The Billboard 1911-05-27: Vol 23 Iss 21 (1911-05-27)

i ye Ee a A : / / | pases MAY 27, 1911. The Bi llboard 13 Motion Picture Reviews PATENTS COMPANY. THE NEW wRESS. Biograpb. lergth., Released May 15. This film is by far the poorest the Biograph Company has turned out in a long time. The story is absolutely impossible, although not presented as a farce nor as fiction, decidedly gro‘esque and entirely distasteful. The scenes are ald in Mexico, and seemingly the poorest ones possible are selected, The part of the wife the woret in the cast, is taken by a young lady entirely unsuited for it, and compelling ber to wear an insane costume entirely unsuited to her form and height. The husband and wife go to market where a dress is bought and partially paid for, for her. On the next aot to market the husband gets the dress but in a drunken fit gives it away. The wife sees it on apother woman, and enraged with jealousy or something goes mad. Her mind is only restored to her upon the sight of her baby: but why this should be is not told and is entirely too difficult to figure out. THE ACCOMPLICE. Pathe. Drama. 886 feet. Released May 15th. The story, acting and scenery in this film are excellent from every point of view. The story presente high-class melodrama which is a recognized fine form of drama and in this case is wonderfully -well acted. An actress is in love with a man who is deeply in need of money. She is invited to dine with a very wealthy man, and it is arranged that while she is holding his attention her lover is to enter the house and purglarize it. When the lady calls she is shown an automatic safe which fires a revolver when anyone opens it in any way except the one provided for the use of the owner. When the actress gees this she fears for her lover and determines to warn him if possible. She is drinking wine with him in the adjoining room when the burglar enters the room where the safe is kept. She tries to warn him, but in vain, and he is shot and killed. She discloses the secret of their plan by creating a scene at his death. The part of the actress is very well played although it is a very difficult one. BANGOR, MAINE, AFTER THE FIRE. Scenic. Drama. Full Length Length, 150 feet. Same reel as The Accomplice. Some very interesting and instructive views of Bangor are shown taken immediately after the fire which nearly destroyed the town. fe DEAR. KIND HUBBY. Selig. Comedy. Split reel. Released ey 5. This is an amusing little story hardly deserving as much film as is given it and not worked up to any extremely humorous pitch, but paéss| ably good. A man returns home from work to find bis wife ill, and being of a kindly disposition undertakes to prepare dinner himself. e has some trouble and his wife has some doubt. He secures a cook however on short notice who prepares a tempting mea! which hubby triumphantly cerrics to his wife on a large tray. cleared away hero. Her doubts as to his ability are immediately and he is hailed a DISCHARGING THE COOK. Comedy. reel as Dear, Kind Hubby. This film. while on the same ree] as Dear, Kind Hu>by, has nothing to do with that story. lt is funny and possesses a large degree of truth. Husband and wife each try to discharge the cook; but she will not be discharged and expresses her intention to remain in a very pugilistic manner. The two children, perhaps six and four years old, tackle the job and with the aid of a bulldog which they lock in the oven to Same scare the cook en she opens the oven door and a large can of dynamite. finally make her glad enough to depart. She gets even in a small degree by posting a sign in front of the house stating that smallpox is within. THE PUNCHER’S NEW LOVE. Essanay. Western drama. Length, 1,000 feet. Released May 13th. This is a very sentimental story, lacking in & great many pointe other than its sentimentality but nevertheless very well played. It tells of a young man who gives up the love of a plain country girl for that of a more attractive city girl; and after being snubbed by the latter returns to the country girl to be told that she no longer cares for him. The story is of course very possible, and the scene where the young man’é love changes, the punchers’ dance, is very well selected and very appropriate. A few more subtitles would help this film mater! ally. while a scene or two between the young man’s shubbing and his return to the other girl wonld strengthen the story and not emphasize the ridiculous quite so much. PREJUDICE OF PIERRE MARIE. Vitagran) Drama. Full length. Released May 15t). The old, old story of the jealous busband who really has no cause for jealousy, and who is afterwards brought to time is told in this film. The fact that It is old is not to be criti cised. for it is well put on and splendi y acted. Very little opportunity is given the