Variety (April 1915)

20 FILM REVIEWS HEARTS IN EXILE. CAST. Count Nlcolal Montague Lot* Sorgo Palm* Clauue Fleming Paul PavloU vernon Steele Captain ttokaloff Frod l ruesdell Ivan Mikhail Paul MoAUlater Victor Haaiofl boil ttnaraey Mauame Komonoff Miaa Seiwy nne Uopo Ivanuvna Clara Kimball Young The xilpuourome ataned lta third week aa a picture enow houae with the World Film production. Hearts In Salle," featuring Clara Kimball Young. Thle picture haa been adapted irom the novel by the eame name, written by the late John Qaonham. The adaptation waa made by Owen Davis. Hope lvanovna (Miaa Young), a young Kuesian, devotes her life helping the poor. Bhe hae many aultore, among them Serge Palma (Claude Fleming), a wealthy young man; Paul Pavloff (Vernon Steele), a poor atudent, and Count Nlcolal (Montague Love), a Kua- alan nobleman. Paul, the nret to propoee, la refused through not having sufficient wealth to enable the woman he wishes to wed to carry on her charity work. Serge Palma. next, la accepted, ana informs his fiancee, all bla wealth will be at her disposal. The Rus- sian nobleman finds hs cannot have the woman honeetly and plots to get her at any oooL tie has a warrant sworn out for the arrest of the husband, claiming him to be a nihilist. The newly wed is sentenced to 16 years In Siberia. The poor suitor is also sentenced to five years, through the Count, to have him out of the way. The husband and first proposer meet on the way to the distant land. The student Is willing to- let the husband have hie short sentence and take the longer penalty. If tney are able to fool the guards aa to Identity at the place of parting. This Is aocompllahed. In the city the wife, who haa been left prac- tically a widow by her husband's misfortune, tries to find where he has been imprisoned. The Russian Count Is very attentive to ner, making many approaches that come near the dead line. Bhe pays no attention to hie actions. A woman In love with him informs the wife where her husband has been sent. 8he leaves for Siberia. Her husband Is not there, owing to the five year sentence given Paul calling for the sentence to be spent in the provinces. Upon arriving at the email town of Kara, Siberia, she asks for Serge Palma. The commander shows her to the cot- tage where she expects to find her husband. Upon opening the door she sees her first lover, Paul. He greets her heartily and Informs her of the changing of names In order to bring her husband back to civilisation earlier, it Is decided the two will have to live there to- gether in order that no suspicion may be aroused. Paul states (according to a plate), "You will be my wife In name only." The real husband tries to escape upon arriving in the provinces and a straggler arriving in Kara informs the people he had been killed. The couple living together and loving each other, marry—by going through the neces- sary service without witnesses. A few months later the first husband puts In an appearance. He masquerades as an army officer and forges a pardon for Paul, but has It made out In his own name owing to the exchanging done some time before. He goes to the borne of Paul and there finds bis own wile. She shrinks from him. The troth is told. Bhe loves the men she has been living with. The three are talking matters over when an officer of the camp passing the door hears whst is going on inside. He rushes in and Is over- powered by Serge and Paul. The trio escape after tying the officer to a chair. They get away In a sleigh. The officer soon releases himself and summons aid. A big chase en- sues. The three are finally trapped but put up a game fight. In which Serge le killed. All of the chasing party but one are also put out of the way. The second husband and bla wife are left together to live happily ever after. James Young, who directed the picture, selected a capable cast. Men are the pre- vailing characters. Miss Young Is given un- numbered opportunities to show her worth upon the screen. The only other woman character Is that of Madame Romanoff, play- ed satisfactorily. Owing to the many men employed It would leave the Impression the male members would not come up to expecta- tions. It Is hard to find many faults In this department. The studio work for the picture was done at the Peerless plant in Fort Lee. N. J. The snow scenes wherever taken showed up very strongly. The chase at the flnlah Is decidedly exciting. The men and horses fall- ing into a frosen river furnish a thrilling moment The picture Is In five reels and haa a story that will