Variety (October 1914)

VARIETY 25 OTHELLO. Five reels of the George Klelne feature, 'Othello," ere about three reels too many. La the picture now runs, the only and most aluable place for It would be a table d'hote estaurant, where It could be used as a chaser or the usual long-distance diners. Uptown where "Othello" was seen the other evening, he audiences rushed the wrong way, going out n squads. Hardly anyone remained at the est show to witness the finish, which con- ained the single kick of the five parts, and hat kick wasn't over strong, also somewhat gruesome, as Othello cut his throat upon earning he had unjustly accused Desdemona, ifter strangling her. Iago Is there, also :as8io. and the other prominent personages hat should surround the Moor. In a kingly icene a large assemblage of bewhlskered pa- triarchs looked like a reunion of Civil war reterans. The feature Is processional mostly, ts figures come and flit away, with the dark- iklnned Othello always around. Whoever play- jd this black-face role resembled Lew Dock- stader under the cork. Opportunities to give grandeur and volume to "Othello" were passed >ver, probably to save additional expense. As >roduced. for five reels, "Othello" didn't cost nuch, with the odds that even the costuming vas not manufactured especially for this >roduction. When the fleet of warships of >lden times left for Cyprus, It recalled that >ther war fleet In another Klelne film, "Antony ind Cleopatra." These foreign makers either ry to fool themselves or their public. Their imall time wars are very funny. Mr. Klelne las a "bloomer" In "Othello." If he can cut t down to two reels, It might get over as a meller through the wife murder and the sul- fide, but they may walk out even before the lnish arrives. This film was never put on with America In mind. Sime. BORN AGAIN. Dorothy Grey Beulah Poynter Feff Marsh John Burroughs Krs. Marsh Mrs. E. Walton 3eorge Dunbar Octav Luzon Dr. Morrow George Middleton Theatrical Manager William Rising Jutler Wilbur Hudson Beulah Poynter is the star of the five-reel 'eature "Born Again" (Hector). The photo- Irama Is based on the adventuree of Dorothy Trey, who leaves home to escape a step- mother, achieves success on the stage, but lults the footlights' glare to marry a mil- lionaire, whom she i leaves on the wedding light after she has been struck on tbe head by her husband during a quarrel which fol- lows an alcoholic debauch. Tbe blow caused Ei loss of memory and she wanders Into a farm house where she is taken in by the wid- ow and her son who live there. Dorothy Is placed In bed and a physician called. He ex- Slalns that the loss of memory Is due to the low. Tbe girl recovers and begins to develop tier mind, but recalls nothing of her past life, ind when, sometime later, the widow's son proposes to her, she accepts and they are mar- ried. A year passes and a child blesses the union. With the birth of the little one the wife's memory returns, and she Is frightened because of the fact that she realizes that she has unconsciously bound herself to two men. She confessee to the doctor, who, In turn, tells her that her first husband was killed In an auto accident Just 90 minutes before she wed- ded the young son of the soil. The same doc- tor was called to attend the victim of the accident. The wife, then happy in the love of her husband and child, silently rejoices. The story Is one of homely Interest and the feature will appeal to tbe picture fans who delight In the super-sentimental story. The flaying oast is nicely balanced and Miss oynter comes In for a special share of praise. She Is a very talented young woman, and her facial expressions register exceedingly well in pictures. The direction of the picture was capable and the automobile accident has a thrill that satisfies. THE JUDGE'S WIFE. A White Star three-reeler sent out through the Box Office Attractions Co. The film fea- tures Neva Gerber. It is devoid of much action, and runs slowly because of that The two principal scenes are the lover (with a mustache) rescuing his fiancee from an at- tempted abduction, and also the same lover's discovery of the judges wife robbing the safe in her own home. She wanted money to pay her debts. The Judge was about three times her age, very wealthy, but shy on handing out coin to the family. His young and sec- ond wife was a rapid shopper. She bought half a department store from appearances, before the engine of the auto could cool off while It stood outside. But the thing that seemed to bother wifle most was $107 she lost at bridge whist one afternoon. Shortly after the game was over, one of the judge's