actors for good work, and the fact that eo dull a play is gotten throngh with as much life as it has is a credit to the actors. Pierre is jealous of the attentions of Jean, a former suit or. ls paying to his wife. He ia ordered from the house, but when Pierre is away plays® to the woman from without her window. Piterre js a smuggler and is shot by government officers one day and returns home to find Jean there. Jean and Pierre’s wife hide him from the officers, and thus prevent his arrest, but he dies of the bullet wound shortly after they have left. Refore dying he acknowledges his mistake tn ordering Jean from his home and so squares himself with the man he had offended. IN THE DAYS OF NERO. Length, 1,000 feet. Mav 13. This film presents what starts to be a very fine story and one of finely dramatic possibilities, but has a rather odd ending and one which ts disappointing. The photography and acting are very good, the peculiar costumes of Nero's time being worn with grace and refinement contrary to the ordinary manner of producing plays of this date. Locuste, Nero's poison maker is commanded by him to prepare a polson fer RBrittanicus, which is to be presented to him in a gift of some wine with Nero’s best. When the wine is sent the servants steal it and Locuste’s Gaumont Released Drama. son is poisoned. The story ends with the scene of Locuste holding the dead body of her son, her only reward for mixing the poison. THE ABERNATHE KIDS’ RESCUE. Pathe. —. Length, 771 feet. Released May 10. This is a very exceptional film, not alone because of the interesting and exciting story it tells, but because of the great care which must evidently have been used in taking the pietures. There has no doubt been much more film wasted than was used in making the negative in order to get so perfect a story as is presented. Two boys are chased by wolves in the woods, and to escape climb a tree. After some time their father goes after them, taking two dogs, and capturing one of the wolves. The man and the boys then take up the chase for the other wolf, and finally capture it also, after many exciting scenes. It is a mystery to the audience how the wolves can be made to run directly toward the camera so many times but they have al] the appearance of being wild, and the excitement is immense, THE OCEAN HARNESSED. Pathe. Scenic. Length, 216 feet. Same reel as The Abernathy Kids’ Rescue. The picture shows the U. S. wave motors in operation, with the means of transmission of power traced from the buoys to the generators. This kind of pictures are different from the ordinary industrial, and Pathe Freres are to be praised for their good work in making such a selection and completing it so splendidly, THE LOYALTY OF DON LOUIS VERDUGO. Kalem. Drama. Length, 980 feet. Released May 10. This is a very splendidly produced film and deals with a chapter of United States history which is very interesting but which most people are only slightly familiar with. A beautiful little love story is woven about the scene of Casa Verdugo, and a charming picture is the result. Casa Verdugo lies in a section of California ceded to the United States from Mexico about 1848. Don Louis Verdugo refuses to hoist the American flag when informed by Jose. who ix in love with Don Louis’ daughter, Donna Maria. A lieutenant of the U. S. army, named Malcolm, rides through the country, but upon Dona Maria’s request, allows Don Louis to keep the Mexican flag in place. Malcolm falls in love with Dona Maria, and when he leaves makes arrangements to see her again. The country thereabouts is attacked by Indians. and Jose refuses to go for help. Dona Maria herself rides to the U. S. army encampment and secnres the aid of Malcolm and soldiers, who rout the Indians. place the Mexican flag with the American one and gives Dona Maria to Malcolm in marriage. THE BANKRUPT. Gaumort. Drama. Length, 1,000 feet. Released May 16. This is the old story of the wealthy man offering to square the bankrupt’s debts if he ean have the hand of the bankrupt’s daughter in return. Of course the girl does not love him, but does another man, who is without any exceptional amount of money. In this case the father turns down the financier’s offer, and .gives the other fellow two years to make good in the financial world. He does this in the allotted time, and a message telling of his success arrives fust ss the bankrupt is about to commit suicide. He arrives with his millions and gets the girl. much to the disgust of the financier, as is enstomary. While the story is old it is well told, the acting of the girl and the financier being especially commendable. The photography is good. WHEN A MAN MARRIES. Vitagraph. edy. Full length. Released May 16. This is truly one of the best Vitagraph productions we have ever seen. The story is