Variety (December 1914)

28 VARIETY THE GHOST BREAKER. The (Thost Breaker," made by the J< L. Lasky Co., and released this week Id the Paramount program, features H. B. Warner (he of "Jimmy Valentine" fame) In the role of the adventurous Kentucky feudist who be- comes Involved In Spanish Intrigue. The Lasky policy of using dramatic successes for screen adaptation always assures an Interest- ing story. In the present case the main nar- rative Is sharp and clear and contains well balanced dramatic values. Tne playing of Warner Is excellent He manages to Inject Into his character of Warren Jarvls certain elements of Jaunty humor which save It from stilted staglness. It Is this air of gentle joshing that saves the story from ridicule. The spectacle of a workaday common-place American performing spectacular feats of valor against a crowd of Spanish bandits in a medieval castle is going it pretty strong In a melodramatic way. but Warner's smooth style of playing lends the action certain con- viction. The picture has one minor bit of poor judgment Warrens negro servant who accompanies him on his expedition into the "haunted" castle, is made to disguise himself in a suit of ancient armor. The "bit" has no purpooe In the film story, and must have been. Introduced in a vain effort to inject comedy. If that were the object it fails. At another point the murder of the Prince of Aragon la pictured. The dramatic value of the incident Is to arouse suspense, but the film slipped up. Most of the settings are interiors, Indeed, there are only a few bits of natural scenery, but the Lasky directors have managed to give their settings a capital touch of picturesque- ness. Warner's supporting company is ex- cellent Rita Stanwood as the Prlnoess Marie Theresa is a charming picture. Theodore Roberts has a trifling part in which his abili- ties are given no opportunity. A host of minor characters do satisfactory individual work, although the audience is not always sure of their identity nor their relation to the main tale. THE SIREN. The Siren is a foreign slx-reeler (Pathe). As the title indicates it is of a woman at many charms, able to enmesh in her net any man. She Is of simple birth married to a man much older than herself, but thinks lightly of married life. The husband dis- covers this and In a fit of frensle strikes her. She leaves his home, going to Paris, enter- taining many admirers there. Among them is a nobleman, and he wants her to be his wife. She is rather surprised and quickly leaves the city to take up life in a email village. Here ahe meets a young married fisherman who falls for her charms and is found out by his mother. The mother goes to the family doctor (the husband of the siren) and asks him to get her son out of the clutches of the woman. The doctor calls on his wife, and is greatly enraged, but she greets him with cold haughtiness and finally makes him bow down to her In a sudden burst of love and passion. The nobleman fisherman and husband meet The husband tells the other two he is married to the wom- an they seek. The fisherman is overcome and falls to the ground, hurting his head. He is carried home. The woman goes to see him against the doctor's orders. While there the flshmerman's mother with a sledge ham- mer puts the woman out of the way. The leading lady is not of the usual siren or vampire type, nor is she possessed of the physical charms a "siren" should have. Her acting is good in spots though not impressive. The male characters show little class, tie doctor looming up beyond the rest The pic- ture should have been left on the other side, with the hope some war bomb would find its way to the storage place. Six decidedly long reels .but sUll only 1.000 feet each. THE WALLS OF JERICHO. "The Walls of Jericho" is a five-reel pro- duction (Box Offioe Attractions) of the play of similar title in which James K. Hackett starred some years ago. In the feature Ed- mund Breese is the star. In advertising this feature the producing firm will undoubtedly make stock of the fact that the play Is by Alfred Sutro; that Mr. Hackett and Miss Mannerlog starred in the piece at the Savoy theatre and that Mr. Breese la In the pres- ent production. The coupling of these 'acts should give the film version of "The Walls of Jericho a strong box office draft but after the picture has been shown there are few that will go out and become word of mouth advertisers for it There is no big punch to the film production that will make an especial appeal. For this the