Variety (June 1914)

22 VARIETY 4M Uk«r« m^ttUnc « broken dowa punrrlchi wh0 iMd Jutt b««a Uirowa out ot % mMMgw'i oOc* lor ratOloc * "rott«a" toftauvcript o( t m«io(lr«m4N Tbe UDateur buys bit script (or |i,uuu and prouuces ii on t^e fly-by-nlgbt Lank plan. Tbe actioc oX tne nondescript company asbunibled by tbe autbor (or tbelr contraat In "types" and contrary to wbat tbe manuscript should demand (tbe autbor bav- Ing become Incensed at the amateur (or want- ing to play the hero role blmseK) makes the fun. Some "mechanical effects" are humor- ously brought out, while at tbe llnlsb tbe "audience," supplied by tbe autbor with a large variety ot bad (rult and eggs, throws tbe edibles at the leading man as be takes a curtain call. Tbe picture could have ended at this point. All else Is superfluous, and It Jars just a trifle to believe a man who has enough money to enter tbe categorf o( "an- gels" should be broke as be was and forced to walk tbe ties home, also the throwing o( tbe eggs at break(ast at tbe door, making a messy picture, and likewise the flnal scene when eggn are again splattered over Mr. Blngles' bead, but still with all iu faults (and tbe extra reel Is tbe greatestl "Mr. Singles' Melodrama" is a comic that will play return dates (or the ViUgraph. aime. THE TRAMP. "The Tramp" Is a tbree-pMrt feature Just released by tbe Eclectic Company. A more flttlng title (or the picture would hare been "Circumstantial Evidence/' as tbe whole story revolves around a chain ot circum- stances which brings the wrong party to trial, accused of the murder of an old man bocause "the tramp," forced to steal food by reason of bis surved condition, entered the very domicile where another man had done the deed with a hammer. "The Tramp" appears to have been culled from an actual occurrence and for that reason the film makera have hewed close to the mark and manufactured a very consistent story. It's not a wonderful Aim tale, yet every detail Is excellently worked out amid the environment that keepa tbe In- terest well keyed up to tbe finish. There are no long drawn out captions, and wbat are employed are few and far between. There's an air of mystery to the movie and no names are used at all In putting tbe stonr OTor. A man escapes from prison and makes his way to a picturesque little farm In a foreign coun- try where be takes a good snoose In the hay- mow and later enters the house by stealth. Meanwhile In a bedroom Ilea an old man who had prevloualy been overcome while irorklng In the field. He is helped to bed by a bare- foot young woman who retuma to tbe flajd, leaving him alone. He bears tbe thief. He Interrupts him while tbe convict Is forcing an old trunk top open. The latter forcea tbe old man back into the bedroom where be kills him, tbe murder being committed "off eamara." The elimination of the actual murder scene as a camera effect waa excellently played up and later when the accused "tramp" Is brought Into the bed chamber only a part of tne in- animate form Is shown. The conTlct bears the tramp In the room above and watches bim as be leavea the •house by an outside way. The barefoot girl, returning from tbe doc- tor's, sees tbe tramp and it^ her eyldence at the trial along with a bam be bad stolen tbat puts blm In a bad light. The trial is splend- idly arranged and moat effective. Tbe direc- tor did a caplUl bit of work in grouping children In tbe house yard at tbe inquest. They were many in number, but tbe best be- haved kids seen in "movie work in a long while. The old man tramp breaks down dur- ing the trial and ia removed to the Jail hos- pital, where he slowly recovers. In a big cafe scene ofllcers arrest the real murderer, but whose capture is made only as an ss- caped convict. As be Is about to be taken out, be breaks loose, runs upstairs and then jumps from tbe balcony into the dining room. Shot in transit he's removed to the same hos- pital where the tramp is recuperating. He's assigned tbe next cot and when the tramp is giving him a glaaa of water the murder-con- vict recognises him and straightway proceeds to exonerate blm before be (tbe conrlct) cashes in. The tramp Is acquitted. Tbe movie Is capably pantomimed by foreign play- ers, who are not noTlces at camera acting. The tramp is particularly good while tbe con- vict was forcefully enacted. Tbe old man. who was murdered, was effectlrely imperson- ated, while tbe minor characters were ad- mirably portraved. Tbe movie has plenty of outdoor atmosphere and the links In each part are consistently connected. A plain story of murder graphically told by the camera with circumstantial evidence as the thread which holds It together as a feature Is tbe sum and substance of "Tbe Tramp." Photographically, the picture meets requirements. For a for- eign feature the action Is well sustained, which Is bound to make the picture worth while In Its cIrcuH through the movie bouses. Mark. OFFICER JIM. A three-reel Lubln feature. It baa