Variety (June 1915)

18 FILM REVIEWS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. New York's first great amphitheatre has been converted into a home for iuoiion pic- tures for the summer under the direction of the Arena Amusement Co. The opening oc- curred Saturday night. The nianugeinent has adopted the slogan of "Meet Me at the Ice- berg," which, with the present Inclement weather conditions, does not carry any great allurement. Just how successful they are going to be in attracting crowds is more or less of a question. For the first two nights of the new policy there were about 5,000 free tickets Issued. These were not enough, for on Sunday night the Garden held about 000 persons, and they appeared to be lost in the big place. The management makes a number of claims for Its institution. They state that they are showing the largest moving pictures in the world; that the throw from the camera to the screen is 300 feet; that the seating capacity under the present arrangement is 8,000, and thut the Garden is the coolest show place in thd world. The prices range from a dime for the first balcony seats to a half dollar for the boxes on the lower floor. It was noticeable at the box office on Sunday night the majority of buyers fell for the 26 and 50 cent seats In preference to the cheaper locations. The entire Interior of the Garden has been treated to a coat of paint which nas done wonders to Improve the appearance of the place. The upper balcony has been closed entirely, and a huge canopy of canvas formB a roof to the building. At the Fourth avenue and the entire width of the Garden holds a stage, In the centre of which Is the screen. There Is a back panorama drop painted to rep- resent an Arctic scene. Seated below the screen is an orchestra of 40 musicians who are by far the best part of the entire Garden entertainment for the current week. The picture policy will be to present the dally releases and a feature each week. Two performances dally, matinee and night. The Universal service Is being used. Three re- leases of that company, a Patho weekly, two reels of "official" German War pictures, and "Silver Threads Among the Gold," a six-reel feature, comprised the program for the opening week. In addition to this there was an over- ture by the orchestra and two numbers by a soloist. The overture started the show. It was fol- lowed by the Patbe weekly, after which the soloist sang. Pauline Bush In the Hex drama. "The Struggle," was the next offering, after which a fairly good Joker comedy was shown. Uen Wilson, In a two-reel drama "In the Val- ley of Silent Men," was next shown. All of these are Universal releases for the current week. The Garden has an arrangement where- by they get these pictures in advance of the regular release date. The Elko Film Co. presented several reels of pictures of the war, announced on the screen as presenting "The Official German Side of the War." The pictures shown have some fairly good scenes of action and work In the trenches and of artillery firing. The closing picture of the bill was the fea- ture. Originally "The Sporting Duchess," the Lubln feature, was booked as the opening at- traction, but it was replaced at the last minute by "Silver Threads Among the Gold." This was due to a misunderstanding between the Garden officials and the manufacturer regard- ing a financial settlement for the use of the picture. There seem to be a little something lacking in the atmosphere of the Garden at present to make it a big success. Of course, with a build- ing as large as this a tremendous crowd Is needed to make the auditorium seem at all full. As soon as the real warm weather comes it is possible that crowds may flock to the pluce to cscupe the heat, for It seemed positively cold then* Sunday night. Fred. LADY MACKENZIE'S PICTURES. Regardless of the success or failure of the preceding features showing big game hunts and with all due consideration for its tardy urrival to the theatrical market, the series of jungle views contained in the Lady Mac- kenzie feature can hardly fail to hold up their end, once the picture-going public becomes uwure of their excellence, tor they actually bring the auditor right Into the very heart of that unexplored African region for a close-up view of the natural traits and habits of prac- tically every native beast and bird. HIg game hunts of various kinds have been projected on the screen heretofore, but it Is doubtful If the camera ever registered such a view as thut carried In the second section of the Mackenzie film wherein the various animals are seen visiting the water hole, coniinK up to within a few Inches of the camera. Nor has anyone previously shown such a view as the lion-charge