Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

638 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 22, 1916 mother's. The father marries a second time, and twenty years later the son falls in love with the daughter. The second wife, having found a letter left by La Belle, Knows her husband's secret. The circus settings are pleasing and the first reel is entirely devoted to circus stunts and some amusing comedy. Grace Cunard and Francis Ford, who have appeared in other successful serials, are strong in the leading roles. Others in the cast are Mark Fenton, Peter Gerald and Jean Hathaway. Biograph Comedy and Drama "The Spring Chicken," a Three-Part Production Made by Del Henderson — "Celeste" in Two Reels. Reviewed by Lynde Denig. "The Spring Chicken." GENERALLY staying on the right side of the line separating the merely ridiculous from the humorous, "The Spring Chicken," produced by Del Henderson when he was a member of the Biograph Company, is a lively three-part farce-comedy, brightly acted. The plot Is almost foolishly fantastic; but a picture of this description depends least upon the story and most upon the comic quality of the situations and the acting. That the experiences of "The Spring Chicken," played by Dave Morris, and those of the burlesque company, headed by Gertrude Bambrlck, are entertaining enough to assure the moderate success of the production is undeniable. The odd nature of the central character is accounted for by the strange influences following his birth when he is placed In an incubator along with several dozen eggs that are being hatched. From infancy he is Insane on the subject of chickens and in maturity becomes dangerously susceptible to the charms of young women. With the appearance of a burlesque company in town, the peculiar youth strays far from the path of caution, as marked for a man possessing a wife unwilling to forego her rights. Played in the spirit of burlesque and with many really humorous bits of incidental business, contributed Ly members of a large cast, scenes in the lobby of a hotel, on a bathing beach and even more particularly at the theater during the staging of the performance, are certain to draw thoughtless laughter. Miss Bambrlck, who in this picture bears a striking resemblance to Mabel Normand, heads a most attractive assemblage of show girls, revealed in varied costumes of alluring design. "The Sprins chicken" was adequately Staged, carefully directed and in all respects should make an acceptable comedy offering. "Celeste." The larger part of this tworeel drama was enacted In choice locations on the California coast, and the production profits Immensely in Consequence. Long stretches of rock-bound beach, when perfectly photographed, as in the present instance, never lose their charm. And the story of "Celeste" requires just such a fishlnt,' village as that indicated in the backgrounds selected by Director Walter Coyle. Washed ashore on a raft, a little girl, the one survivor of a wreck, is rescued by the fisherfolk and reared among them. In Ignorance of her fattier living in Paris. Of course, she has two Scene from "Celeste" (Biograph). admirers, a dissolute fisherman and a worthy young artist who visits the little village in search of inspiration. The rivalry between these two results in a struggle on the edge of a cliff over which the artist Is hurled but not killed, for the conclusion requires a reunion in Paris, with the girl, her artistlover and her father in happy accord. Vola Smith as Celeste. Jack Mulhall as the artist, Ivan Christie as the fisherman, and Charles Perley as the father, are the chief figures in a smoothly-developed photoplay of sustained interest. Two World Film Offerings "Human Driftwood" Replete with Alaskan Atmosphere, and "The Shadow of a Doubt," the Story of a Crime of Environment. Reviewed by Margaret I. MacDonald. "Human Driftwood." A STORY of an Alaskan dance hall Is bound to contain much that is unpleasant, much that is unwholesome; but it has also the mystic charm of a life Into which few of us have entered. The cast appearing in this five-part production Scene from "Human Driftwood" (Peerless). made by the Peerless Co. consists of Robert Warwick, Frances Nelson, Leonore Harris, Alec. B. Francis, and Albert S. Hart, all Him Interpret the roles allotted to them in a satisfactory manner. According to the story by Emmett Campbell Hall, Robert Hendricks, a wealthy young man, In frequenting a Bohemian resort, falls in love with a dancer of loose morals, who, left clone m nis apartment one day, calls In her pals to help her rob Hendrlck's safe. His return earlier than expected is the cause of a struggle In which the lover of the dancer is killed lentally by her hand. The scene then shifts to Alaska, where Myra the dancer has opened a dance hall in a mining camp a young girl who has in Bome way happened into her clutches Is the one beautiful thing In light, and after a series of adventures in which a big Swede tries to buy the girl from Myra. Hendricks appears on the scene, and the story closes with the death of both Myra and the Bwede and the betrothal of Yelin.i. ttie beautiful stranger of the camp, and Hendricks. For a story of this kind the production will be found entertaining. The action of the play does DOt flag, and the Interest is maintained throughout. Bmlle Chautard directed the picture. "The Shadow of a Doubt." Produced bj the Equitable Motion Pictures Corporation, Shannon l * two brothers, by force of circumstances, Scene from "The Shadow of a Doubt" (Equitable). follow widely divergent paths, makes a favorable impression. The photography Is not all that one could wish for, but the development of the story Is such as to awaken thought on the subject of environment and the influence of circumstances. Carlyle Blackwell Is featured In this five-part production with Jean Shelby, George Anderson, Lillian Allen and Frank Beamish in the supporting cast. The story opening In an English orphan asylum shows the older of two boys being adopted by a rich but childless couple, who educate him and eventually leave him their wealth. The younger brother plods along