new. it is well put on, extravagant in setting and well photographed. The scene on the stage of the theatre, behind the scenes, is Iuxurions throughout. wonderfully natural and complete in every detall. The scene,in the train. used before, is also good and will answer the purpose of many interior train scenes before becoming Com tiresome. A man goes on a_ vacation for his health, and ‘#t the request of his wife. a new one bv the way. tates along a camera with the request to take pic tures of nature. On the train he meets a friend who has a camera exactly similar. The friend tekes pictures of chorns girls and other pictures of art. while our hero photographs nature. Upon returning home he meets the friend again, end unfortunately the cameras get switched. Each man sends the film to be developed. The wife is home alone when the prints arrive, and, of course, Is very much enraged at the class of nietures, Hrbby arrives and there is trouble galore The friend's prints have been delivered. and he goe to the couple’s house to trade rietures. arriving fust in time to make due explanstion of the toke. The man makes his wife nromise never to scold him again, while the friend leaves them to laugh over the matter together. IN THE BAGGAGE COACH AHEAD. Filison. Drama. Full length. Released May 16. This film, like so many other Edison films, presents a story entirele lacking in plot or dramatic incidents, and relying upon good acting er seenie effects to carry it through to popular favor. The scenery and acting in thi< film are indeed far above the average, and in fact, some of the finest we have ever seen, and the film will no doubt meet with favor among those who care for much sance and only a little pudding, but that the story stops with a thud-is undeniable and disappointing. A man its trying to quiet a noisy baby in a Pullman car, and when complained to bv the other passengers, tells them that the child's mother is dead and riding in the baggage car ahead. He then tells them of his wooing and marriage to the girl and their happy life. auddenly interrupted by the deeth of the woman who is in the car ahead. The passengers take pity on him, one woman taking the Infant and caring for it while he sits alone thinking. LUCIA’S BROKEN ROMANCE. Phe. Drama. Length, 958 feet. Relea#ed May 13. The acting In this film is carried through in rather a high pitch of refinement, and the pho (Continued on page 50.) Don Louis then agrees to re| SALES COMPANY. GET RICH QUICK. Thanhouser. Drama. Full length. Released May 26. The acting on the part of the wife in this playlet is about the most natural we have ever |seen in a moving picture. The story is excellent, | possessing a high moral tone, and the parts be| sides the wife are finely played. The play is |well staged also and is very splendidly photographed. A wife induces her husband to enter a get-rich-quick scheme in order to alleviate the miserably poor condition in which they are living. They are young people and jong for better things. He enters the scheme in which many poor people invest their savings, and becomes rich. One evening his partners announce the firm’s failure, and, taking all the cash on hand, skip. reception for her friends, and not until after the last euest has gone does the husband dis cover the newspaper article announcing the fail ure of the firm, although a distracted woman bas called earlier to explain her loss in the firm. He is disconsolate and about to shoot himseif when his wife arrives and prevents the tragedy. He goes the next morhing to the office where he pays out to the company’s creditors all the sav ings he has, and assures them that given time he will repay all. The handsome new home which they had bought upon their success and which so pleased the wife, was sold and the couple return to a simple home but are happy in the thought they are again square with mankind. CALLED BACK. Rex. Full length. Released May 25. Drama. This is a splendidly played little sketch, not quite so well put on as some former Rex productions, but very good at that and not lacking in anything which went to make the story consistent. It is true to life. Jim and his wife are living together happily in the mountains, he being a lumberman, when the wife's sister. a show girl, asks if she may visit them for a few days in order to recuperate from illness contracted by overwork on the stage. She is invited to visit them and upon arriving is cautioned by the wife to try and behave as long as she is with them. She does for a while, but upon re gaining her full health is inclined to exhibit some of her racy manners and later makes love to Jim. The wife sees this and turns her from the house. She vows revenge and going to Jim where he is at work in the woods succeed hey miss the train they intended to take and have a few