which was experienced by the principals in this particular hunt, showing a gigantic Hon charging direct for the camera, passing within a fraction of a foot of both the machine and Lady Mackenzie. The con- struction of this feature is especially good, the introduction bringing the start of the bunt with the colored attendants, etc., the jirlval In camp, the hunt proper nnri finally the Journey and stay at the water hole where the participants waited 'M) days to catch a Kllmpse of the various Jungle Inhabitants as they came to the hole for their usual liquid refreshment. The camp scenes, too. carry n reasonably good coloring of comedy, especially that part showing the native dances of the tribes. A flock of locusts numberlnK millions was caught by the camera man, something heretofore unseen on the sheet. Another strik- ing bit of photography showed'the vultures gathering around a fa! n buffalo, the prey evidently lying but a ft' net away from the camera. The killing of < <\ pigs by poisoned arrows was another 1? ting sight, bu' second only to the Interest contained In the Hon kill was the rhinoceros hunt In which a three *nd a half-ton rhino was landed. The Hon charge held a section of Its own and while the camera didn't show Lady Mackenzie bagging the beast, the lecturer advised* the bouse it waa none other than the Lady her- self, who incidentally shoots left handed, that completed the Job* The last section Lukes the honors of the reel, for here are shown giraffe, elephants, zebras, monkeys and every other animal one can think of, coming to the hole for water. The camera was hid- don In a "blind" Just a few feet away from the water, and one gets an actual view of Just bow the various beasts act In their own back yard. This particular section ran some- what long, but every Inch of the film em- ployed carried Interest and It finished to solid uplause from those gathered at the Lyceum Tuesday evening. That the picture will be- come popular there Is little doubt, for every- one Is interested In such things to some ex- tent and no one could look for a better aeries of views than those of the Mackenzie specie. The Lyceum was appropriately dressed for the occasion with a Jungle setting surround- ing the screen and considering the early date of the engagement, an unusually large house was In attendance. Wynn. SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD. "Silver Threads Among the Oold" is a six- part feature released by the K. A R. Film Cjinpuny, shown at Madison Square Garden this week as the principal picture of the bill. The feature was evidently too long to please the Garden management so they conveniently dropped one reel out and showed but five reels. This made it rather difficult to Judge the picture for Its full worth. It seemed, how- ever, from the five reels to be one of the rural dramas popular a decade or so ago. The featured player Is Richard Jose, to whom Is accredited in a great measure the popularity of the song of the same title as the picture. The opening shows Mr. Jose as the singer of the song. The story which follows Is a rather simple one, which has as its major plot the misjudged son and the Btony-hearted father. The story as unfolded on the screen tells of the son, who Is in love with the village belle. He has a rival. The rival plots to bring dis- favor on the boy by stealing a purse at a barn dance and placing it In his pocket The theft id discovered, everyone is searched and the purse found. The father denounces his boy as a thief and sends him from his door. The boy comes to New York, falls Into evil ways through his associates, Is finally reclaimed through the Intervention of an old family friend, succeeds in business and returns home on a Christmas Eve, to be welcomed to the family fireside and the arms of his loved one who has waited for all these years. The pic- ture In Itself la a simple story fairly well produced and Just fairly acted. U is the type of feature that will still appeal to certain of the masses. Fred. HER OWN WAY. Florence Reed Is featured. The film sce- nario Is an adaptation from the play of that title by Clyde Fitch. The picture was made by the Popular Plays and Players and is a feature release by the Metro. Miss Reed has Just lately delved into picture acting and in this feature she has the role of Georglana Car- ley, who loved a soldier but almost married a broker who had her brother and his wife under his thumb, etc. Miss Reed has bobbed her hair and in her picture work the short hair effect did not make her look atrociously inhuman like It does some who have followed the clipping vogue. Miss Reed in "Her Own Way" displays a nifty wardrobe. For the screen the version of "Her Own Way" rounds