real estate agents called to hand him "several thousands of dollars," collected af- ter banking hours. The Judge accepted the money as though It were a cigar, and jammed it in the safe. When the house was dark, the wife returned to the parlor, and unlocked the safe (although the manner in which the knob pointed showed the safe had not been locked). The mustached lover heard her descend the staircase, followed, threw on the lights, saw his employer's wife, but she turned the tables by grabbing his revolver and holding him at bay, after he had taken the money from her. Then the wife screamed for help, proclaiming the lover (the Judge's secretary as well) as the thief. He stood for it, and went up stairs to pack. The wife repented, confessed, and everything was lovely. Probably also the judge loosened up when he heard of that one- ninety-seven. A couple of other mustaches were in this three reeler. It would seem that the White Star, with the exception of Miss Gerber and one or two others of the principals, needs a new stock company, for appearances, if nothing else. "The Judge's Wife." as a ADDRESS DEPARTMEMT Where Players May Be Located Next Week (October 26) Players may be listed in this depsrtment weekly, either at the theatres they are appearing in or at a permanent or temporary address (which will be inserted when route is not received) for $5 yearly, or if name is in bold type, $10 yearly. All arc eligible to this department. Abdes Edward Variety, N Y Adams Rex ft Co Variety N Y Adler ft Arline Variety N Y EDYTHE and EDDIE ADAIR Orphean Direction, JOHN C. PEEK 1MZ Palace Theatre Adair & Adair Orpheum Oakland Alexander Bros Orpheum Des Moines Alexander & Scott Orpheum Los Angeles Althoff Sisters Columbia St Louis Arnaut Bros Grand Syracuse Asoria Mile Co Orpheum Des Moines Avon Comedy 4 Orpheum Minneapolis feature, wasn't worth while, on its scenario, in tbe first place. Bias*. Franklyn Ardell la THE SUFFRAGETTE" Direction HARRY FITZGERALD VAUDEVILLE THE KEY TO YESTERDAY. The first feature of the new Alliance Pro- gram is the Favorite Players Film Co.'s, with Carlyle Blackwell, called "The Key to Yes- terday." In four parts. It was made for the screen by Robert A. Dillon from the novel by Charles Neville Buck. It is a good picture, a very good one, with a few buts. The first point that strikes the watcher of it, after the film has run a short while, Is that this picture originally ran beyond four reels, but has been trimmed down. If so, the trimming could not be said to have been expertly done, since there are voids In the story that the lack of cap- tions does not permit the audience to pick up. Often the tale becomes vague, excepting of course, that a reviewer may be "thick" and not quick enough to get an involved story, such as this is. Mr. Blackwell plays a dual role. He start* at a rapid pace, through a daring escape he makes when taken as a spy by Mexicans, during a revolution. The scene shifts to an artist's studio. The artist suffers a loss of memory. He wanders around B Barnes A Crawford Variety N Y Barnold's Doc A Monkey Variety N Y Barnum Duchess Variety N Y the world, carrying only the key to his apart- ment la Paris. During his travels he is shorn of his moustache and goatee. Without them he resembles the escaped spy, and is mistaken for him, this leading to complica- tions. A brief view of fighting during a revolution is seen, and onto the battlefield enters the artist. He is wounded although somewhat behind the firing line. He continues to wander, trying all the front iron gates of Paris eventually, until he finds a lock his key will fit. Entrance Into his old quarters and among acquaintances restores his mem- ory. His wife dies as he reaches home, but he return* to America, to the girl he loved when memory lapsed. With Its defects though, "The Key to Yesterday" will do especially with Mr. Blackwell's playing, besides his pop- ularity on the screen. The photography is a mark*of merit as well to this film, that could easily have stood five reels, and might have sufficient of the film cast away restored to reach that number. More cap- tions are required. The matter of captions Is often in question nowadays. Either they are too few or too many, too long or too small In print If this Is Mr. Blackwell's own effort as a picture producer on his own, un- der the title of the Favorite Players Co. as maker, he has done extremely well. Sime. International Vaudeville Producer and Manager LONDON OFFICE; Will Collins & Co. Broadmead House, Panton Street, Haymarket, S. W. Theatre Bids, Room 303 Telephone: 1053 Bryant New York City Cable: "Bornhaupt, New York"