disordered liver and a chaser for the "blues." On April i6th "The Merry Widow Takes Another Partner" and we will p on smiling just the same. Get in on the smiles. "The Man Hunter" appears in the latter part of April. A dramatic innovation and yet withal a realism of actual life in the unfrequented forests and fastnesses of upper Canada, palpitating with the red blood of humanity and the romance of adventure. A story that holds the attention with spellbound expectancy. If you want to do the right thing by your people, "do it now.'' Make a note of "this marvel of life in the untrammeled realms of nature." Just a word to refresh your memory: "Elektra," the great Grecian tragedy. April 8; "The Conqueror," a homespun drama of a wayward son's redemption of himself and the influences of home, sweet home, on April q; and another beautiful emotional drama with a Dickensonian tinge, "The Call of the Heart," on April 15. The dramatic production, "St. Elmo," to be released April 2p,. is a sparkling gem in a surrounding of the most brilliant settings. A storyr of true love blasted by insincerity and deception and redeemed by the purity and sterling worth of a noble woman, who proves that the frailty and weakness of woman is individual and not general. A word to the wise is sufficient. Get wise. Be wise. Take advantage of this timely announcement and secure "St. Elmo" for the benefit of vottr trade. "MOVING PICTURE GODS AND GODDESSES." "Matinee" and "Johnnie" idols are very common stage attractions to a certain species of the genus homo who frequent the theater; the moving picture gods and goddesses are of recent discovery. We can understand how a person can "fall in love" with the living and attractive presence of an actor or actress, but it is incomprehensible how men and women will "fall in love" with moving picture actors as seen on the screen, yet it is a fact attested and established by the number of requests and letters we receive from personinquiring the names of and soliciting introductions to Vitagraph leading men and women. It also proves that the acting as well as their personalities must be pretty much the real thing. There is no doubt that frequenters of moving picture exhibitions recognize our stars and become interested, if not infatuated, with their work, and look for their appearance in the Vitagraph pictures. These facts, as well as other reasons, make us very careful in the engagement of only the highest order of talent in the production of our pictures. G. M. Anderson, the Essanay's Western producer, writes that he is preparing for a big Western drama, one of the most sensational films ever released. We have read the manuscript, and if the film is as good as the story, this picture should prove one cf the greatest Western pictures ever released.