Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

April 29, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 825 THE UNEXPECTED SCOOP (Rex), April 25. — A good light subject, written by Clifford Howard, introducing Jack Connolly and Jack Nelson as rival reporters and Myrtle Gonzalez as the girl. The plot has a clever swing to it and the situations are bright and pleasing. LONESOME HOUSE (Big U), April 26.— This number, written by O. M. Robinson, features Thomas Jefferson as an old school teacher. He finds his wife after years of separation, through one of his small pupils, who was injured while at play. The school scenes are typical and the story one of fair strength. SUCH IS LIFE IN CHINA (Powers), April 27.— This consists of a number of Chinese views, interspersed by some of Hy Mayer's humorous drawings. It makes an amusing novelty and is also quite Instructive. THE NEWLYWEDS' MIXUP (Nestor), April 28.— A comedy number, by Al. E. Christie, featuring Eddie Lyons, Betty Compson and Stella Adams. The young husband finds his wife's letter to her brother and becomes Intensely jealous, not knowing the relationship. Their quarrel is quite amusing. Slight in plot, but pleasingly presented. THE JITNEY DRIVER'S ROMANCE (Joker), April 29.— An eccentric comedy number, featuring Gale Henry, Wm. Franey and Milburne Moranti. The jitney driver Is the successful rival of an Indian prince. The action is very funny in spots and the low comedy characters are pleasing. Universal Film Mfg. Company Specials. THROWN TO THE LIONS (Red Feather Photoplay), April 24.— A strong five-reel offering, adapted by Norbert Lusk from a story by Wallace Irwin. This gives a faithful picture of modern metropolitan life. It is introduced by a prologue, dating back to the time of Nero, showing a young girl thrown into the lions' den. The analogy is drawn that innocence is still sacrificed in the life of today, as in the past. The story of Linnie Carter is very strongly set forth. She finds happiness, but only after facing many troubles. This rises gradually to a climax and holds the interest well. Mary Fuller, Joseph Girard, Clifford Gray and others appear. THE OTHER HALF (Gold Seal), April 25. — A two-reel number, by Jacques Jaccard, featuring G. Raymond Nye, L. M. Wells, Roberta Wilson and others. Because a wealthy man in high social life objects to his son marrying a gambler's daughter, the gambler sets out to prove that the wealthy man is also smirched, as he draws revenue from properties owned in the red light district. This he succeeds in proving, and the wealthy man consents to the marriage to save his good name. This is quite well produced and makes an interesting, though rather unpleasant, study of underworld conditions. The character of the theme Is the chief drawback. BILL'S NARROW ESCAPE (L-KO), April 26. — A two-reel low comedy number, featuring Billy Ritchie, Eva Nelson, Gene Rogers and Louise Orth. This consists largely of knockabout situations. Billy's wife rents the house to some moving picture people and jealousy results. This gets up a fair degree of humor in spots, but has numerous vulgar touches which keep it from being the best sort of comic. The last reel closes with the studio on fire and some explosions. MISS BLOSSOM (Laemmle), April 27. — A splendid two-reel Southern story, featuring Val Paul, Myrtle Gonzalez, Alfred Allen and Fred Church. Val Paul scores a fine little success in his characterization of the mountain lad who didn't want to be known as "po' white trash" In spite of his drunken father. The story is made human and appealing by this one character, though the others are also pleasing in their way. The settings are as picturesque and beautiful as one could wish, and the plot a good one. This number is sure to find favor with the average patron. WHY MRS. KENTWORTH LIED (Imp), April 28. — A three-reel number, by Hugh Weir, featuring Jane Gail, Matt Moore, Augustus Phillips and Howard Crampton. This is a story of crime and detection. The first two reels are gripping and exceptionally well presented. The third reel is not so strong, as no sufficient reason is shown why the young wife shielded the nephew at the risk of her own life. The blackmailing scene at the beginning, the murder later and commencement of work by the rival detectives is excellently done. While not entirely convincing in denouement, this sustains the interest throughout and is better than the average offering of the type. THE TORRENT OF VENGEANCE (Bison), April 20.— A two-reel subject, by Henry McRae, in which the great floods in Southern California of recent date are put into a lively story. The plot itself concerns two rival towns. One town tries to drown out the other one and the second diverts the flood so that it flows back on the second. There are some real thrills in this and numerous personal risks are taken by the performers. The scenes are all well taken and the number, as a whole, Is a highly interesting one. V-L-S-E, Inc. HEARST-VITAGRAPH NEWS PICTORIAL, NO. 29, 1916 (Vitagraph), April 10. — A novel feature of this number is an elephant parade down Fifth avenue, New York. Other of the principal events include the Cornell Dam at Croton, N. Y. ; Technical School, Oakland, Cal., drilling its students ; giant tractor, Harrisburg, Pa. ; launching giant dredge, Hammonton, Cal. ; U. S. troops arrive at the border for patrol duty ; vaccinating chickens, Davis, Cal. ; Buffalo base ball team training at Harrisburg. ARTIE, THE MILLIONAIRE KID (Vitagraph), April 17.