Moving Picture World (Aug 1917)

1082 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 18, 1917 occasions, and the members of the office staff are just as ablv represented. The release was made through K-E-S-E In gust 6. c, Monday, Au "The Spy" Dustirt Farnum, Supported by Winifred Kingston, Does Remarkable Work in Thrilling Fox Story of German Secret Service. Reviewed by George Blaisdell. WILLIAM FOX will release on August 19 as a special box office attraction "The Spy," a thrilling six-part story of the German secret service. Dustin Farnum is the leading player. In the role of Mark Quaintance, an American of means, who goes to Berlin to learn if possible the identity of the German spies in the United States, he does some of his best picture work. In fact, the only complaint Is that where it is strongest there is too much of it. This particular part is where Quaintance, having entered the home of the chief of the German secret service and stolen the book containing the names for which he was seeking, is suspended by the thumbs in an effort to compel him to reveal the hiding place of the book As a piece of acting it is all remarkable in its realism. Likewise it is over-gruesome in its horror. . In the rough copy shown to the press on July 31 the inquisition scenes were so prolonged that it is to be feared if repeated in a theater in the United States the reputation of the subject in the particular locality would be seriously hurt. We learn since this was written that the picture is to be shortened 400 feet and that much of the elimination will be in this incident. The story is from the pen of George Bronson Howard. Barring a few instances of dramatic license — such, for instance, as we are coming to associate with the stage and to reprobate on the screen — the plot runs true to form. One of the exceptions the writer would take is in the American spy sailing for Europe under his own name and with the knowledge of his departure in the possession of many of his friends. But this is immaterial. The big fact is that with an outside official temperature of 98 degrees we forgot in a small projection room all things associated with the weather. Richard Stanton directed the subject, and into its making he put much time and money. In the casting, too, excellent judgment has been displayed. Who could better look the chief of the German secret service, as implacable as Javert, the director of a machine that recognizes nothing but the will of its stern master, than William Burress? Or Charles Clary than the American ambassador? Howard Gaye is the Baron von Bergen, the aid of the secret service chief, and William E. Lowry, the shadow. The picture interests from the beginning. This is due not only to the patriotic angle, the volunteering of Quaintance, a clubman, to do whatever his country may require, but the love theme following upon the accidental bringing together of the American spy and Greta Glaum, the accomplice of the Germans, who has been set to watch the doings of Quaintance. In the latter role Winifred Kingston shines. She displays marked intelligence and rare charm. That she should repudiate her harsh masters for the sake of the young American is entirely logical — even to going the limit, that of sharing death with him at the end. "The Spy" is a picture of power as well as of timeliness. It probably won't please Mr. Funkhouser, which statement by many will be interpreted to mean that probably it will much please the average American who is not overconcerned as to the feelings of those who are Germans first and nothing else afterward: The author and the director are to be congratulated on having the courage to give the ending that is the logical one — the shooting of the spy and his aid. For such is life — and war. Of big scenes there are many, scenes that thrill; and of tender scenes there are many, too, scenes that move. Patriate Smith ^.f Df "* ^l""7 6nj°yed ^^^ the Part of a ™n„t t ey> She makes the eirl lovable and of a sunny nature in spite of her hard life and acts with her ac oe°rTtrmanei!Iy' Hemy HaUem aS CapTain^arney'a^ Robert Walker as Harry Hardy carry the weight of the sun port with ease and to good effect. tne sup "The Cleanbp" Franklyn Farnum and Brownie Vernon in Five-Part Comedy Drama That Is Mildly Entertaining. Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. A THEATRICAL advance agent is the hero of "The Cleanup, a five-part "Bluebird" photoplay, written by Waldeand £Sl J°Ung The theatrical P^son strikes his home town fn mnv th6 1S UP against a reform movement that promises to make the engagement of his attraction, "The Girl and the Garter, a regular frost. To complicate matters, the father of the agents sweetheart and the richest man in town is at "Aladdin's Other Lamp" Viola Dana in Five-Part Metro Photoplay by WUlard Mack Is Given Many Excellent Opportunities — Produced by B. F. Rolfe. Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. GOOD, wholesome entertainment will be found in "Aladdin's Other Lamp," a five-part photoplay, written by Willard Mack and based on a story of his called "The Dream Girl." Produced by B. F. Rolfe, with Viola Dana in the role of a little slavey who finds a magic lamp and comes into love and fortune quite in the proper manner for all well-regulated heroines, the picture may be safely recommended to all admirers of the Metro star. The screen version was made by June Mathis. An old lamp that belonged to the little slavey's dead father caused her to dream a wonderful dream in whicn she goes to a ball in a gorgeous gown and discovers her sweetheart, the grocery clerk, is really a prince and is making love to her rival, the richest girl in town. She awakens to find herself still a drudge and Harry a grocery clerk, but the lamp contains a letter from her father that straightens out all her difficulties. The scenes are laid on the New England coast, and are either quaint or picturesue. John H. Collins, the director, has attended to all the details of the production in a thorough-going Scene from "The Clean-Up" (Bluebird). the head of the movement. A bunch of crooks drift into the place just in time to give the advance man a chance to help stop them from robbing his best girl's father's bank and the pilot of the musical comedy troupe wins out on every count All the above is told pleasantly enough, and will serve to entertain many worthy followers of the screen. Franklyn Farnum makes Stuart Adams, the advance agent, a likable chap and is assisted in his best scenes by Brownie Vernon as Hazel' Richards. Miss Vernon is young, good to look at, and knows how to act. Claire McDowell plays an adventuress who turns out to be a detective with the ability to be expected from her William Human, Mark Fenton and Mary Talbot contribute acceptable character studies. "Jack and the Beanstalk" Ten-Part Screen Version of the Juvenile Classic Produced by William Fox an Elaborate and Amusing Spectacle. Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. IN PREPARING "Jack and the Beanstalk," the ten-part Fox film de luxe of the juvenile classic, for screen representation the producers have evidently gone to a great deal of expense. More than this, the money has been spent intelligently, and most of the picture displays excellent taste. Reduced to eight reels by judicious cutting it would form an entertainment that would prove equally pleasing to the youngsters and the grownups. The story opens with a party of children listening to a nursemaid reading the familiar old fairy story. Two children of the group, Francis and Virginia, determine to look for the forest where the beanstalk is to be found. While searching for it they are overtaken by nightfall. Francis falls asleep and dreams that he is the real Jack of the story, and that Virginia becomes the Princess Regina whom he rescues from the giant Blunderbore. The adventures of the greatest hero in juvenile fiction are carried out in a wonderfully impressive manner, not the least effective feature being the acting of the little stars, Francis Carpenter and Virginia Lee Corbin, and the other members of the youthful cast. The special sets used in "Jack and the Beanstalk" reflect faithfully the time and the local environment. The village where Jack lives, the city of Cornwall, ruled over by the father of the beautiful Regina, and the imposing castle of the giant perched on the side of a steep mountain are admirably planned, and all the details of the production are in keeping with the spirit of the tale. Young Master Carpenter, in the title role, measures up to his work amazingly. He has the force, stride, personality and method of a well-seasoned actor, and makes all his points with the ease of a veteran. He is also absolutely without pose.