adapter of the film version may be taken to task, and no orltlcism, no matter how harsh, will be suffi- ciently pointed to fully point out what a mess he made of what might have been a great picture. "The Walls of Jericho" In its original form was a play with a punch and a moral. There was a big scene that has not since had Its equal In any society drama. But all of this the scenario writer has seen fit to discard so that he might write his own version and the transportation of the tale has weakened the story beyond measure. There is a lengthy Introduction of two reels to what was the story proper. The scene Is laid in America, while In the original Aus- tralia was the locale. The American scenes are supposedly taken in Montana. Here the producer has taken his hand at "atmosphere" and placed a sheriff of the period of 1840 (such as Holbrook Hllnn played In the origi- nal of "Salomy Jane") Into the scene where every one else Is to all purposes of the pres- ent day, at least as far as costume Is con- cerned. This Is brought out with particu- larly startling effect when the sheriff walks into the London scenes of the picture with his prebellosn attire. There; are many little detail defects throughout and when summed up in their entirety they all go toward mak- ing the picture defective. Mr. Breese Is the only member of the cast worthy of his hire, but even battle as he would he could not overcome the handicap the scenario, pro- duction and suportlng cast placed on him. Claire Whitney played the female lead. TRAPPED BY CAMERA. THE MARKED WOMAN. "The Marked Woman," a plcturlied version in five parts of Owen Davis's play of the same name, is marked for release in the World program Dec 14. It takes extraordi- nary Interest from much highly effective war action, endless scenic beauty and excellent acting by a capital company of photoplay era. Dorothy Tennant Is charming In the lead- ing role. O. A. C. Lund directed the pic- ture. This Is the third of the Davis plays shown by the World Film Corporation. The play was written as a whoop-hurrah melo- drama with all the emphasis on swift ac- tion and highly colored incident The drama comes on the screen much more convincingly than it probably did on the stage, but the tale has the defect almost universal In plcturlxed plsys that multiplicity of important charac- ters and complex plot developments some- times obscure the story- This was particu- larly true In the opening passages. For ex- ample it was not altogether clear what urged Olga to go half round the world to reach Port Arthur, for what reason she claimed the Russian ambassador as her father, nor why the leader of cossacks fled after the kill- ing of a child by accident These things may have been apparent to a reader of the play. They were not to a watcher of the screen. Such minor lapses, however, are mere Incidents In a thrilling feature film. A considerable part of the action takes part In China, and the studio sets are marvels of oriental luxury and beauty. It was said the First Battery of New York was part of the body of troops that figured in the storming of Prince Chlng's castle. Certainly they rode and charged with all the dash and abandon of real artllery. Pauline herself never had more exciting adventures than came to Olga, the Russian girl who was foroed Into a mar- riage with a Chinese prince In order to save the life of her American lover. She was shipwrecked with great realism, kidnapped by Boxers, branded by the Russian police, Eersecuted and generally maltreated. When er American lover returned to rescue her from the clutches of the Chinese husband, her little eon was killed and the story ended with the topical sermon against war, probably In- serted by the scenario writer who did the play Into its screen version. The effort Is a real thriller and well up to the World's high standard. Third of the Detective Webb series. It Is In four parte, bearing the label of the True Feather Co. The action Is taken from.the diary of Stewart Webb. A professor named Samuel Humphrey appeals to the police to stop a spooklsh annoyance in his home. Cer- tain nights his rooms are visited by a strange intruder, who disarranges books, pencils and other articles upon his desk. The visitor even sharpens the pencils and plays other pranks to worry the professor, but otherwise does no harm. Above Is the apartment of an army captain who has some military plans on which he works at home on certain oatea. The po- lice fall to discover any clues. Detective Webb is