hold, owing to the many twists In it. NIOBE. The Famous Players haa constructed a very promising comedy feature around the an- cient Greek yarn of Nlobe, wife of Amphion, king of the Thebes. The original story, a class room favorite In modern kindergartens. Is of the Beautiful Nlobe who was punished by the Oods for boasting of her superiority and children to Leto. mother of Apollo and Artemis. After Apollo had killed her sons and Artemis has demolished the daughters, Nlobe was changed to stone by the Oods who sympathised with her extreme grief. That theme Is made the basis in this instance for a cleverly built scenario of the dream specie depleting the plight of an insurance agent who had guaranteed the safety of the original statue for a friend with a $100,000 policy during an animated doze In which he Imagines Nlobe's return to actual life. The opening shows the statue being transferred to the agent's home for additional safety. He lives with his family, one member being an over- officious slster-ln-lsw. During the action, the family leaves to witness a production of "Pygmalion" while the agent (Charles Abbe) remalna at home. He falla asleep and during the dream la beset with Innumerable com- plications. Imagining the Nlobe statue's return to life and the ultimate predicament upon his wife's return. Hssel Dawn la the living Nlobe and led the film through a well directed series of situations that took In moat of the possibilities offered In the Men. The finale brought the situation back to Its original scene with the sleeper's awakening, etc A chase through a park wherein Nlobe play- fully gamboled with the statues of her former comrades. Including Hercules, closing with the arrival of a thunderstorm In which Nlobe and her pursuer were drenched and Inter- cepted In their night clothing by a park police- man, reached the comedy climax. The film has been artlatlcally ataged with a short scene it Grecian splendor, the principal work being done by Miss Dawn and Abbe. It makes a good feature for those who prefer the better grade of pictures both In subject and photography. Aeschylus and Sophocles wrote tragedies upon the atory of Nlobe and Claude Gllllngwater haa given vaudeville a playlet somewhat similar to the film theme, but the Famous Players outdistanced all rivals In the screen production, for it provides no limit to the action and offers a complete story. It's a decidedly good feature. Wynn. THE GREAT SILENCE. A Francis Bushman three reeler made by Esaanay. The story tells of a young mine owner coming to the city falling in love with a girl and marrying her to learn her father and brother had framed the affair to get bis money. He leavea the city to return to bis old love, the mine, leaving bla wife behind. 8he remalna a abort while without him and then follows on to the wild country, where they live happily. A picture that starts off well with some pleasing exteriors, but after running loses through the number of Interiors used. The story Is well told snd the entire east do well. Beverly Bayne aa the wife Is an attractive young woman with the necessary dramatic ability. This three-reeler consumes s pleasing three-quarters of an hour. SIGFR1ED. If your Imagination la good you will make aome feature out of this mutllple-reeled pic- ture of the Ambrosia. Where the Imagination must make the biggest plsy is In the third period. A great battle la supposed to be waged when several hundred bold warriors make an attack upon an old castle or fortress. One sees the attacking army marching toward the enemy's stronghold. Then an Interior la abown where fire Is supposed to be burning the Inside of the castle. A few soldiers rush belter skelter through this scene and the next are the Invaders giving three cheers and a hussah for the supposed victory. The picture makers were not stingy with supers, but the di- rectors took care the settings were so camereed not to ahow sections of the castle and vicinity that might tip something off. Where the great- est fsult might be found Is that little pin Jab Hagan gave Slgfrled with his wooden weapon and which waa supposed to have caused in- stant death. If Hagan had given another short-arm prod as 8ig waa wobbling the effect would have been much better. Hagan sort of tagged 8lg on the fleshy part of the shoulder. 