Paramount Press Books (1918)

PRESS REVIEW To be sent to the Newspapers Immediately After the First Showing of “Sporting Life.” A PARAMOUNT-ARTCRAFT SPECIAL PICTURE Maurice Tourneur’s Superb Picture Production of u Sporting Life” Scores an Enormous Hit Everywhere Picturization of Famous Drury Lane Melodrama by Master Director Proves an Artistic Delight to Large and Enthusiastic Audiences at Local Theatre T HE first photoplay produced by Maurice Tourneur, the famous director, under his own management and by his own producing organization, was shown for the first time in this city at the theatre yes terday. It was “Sporting Life.” a superb picturization of the famous Drury Lane melodrama which has held the stage in this country and in England for more than twenty years. The photoplay was admirably produced and it scored an instantaneous and decisive hit. The scenes of the photoplay are located in England. Harassed by debt, John,, Earl of Woodstock, conceives two plans by which he may regain his financial standing and make a fortune. A thorough sportsman, he is interested in boxing and he wagers huge sums on Joe Lee, a gypsy boxer, and upon his horse, Lady Love, to win the Derby. His sworn enemy, De Carteret, determines to ruin the Earl by frustrating both chances open to him to become wealthy. He forces his wife Olive to attempt to make Joe Lee cease training for his ring fight. Kitty Cavanagh, daughter of the Earl’s head trainer, loves Lee not wisely but too well, and when Olive begins to draw Lee into her toils, she runs away to London where she attempts suicide. Olive arranges to have Lee drugged by Kitty’s father just as he steps into the ring’ and this plan might have succeeded in ruining the Earl had he not entered the ring himself and fought a winning battle to a victorious finish. De Carteret then decides to steal Lady Love and thereby disqualify the Earl at the Derby, and to render this doubly sure, he causes the Earl to be kidnapped and held a prisoner aboard an old ferry boat. Norah Cavanagh, the fiancee of the Earl, learns of the kidnapping of the Earl and his horse and she sets the machinery in operation by which both are rescued in time for the great race which Lady Love wins despite the fact that the mare is nearly left at the post. De Carteret is ruined while the Earl’s fortune is restored. All ends happily for the Earl and Norah, and while Lee makes amends to Kitty, the former celebrate their nuptials. The photoplay is filled with stirring action from start to finish, and there are numerous splendidly photographed scenes. It teems with suspensive interest, the villains being constantly foiled at the eleventh hour. Excellent views are shown of the Earl of Woodstock’s country estate, the Gypsy camp, racing stables, tallyhos, the .National Sporting Club of London and last, a genuine picture of the famous English Derby at Epsom. Ralph Graves as the Earl of Woodstock was excellent. Constance Binney as Norah Cavanagh, and Fair Binney as Kitty, proved delightful in their portrayals. Willette Kershaw, as Olive de Carteret, wife of the arch villian of the story, was eminently artistic in her arduous characterization. The exacting role of Malet de Carteret was capitally! delineated by Charles Craig, while Warner Richmond as Joe Lee, a prize fighter, proved quite acceptable. It may safely be said that this photoplay, which has been so well done as to make you forget everything as you follow the fortunes of the principals in the story, will be hailed as one of the finest pictures produced in this country in many years. Great credit is due Mr. Tourneur for the g’ood taste he has displayed in the presentation. * 7