Moving Picture World (Aug 1917)

August 18, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1083 Virginia Lee Corbin is quite as precocious, with a dainty grace and a belief in the realty of what she is doing that is irresistible. Violet Radcliffe as Rudolpho, Carmen Pay DeRue as the king, J. G. Tarver as Blunderbore, Vera Lewis as the giant's wife, and Eleanor Washington as Jack's mother are important members of the excellent cast. There is one jarring note in the picture: The scene where the giant prepares to cut off the head of the little princess before having her cooked for his breakfast is made altogether too realistic, and will offend grown people and frighten the little ones. Heroic cutting will save the day, and the good work of the producers, C. M. and S. A. Franklin, will receive its full value. Two Triangle Releases "The Food Gamblers," Five-Part Picture of Timely Topic Featuring Wilfred Lucas and Elda Millar, and "An Even Break," Five-Part Photoplay Starring Olive Thomas. Reviewed by Edward Weitzel. "The Food Gamblers." THE title "The Food Gamblers" has the merit of requiring but litle explanation. This five-part Triangle photoplay, written by Robert Shirley, manages to present considerable forceful propaganda on a subject that is of interest to all and to unfold a dramatic story that contains most of the elements of a well made bit of melodrama. Some persons prefer their drama without any attachments in the way of poli Scene from "The Food Gamblers" (Triangle). tical or social reform, but even they will be forced to admit that the author has "gilded the pill" skillfully and that "The Food Gamblers" contains a large proportion of excellent entertainment. The opening is rather commonplace, with the hero obtaining his introduction to the heroine through turning up at the right moment and knocking down a brutal farmer, whose abuse of his over-worked horse gives the young man an opportunity to interfere in the girl's behalf, after she has rebuked the tiller of the soil and been roughly handled for her pains. Both of these characters have interesting personalities. The hero's name is Henry Havens and he is at the head of the food trust. June Justice, the heroine, is a reporter for' the New York Globe, and is assigned to help expose the workings of the organization. From then on matters grow interesting, and the effects of the system on the poor and helpless is shown in all its pitiable consequences. The sufferings that he inflicts are brought home to the food trust magnate in a practical manner. He is locked in one of his own storerooms for four days without food. After his release a great light dawns upon him and he goes before the legislature and helps to defeat the food ring. The love story is also kept well to the fore, and there is a promise of wedding bells and orange blossoms as the last incident fades out. The acting of Wilfred Lucas and Elda Millar in the two leading roles, and of Mac Barnes, Russell Simpson, Jack Snyder and Eduard Ciannelli as their principal support, was on a level of gratifying excellence, and Director Albert Parker kept the general production up to the same mark. "An Even Break." In all sincerity "An Even Break" may well be called "The Apotheosis of the Cafe Star." This five-part Triangle feature, of which Lambert Hillyer is the author and director, tells a story of the life led by one Broadway show girl which, if popular report is to be believed, is not at all the existence of the rest of the sisterhood. In place of" the midnight suppers with wealthy and lavish admirers and the other delights of high class Bohemia, Claire Curtis, the heroine of "An Even Break" and the leading dancer at Minot's Cafe, is a model of self-sacrifice, decorum and grit. She is willing to give up the man she loves to another in order to secure his happiness, and risks life and limb in his service and helps him defeat his enemies. She is properlv rewarded for her fidelity, of course, after a wild race in her auto which she drives herself with the skill ..f a professional racer. Jimmie Strang and she grew up together in the same small town and drifted to the Street of Many Lights in search of fame and fortune. An industrial struggle furnishes the dramatic motive of the story, the B being merely incidental. It is given sufficient prominence, however, and the heroine's conduct is bound to pleas, all rightminded persons. Most of us have grown a trill. weal insistence with which we are assured that Fathei K in Docker's chorus ladies arc so fascinatingly naughty. Olive Thomas, who is a recognized beauty "f the show world and a pleasing dancer as well, is the Claire Curtis of the picture. Her perfection of form and face count large in her present success, but she evidently lias the right mental equipment for the acting end of her new work, ami expel ience will soon enable her to make two blades of artistic grass to grow where now she makes but one. Charles Gun as Jimmie Strang, Margaret Thompson as Mary, Darrel Foss as Ralph Harding, Charles K. French as David Harding. Frank Burke as Luther Collins and Louis Durham as Canning completed a cast that is all to the good. "Follow the Girl" Five-Reel Universal Production Features Ruth Stonehouse in Story of Swedish Immigrants in America. Reviewed by Robert C. McKlravy. THIS is a simple story cf a Swedish orphan girl, who comes to this country in company with a young Swede named Olaf. While traveling with other immigrants on a big steamer they are observed by a woman spy named Donna. The latter goes to Hilda's berth in the steerage and while the girl is sleeping, sews a secret message into the hem of her skirt. Hilda is then shadowed by a spy in this country, who makes a vain effort to recover the message. Hilda and her companion leave the train in the Western ranch country and it proceeds without them, while the girl is endeavoring in an amusing way to recapture her pet rabbit. As the story proceeds. Martinez and other spies seek out the girl, who has been be Scene from "Follow the Girl" (Butterfly). friended by the ranch owner. The latter eventually falls in love with her. The story is developed in a quiet way, without any attempt at thrills until the closing reel. There is, however, a wealth of good photography, and a continuous succession of pleasing outdoor scenes. Conspicuous among the latter are the views of the great herds of cattle "grazing upon a thousand hills." The humor is pertinent to ranch life and centers largely about the open-mouthed Olaf, who is put through the familiar task of "holding the bag" while the ranch employes pretend to drive some game into it. This proves quite successful lor comedy of this brand, though it is not extremely laughable. The strong points of the production are found in its rather human story and picturesque scenic features. Ruth Stonehouse and Jack Dill do pleasing work as Hilda andjDlaf; Roy Stewart appears as Larry, the ranch owner, and Claire Du Brey as Donna. Others in the cast are Alfred Allen, Mrs. Witting and Harry Dunkinson. This was written by Fred Myton and produced by L. W. Chaudet. To Lake George for "The Hungry Heart." Pauline Frederick, her director. Robert Vignola, and his staff, and Miss Frederick's supporting cast, left last week for I^ake George, where work will begin at once on the picturization of David Graham Phillips' novel, "The Hungry Heart," recently purchased by Paramount as a starring vehicle for Miss Frederick. Much of the action of "The Hungry Heart" is out of doors, and some particularly fine exteriors in the Lake George neighborhood will be bottled up by Director Vignofa for the benefit of the lovers of Phillips' best novel.