called in. Webb Is In a sort of a dlver'e outfit The next morning he is found unconscious and bound and gagged. The m. p. camera is brought Into play. Many feet of celluloid are used In showing how the ma- chine is set up and how it works. The camera with its powerful flashlight Is not harmed a bit when a mysterious long-bearded individual enters the room and then disappears so sud- dsnly the party of watchers in the next room didn't see him. The only clue was a key which fitted the captain's cabinet upstairs. The plans are missing. Webb discovers a secret panel which leads through some myster- ious cavernways and up Jagged sides to an outside well standing by an old road. Webb, disguised as a barber, awaits the bearded boy In the nearby barbershop at an early hour the next morning. When applying the lather he slips on the handcuffs and regains the govern- ment plans. Then back through those mys- terious passageways go the detective and the mysterious stranger to give the old professor and the chief of police a little surprise, it's a long way to the end. Seemingly a waste of film. Story could have been told in two reels. That underground secret stuff makes the trick look harder. Picture has a foreign aspect It will make best impression In the avenue neigh- borhoods where they are lees exactfng as to detail and consistency of picture scenarios. MORE THAN QUEEN. "More Than Queen" Is a four-reel Pathe drama. It is hand colored and should get over. The story deals with a queen of an imaginary European country. A duchess who wishes to secure the throne for herself plots against the queen, making use of her husband, the prime minister. A certain post is to be filled and the queen has selected one man while the duchess sees that ahould he be put In the position her chances would be very slim. The queen has a little son for whom she Is trying to save the throne. The man whom she wishes to put In the position of trust Is in love with her, but he knows that he can not make her his wife on account of her little son and because she Is the queen. The castle Is DAILY RELEASE KEY. VARIETY has Imam of review* far irate* a aisaple tabulated ft the Dally/ Film Releasee, Herewith there la printed a copy of the code ratlag?, tJeolarly Natalag? will fee anted reajardlaa; photography aah The service releasing In Indicated by aa laltlal. CODE. 1 Bxeellent S S Fair 4 Bad Release Date. 12/ 2 12/ 4 12/ 5 12/ 5 12/ 6 12/ 6 12/ 6 12/ 8 12/ 6 12/ 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 8 12/ 9 12/ 0 12/ 9 12/ 9 12/ 9 12/ 9 12/ » 12/ 9 12/ 9 12/ D Pro- Title, gram. Reels. The House of D'Or O 2 Bertha the Buttonhole Maker.O 1 Broncho Billy's Judgment... O 1 It's a Bear O 1 The Higher Impulse U 1 Fldo's Dramatic Career U 1 A Question of 'Courage M 2 Mr. Hadley'o Uncle M 1 The Lion, the Lamb and the Man U 2 The Amateur Detectives M 1 And Percy Made Oood K 1 The Crystal Olobe K 2 Jealousy K 2 The Tattooed Man K 1 Out of the Darkness M 2 His Prehistoric Past M 2 The Outcome U 1 Our Mutusl Olrl, 47 M 1 Other People's Business M 1 Hearst-Sells; News O 1 Just a Kid O 1 Crystals O H Buster Brown O H The Price of Silence O 2 Limping Into Hspplness M 1 Ttie Reader of Minds M 2 -The Master Key, No. 4 U 2 Oettlng Acquainted M 1 The D I s t r 1 c t Attorney's Brother U 2 Vivians Cookies U Whose Baby U The Rose at the Door O Mrs. Trentwith Comes Home, O He Makes His Mark O Dobs at the Shore O Sunshine and Shadow O The Forest Thieves M 1 The Girl In Question M 1 The City of Darkness M 2 The Genii of the Vase U 1 Animated Weekly U 1 The Abyss O 1 A Matter of High Explosives. O 1 A Recent Confederate Victory <7 2 The Athletic Family O 1 The New York Hat O 1 Act- Pro- Sub. Story, lng. ductlon. Remarks. D 8 8 8 Story disjointed C 8 8 2 Farcical finale D 2 2 2 Ususl B. B. type C 3 3 8 Misses fire D 3 3 3 Stereotyped C 2 2 2 Dog Principal actor Dill Bully good picture C 3 3 8 Old stuff D C-D C D D C D C D W c W D E C D C D D C D C C D D C C D D D D C W D C D C D 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 0 3 4 0 0 2 0 3 2- 3 2 2 0 2 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 0 1 3 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 0 2 0 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 3 0 1 3 1 1 1 2 Inconsistent 2 Entertaining 3 Seversl laughs 2 Interesting 2 Plenty of action 3 Silly 3 Gripping 2 Rough Comedy 3 Very old 0 Too much like weeklies 0 Amusing 0 Fair 2 Different 0 Fair 2 Mediocre 2 Exceptional 2 Attractive 1 Improbable 2 Intense. (Western.) 