a plain, ordinary policeman for a hero but In picking out a life partner for him the scenario writer chose a woman with a weakness for gambling. And this same scenario writer, while giving the Impression Jim Is not a cop In a small town, has this woman mixing in with a no- torious gambler who, strange to say. has his "rendezvous" right across the hallway from Jim's cosy little flat. IncldenUlIy she "falls" for tbe gambler's friendship, and apparently Isn't told she should never take a chance of any kind on ourh small wages as the copper drawn. Mrs. Jim gambles In a small way with tbe Davis clique and several times Jim eomet) home off duty only to And the hour late and Mm. Jim next door. He putH bis foot down and she promises never again to gamble or go next door. But meanwhile she has slip- ped Qambler Davis a part of Jim's savings wbUh Mrs. Jim keeps In a handy plare for a •mootb bofgUr but tb«i dossa't stttsrw Mm. Jin tries to gst tbat moner bUk tad stsd cost to tbe rgostvaek wbare Daris told b«r OS would try and pick bar a wimisr to sss U be can't return it DaTls has loat it, but Ulls her of a place be knows he can get it. Finally she's coaxed via a taxi to go to a gambling house. Here she gets the fever and is soon hauling In the cblpa band over fist, unmindful of the fleeting boors and tbat gambling bouaea are aubject to police raiding at any bour of the day and nlgnt A raid'a on and Jimmy ia among the resenres. He arreats bis wife. The bunch is taken to the Nlgbt Court. Jim and Mrs. Jim are divorced. Mrs. Bx-Jim, driven to desperation by Impoveriabed conditions, agrees to wed Davis, tbe gambling boy who got her Into all bar trouble. They co weat after Davia. discovered aa a '^ence" by Jim. ^ bin escapee, when Jim attempta to arrest bim and his thieving confederate who bad come to leave some stolen plunder. Jim cbaaes tbe confed through a akyllght and captures bim in a gun flght on tbe bouse roofs. Jim band- cuffa the thief to blm, and as they start to go down there's a sudden effort by the thief to throw Jim down and get bis gun, but Jim's too strong and in tbe acuffle tbe thief rolls over the house ledge. By superhuman atrength Jim remalna atop the bouae, wltb tbe thief dangling below, suspended onlv by tbe wrist manacle attached to Jlm'a left arm. It's a thrilling bit of work. Effective and helps tbe picture at a momsnt when help waa needed. Later Mrs. Davia (tbe former Mrs. Jim) is left In the west wltb a baby, bom after tbe Davlses left tbe big city while Davis goes back to his old haunts. He's flnally abot in some sort of a brawl or run-in wltb tbe police (not shown how Davia waa shot) and. as he dies in the ambulance, be telle Jim wbere his «x- wlfe is and that abe's innocent of everything. Jim goes to the mining town at once and the vt;ry minute of his arrival there tbe town starts sinking into tbe mine. Mrs. Davis, ex- cited, leaves her babe in tbe house which later begins to sink and is set aflre. Jim makes a daring reacue of tbe baby. Tbe kiddle is suffocated and Is dead when placed In tbe mother'a arms. Then Jim and Mrs. Bx-Jlm do the fond embratoe. A feature with two puncheaJ tbe roof scene and tbe rescue of the baby. Otherwise it would be a commonplace "one reeler." Film will give a thrill In houaes where picturee are at least hslf the entertain- ment. Mork. THE VIOLIN OF M'SIEUR. A Tw«-Part Vmrnimmj* Bj WM. A. LATHROP. Pere Oerome Etienne Olrardot Yvonne, His Daughter. .Clara Kimball Young Jean, Yvonne's Sweetheart James Young Napoleon, The Dog By HImaelf Director—James Young. In two reels are placed a groat deal of action, story and playing. The story touches upon the Franco-Prussian war (or one of them), bringing out enough of this to show the ravagea of tbe Prussians upon the French . provincials. These led to the disruption of Pere Oerome's fam- ily through bis arrest and detention un- til the war ended. By tbat time Pore's daugh- ter, Yvonne, bad disappeared, she marrying Jean meanwhile, and leaving tbe old home without Uklng tbe dog wltb them. The dog Is an Important piece of setting in this 'pretty picture," for tbat la what tbe "M'Sleur" film waa designed for. Also Yvonne's child, for a marriage of but five years, seemed quite a youngster, greatly over- grown If the scenario Is telling tbe truth. Pere became reunited with bis folks after much hardship, he travelling around con- siderably wltb bis violin, playing it at any opportunity and featuring "Home Sweet Home." When everything was well, before tbe war, with Pere and Yvonne happy, though broke, Pere refused 6.