Moving Picture World (Aug 1917)

August 18, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1085 Ambition, in striving to kidnap Innocence, la discovered, is set adrift in an electric storm and is killed by lightning-. At the same moment, according to a stipulation made by the Spirit at the exchange of souls, Avarice, about to take his wife in his arms, falls dead. "Souls in Pawn" Five-part Mutual Production of Merit Features Gail Kane in a Story by Julius Grinnell Furthmann. Reviewed by Margaret I. MacDonald. A PLOT of peculiar complications marks the five-part Mutual production, "Souls in Pawn," from the story by Julius Grinnell Furthmann, in which Gail Kane plays the leading feminine role in an attractive and convincing manner. Opposite her in the role of a foreign nobleman and spy is Douglas MacLean, also doing his bit well. And next in importance in the cast is a little girl of four or five summers, who is unusually charming and natural as the daughter of Sebastian and Liane Dore. As the story runs Sebastian Dore is shot at the door of his home by a German, von Kondemarck. The matter is hushed up by influence brought to bear on the authorities and the devoted wife of Sebastian Dore is forced to abandon the search on the ground that no clue to the murderer is in evidence. Von Kondemarck, for reasons not clear Ui the picture, tempts Liane to become a spy on behalf of his country, promising as a reward to reveal to her, after a stipulated time, the name of her husband's murderer. As the story progresses it gains in thrilling action, and a romance between the pair develops, bringing as a climax the revelation of the identity of von Kondemarck as the man her vengeance has been seeking out, after she herself has been arrested as a spy and is about to be put to death. A reversal of the situation occurs when she is used as a means of trapping von Kondemarck. The discovery by Liane that her husband has not only been false to her, but has deceived and tampered with the affections of von Kondemarck's sister, thereby meriting in a sense the visiting of punishment brought upon him by von Kondemarck, not with intent to kill, causes her to forgive him. A successful escape of the prisoners is effected and the story closes with the principals far away from the hand of justice and happy in each other's love. The production is well made and more than ordinarily interesting. get the money for the operation she finds it gone She to her husband's office and finds him discharged. She appeals to his employer. Then comes the principal blot. Tin empli places his hand over hers and tells her she can have the mi and whatever else she needs upon a condition that ma] be imagined. This is not well prepared for. and it « le is an unpleasant surprise. In this picture Little Mary has int mother, Jane Thomas, who gives a satisfactorj porti of integrity. This picture was released July 25. "Two Kentucky Boys" Two-Part Conquest Subject Is a Simple but Really>^ovin Civil War Story of Two Boys and a Girl. Reviewed by George Blaisdell. IN "Two Kentucky Boys," a two-part subject on Conquest Program No. 3, we have a picture worthy of any program or to be exhibited in any theater. It is a simple story, one which has been told many times — and will be told many times more, we may hope. It is an ideal story for showing to young folks, but the chances are it will not move the youngsters as deeply as it will their elders. It is full of the spirit of youth, the appeal of youth, which in its influence knows no age limit. Albert Macklin is the youngster who plays "Gum" Jenkins son of a Kentucky father who favors the North. It is like father like son. Gum's decision to join the Northern forces is r.ot a hasty one. His chum and the girl with whom they both are in love have chosen the South. James Turbell is "Skinny' Brown and Peggy Adams is Susie Witherell. It is a trio worth while. Their work is such that no discount is necessary to account for their youth — it will par with that of older persons. "Two Kentucky Boys" will be popular in any house, North or South. The story is so conceived that the honors are even between the two sections. Each thinks none the less of the other for following the course outlined by his convictions, and neither will permit friendship to swerve him from the strict path of duty to his colors. It is a wholesome picture and filled with drama. "The Uneven Road" Little Mary McAlister as an Inquisitive Child in an Episode of Essanay's "Do Children Count?" Series. Reviewed by Arthur W. Courtney. LITTLE Mary McAlister is always the life of the picture in which she appears. In "The Uneven Road," a two-part episode in Essanay's "Do Children Count?" series, she appears as an inquisitive child who sets fire to a dish of gunpowder in the parlor and so accidentally blinds herself. Through the greater part of the picture she is blind, and a pathetic figure. She does not have much opportunity to art because she is in bed with her