hours’ wait before them. During this time a fire breaks out in the forest, and Jim, moved by the thought of his wife and child burning, abandons the actress and rushes back to his home where he saves the child and carries her to her mother. At this the wife becomes reconciled to her husband. entirely forgiving him for temporarily leaving her. SHERIDAN. Champion. Released May 22. Length 990 feet. In this film we see a splendidly acted war story, historically accurate and perfectly possible of happening. The action is hurried through and thus the tedious grind ordinarily accompany ing military pictures is done away with. Al though all the outdoor scenes are set in the studio, the scenery is well gotten up and very effective. Sheridan is a Yankee, although his ‘family are Confederates. His father is taken a prisoner, and Sheridan helps him to escape, for which action he is disgraced and about to be shot. His father, in a vision, sees the execution, so returning to the field saves his son. Upon the return of the father as a prisoner, Sheridan is restored to his former rank and honor. Years later the father is still antagonistic to the Yankee cause, but upon the return home of the son as a Yankee hero, the father, Enowing what his son had suffered for him, adopts the Federal flag. Military Drama. THE MINOR CHORD. Imp. Prama. May 25. Length 999 feet. This is a very sentimental and heart-touching story, portraying a dominant phase of human nature, with some very true to nature scenes interspersed. The story is of the struggling musician, helped to fame by a young girl who had become infatuated with his playing, and whom he later neglects for a society lady. The girl who had helped him is dying, and sends for him. He calls with the society woman, and in a Released her, the society woman giving her consent. girl’s happiness is not sutticient to save her life, however, but she dies happy, and the musician has repaid her for her aid. A TROOPER’S HEART. Awmerican. Drama. Released May 25. Total length 1,000 feet. The story in this film is not new, but the ex cellent manner in which it is put on, the good scenery and photography, make up in interest what the plain plot lacks. The story is of the himself wiih her, both going to war, the one who was querred aiding the other on the field of battle and returning home to be reinstat:d to his former position in the graces of the girl. This is one of the new California pictures of the American Company. A DAUGHTER OF LIBERTY. Military Prama. Same reel as A Trooper's Heart. This is an excellent, live story. original spicy, dramatic and splendidly acted. It contains the old theme of tte soldier betrayed by the wiles of a woman, but in this case she is a perfectly good woman, and betrays for a good cause. Her husband, a spy. fs hiding in his own house when the enemy's officers come to search for him. One of them embraces the wife, and the spy, to defend ur, comes from his hid ing place and is taken a prisoner. The wife then invites the officer to dine with her, and when they come her two little children borrow their guns to play with. guns, covers the officers, sign her husband's release. from death, while the officers are held enough to prevent them countermanding releare. The woman gets the and compels one to long the TIDYING UP PARIS. Lux. Comedy. Beleased May 26. Total leagth 966 feet. well put on with the aid of trick photography and some very strenuous acting. The clerk of s in| etting him to consent to run away with ber. | On that very evening the wife is helding a gay | | | | with her. vain attempt to save her life, agrees to marry | The | | two rivals for the hand of a girl, one qurering | | | determination are very much in ‘part on their wedding trip | well the works of Paris notices a newspaper article criticising the dirty condition of Paris streets. He sends a squad of white wings to clean up the town, They clean up everything in sight, including street cars, children, bicycle riders and fruit stands, much to the amusement of bystanders, THE TWO COCKADES, Drama. Tidying Up Paris. This part of the film presents a rather weak Story, but one well played and one dealing witb that very interesting part of French bistory just preceding the fall of Napoleon at Waterloo. HER ATONEMENT. Powers. Drama. Released May 23. Length 1,000 feet. This story is about as highly dramatic as we usually find the photoplay, and although the action is not of the best, many of the parts are played. The story is made intelligible almost entirely through the acting, very few captions being used. ‘The heroine of the story is a young lady who is living with a gang of thieves, among whom, as an accomplice, is a man coming from a highly respectable family. The man is in debt to the girl, and she is forced to rob his house of his mother’s