Variety (December 1914)

26 FILM REVIEWS It that becomes quite entcrtulning. Mrs. Black It a widow with a growu up son. She meeta and marrlca l'rof. Newton iilack, a studious person, who guehsos her ugc ut '-J, lnuteud of at the 40 that suo lu. '!<» curry out the de- ception even alter uiurriugu. Mis. lilack de- scribes her son as "Jackie," about nix yours of age. The plot leads up to a series of attempts to preserve the age uecret of Mrs. Uluuk, culminating when "Little Juckie" returns home, In love with the Professor's daughter by his first wife. The scenes ure mostly laid, from appearances, around and upon Irwin Isle, MIbs Irwin's summer home on the St. Law- rence River. The dock ut Cluylou Is also pictured, and the one try at a thrill, a rescue from drowning by Miss Irwin, appeared to have been taken In shallow water about «*>u feet off the shore of her Island. The picture la nicely produced, and holds other laughs than those contributed by the star comedienne. Several of the players, by a suggestive move or glance, in reality very goou pautomine, started a strong giggle before tne Strand audience. The direction of the entire tiim displays good Judgment, excepting the "de- parture for England" of two of the principal characters. A strong comedy moment is wnen Miss Irwin, weighing 17U, goes to a physical Instructor to reduce. After strenuous exercise in an endeavor to bring her wuist Hue to the measurement of a pretty girlish dress she has seen. Miss Irwin hops the scales agalu to find she is 187. Miss Irwin Is not exceptional as a subject for the camera, but plays ex- tremely well before it, and dominates the feature so thoroughly no one else culls for particular attention unless it be Mr. Lane, who had a strong grasp upon his role. "Mrs. Black is Back" is real fun on the sheet, aud when that can be produced for a continuous film, there is no criticism that may be passed upon it. Good comedies are too rare, and this Famous. Player feature Is a good clean laugh getter. Sime. UNDERNEATH THE PAINT. "Underneath the Paint" is a three-part "drama of stage life," with Helen Gardner. It discloses by long odds quite the worst thing the Broadway Star Feature Co. has done to date. It Is full of bad acting, unspeakably bad taste, poor direction, bungling narration and other crudities too numerous to mention. How it ever got past the projecting room ex- hibition Is a mystery that might be made into a reel or two next time the Vltagraph feels the Inspiration to travesty "behind the scenes in the movies" as it did in "Flora Fourfluah." To go into the story in detail would be a waste of space. Enough to say it has to do with an aspiring actress who haa failed be- cause "she waa not willing to pay the price demanded by managers" (honest, that's the caption). She is befrlonded by the son of a "theatrical magnate," Arthur Kellogg by name. His father In an effort to discourage the match plots to disgrace the actress and makes Arthur think he has involved the girl in a liaison. Thereupon Arthur, announcing that he Is "going to Hell," starts upon a long debauch. The conscience-stricken father com- mits suicide in his office with a good deal of realism. Then a belated note the actress had written to Arthur 1b delivered to him. Ar- thur seeks her Just as she Is making her big stage success and they are reconciled. A dis- solving view shows them locked in each other's arms. The last reel must have been edited with a meat axe. GERTIE. Wlnsor McCsy did a vaudeville act in which he Introduced a film made from draw- ings of his own, his comedy idea of what the Dlnosauros looked like. At that time Mr. McCay talked to the animal on the screen and It apparently obeyed his every wish, perform- ing many impossible feats. In the film re- leased for picture houses a story is told of how Mr. McCay, while motoring with George McManus (another cartoonist) and a party of friends, stopped off at the American Museum of Natural History through an accident to the car. McCay bets McManus he could draw the Dlnosaurus and make it move. The party is next seen at a dinner after McCay has drawn 11,000 sketches of the Dlnosauros, which he proposes to turn into a film. The main part of the picture Is then shown. It is the antics of the pre-hlstoric pet. Instead