Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

5 Jo THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD accepts that as an alternative to the true explanation of his presence. Fortunately for him the real thieves are captured and brought back with the evidence of their crime with them, while the young woman's mother speedily discovered the true explanation of the young man's presence. Thus are matters made straight and the young hearts made happy. The film turns upon this novel proposition which adds 111terest t<> it and keeps the audience wondering what will be the result. It is sympathetically acted and adequately staged. "Honesty, Its Own Reward" (Eclair). — A pathetic story of an old man who finds a purse, from which two dollars have fallen, which he is accused of stealing-. Happily, however, he is released from his unpleasant predicament by the timely arrival of two nuns, who have found the missing money. The unfeeling owner of the purse goes her way without as much as thanking the poor old man for returning it. The nuns take pity upon him, however, and see that he is supplied with the necessities, which to him are comforts and luxuries. The only criticism one might offer upon this film is that it is too true to life. Far too many people are quite as thoughtless and apparently hardhearted as this woman. Perhaps films like this will perform a real service by pointing out what it may mean to another to be so unthinking. "His Sick Friend" (Imp). — All sorts of pictures and stories have been worked out of this subject, leaving the young wife a! home while the husband goes to a poker game. Perhaps some young wives have also fixed up the room to make the husband believe that she. too. had been enjoying herself, but it is safe to say that probably few. if, indeed, any wife ever had her husband lift the table cloth and pull from under the table a man whom she did not know was there. This turns the tables and she is forced to admit what sort of a trick she had played. Of course the husband forgives her for the presence of the man. This denouement makes the picture a distinctive piece of comedy work. It is admirably acted and clearly photographed. "Stung" (Imp). — Tt may, perhaps, be imagined what a predicament a man could be put in if he was suddenly called to supper in a company and had his shoe off. And it would be worse if his rival in the young woman's affections had purloined the shoe. Here is the whole comical complication admirably worked out. Perhaps the best part of it is the pretended clairvoyance by which the missing shoe is discovered in the rival's pocket. The acting is alive and there is a series of amusing complications which keeps the audience laughing most of the time. The photography is clear, even in some of the more difficult scenes. Altogether it is a satisfactory picture. "The Man from Texas" (Bison). — Many times the well acted Western pictures put out by this company have been commended, but one feels like making an exception in this case. There is entirely too much gun play, and while it may be justifiable when considered in one way, it doesn't seem necessary to reproduce all the gruesome details of murder. Self defense may be a good reason, but the representation of the taking of a life is not elevating nor is it needed to make the pictures interesting. All this can be suggested. Tt has been suggested in other pictures and the interest did not suffer. This company has done so well heretofore that it seems too bad to have its work marred by objectionable scenes of this character. "A Mexican's Ward" (Bison). — A stirring drama, or melodrama, which is based upon the treachery of a faithless guardian. The action is all life and the scenes are produced with an accurate attention to detail and a careful working out of the plot which adds much to the interest. The photog raphy is an advance on some of the work previously done by this company and represents a gratifying degree of progress. "The Theft of Diamonds" (Great Northern).— This firm has made an attractive feature of films of this type in the past, its Sherlock Holmes series being graphic representatives of this fact. In this film some very dramatic situations are reproduced and the acting is so sympathetic and the actors develop so much capability in developing their parts that the audience becomes absorbed in the picture and regrets when it closes. There is always a more than ordinary degree of interest attaching to a story of this sort, and in this instance the audience is not disappointed in the way it -is worked out. "A Quiet Honeymoon" (Great Northern). — An uproariously funny film, which depicts in a very graphic way the difficulties of an unfortunate couple in trying to enjoy their honeymoon. It is worked out with all the firm's careful attention to details, while the actors perform their parts in a way that entitles them to praise for their work. It is a comedy well worth including in a program. "The Betraying Mirror" (Itala).— A dramatic story of more than ordinary interest, showing the ingratitude of a faithless nephew. The scene where the discovery is made in the mirror is one of unusual strength and creates much interest. Actors and photographer have performed their parts well, and the result is a picture which will please any audience. "John Hardy's Invention" (Powers). — A romance woven around the work of an inventor. A flying machine fails to fly, but a hair pin invented by a woman brings a substantial check. There is an exhibition of jealousy on the part of a husband, who persists in misconstruing things and will not listen to explanations. The story is well told, the acting is lively and sympathetic and there is the accompaniment of good photography to assist in maintaining interest. Tin Powers pictures are improving steadily, each one showing an advance over the previous one. "St. Elmo" (Thanhouser). — The second release of a new house, and, unlike some producers', the second was better than the first. It was not what might be termed an en gaging story which this firm undertook to present. The play is based upon Augusta Evans Wilson's novel of the same name. It is a religious novel and the dramatic company which has tried to play it has failed to satisfy in al! places with one exception. Of course the film is an im provement over the spoken drama, since it is shortened and only the interesting scenes are retained. While the writer has no particular liking for either the story or the drama, he has no fault to find with the reproduction here. It is better than the drama because it eliminates much that is dreary and practically unnecessary to make the story comprehensible and leaves only the better and stronger scenes. The acting is sympathetic and the photographer has performed his part satisfactorily. ROOSEVELT IN AFRICA. We have been favored with a private exhibition of this special two-reel subject which is being issued under the cooperation of the licensed manufacturers. The photography is wonderfully good considering the disadvantages and the several thousand feet of negative has been pruned and trimmed by Pathe Freres until there is not an uninteresting foot in the two reels. Without a doubt it is the most expensive negative ever printed from and the American public are indebted to the licensed manufacturers who made it possible for the film to be issued and to the brave and enterprising photographer, Cherry Kearton, who secured the negatives at great bodily risk and inconvenience. On another page we give a synopsis of the scenes and a few reproductions taken from sections of the film. This subject is open to all licensed theaters and will prove a big drawing card. Exchanges, in ordering, should specify sets and not films, as the subject consists of two reels. One order came to Pathe Freres for two films. This is vague and may be taken for one each of the two reels comprising the subject or two complete copies. The date of release is April 18. FRANK WINCH CLIMBS THE LADDER. The genial New York representative of the "Billboard" has resigned that position to act as press representative of the Buffalo Bill Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Far East shows. Our contemporary loses a good man and his new employers made a wise selection. Not yet thirty years old, Frank Winch has seen more of life and held more important positions than few men live to do. He was born in San Francisco in 1881, received a college education and started workas a bellboy. His cleverness with the pen drew him into newspaper work and as a reporter he had varied experiences that brought fame if not fortune. He next essayed the work of the theatrical press agent, and not only wrote plays but had them produced. He managed several stock companies, and in 1008 came to New York as manager of the Eastern office of the "Billboard." Here he has made many friends, not a few of them among the moving picture people, who will miss him at their confabs, but who will all wish him success in his new sphere, as is the wish of The Moving Picture World. J. C. Doyle, proprietor of the Johnson Opera House, Seneca Falls, N. Y., has operated his moving picture lamp with an Economy Coil for several months. He ordered a "Hallbcrg" F.conomizer about three weeks ago in trade for the Economy Coil, and in a letter under date of March 15 he writes : "I thought I had a good light before, but know now I was mistaken." The above speaks well for the good light obtained from the "Hallberg" Economizer.