diamonds. Upon entering, she finds the man’s brother, whom she had fallen in love with through an accident. She does not take the diamonds, but the accomplice does, and she obtains them from him. To save his honor and that of the man she loved, she declares herself guilty, and serves two years in prison. On the day of her release the man with whom she had been in love calls for her and expresses his love. The incident thus closes happily, although the girl had atoned for all the misdoings of the man, A COW BOY’S SACRIFICE. American. Drama. Released May 18. feet. The story in this film, if there is any, could never be gotten from the pictures, and there are Same reel as Western Length 1,000 no eXplanations given in the film which help make it clear. Some interesting Western scenery is shown and some exciting chase scenes, and they are well photographed, and the film will be interesting in this particular. As near as We can make out, a young man is justified in killing another. He is suspected, captured, and on the way to be hung when another man assumes the guilt. Then this man is to be hung, and the first man’s sister arrives in time to prevent his execution. The girl probably told the hangman the truth about the shooting, although this is not made clear. At any rate, her rm has fled, so this is perhaps the situaon, AT PANTHER CREEK. Nestor. Drama and Seenic. Released May 24. Length 892 feet. The story in this film is an excellent one. It has a wonderfully realistic setting, is finely played and splendidly photographed. The fine aeonste and incidental scenery are sufficient nh themselves to make the film of interest, while the good story interwoven makes it the most notable of Nestor films recently released. The president of a coal mine sends his son to work his way from the bottom up. He falls in love with the foreman’s daughter, and is discharged by the foreman when the girl shows her father her engagement ring. The young man wires for his father, who straightens out matters. ‘he party then goes on an inspection trip throuch Panther Creek, and this is where the mine machinery and many interesting landscape views are shown. THE STAGE CHILD. fThanhouser. Drama. Released May 23. Length 995 feet. This is an extremely well played little drama of stage |life, showing some very interesting scenery and telling a heart-touching story. A husband and wife quarrel, after which the wife goes on the stage, taking their infant daughter In a few months time it happens that the star of the show becomes ill, and no one is able to take her place until the wife offers. She instantly becomes a favorite. Six years later. during a rehearsal, ber voice suddenly gives way, and she is unable to sing another note. The throat specialist to whom she goes can offer no hope, and while the mother is erying over her misfortune, the little girl stips away to the theatre, demonstrates that she ean dance, and is given a part in the show. The Mayor of the town forbids her appearance, due to her age, so she goes to her father and succeeds in getting him te call upon his wife, when a reconciliation takes rlace. ‘Lue scenes in the theatre, both during rehearsal time and show time are marvelously natural, while the little girl’s dancing is remarkably similar to the ordinary stage dance. THE FOUNTAINS OF ROME. Scenic. Same reel as Foolshead, Life Insurance Agent. Some fairly gost scenes are shown in the list of fountains, making a short but interesting run of film. FOOLSNEAD, LIFE INSURANCE AGENT. Itala. Comedy. Released May 27. Total length with accompanying subject, 822 feet. This film presents the best Foolshead we have seen yet. He is not quite so dexterous as in some former productions, but his originality and evidence, and besides, the theme is so decidedly American In type that it is bound to make a hit. Foolshead is an insurance agent, and determines to sign a young married couple for a certain amount of insurance. They don’t want insurance, and after telling him politely to no effect, they throw him out of the window. Without is an automobile in which the couple is about to deand Fono'sh oad ing a hat box, jumps in. The box is loaded on the auto, and he goes along. When the machine is started, Foolshead comes from the box. and He is thus saved | #8ain takes up his argument for life insurance. He is tossed through the window of the car. but gets on behind and finishers the jfourner.. There he is locked out of the yard, but walks right through an iron gate, and enteres the house. He finally chases the couple to the roof. where after some time they roll over the edge and hang on with a death grip. Foolshead kicks This is a very amusing little list of Incidents, | their fingers until the sign up, at which he (Continued on page 50.) Ce ae a — See sae J : { ; | 4 | 4 : } H ; $ / t