of Mr. McCay speaking to the animal, cap- tions order the big beast around. There is plenty of comedy throughout the picture, now controlled by the Box Office Attraction Co., and the production will always be remarked upon as exceptionally clever. OUT OF THE PAST. A two-part drama shown this week at the Vltagraph theatre Involving wholesale blood- shed, murder and miscellaneous crime. Its best feature is the capital acting of several types. Eulalla Jensen, as the Italian-Ameri- can girl, looked the part to the life and played with a good deal of Intelligence. William Dunn, Edward Elkas and J. Herbert Frank were most convincing as Italians. The story: Rose Is the wife of Giovanni, and repulses the advances of Giorgio. Through drink and gambling Giorgio brings about the downfall of Giovanni. In a quarrel between the two Rose stabs her husband to death and flees. She escapes detection and In a new life finds hap- piness In the love of an American whom she weds. Then Giorgio seeks her out and under threat of telling her new husband of her past life, attempts to extort money from her. Rose's father Is party to this scheme. They come to Rose's luxurious home during the absence of the husband, but a quarrel arises between Giorgio and Rose's father and Rose shoots Giorgio. During the general fight Rose's hus- band calls on the telephone and. being sud- denly cut off, learns that she Is being attacked. He rushes to her aid. As ha reaches home Hose points to the dead Giorgio and gasps, "Two Durglura attacked me. i killed one of them." The father, thereupon, meekly admits to burglary and is led away while Rose is permitted to return to her lite of happiness In all security. There are several clever bits of suspense in the telling of the story and as was observed before the playing is excellent. as yTsow. The World Flim Corporation privately Sun- day showed a sample print of "As Ye Bow," featuring Alice Brady. It is explained some of the scenes will be cut down before tne release date. In this story by the Rev. John Snyder, a series of falls for liquor with a faial ending are seen. If the Rev. gentleman was of up-to-date New York he mignt have called his work "As Ye Souse." Nevertheless a magnlncent production is the work of Frank Crane and there la enough of heart Interest throughout to hold any picture audience. A son of the Cape Cod region carea not for the village life and beats it to the big city. While tnere he goes on the usual downward path mapped out for young fellows who stray, out he strikes it pretty lucky by first becom- ing the chauffeur of a wealtny man and tnen by marrying the daughter, of course, the oniy cnild. The elopement taxes place the same day the father dies from heart disease. After a child is born, the wife awakens to the fact that her chauffeur spouse is a soubo. The way he treats that wife of his is truly dread- ful. She, finally sickened by his constant carousing, tlgntens the bank roll and refuses more money for liquor after she puts the ban on the stun* being brought into tne mansion. The husband plans revenge. He kidnaps his own child, steala some money and runs away. He leaves the child on his mother's door-step in the Cape Cod village. The mother of the child comes to the same village and house tor a rest after worrying for her young one. The scoundrel then snips on a fisning vessel and booze is left out of the story for awhile. Tne wue, believing her husband dead, falls In love with her husband's brother, a minister. On the day of the wedding a vessel goes on the rocks and the village liteooat brigade is called out, the minister going along with the rescue party. Only one man is saved from this wreck that broke up the wedding party before the marriage could be performed. The survivor is the husband. He la brought to his home where he explains to his wife the child adopted by his mother Is their own darling. The wife tries again to be a wife to the bad man but liquor once more wins and he still la insistent in his demands for money. Finally he meets an old city friend, now a tramp, and when he refuses to recognize this particular person there la a fight on the rocks. Both are killed. Then the minister and the wife take the final curtain, bending over the remains. The play- ing of