81g knew his cue and tumbled over. A few minutes Ister Big's friends knew Just where to* find Hagan and bla female accomplice. The picture la shy many screen explanations which even captions couldnt alibi very well. The feature looks heavy with lta army marcues but that's about all. The photography was not very distinct but If one has a good Imagina- tion the results will be there In your mind's •*•• Mark. A DAUGHTER0F RUSSIA. „ ,. . London, March 15. it would do some of our American film stock compsny directors a world of good if they were to pattern their noting companies after the Swedish Blograpb organisation, which apparently does not sacrifice ensemble effects for Indlvldunl honors. In "A Daughter of Russia," a four-reel drama, LIII Becb Is fea- tured In the billing, but she is supported by a company, every Individual member of which Is Just as good an actor or actress, and the "team" work Is so fine as to call for special comment The story Itself Is one of the old- est, but Its film portrayal Is excellently worked out. The scene Is In Russia. Paul and Olga are fellow students at the Uni- versity. They become fast frlenda and dan- gerously near lovers. Olga la a revolutionist of the fanatical type and her enthusiasm Is communicated to Psul through bis affection for her. Paul's fsther learns tbst he haa mlied himself up Into this sort of thing and demands that be retire from It on penalty of being cost off without sny money. Psul shows the letter to Olga and swesrs to stick. Olga Is suspected snd before escsplng she confides her confidential papers to Psul, who places them In his desk. Pauls fsther and mother arrive at his rooms and there ensuea a very pretty family scene. The father blus- ters around .and Is unable to budge the boy. The mother- finally finds a way by throwing the boy constantly In the company of the daughter or an old friend and. exactly as the mother had figured It out, the young folks fall In love and are married. While In exile Olga reads of Paul's engagement and returns in time to see Psul leaving the church with his bride on his arm. Very much depressed, Olgs makes revolutlonsry speeches to the populace. She Is arrested and Imprisoned. This mob scene Is unusually ylvld and ef- fective. Paul Is at breakfast with bis bride reading the morning newspaper which details the arrest of Olga. who Is known aa "The Stormy Petrel." He telephones to the ren- dosvoua of the revolutionists and offers to help Olga to escape. His bride overbears this and la, naturally, jealous. She searches Paul'a desk and hnoa the Incriminating pa- pera. Just as she has taken them from the desk, the police, who have somehow placed Paul on the suspect list, enter to search the houae. The wlte la thereby enabled to save her husband from complicity. Olga, aentenoed to Siberia, on her way la rescued by com- rades, but In the melee she Is oompsUed to shift for herself and Is seen tramping through the anow spelling to escape. Paul la kept under surveillance by the police and decides to take up the practice of medicine In a email town In Siberia. Olga finds her way to a house where she Is succored by the natives and then once more starts off. Pass- ing along the road ahe looks into the house and sees Paul altting there. She enure, very weak, and Paul begs her to stay under bla roof until ahe can depart In aafety. The wife enters and overhears this. Ths polios have traced Olga to Paul'a houae and enter asking If sbs haa been aeon there. Paul Inalgnantly denies this and the police, con- vinced, are about to depart when the wife ahowa them Olga's hiding place. Paul leavea his wife angrily and tns poor bride. In an endeavor to atone for her Jealousy, bribes the chief of police Into permitting Olga to once more escape. She la turned Ipoee and starta for the woods In a terrific snow storm. Hearing of his wlfs's repentance Paul returns home and la told that hla wife has aflected her release but that the girl waa without assistance. He organises a rescue party and Olga la found frosen to death. Fine Russian scenic detail, Interior and exterior, and proper costuming. The one thing that stands out above all else la the work of this excellent company, and while Mies Becb has the leading part, which necessarily Is prominent above all the others, she Is not continuously given the center of the stage. Joio. THE MOTHER INSTINCT. It's the old, old story* A woman long need to the lap of luxury la cast away on a desert Island. With her is a man for whom ahe cares little, but future life on that land of loneoomeness results in an Intimacy that brings a little baby Into the world. Marion Summers learns of the mad Infatuation the man ahe loves has for a demimondalne and ahe goes on a yachting cruise, in the party la Gordon Barnes, the man who later beoomes the father