<X)0 francs for his beart- bound instrument, but after a Prussian officer had attempted to kiss Yvonne, be smashed the violin over bis bead. That was whv Pere went under arrest. This vlolln-smasblng on the stage Is known as "slap stick comedy,' often used, and regularly employed by Bam Mann In his vaudeville sketch, "Tbe New Leader," where it Is a bowl, but not so in the Vltagraph picture, thereby bringing out tbat comedy is onlv as comedy does. No one in the house thought of laugblng at the old- gray-haired man wrecking his treasured violin and only means of aupport to resent the Insult to his daughter. Though In two reels there Is some padding in the second sec- tion when the travels of Pere are followed, and the story Isn't altogether consistent, but the picture Is what tbe billing describes and well worth while in a program, for a restful period. James Young did well In the direc- tion, and all the principal players (including Mr. Young) are entitled to a credit mark. Bime. THE LAST ROUND. London, June 10. The Barker (Bulldog brand) has a three- reel subject. Just purchased for America, call- ed "The Last Round" and, as Its title implies, has a boxing contest for Its principal feature. It Is sure-fire, elemental melodrama, such as was employed at the Drury Lane for apectacu- lar dramatic productions a generation ago and HtiU seems to find favor at regular Intervals. A young army officer Is In love with tbe daughter of an old colonel, and she recipro- cates his affection. The colonel Is In the grip of a money-lender, who calls, sees tbe girl spooning with army officer. Flashing "the papers" on the colonel the usurer s^]^: "I want to marry your daughter. Oet nd of that officer-pup and persuade her I am the husband for her. Refuse and I will fore- close." Preferring death, the colonel takes out revolver and prepares to kill himself. Daugh- ter rushes In just In time to prevent It. and makes up her mind to sacrifice herself by marrying the villain Y'»ung army officer dl«- Uio ftt cb« «lub» MMpta 4b« Jmitt'i «HW fo^ g BMsUof bstwMB Um offloer's "vtfMwa" •oa • mto wjiom ta* TUUlaiug> Tb« vUiaia t/les to bribe tae oppoaeat, is tlirowB out:- waylays tbe "unkoowa" wbils walklai, dlft* ables him on day ot oontest. Tbe bero will be ruined if he loses bis heavy wager and be de- termlnea to enter tbe ring bimaelf (aometbing the same as In "The House of Teanperly.") This be does, flghtlng ten rounds, being knocked down once for almoat tbe full count, but coming baok and flnally beating bia op- ponent, winning enough to pay off tbe usurer and thua get back bia aweetbearL Tbe bare outline of tbe plot may sound a trifle crude, but the picture baa a certain "claaa," depict- ing, aa It doea, the better claaa ot Bngllsb so- ciety. It is what Is known la England aa a "good uaable," whlcb means tbat it Is better than the average run of multiples. Jolo. HIS FLESH AND BLOOD. The Whitman Features Go. is responsible for "His Flesh and Blood," a three-reel fllm on the crook type tbat deala in a number of Hcenea and altuatlons tbat are not unfamiliar screen pictures shown in tbe paat in other features built along almllAr llnea, though in thla particular case they have been all woven into a single series. Tbe picture is full 9t captlona of "Next Day," '*Tbat B?ealni»" -Two Weeks Later," "Years After," in fact the fllm la a continuous lapae of time, but not nearly so much ao aa it has been an actual waste of time In tbe making. A poor scen- ario with not much better direction and act- ing on a par with tbe rest contribute to a three-reel feature, that, wbile it ia of good judgment In tbe length, aad baa apeed through that, never carries conviction, often brings a laugh and will oause anyone who is not In- tenaely feverish in seeiu all tbe fllm poe< sible, to walk out on it. The opening develop- ments are rapid. A wealthjr lawyer apeaka to a country miaa aa she stands Just inside the gate to the farm. He la boraeback riding. In succeaslon then with tbe lapaing captions comes an elopement, huaband aending hla wife to a convent, baby bom within two yean (re- gardless of the convent trip), lover to wife fondling baby, husband suspicious, wife eject- ed, vengeance awom by ber, baby kidnapped, husband unknowingly proaecutea own aon (in- nocent) for robbery, boy aent to reform school, escapee, becomea leader of gangmen wbila adopted son of dive keeper, rescues father rrom highwaymen (members of bis gang), be- comea acquainted with bia own father'a adopt- ed daughter, often Visits her at home, father now district attorney, aon becomes revealed as gang leader, ia arreated for murder of a squealer in the gang through whose tales he waa discovered, and la aentenced to flve years when foster-father tells district attorney who he baa sent away. Tableau. Dlatrlct attor- ney dropa dead at information, aon apparently goes away for the prison term, but adopted daughter standing by aald, according to a cap- tion, that she would wait for blm forever. Let us hope so, aa that will save another pic- ture of this kind perbapa. Sime. THE SWAMP FOX. The Kalem people have turned out a fair outdoor three-reel picture. The time is dur- ing the early aeitlement of thla country, bring- ing in Indian warfare as well aa the Revolu- tion. A love atory ia blended in, but tbe prin- cipals are not together very much, tbe main work In