Paramount Press Books (1918)

PRESS REVIEWS To be Sent to the Newspapers Immediately After the First Display of ‘The Marriage Ring’ A Paramount Picture. TROPICAL HAWAII IS SCENE OF ENID BENNETT’S SUPERB PICTURE “THE MARRIAGE RING” Beautiful Star and Photoplay Score Big Success and Both Are Praised by Discriminating and Delighted Audience. r1 ROM San Francisco to the tropical charm of * Hawaii ranges the story of “The Marriage Ring,” in which Enid Bennett was seen with great success at the Theatre yesterday. This is Miss Bennett’s latest Paramount picture, produced by Thomas H. Ince, and directed by her husband, Fred Niblo. There is much to be said in favor of the story because it is at least different in many respects from the average photoplay and furthermore it is so well acted and staged that it leaves a lasting impression of realism and naturalness in the minds of the spectators. Miss Bennett is bewitchingly beautiful and rises to considerable emotional heights in the story. She is ably seconded by Jack Holt in the lead and by Robert McKim, the chief villain, and in this instance, he is a very vindictive and hateful one. Maude George has an excellent bit as Aho, the Hawaiian girl, while an intriguing German agent is played by Charles K. French. Lydia Knott plays an elderly role and there is much local “color”, ukelele playing Hawaiians and some exquisite scenery, carefully “shot” by John S. Stumar. The direction proves that the erstwhile Broadway star of the stage, Fred Niblo, has quickly grasped the essentials of the screen and there is nothing about “The Marriage Ring” to disclose that this is his first effort as a film director. The story deals with the girl wife of a brute who dominates her. They struggle over a revolver which is discharged and she leaves him for dead and goes to Honolulu where she learns to love a real man. Then the husband shows up, steals her and imprisons her in a hut. He is working with a German agent to burn a sugar plantation and the girl escapes in time to save it. The husband is burned to death in his own fire and she left free to wed the man of her choice. “THE MARRIAGE RING” MOST DELIGHTFUL VEHICLE FOR BEAUTIFUL ENID BENNETT Charming Ince-Paramount Star Has Excellent Role in New Photoplay Which Wins Emphatic Commendation. ' I 1 HE admirers of sweet Enid Bennett turned out in force when that popular and talented Ince-Paramount star appeared at the theatre in her newest photoplay, “The Marriage Ring”, yesterday. The success of the picture was instantly established and it is safe to say that Miss Bennett’s portrayal in this production is one of the best of her screen career. The personality of Miss Bennett served to emphasize the artistry of her impersonation of the role of Anne Mertons, the girl wife of a scoundrelly gambler and all-round crook who employs her as a tool in fleecing wealthy men whom he entices into his net. When conscience awakes she resolves to quit her environment and this results in a quarrel with her husband. He threatens to kill her and in a struggle over a revolver the weapon is discharged and the man falls apparently dead. Anne goes to Hawaii where she learns to love Rodney Heathe, a sugar planter whom she had met on board a steamship. Her rascally husband turns up in Hawaii where he is conspiring with a German agent tb burn up sugar cane plantations. He kidnaps his wife and imprisons h'er in a hut where she learn^^of the plot and frustrates it. Mertons is fatally burned and dies at his wife’s feet leaving her free to mari'v the man she loves. There is much to admire ill the development of this theme, and many of the scenes are of tremendous dramatic power. Miss Bennett’s portrayal is remarkably effective and her support is excellent. Jack Holt as Heathe, the sugar planter, was clever, while Robert McKim, as the gambler, well earned the execrations his artistry evoked. Charles K. French presented a German spy most effectively, and the characterizations of Maude George and Lydia Knott were praisworthy. The picture was well directed and the photography of the best. 7