of her child. The boat la wreaked and then the Robinson Crusoe life of Barnes and Miss Summers begins, la three reels follows the story of the ooming of the baby and the little nest built for it high up la the air and within sight of the ocean. Then Curlew, the man Miss Summers left behind, reaches the Island, with two male friends. Just before they come upon the home of the little family Miss Marion is about to plunge a dagger Into the back of Barnes. Repeatedly the caption la flashed that he (Barnes) loves her baby and for that reason best of all ahe should love Barnes. This thought stays her hand. Curlew tries bis best to ooax Miss Bummers away. He and bla cronies try to carry her off physically, but Barnes whips them, slnglehanded. Curlew and frlenda go away defeated and Miss Summers then tells Barnes she lores him best of all. The story Is not the moat pleasant Imaginable. The best thing In Its favor la the photography. The picture lacks a punch. The fight oa the Iflaaa wag - tarns for a feature climax. But the pretty, picturesque scenes of land and water fata It to a osrtsln extent. Mora. THE SECRET 0FTHE OLD CABINET. It's In four reels, but In the fourth period there's quite an exciting moment whoa aa auto crashes down a long hill, killing the driver, who la aa army officer fleeing a brother officer, who wishes to overtake him la order to regain a paper which says the pur- suing man is ths real heir to property left by the aunt of the two men. "The Secret of the Old Cabinet" la not aa mclodramatlo aa the name or outside bills might Imply. It runs more to a scenic cyolorama for the first three reels than anything else. When the two srmy men and the principal girl of the story start off on a horseback ride one Is shown much of the water and countryside. The pic- ture was made by the Oreat Northern Co. and rented hereabouts by the Elk Feature Film Co., so the billing says. An old woman dies, leaving a will secretly hidden within an old cabinet, the secret drawer being known to only herself. Cecil Hoff Is apparently the legal heir and he le announced aa being next In line as her nephew and consequently takes possession, though her belongings were sold at auction, snd why, none was sble to con- jecture. Arthur Rogers bought the cabinet The men are ordered away for manuevers. They meet Clara Faber and both fall In love. Rogers goes down a steep mountain aide and ssves a baby that had tumbled down lta way snd caught In a clump of grass or thicket. Hoff looks on Indifferently. Hoff shows Clsra's fsther he Is wealthy and asks bis dsughter's hand In marriage. The O. M. con- sents, but Clara asks s month's time. Mean- while she hss reciprocated the affections of Rogers. Rogers discovers the secret cabinet drawer and the will, saying tbst he by right of his aunt's first msrrlags waa the rightful heir. Hoff signs to call off his sttentlons to Claru and Rogers gives him one-third of the Inherltsnce. Then Hoff hss two men waylay Rogers snd steal the paper. Clara Is nearby. Bbe renders Rogers ssslstsnce and he pur- sues Hoff over lend snd wster, finally get- ting the paper when Hoff Is killed In the suto accident It's s long wsy to the big climax, but the csmerss hsd to get In tbst mountsInous scenery snd the wstsr chsse so It was deemed necesssry to drag out ths story four reels. Aotlng fairly good. The young woman playing Clara performed quietly, naturally and effectively. Picture la eioaai connected than many of the reoent foreign multiple mailers shown la and around Mew York lately. The picture ea a retake with the action speeded along and the melodrama brought out more vividly would also up at least 60 per cent more than it does at pres- ent. Mark. FLORENCElilGHTlNGALE. London. March 18. Ths B. A C. film company haa made a dla- tlnot departure In feature films by its pro- duction in three reels, visualising the life of Florence Nightingale, founder of the Red Cross Society, it waa a fine idea to place before the general publlo the life of that won- derful woman *wbose name will go down to history aa ons of the greatest humanitarians who ever lived. It begins with her birth In 1820, showing that although an Mngllsh womsn she was born In Florence and waa christened after her birthplace. She la ahowa as a child with her first patient, bandaging a broken doll. As a young girl she Is seen visiting the poor and teaching them the value of fresh air; being presented at court, and declining to continue a Ufa of frivolity while others are sunering. From her diary it la gleaned ahe Is confronted with