out most Inconsistent and crude. There are numerous flaws and some stand out most con- spicuously. Sam Coast returns to his home and finds the burning end of a smoke a thiev- ing chauffeur of bis had carelessly left on a tuble and with the aid of a gun he forced the young man to come out from behind the cur- tains where he had hidden when he heard Coast returning. Some nervy robber this boy. He endeavors to make a big haul and foolishly Koes into the lion's den puffing away and then on top of this makes no attempt to get the drop on Coast when he had everything in his favor. It was a tame scene without the young man dropping his eyelids. Coast loves Georg- ians Carley who loves Lieut. Dick Coleman who is too bashful to tell her about bis adora- tion. Coast is a broker. He's one of those cool Sherlockian Holmes types who doesn't get a single ruffle of his perfectly-combed hair when in the midst of the raving, shouting pit (lends. And he smoked a cigar every time be was about to pull some dirty work. He lied to Coleman as Coleman was going to the Philippines. He said he was engaged to to Georglana. Then ho makes Georglana stand In his embrace as the soldiers pass by. Of course the supposition was there that the lieutenant was with the tramping khako boys but the|e were no closeups showing the young lover with the army. Coast knows the chauf- feur is also with the soldiers and has been Instructed to prevent the lieutenant from get- ting any mall from Georglana or sending any. That was an easy matter for the director to fix. Why should Coleman want to keep up a dovey-povey correspondence with the fiance of another man? While Dick's away making himself and soldiers targets for Filipinos (ieorglana does a very compromising thing at home. Georglana learned that her brother, Steve, had speculated and lost not only his own money but that of his vlfe's and also had frittered away her securities. CoaBt being the man who caused tho v.calth to flow his way. Mrs. SteVe had three children when the story started, another came Into the picture later and five were shown at another period enjoy ing the Carley hospitality. No captions ex- plained their arrival or whether several be- longed to the neighbors. Mrs. Steve was so angry when she learned her money was gone she not only wanted to throw her hubby over but forgot all about tho kids In her anxiety to make a new affinity oat of a bewhiskered man labeled the Grand Duke Vladimir or something the other and Just how tho Duke managed It one could not make out. Perhaps it was the title. Tho Duke didn't look young. He did take Mrs. Store to his own homo but Georglana beat her brother to the place and made It appear that she was the one who bad misbehaved. In fact there's a caption laying that she knows she Is her own mistress and no one can Interfere. After tho big erash In speculation the Carleys lived on in regal fash- ion and there were lavishly decorated courts to prove It. Lagoons with swans and marbled walks with a peacock strutting about unmind- ful that his boss has lost everything but the beautiful feathers In Its tall. Dick was go- ing to blow out his brains but Georglana stopped him. She took his gun away and then tossed It but a few feet further away on the table. She and Dick remained home that night so that Mrs. Steve could go to the Redfleld ball and meet the Duke. Stevey smokes and smokes, then reads the very book his wife had left the note In that she had written the Duke. He grabs that same gun and away he files to shoot up somebody. Meanwhile Georg- lana not caring to go to the ball puts on an evening gown and goes to the Court where the peacock Is walking around unaware the hour is late and it should be taking a snoose. Georglana follows Stove to the ball, Steve run- ning around like a madman In a business suit with nobody making an effort to stop him from Bhootlng up the place. Out In the Philippines Dick and a small detachment rush on a body of native soldiery. One fire and everybody Is killed with an exception, Dick. They march him to a bamboo or thatched hut and leave him alone. Dick finds a discarded gun shell. He blows up the hut, and escapes without a scratch. When tho explosion came one sees another man runs from the side but where he had been Inside that 2 by 4 jail was not explained. Dick makes a miraculous escape and rushes home In time to dash Into the midst of a pretty home nuptial scene, with his left arm shot away on the homeward rush, and stop the wedding of Georglana to Coast. Georgie falls into his right arm and marries him then and there to save further celluloid expenditure. When Dick's regiment marched away to tho transports a view of tho U. 8. fleet at anchor in the Hudson was