Waiter Flahper aa the bad drunken man la convincing at all times. Alice Brady in the star role wears some beautiful costumes. The picture is in nve reels and should prove an attraction. The scenery throughout Is beautiful and much care has been taken in the production. Perhaps the most striking view waa of the wreck on the rocks, a realistic scene. LOST InToNDON. A three-reeler (Warners Features) that has all of the essentials that go toward making an Interesting picture. There is a well sustained story with sufficient love interest, and the pro- duction throughout has been directed with an eye toward anowlng all the points of interest of London. The mm was made abroad, easily detected, as the English have not as yet ad- vanced as far aa this side in handling double exposures and they make use of their mirrors on scenes in a matter that is effective, while over here mirrors are usually clouded so aa not to detract from the story. There are points in this particular film tnat would have been more effectively put across if they had been placed in the foreground, but these are not so marked aa to detract trom the value. The story deals with a little kiddle who is the daughter of an English nobleman. The girl cannot be over four years of age. She evades her nurse in the para surrounulng the family manalon and wanuers about the city. A street urchin finds and brings her to his folks, who are of tne rum besotted coster type. They adopt the little one Informally. After a num- ber of years she is seen with the rest of the flower glris that surround the statute in the center of Piccadilly Circus, with her basket of blooms, while her "brother" sells his "papee" nearby. The parents treat both chil- dren with Impartial harshness and finally when the father attempts to beat the girl, the boy strikes him down. He is arrested. The girl DAILY RELEASE KEY. VARIETY has laaasaratcel • alasple tabulated farm af review* far the Dally FUsa Haleaaesw Herewith taara to arlaicd a eaay af the code ratlagf. Nathla* will ha Bate* ragfaralas; phatagtraphjr aaiea tlcalarly paar. Tha aarrlea releaslaa; U ladlcate* hy aa ■»i*f-i, CODB. 1. 1. a. 4. Da* Release Date. 12/10 12/10 12/10 12/10 12/10 12/10 12/10 12/10 12/10 12/11 12/11 12/11 12/11 12/11 12/11 12/11 12/11 12/11 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/12 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/14 12/15 12/15 12/13- 12/15^ 12/15 12/15 12/15 12/15 12/15 12/15 12/15 12/16 12/16 12/16 12/16 12/16 12/16 12/16 12/16 12/16 12/16 Title. Pcog. Reels. The Three Men Who Knew., b 2 Not of the Flock M 2 Mutual Weekly M 1 The Plumber M 1 For Her People Q 1 The Man from the Sea O 2 Hearat-Selig Weekly O 1 Pure Gold O 1 Sophie's Sweetheart O 1 The Fortunes of War M 2 The Little Grey House U 2 In the Conservatory M 1 The Best Man G 2 A Strand of Blonde Hair O 1 A Feud in the Kentucky Hills.G 1 One KIbs G 1 Bold Bandit, Rah Rah Boys. G 1 On Moonshine Mountain G 1 Diogenes Weekly, No. 13 G % Saved by Their Chee-lld G fe Broncho Billys Dad G 1 The Flying Freights Captive. G 1 How to Do it and Why G 2 The Soul Mate G 1 On the Ledge M 2 Love Disguised as a Joker.. U % Building a Locomotive U ft The Trail Breakers U 2 Lizzie's Fortune U 1 The Mill Stream U 2 Mutual Girl, No. 4H M 1 i In Tune M 2 The Wayward Son U 1 The Lure of the Wlndlgo... G 2 Fatty's Magic Pants M 1 Hearst-Sellg Weekly G 1 The Greater Love G 1 The Flirt O 1 A Scrap of Paper O 2 Loose Change of Chance.... G 1 It Cured Hubby G ty The Vanishing of Olive G 1 The Man from the East.... G 1 Out of the Past O 2 The Ghost of Smiling Jim.. U 2 The Barrier of Flames M 2 At Dawn M 1 Weary Willie's Rags O Vj Master Key U 2 The Silent Way M 1 The Panther M 2 The Joke on Yellen Town... M 1 How Father Won Out U V4 The Ascent of the Ingrar Neilson U % On ChrlstmaH Eve O 1 The Hate That Withers O 2 The Egyptian Mummy O 1 The School Master and the Waif O 1 The Test O 1 >d. Remarks. Good idea Broad Ordinary Wet Heart interest Weird. Exciting Weekly Worn Idea Western Good action Splendid Detective Secret Service story Interesting and laughs Plckford reprint Chorus girl comedy Blackhand comedy Old fashioned Overdrawn Travesty Sentimental Interesting Absurd Ordinary Misses Old stuff Incomplete Thrilling Not a laugh Exceptional Something new In this episode Likeable Time worn Indian legendary plot Rough Interest. No war Good dramatic idea Poor comedy Pathos and mirth Diamond robbery Boose Poor photography Western Strong Tragic Clever dog show Quite new Faulty Fascinating Western Strong Laughs Poor Interesting Slow Revenge story Old comedy idea Plckford reprint 2 Sea story Gimbel Brothers Bankers NEW YORK (Undar tha Supervision of Ilia Banking? Dapartmant off tha Stato off 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. M to 5 P. M. 