the choice ol tnree paths in life, writer, wife or hospital sister. A man proposes to her. She telli him God intended her for a single life and that she has decided to become a Sister of Mercy. At the ag* of 83 ahe decides to go to Paris to study nursing which waa at that time considered a rather degraulng calling for a woman. She overcomes the objections of her parenta and starts out In ISM at the outbreak of the Crimean war Miss Nightin- gale reada In the London Times there Is a dearth of nurses and aa Inadequate supply of linen bandages for ths wounded. She calls on the Secretary of War for England and demands his official sanction to form a nurses' oorps of women. He and his confreres laugh derisively at such a plan but hs finally yleiua, carried away by her sincerity of purpose. She enrolls a number of women and precede to the war hospital at Scutari near the Dar- danella. Being Inadequately supplied with contributed funds, she donates her own for- tune to the plan and la seen establishing and putting Into active practice the first semblance of sanitation. She Uvea and works In the store room and behind the kitchen and there la introduced at this point a visualisation of Longfellow'a immortal poem, "The Lady with the Lamp," which waa dedicated to her. At all times she Is aa angel of humanity min- istering to the wounded. Not only does she fight d i sease but protects Innocent girls from falling Into the haada of the soldiers. She next falla a victim to Crimea fever aad comes very near to death, but on recovering la left an Invalid for life, and though pleaded with to return to England aad rest ebe steadfastly refuses to go home, aa there la still work to do oa the battlefield. She evea remalna after peace is declared In 183S, until the sick sad wouaded have all been adequately nursed. On her final return to England she can a strong and persistent fight with the authori- ties to establieh a royal commission tor the investigation of health In the army, and finally wins. As an old womaa ahe la compelled to lead a life of austere simplicity through hav- ing given her fortune to the cause of bumaa- ity. At a very late time In her life, with memory and alght rapidly falling, she is presented with the Order of Merit by Edward VII, the first womsn to be so signally honored. She died la 1010 at the age of WO. but her work did aot die with her. The Red Cross Society will live forever. This beautiful film with so pure a subject would make a welcome addi- tion to any picture program. The soensrto w declared to be founded on the lady's life his- tory written by Sir Edward Cook, but no- where la there abown the parrot which waa her pet for years and which died the day ahe left It behind. Nor does the name of the Red Cross Society ever appear In a caption. Jolo. DESTINY. . «. ^ , . London, March 28. A French picture In two parts and a prolog. Opens with s woman dying In a hovel clasping to her breast her seven-year old daughter. She entrusts the care of the child to a rag- picker neighbor and her son; and then passes away. A lapae of ten years. The girl baa been brought up by the poor folks and becomes a milliner with a little shop of her own. A young doctor has interested himself In the up- lifting of the colony of ragpickers and falls In love with her. Her father returns a wealthy man and seeks to find his child. His new wife endeavors to start "an affair" with the doctor, but he rejects her overtures, in re- venge she leads her husbsnd to believe that the doctor has been forcing unwelcome atten- tions upon her snd the fsther challenges Paul to a duel. The ragpicker's son happens to be passing and holds a lantern during the fray The young doctor Is slightly wounded and la taken to the girl's rooms, where he Is nursed back to health. In looking for the girl's papers the ragpickers son sees a photo of her father and recognizes It as the man who forced the duel upon the doctor. He realizes that It Is the girl's parent and takes her to her fsther s home. The fsther introduces his daughter to his second wife, who recognises her ss the girl with whom the doctor Is In love. The adventuroua wife vents her spleen upon the Innocent girl and has the boy who accompanies her, Imprisoned. After three days the boy escspes snd wsrnn the doctor of the position of his fiancee. The father gives a masked ball In the midst of which a gang of the ragplcklng fraternity make a raid upon the place, unmasking the vlllslnesa and flxlnx everything bspplly for the young physician and his future bride. A popular priced film.