Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1911)

-74 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD THE CONNECTING LINK (Eclair). Exceedingly clever acting lifts this film somewhat above the dead leve| of the ordinary picture and entitles it to comment in this department. The .-tory itself is not entirely new; it is, in fact, quite reminiscent of ''La Dame aux Camilles," which the Pathe Company rendered into moving pictures with telling force more than a year ago. The scene of the present story is laid in much humbler surroundings than in Sardou's masterpiece, but gains rather than loses by that fact. The story of the infatuation is told forcefully and Scene from "The Connecting Link" (Eclair). the incidents leading up to it are different, taking place in the open air and amid very pretty surroundings, all perfect in photography. The actors and actresses in the play are without exception accomplished members of the great stock companies culled from different Parisian theaters of acknowledged standing. This fact stands out strikingly and pleasingly from the very beginning. * * * . If any of the artists are aware that there is a camera in the immediate vicinity for the purpose of photographing all they do, the fact does not appear in their actions or manners. The story told in a few sentences deals with the infatuation of a middleaged man for a young woman. Of course, the middleaged man" is married. There comes a crisis in the domestic life of the man, graphically and powerfully portrayed in the film. The wife is ill and the temptress is urgent. The man yields to temptation and deserts wife and child to Live with the paramour. Both he and the latter are recalled to their duty and their better nature aroused in a fine climax, in which the child of the deserter makes a pathetic appeal first to the father and then to the woman. The success of the appeal. is depicted with much dramatic finesse and will touch many an audience that might not have responded to the more subtle delineation of Sardou. The last scenes are especially fine — the wife happy over the flowers and still happier over the return of the repentant husband, who is quickly forgiven, and the sweet pleading and coaxing of the child evoke a sign of profound satisfaction. We consider the actor's portrayal of the married man's folly in the light of a strong moral lesson, taken from the life around us. The existence and power of evil cannot be denied and where they are free, as they are in this film, from offensive forms, they surely are a legitimate subject for the playwright, the dictum of the "Charlotte Rousse and domestic ginger ale" moralist to the contrary notwithstanding. THE JUDGE'S STORY (Thanhouser). Whenever a film maker skillfully seizes and elaborates certain possibilities peculiar to the moving picture, as distinguished from the conventional stage, he is entitled to special credit. The story within a -lory is peculiarly within the province of the moving pieture, and the makers of this film have shown themselves well capable of grasping and using this singular advantage. A negro, so the story runs, is unjustly accused of a capital crime and is put on trial. In the course of the proceedings, the old mother of the alleged culprit in the court-room recognizes the judge as a Confederate veteran, whose life was saved in years gone by through the courage of the accused. The judge, who had through the years vainly sought to discover and reward his benefactors, recognizes the Mammy and makes a remarkable plea to the jury for the acquittal of the accused. In the course of made of heroic stuff. He concludes his remarks with the his charge to the jurers he tells the story of his adventure in the war, which show the negro and his mother to be words; "The evidence is wholly circumstantial; may God help you to find a verdict of not guilty." It Is a Powerful Climax. The charm of the story lies in the quick change from drama to dramatic narrative and the display of a line ability to sustain the character of both equally well. After the Old Mammy. has made her plea to the judge, we see the pictures showing the adventures of the hitter when he was a young soldier fighting for the Stars and Bars. It is a most exciting narrative, well illustrating the aptitude of the moving picture for the telling in graphic and lively manner a story of pure adventure. The outdoor settings are particular!}' fine, and the acting of the young soldier much above the average. The scenes in the home of \he soldier were affectingly natural and touching. A warm word of commendation must be said for the jury. The director's work on this score can scarcely be praised too highly. It was a typical jury with j -st enough of a Southern touch in its make-up to give it the proper local color. It is a pleasure in connection with this review to advert to the marked improvement in all the productions of this maker, who promises to give the industry many valuable contributions in the future. THE CORONATION IN KINEMACOLOR. During the week the Kinemacolor Company have received a most noteworthy set of pictures ever taken in the world's history of photography. These pictures were taken by royal command of King George the 5th and copies of them will be deposited in the sanctuary of the Tower of London going to make up a part of the historical archieves of the British Government for future historical ages. Such a kaleidoscopic array of colors has probably never been witnessed in so short a space as was seen during the forty days of coronation festivities, commemorating the crowning of King George the 5th as ruler of the British Empire. Among the pictures that may be mentioned are: "Trooping the Colors," "Empire Day," "Unveiling of Queen Victoria's Memorial," "The Embarkation of the Canadian Mounted Police," "The Disembarking at Liverpool," "The Camp at Hyde Park," "The East Indian Contingent in Camp at Hampton Court," "Natural London." "London Disguised," "The Naval Review at Spithead," "Peers and Peeresses Embarking on the Thames steamboat at Chelsea." "The Royal Procession," covering over six thousand feet of film, showing King George and Queen Mary at very close range, and the returning of the regalia worn at the coronation by the King to the Lord Mayor of London. It may not be generally understood that the regalia and jewels worn by the King and Queen are of inestimable value. A number of the world's precious stone experts have tried to estimate the value of this regalia and have signally failed. The world's famous most precious stones are in this collection and their value is practically priceless.