0 Old stuff 3 Powerful 3 Silly 2 Light comedy Serial Idea old Oood Idea ruined Silly Child featured Likable Too many captions Morbid 3 Ordinary 0 Variety New Idea Slow Exciting Fast Reprint 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 Gimbel Brothers Bankers NEW YORK " (Under Urn Supervision of tha Banking Department of tha State of Now York.) 4% paid on Interest accounts. (Semi-annually.) Deposits and Withdrawals can be made by mail with safety. 2% paid on Checking accounts. (Requisite Balances.) Banking hours 9 A. at to 5 P. U. daily. (Saturday in- cluded.) You will better appreciate what "Our Service" is after a per- sonal visit to our Banking Of- fices. Service book on request. the scene of a big ball when the hall catches fire and the queen's little boy Is rescued In the nick of time. The lover leaves and a little while later the little boy Is out riding when his horse runs away. He Is thrown and killed. The queen feels It Is useless to re- main on the throne longer, aa both her lover and son are gone, so she glvee It up to the prime minister and the duchess, and starts out to And the man she lores. She locates him and they begin life over again. The big fire scene Is well worked out. The story is prac- tically nothing, the picture relying on the color effects. Some exceptionally fine settings are used. DAMON AND PYTHIAS. "Damon and Pythias," the six-part pnoto- play with which the Universal opened the New York theatre last week, comes up to its most enthusiastic advance notices. As an example of pretentious artistic film pro- duction it Is a notable achievement Its spectacular effects are splendid, Its small art- istic touches delightful and Its scenic and photographic qualities uniformly excellent The whole work represents a high attainment of the cinema art. The cast Is most satis- factory. Only eleven principals are named on the program, but no better organisation has been seen on the screen. The characters play naturally and with a certain stately grace that Is most convincing. The story of ancient Qreeoe calls for particularly Intelligent acting. The slightest strut or the smallest detail of overacting would have spoiled the Illusion. That the players avoid any such mistake Is the highest testimony to their discretion. The ancient dress lends Itself so easily to travesty that ordinarily the modern actor Is a spec- tacle for ridicule In Its flowing draperies. These camera sctors wsar their togas without self-consciousness, and gracefully. The women are always lovely pictures. One scene, set in an exquisite garden, has a series of dances by a bevy of pretty Greek maids. A skilful artist with paint and brush oould not hsve msde them more lovely, nor could the compo- sition have been Improved on canvas. This Is but one example of general excellence that runs througnout the whole picture. For breadth and smashing massed effects the pic- ture baa never been excelled. Some of the views of the approach of the Syracusan army to the beleaguered city are In the highest degree Imposing. Their entrsoce into the sacked city, with the rush and whirl of gal- loping charioteers has a real thrill for the most Jaded. The ssms Is true of scores of other big scenes. The press ststement Is 3,000 persons were concerned in the production. It Is easily believable. Much more remarkable is the skill with which these big bodies of supernumeraries have been manipulated. The Illusion of terror during the battle scenes Is perfect and the destruction of an ancient city by a barbarian horde is meet Imposing In its realism. To begin to note with anything like adequacy the capital bits of good work would be a considerable task. Taking one point as sn Index to the whole quality. It Is perhsps worth noting thst In the scene near the end, In which the grief of Hermlon st the departure of Damon Is pictured, Cleo Madison weeps with real, practical tears. A closi view of this detail Is given In order thst there may be no doubt about It It seems un- gracious to pick flaws In what Is geoerslly so fine a work, but several views of the chariot race are poorly handled. The screen shifts from the excited crowd In the arena to sbow the chariots racing along a deserted country road. The story Is a model of clear scenario construction. Interest In the story proper never for s moment baits and the dramatic values are well developed. Among the princi- pal players sre William Worthington as Dsmon, Herbert Rawllnson aa Pythias, Anna Little as Calanthe and Miss Madlaon as Aiennlon.