— An excellent five-part comedy, featuring Ernest Truex and a typical Vitagraph cast, including Dorothy Kelly, Jonathan Kelly, Girardot and Etienne. The story treats of how a young man expelled from college becomes a book agent, enters the grounds of a ladles' seminary, falls in lore with a pretty girl, and forces his way on to fortune. In a year'B time he makes good a threat that he has made to the effect that he will made enough money to return and buy out his father's railroad. Reviewed on another page of this issue. World-Equitable. BY WHOSE HAND? ( Equitable), April 17.— An entertaining mystery drama ending with a question mark. A prolonged court room scene works up considerable interest and holds the attention, as noted In a review appearing on another page. Edna Wallace Hopper, Charles J. Ross and Muriel Ostrlcbe are featured In the picture. THE SOCIAL HIGHWAYMAN (Peerless), April 17. — Besides directing the production, Edwin August played the principal role in this Peerless World film adaptation of a drama In which Richard Mansfield starred. The scenes move rapidly and are filled with effective melodramatic action. A review appears on another page. Miscellaneous. FOLLOWING THE FLAG IN MEXICO (Tropical Film Co.), April. — A five-reel series of scenes covering the main incidents of the present Mexican situation. These pictures give a good Insight into the Red Cross work in Mexico, showing also many scenes in connection with the march of the U. S. troops Into Mexico, skirmshes between the Villa and Carranza followers, and many gruesome sights which necessarily follow in the wake of battle. "A MESSAGE TO GARCIA." Before Elbert Hubbard, one of the most famous of the writers and thinkers that America has produced, met an untimelydeath on the ill-fated "Lusitania," he often had expressed his admiration for motion pictures and his intention of writing new works or adapting some of his old masterpieces for the screen. He frequently had commented on the motion picture possibilities in his "A Message to Garcia," a preachment that is universally known and admired. It was confidence in the judgment of Elbert Hubbard and a full realization of the dramatic potentialities of his widely-famed article that led Edison to send a motion picture company to Cuba to film a story based on "A Message to Garcia." This five-reel feature, which has not been scheduled for release as yet, is a remarkable production in every way. Based on a masterpiece of literature that is known in every part of the world, having a plot that is highly dramatic and of absorbing interest, and presenting the story with an imposing and beautiful background of tropical settings, it must stand as one of the great conceptions and great productions of the year among five-reel features. Robert Connes and Mabel Trunnell* are starred in the production and among the other members of the cast are: Bigelow Copper, Herbert Prior, Helen Strickland and Dorothy Traham. PATHE'S "LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE" RECEIVES HIGH PRAISE. "Little Mary Sunshine," the five-part Pathe Gold Rooster play, has been given by the Philadelphia North American the "three stars" distinction, an award of merit granted to very few pictures. Jessica Granville-Smith, the reviewer, speaks of the picture as follows: "Three-year-old Baby Marie Osborne is featured In this Gold Rooster production, and everything else In the picture Is subordinate to her. There is a story, to be sure, a well-workedup little love story, as love stories go, with a pleasing mixture of humor and pathos. There are other actors in the cast, too, Henry King being the chief of them, with Marguerite Nichols and Andrew Arbuckle, but they are all outshone by this little star. Then there are many pretty scenes, and the. photographer has done his share in making the background a charming one for the little lady. The spontaneity of the child actress, with her blessed baby ways, and the Joy that radiates from her little self to every one around her is a wonderful relief after some of the more common types of photoplay. It will delight children, and drive away the blues from the grownups." "THE SECRET MATING." The "eternal triangle" gives way to four-cornered love affair in "The Secret Mating," a forthcoming five-reel American Mutual Masterpicture, De Luxe Edition, by J. Edward Hungerford. William Russell is directing the production and has the lead in the play. Two mismated couples are thrown together and one husband tries to teach the other a lesson. His method gives the play intense drama and makes it gripping from first to last. "William Russell, Hylda Holliss, Charlotte Burton and Harry Keenan have the principal roles. "THE END OF THE WORLD." The next feature of the Great Northern Film Company, 110 West 40th street, New York, entitled "The End of the World," is scheduled for release on about April 20th. It Is a stupendous spectacular production in six parts, presenting in a fanciful manner the most likely results of the presence of a comet in the earth's atmosphere, and portrays convincingly the panic and havoc which follow. A pleasing love story winds its way through gripping scenes of real flood and holocaust.