Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

April 29, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 821 "The Girl That Didn't Matter" Two-Part Balboa, Featuring Andrew Arbuckle and Margaret Landis, to Appear Shortly on the Program of the Pathe Exchange, Inc. Reviewed by Margaret I. MacDonald. THIS two-part drama is one of the kind that makes good entertainment in spite of the fact that stories of similar construction have been filmed many times. Andrew Arbuckle in the role of Judge Hoover, whose kind heart prompts has her money back with substantial interest, the wealthy heir has received a scare of imposing proportions and the man in front has been given thirty minutes of strictly first-class entertainment. Marin Sais and Ollie Kirkby continue to enter into the spirit of Mr. Bronson Howard's cleverly-drawn characters with undiminished zest, and to furnish ocular demonstration that they are lucky girls to have been selected for two such admirable parts, and that the author is equally fortunate in having two such accomplished and engaging young women to head his cast. B. Furey, Frank Jonasson, Paul Hurst, Edward Clisbee Scene from "The Girl That Didn't Matter" (Pathe). Scene from "The Millionaire Plunger" (Kalem). him to give a home to an orphan girl on the verge of a downfall, is splendidly cast. He gives an unusually pleasing impersonation of Judge Hoover, who early in the story becomes a senator, and later marries the girl he befriended. Margaret Landis plays the feminine lead very pleasingly. This is the first time that Miss Landis has been seen in a star part with Balboa. She proves herself well worthy of the opportunity given her. The sister of the Judge is the angular, old-maid type that always brings a touch of comedy. The plot of the story concerns itself principally with a conspiracy to force 9enator Hoover to sign a certain undesirable bill. As a last resort a woman lobbyist is brought into the case and is about to win the senator's signature to the bill by promoting undue interest in herself, when the orphan girl suddenly appears on the scene with evidence which frustrates the lobbyist's plan. A pleasing production in which a touch of refined comedy is an added attraction. Miss Greenwood in "None So Blind." Winnifred Greenwood, who for the past several years has been co-starring with Edward Coxen in short length dramas filmed at the American's Santa Barbara studios, has been elevated to stardom and will shortly be seen in two Mutual Masterpictures, De Luxe Edition, now under way. Her initial appearance as a star of these feature productions will be in the role of "Emily Alden," heroine of "None So Blind," a Masterpicture, De Luxe, in which she portrays a noted Broadway theater star who abandons her profession to become the wife of a celebated painter. Julian Lamothe, author of "None So Blind," created the role of "Emily Alden" especially for Miss Greenwood, a part in which her many requisites as a screen star are particularly well adapted. Trio of Kalem Releases "The Millionaire Plunger," "A Lucky Mistake" and "The Trail of Danger." Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. THE fifth instalment of the George Bronson Howard serial, "The Social Pirates," proves that the author's fertility of invention is still in good working order. "The Millionaire Plunger" is supplied with a theme that excites the sympathy of the spectator at the opening of the picture, and then proceeds to deal him a goodly measure of live action, much of which is of a quietly humorous nature. An elderly woman, who is employed as a laundress by Mona and Mary, has been victimized by an unscrupulous stock manipulator and all her savings swept away by worthless securities. The eon of this man, who inherits his father's wealth, is an idler and a roue. When the two lady avengers learn the woman's story, they advise her to apply to the wealthy heir. He refuses to do anything about the matter, and thereby makes one of the biggest mistakes of his life. The Dauntless Duo get busy right away, and when the curtain is rung down on their neatlystaged scheme for righting this particular wrong, the laundress and Thomas Linghant are members of the efficient supporting company, and the same completeness of detail in the staging that has marked producer James W. Home's direction of the preceding instalments is plainly visible in "The Millionaire Plunger." "A Lucky Mistake." Whatever mistakes, lucky or unlucky, are made by the characters in this one-reel "Sis Hopkins" comedy, the seeker after amusement will make no error in being a witness to the comic adventures of the cast. As the maid-of-all-work in the Skeezicks household. Sis is the unabashed fly in the ointment of domestic peace, the cause of incessant confusion and a well spring of laughter to everyone else. Henry Murdock, Richard Purdon, Arthur Albertson, Fred Schierbaum, Olive West and Mary Kennedy are her able assistants. "The Trail of Danger." The "big idea" in this numoer of the "Hazards of Helen" seems to have been to crowd as many "thrills" into the picture as it would possibly stand. At any rate, that is the Impression it gives the spectator, and Helen Gibson performs her different stunts with neatness and dispatch. "The Trail of Danger" justifies its title. George Williams, Roy Watson, P. Pembroke, Harry Schum and Ray Lincoln have the remaining roles. Lionel Barrymore in "The Quitter." Lionel Barrymore, who has just completed his work in "Dorian's Divorce" for the Metro program, being starred in that production with Grace Valentine, will be stared alone in "The Quitter," a sensational five-part feature which has just been put into production. The exterior scenes will be photographed along the Mexican border, and the company does not anticipate that it will be much of a holiday. Motion picture operators are experiencing considerable difficulty in that locale at present. But it was necessary for the Metro players to go there, as the sceney and buildings they desired can only be found in that section. "Silent Selby" Three-part Mustang that Claims Attention Through Excellence of Construction and Pleasing Dramatic Action. Reviewed by Margaret I. MacDonald. THE old style western drama, it will be remembered, distinguished itself as a rule by crudeness both of design and dramatic action, and a tiresome repetition of theme. The plot generally used was so largely a matter of melodrama, and so far removed from the interesting realities of our modern West that the critic became bored and found himself at a loss for new expression in seeking to describe "the same old thing." With the Mustang productions we have learned to expect something fresh, and new, and human in theme, and we are not often disappointed. "Silent Selby," written by Kenneth B. Clarke, keeps its thread of interesting moving at a lively gait, and succeeds so well in keeping the spectator guessing as the climax of the play approaches, that one is forced to acknowledge clever workmanship in the construction of the play.