the Picture being attended to by supers. About dOO malea play Indiana and sol- diers and earn their money. The photography Is excellent, with the majority of the scenes landscapes. ACCOMPLISHED MRS. THOMPSON. A single Vltagraph reel, at tbe Vltagraph theatre this week, opening the new bill there, but It introduces to tbe picture sheet Cissy Pltsgerald, the muaical comedy star ot 20 years ago. then famous for her beauty and wink. Miss Fltsgerald has retained her wink, working it In tbe picture as much as she ever did on the stage, and overworking it at times, while her good looks, now matronly, are still there. "The Accomplished Mrs. Thompson" Is a comic, and Miaa Fltsgerald is tbe accom- plished one. She left her husband and ac- cepted the position of housekeeper with a young couple going into housekeeping for tbe first time. The wife was returning from a foreign visit, and her husband wished tbe suburban home in readiness upon her arrival. .Mrs. Thompson's husband bad been looking for her without success. He accepted an in- vitation from the young husband to call Fri- day night and see the dove cote. The Vlta- graph director brought out a situation through this Invitation tbat may have appealed as humorous to some. Here were two husbands talking together, one wltb a look of gloom because he couldn't flnd his wife, and the other overflowing with hanplnesa because Kls wife was returning. When the housekeeping couple reached their home. Mrs. Thompson was all attention. Sbe immediately voted herself one of the family, flirted with the husband. told the wife where she got off, and flnally drove the younger woman (Lillian Walker) to her room, wbere she issued orders to her bus- band if "that woman" wasn't flred immediate- ly, there would be something doing. In the In- terim Mrs. Thompson's husband arrived to make a call, recognised bis wife, who became reconciled amidst much business of bugging and kissing, and that was the flnlsh of a nice little comedy, well played, as the great ma- jority of Vltagraph pictures are, also neatly directed without any waste of time, and It evidenced MIhs Fitzgerald may be need for more Important work. She has a good picture face, seems to grasp the camera Idea, and if she wlir restrict her wink to exclusiveness In- Htead of making It common, that will add value to her on tbe sheet. Sime. oriiWDOii Lo&doa. June 9. V/hilt spending a week-end vaca- tion at Scheventngen, a seashore re- sort two miles out of the Hague, a representative of Varibti/s London office visited a small "bioscoop" or picture house. A two-reel Danish Biograf dramatic picture was being run, accompanied by a lecturer who walked up and down a side aisle and spoke with fervor and intensity of the subject being visualized. With little or no knowledge of the language, it was, nevertheless, very intelligible and was remarkably impressive. Edwin Thanhouser, who sold out his business a couple of years ago and has since been traveling around the world with his wife, is now in London. By the terms of his retire- ment he cannot return to the moving picture industry for another year. Meantime, although he won't admit it, "Eddie" is gathering a wealth of material and when he once more gets into harness will bring back with him to America some new ideas. American films are very much in de- mand in London, more so than those of any other nation. Whenever more than a single reel is shown, a synopsis of what has gone before is flashed upon the screen at the conclusion of each reel of a multiple. Here is a specimen program as shown at a house on the Strand: Pathe Weekly, Solo Gymnasts, Pickles, Art and Sauerkraut (two reels), Coontown Suffrageete, Mountaineers of Kentucky, The New Boy, Pathe Cartoons. There is being offered in London a feature film showing a series of Chinese punishments for various crimes, including a capital offense, which must be paid for by beheading. An actual decapitation is shown. It is needless to add the picture will not be purchased by American buyers. BUYING FOREIGN FEATURES. L« S. Plant, of the I. S. P. Co., im- porters of feature films, has returned from a three weeks' visit to London in search of material for the American market While abroad he secured for the United States "The Cellar of Death," a three-reel Lion brand (English), "Lord Webster," four reels (Vitascope of (Germany ); "Mother and Son," four reels (Vitascope of Germany); "The Last Round," three reels (Barker of England); "The Red Star," four reels, de Croix (French). RELEASED. Comedy—I went up to town to buy a goat— Straight—Well, what of it? Comedy—But I didn't buy him be- cause his nose was cut off. Straight—How did he smell? Comedy—^Terrible. THE KING OF BEGGARS. This five-reel Aqulla picture has a yrlnetpal character who leads a nice life. Rls various occupatlona are murdering, robbing, kidnap* ping, spying, awlndllng and begging. A good fllm for your grandmother because It makes such quiet entertainment.