eyes bandaged most of the time. An operation restores her sight. The story of the picture is not without blemish. It is concerned mainly with the effect of Little Mary's affliction on her parents. The father is addicted to gambling in stocks. His employer warns him that he will be discharged if he errs again. The father, to cover a ten point margin, forges his wife's name to a check. When the wife goes to the bank to Three Artcrafts for September They Will Feature Mary Pickford, Elsie Ferguson and Douglas Fairbanks. THE month of September will bo marked by three Artcraft releases, the stars of which will be Alary Pickford, BlBle Ferguson and Douglas Fairbanks, in the order nam. ■! "Our first release in September," says President Greene, 'will be Mary Pickford in 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.' completion of which has just been announced by our West • studios. The next Artcraft picture to be completed will bi Elsie Ferguson production, TBarbary Sheep,' now well under way at Fort Lee. Douglas Fairbanks will begin work within a very few days on his fourth Artcraft release, which will be finished in time for release in September." "'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,' directed by Marshall Nellan, is the sixth picture released by Artcraft in which Mary Pickford has been the star. It would be difficult for me to overstate the enthusiasm with which exhibitors have written us concerning the results that have attended the exhibition <>i these productions. " 'Barbary Sheep' is going to be a revelation in many ways. Director Maurice Tourneur has reproduced Algeria itself for the background of the Robert Hichens story, and the first appearance of Elsie Ferguson on the screen is going to prove that her beauty loses none of its radiance through reproduction by the camera. "Of the Fairbanks picture nothing need be said save it is another Fairbanks picture. 'In Again— Out Again' and 'Wild and Woolly' proved to exhibitors that Mr. Fairbanks was offering to them through Artcraft the greatest work he has ever done 'Down to Earth,' our August Fairbanks release, is bound to be another big hit, and from what we know of the September production it will give the star greater opportunities than he has ever had before. . "We expect to be able to announce shortly the approximate time of release of the Geraldine Farrar picture, 'The Vv oraan God Forgot,' the first William S. Hart feature, and the first of the special Cecil B. De Mille productions, 'The Devil Stone. Gaumont for Week of August 20. The great success of the Gaumont-Mutual Weekly is attested by the orders for additional prints placed by Mutual branch managers. This news reel is highly patriotic in character and has been complimented for the part it is playing in awakening the country to the duties and demands of war Every exhibitor who uses it will have a reel that will interest his patrons for its entire length. The release for August is Mutual Weekly No. 138. As it is not made up until the elate of issue, it is impossible to state in advance what its contents will be. . „ .. Another Gaumont single-reel of the week is Reel Life No. 69 released through Mutual August 23. "Hunting Alligators for Their Skins" is an entertaining section of this reel. It shows the methods pursued in Florida and North Carolina, and also hints at the possibilities of using the flesh for food, something alreadv esteemed by the negroes of the South. A second section is also connected with the high cost of living. It reveals the methods pursued in "Harvesting Potatoes on the Eastern Coast." These aristocrats of the vegetable kingdom are shown in captivity near Norfolk, Va. "Coney Island Thrills" are enjoved by the spectators of this reel without being jerked, shoved, pushed and mauled as air the people shown in the pictures as they shoot the chutes, ride the witching waves, snap the whip and do other joy-provoking stunts. "Oil From Japan" acquaints one with the fact that America is importing large quantities of soy bean oil. The reel concludes with a humorous animated drawing based on a picture in '"Life." Eltinge Masquerades as Female Thief. Julian Eltinge's first picture for Paramount, to be released in September, provides unusually ample opportunity for Mr. Eltinge to show his ability as a straight leading man and as the world's most famous impersonator of female roles, in the latter character as a countess who steals money and jewels for the Red Cross. The picture has been adapted by Gardner Hunting froifi a story written especially for Mr. Eltinge by Gelett Burgess an 1 Carolyn Wells. The production is being directed by Donald Crisp. Mr. Eltinge has never acted before the camera before, but his work is said to be of true star calibre. His impersonation of the countess is so deceptive that the costume change from male to female part has to be made practically before the audience's eyes to prevent the possibility of a belief in trick photography.