Universal Weekly (1914-1915)

THE U N I V E R S A L W EEKLY 11 Strong Warning in "Let Ds Have Peace" RESIDENT CARL LAEMMLE, of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, was the first of the American film manufacturers to declare his position, and that of the Universal Film manufacturing Company, with respect c<> the attitude to be maintained towards the combatants in the European war. "Be Neutral" was President Wilson's admonition to the people of the United States. President Laemmle, realizing the absolute necessity for this, not only in its broadest sense. but also with respect to exhibitors and film manufacturers, immediately had issued a film play with its title, "Be Neutral". The soundness of Mr. Laemmle's stand and the great good which the film accomplished was ' recognized by every one interested in film plays. But the Universal campaign in this direction was not to stop here. "Let Us Have Peace", a two-reel Rex drama, produced and acted by the eminent screen star, Ben Wilson, comes as a splendid encore to the former film. With the human-interest element running through every scene, with a climax that is at once couching and yet humorous, a lesson of vital importance is strongly impressed upon the spectator. "Let Us Have Peace" will perform a two-fold mission — it will amuse and entertain, the primary object of every film play, and at the same time it will point • >ut to the vast public just why every one should refrain from taking sides in the present European crisis. In • >ther words, we get this fact from the play : that every person in this great nation, no matter what his nationality, is -just human — that every one has a fair amount of faults and a fair amount of virtues, that it behooves none of us to despise our neighbor just because of his nationality. The painful situation which develops in this play threatens to disrupt the happiness of two young people, a boy and a girl . The old fathers are the cause of it. One is a Frenchman, the other a German. For years they had been friends. Their children love. Then comes the war and the breaking off of old ties. Alphonse Marteau is the old Frenchman's name. He lives with his daughter. Jeannette, on a ranch. His neighbor, Franz Schmitt, and his son live on an adjoining farm. Both Marteau and Schmitt are veterans of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. They are friends, and before the opening of the war both favor the match between their children. But with the news of the present European hostilities comes memories of the fightin,' forty years before. Marteau cannot resist the temptation to garb himself in his old regimental suit. Schmitt finds him thus. An argument is the result. Schmitt returns home and orders his sou. Max, to put up the German flag on its staff. Schmitt then adorns himself in the Title of the Two-Reel Rex ComedyDrama. Released Nov. 5, as true today as in the time of General Grant's historic utterance. CAST. Max, Whose Father is a German, Ben Wilson Jeannette, Whose Father is a Frenchman, Frances M. Nelson Directed by Ben Wilson. The Flag of Their Adopted Country Unites Them. German military costume, with his iron cross decoration on his breast. Max rebels and rebukes his father tor making such a fuss. Time goes on. and the breach between the old veterans widens. One day Schmitt is out fishing in the woods ; he comes upon his friend, Marteau, lying in the road injured by a fall from his horse. For the moment Schmitt's feeling is one of compassion. He remembers Marteau only as his old friend. Tieing a scarf, given him by Jeannette, _ around the wound, Schmitt carries Mar teau to his home. When Marteau recovers consciousness he recognizes the scarf and experiences a feeling of remorse. He sends for Schmitt and his son . A reconciliation follows. Consent is again given for the two young people to renew their courtship. And as the picture fades out we see the characters standing before General Grant's Tomb, New York, looking at the inscriping, the famous exclamation made by our great President, Gen. Grant, "Let Us Have Peace". It is the clinching appeal of the play. What happens in Europe should not interfere with friendship in this country. H Urged on by a rumor of the effect that certain reformers on the coast were considering an attempt to stop the production of "The Trey o' Hearts" series because of the risks that the players are forced to take, the Gold Seal company, under the direction of Wilfred Lucas has left for Riverside, there to stage the remaining chapters of the now famous serial. With the finishing of the harrowing scenes of the fourteenth installment of the series, it was thought advisaable to lay the company off for a couple of days to allow them to recuperate before starting on the last chapter. Upon their arrival at the Hollywood studios they learned of the rumor that had been circulated and Director Lucas and his assistant, McCully, spent the remainder of the night developing and printing the rolls of film so they would be able to leave the following morning for out-of-town, where they might be able to finish in peace the last scenes of the story. fjf l|f *J* tjjf Mary Fuller has accepted an invitation to and will lead the Cinema Exhibitors' Club of the Bronx ball, to be held on Hallowe'en eve. John J. Wittman, president of the club, has arranged that the affair take place in Hunt's Point Casino at 163rd Street and Southern Boulevard. The ball committee consists of Adolph Bauhfriend, who is chairman, Herman Pollak. Henry Cobb and President Wittman. The Universal has taken a box for the occasion, and a number of the stars will be present .