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. makes ber escape and goes to the home of an artist who has wanted her to pose for him. He takes her in and falls in love with her, al- though the girl's real sister haa set her cap for him. After the painting is completed the girl makes her way into vaudeville and be- cornea a distinct sensation aa a dancer. The artist finds her and the two become engaged. The girl's supposed brother also discovers who she is. He has succeeded in business and takes her to dinner. They are seen by the girl's rival and she informs the artist anonymously and he breaks off the affair. The girl tries to obtain an interview with him, but la re- fused and aa in a daze she starts homeward, is run down by an automobile, injured and taken to a hospital, where her father is head surgeon. He recognises his child from a pe- culiar scar and there is a reconciliation. It is a good feature for the regular picture house. OFFICER 666. George Kleine's five-part picture version of the successful farce "Officer 666" waa shown to an Invited audience at the Candler Tues- day. It haa the usual defects of the plcturixed stage piece, but it has the overcoming virtue that it does deliver laughs. There la a quan- tity of slap-stick, roughhouse comedy, prob- ably Introduced in the camera version, but much of the play's capital laughing material gets over effectively. For example the at- tempts of the hand-cuffed Englishman to kiss and embrace his sweetheart, encumbered as he was with the manacles and bothered by the aigrette in the girl's hat were extremely funny. This was a bit of natural screen comedy, self-explanatory and apparent Much of the other fun had to be made plain by means of title lines. It was noticeable that more laughs came from the titles than from the action. Howard Estabrook, as Travers Glad- win, was featured. The reat of the cast re- mained nameless, In the absence of programs. They did most acceptably. The melodramatic situations skillfully devised for the stage vers- ion remain effective on the screen. There Is plenty of action and the surprises disclosed by the constant shift of fortune between Glad- win, the millionaire, and Al. Wilson, the pie- ture thief, kept Interest at tiptoe. THE WOMAN HE WRONGED. "The Woman He Wronged" is a five-reel melodramatic foreign feature. It is of French making, without special class In production or acting. The story has a young count as the leading character. He wrongs the daughter of a poor miller and later marries a noble- woman of another country- His wife goes to the native land of her husband. At the time the pair return the different countries in Europe begin war and the wife's country Is against that of her husband. Two spies from the home of her father have headquarters near her new home. While riding one day she comes upon one of the men, an old sweetheart. He tells her his mission and she agrees to help. They have several secret meetings and she finally, while disguised as a gypsy, secures secret papers from a young officer and takes them to the spy. The miller's daughter sees there Is something wrong In the mill, where the spies have their headquarters, and goes to learn what It is. She discovers the coun- tess and a spy pondering over some plans takeu from the soldier. She rushes to the nearest fort, tells what she has learned and a detachment is sent. It ends with the spies and the coun- tess blown up on a ship, and the count marrying the miller's daughter. The picture has two melodramatic Incidents, both in the last reel. The best is the burning of an old mill, handled well by the director. The other Is the blowing up of a ship, supposed to be out in the bay. It is mostly left to the imag- ination and misses on that account.