Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 27 ADVENTURE AND ROMANCE IN THE TROPICS "Soldi^ of Fortune," Produced by All-Star Feature Corporation, Fortunate in Having Thrilling Story of Richard Harding Davis, and Dustin Farnum as Robert Clay, Result Being Thrilling Drama — Its "Atmosphere" Exceptional FOR the third of its presentations in motion picture form of successful plays of the speaking stage, featuring prominent legitimate players, the All-Star Feature Corporation offers a six-part production of Richard Harding Davis' "Soldiers of Fortune," with Dustin Farnum as Robert Clay. A private exhibition of this picture was RICHARD HARDING DAVIS AND NEGRO BOY IN THE JUNGLE held December 24 at the American Theatre, Forty-second street and Eighth avenue, New York City. This picture is a notable one in many ways. As seen on the screen "Soldiers of Fortune" is the net result of the cooperation of three men, all of whom have won the bubble Fame in their lives. They are: Farnum, Davis and Thomas Dustin Farnum, actor; Richard Harding Davis, writer of fiction and adventure, and Augustus Thomas, dramatist and master of stage-craft. These three men went to Cuba with the producing company, as all but a few of the scenes were taken there, and lent their every aid and assistance. Assisting Mr. Thomas, who is director-general for All-Star, was William F. Haddock, a well-known and competent motion picture director. Seldom, if ever, has such a collection of trained minds been concentrated upon a single motion picture, but the result, as shown Monday, comes fully up to the expectations of those who saw it. Dustin Farnum, as the vigorous, virile Robert Clay, was a pleasure. The "atmosphere" of the drama was successfully attained, as it could not have been had the picture been produced outside of the tropics. There were the great palm trees and typical tropical locations in plenty, the entire Cuban army, street scenes in Cuban towns, min ing scenes and a donkey railroad used by permission of the Daquin Mining Company, historic spots and buildings, United States marines, and the United States Navy was represented by the Osceola and the revenue cutter Itasca. Cast Very Well Chosen To see the picture is to see Cuba and adventures idealized on a motion picture screen. In selecting the players great care was exercised and later justified by the results. On Dustin Farnum as Clay there is no need to dilate. He is well established as a portrayer of the virile young Westerner type. He was at his best. Opposite him Helen Lutrelle gave a beautiful, sympathetic and strong interpretation of the role of Hope. Leighton Stark was ideally cast as MacWilliams. There is not much emotional acting in "Soldiers of Fortune." It bases its appeal more upon the continuity of an interesting story, its unusually perfect "atmosphere," of adventures in the tropics, its spectacular parts, its general high tone and its swift action. But just the same the minor characters are chosen with great care. Among them are pretty Winnifred Kingston as Madame Alvarez, John Saintpolis as President Alvarez. Sam Coit a great type as the American consul, William Conklin as General Mendoza, George A. Stillwell as Captain Stuart, Ernest Laceby a perfect "type" as Burke the filibuster, Thomas Cook as General Rojas, and Winthrop Chamberlin as Ted Langham. To John Pratt, who plays Reginald King, goes credit for more than his work on the screen. Pratt preceded the company to Cuba and made arrangements for the stay there. The action of the film gives the widest possible latitude for the spectacular and "atmospheric," not forgetting several comedy touches. The Story of the Picture Robert Clay, a young American mining engineer and soldier of fortune, discovers valuable deposits of iron ore in the republic of Olancho. He secures an option on the land from President Alvarez and, returning to America, interests Mr. Langham in forming a company to exploit the ore. Clay, back in Olancho, engages as miners the idle soldiers of General Rojas. Vice-President of Olancho. ARMING THE MINERS