Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1917 - Feb 1918)

The Screen in Review 119 "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (Fox) DUStIN FARNUM disguised— what say you to that? In "The Scarlet Pimpernel," the hero of wild-Western romance was actually forced to appear in the days of the French Revolution, with the peculiar garbs of that somewhat abused period. The story by Baroness Orczy, which was complicated enough on the stage, is not an easy one to follow on the screen; but by just watching Mr. Farnum — which, of course, is exactly what the admirers of that gentleman will do — it is possible to gather its salient features. Farnum, as the Scarlet Pimpernel, who is so unpopular with the French government, has all sorts of achievements to his credit. If he does not climb houses — a favorite pastime of pitcure stars — or jump into running automobiles^ he is, nevertheless, busy. In one episode, he disguises himself as an old woman, and — think of this ! — as a toothless old woman. There we see the magnificent, coruscant, shimmering, and glistening teeth of Dustin Farnum positively under a cloud of disguise! This bewildered me. I could not credit the testimony of my eyes. In French Revolution garb, this star looked extremely well. It was a change for the better. Miss Winifred Kingston, William Burress, and Bertram Grassby lent him excellent "support." Altogether, rather a novel picture for this particular star. It is just as well to get out of a groove, and Farnum has at least made the effort. "The Stainless Barrier" (Triangle) THE story of this picture started rather promisingly, and was then sent tottering into the abyss of the inane. Really, one can scarcely regard such a yarn with tolerance. Imagine a young girl with a worthless brother who introduces into the family, and also into the village, a shady and disreputable financier. When the postal authorities "get wise" to the doings of this sinister promoter, that person vacates and leaves the young girl's brother to bear the brunt of it all. Thereupon aforesaid brother ups and kills him. At the trial, the brother pleads in extenuation that the financier had ruined his sister ! ! ! The pliant, and of course beautiful, heroine allows this story to stand, for brother's sake. She does not deny her "ruin." Can you imagine that pleasantly improbable situation seriously offered? And in the end her fiance — for she had one — discovers her innocence, and all comes to a happy denouement. Piffle! Miss Irene Hunt, Jack Livingston, and Rowland Lee did all they could with this exceedingly unyielding material. "The Savage" (Universal) THIS is what may be called a wildly atmospheric picture, with a heroic "half-breed gambler" as its central figure, and with scenes in the settlement of Cheval Blanc in the Canadian woods. This "half-breed," acted by Monroe Salisbury, is a very striking character, and Mr. Salisbury succeeds in an impersonation that should place him in the foremost ranks of picture stars. His facial expression, his "authority," and his complete lack of self-consciousness and I'm-the-heroesqueness should surely be recognized. The half-breed gives up his life for the beautiful white girl, and the episodes between the two in the "little cabin" have a distinct appeal. Miss Ruth Clifford, as the blond maiden, is also picturesque. This picture relies upon its "atmosphere" and upon the work of Mr. Salisbury, and these will undoubtedly carry it to popularity. There are a number of other characters of minor interest, and the action of the