shown, the audience thereby deducing the fact that these battleships were taking Dick's bunch to the Philippines. The direction was very slipshod and the scenario script not written for the best camera results. The picture was dim In some spots, tho developing of the film turning out badly while In others the photography was splendid. The picture needs to be retaken. In fact the scenario should also be brushed up In spots wh/en the retake is made. Mark. THE DAWN OF A TOMORROW. The Famous Players In this latest Msry Plckford feature has turned out a subject that carries plenty of Interest in theme with a brand of first grade photography supporting to land It up among the top-notch list of current releases. Plckford Is given full reign with her tattered garments and Plckford In rags can do considerable before a camera. The story revolves around the experiences of two London waifs, one Glad (Plckford) and her sweetheart Dandy (David Powell), the latter conceded to be the cleverest and most daring crook In London. Glad Induces Dandy to give up his wayward habits and assisted by the Bible she earns his promise of reform. Dur- ing this period one Sir Oliver Holt, the wealth- iest and most unhappy man In England, has decided to suicide, three noted spec Is lists hav- ing predicted paresis or some other such ail- ment and fearing Insanity more than death Sir Oliver prepares to die by his own hand. Clad In an old suit he wanders Into the slums, Is about to shoot himself when Glsd happens along and talks him out of It. Meanwhile Dandy Is being sought by the police for a rob- bery that occurred the previous night although Dandy had met Sir Oliver's nephew at the exact time it was committed. Glad goes to the nephew to enlist his aid In establishing an alibi and escapes his proposed attack lust In time to wltnees the arrival of Sir Oliver who has shed the old clothes for his regular walking suit. The adjustment of complications leaves a few things in doubt, but carries the essential punch. The work of Powell la worthy of especial comment. Opposite Plckford he did wonderfully well. Forrest Robinson as the titled entry played equally well. The exter- iors were few, but appropriate and suggestive of the quarter wherein the action was sup- posed to take place. The Interiors were better, well detailed and properly dressed. Wynn. THE MOONSTONE. "When Is a moonstone not a moonstone?" "When It's a diamond." "All right, Mr. Bones, start your show." That seems to be the only thing that there Is to the five-reel feature, "The Moonstone," of the Sbubert-World Film Co. at the Hlppodromo this week. The sce- nario appears to have been adapted from a magazine story of the type that one finds in the popular fiction magaslnes. It Is all old- fashioned melodrama. The theme has served for years, whenever an author has felt the lure of the Far East after reading Kipling. In this case there are some London scenes and a few impossible detective touches that only make the picture all the more impossible as a high class feature. "The Moonstone" will serve to headline along the "Jitney" belt, but will not do In the houses where two-bits and a half dollar are extracted for admission. The director had it within his power to make or unmake this picture to a certain extent, but to his credit be It said that Frank Crane who produced the film did not try to work ail of the old melodramatic clap-trap that tho script undoubtedly called for. The so-called "moon- stone" Is a diamond that decorates the god In the Temple of the Moon In India. Edmund Mortimer playing the role of John Herncastle, a soldier of fortune, steals the gem and re- turns to England with It. The three priests of the temple are punished for the loss of the stone by being stripped of their caste until such time that they effect the return of the gem. They start after Herncastle and finally run him down in his London apartment where they kill him but fall to find the treasure, in bis will Herncastle leaves the stone to his niece (Elaine Hammersteln) and appoints Franklin Blake (Eugene O'Brien) as bis ex- ecutor. Blake is in love with the niece and he visits her country home. The stone is placed in a vault until her birthday on which occasion there Is a party and the stone is officially presented. In the meantime the three priests are on the trail of the gem. They haunt the house In which the girl lives, hold- up the auto in which Blake is riding and search his effects and try In a dozen different ways to find the object of their search. On the eve of the party the gem is placed by tho girl in her Jewel case and during the night it mysteriously disappears. It is here the picture has its greatest fault. Somewhere there is an unwritten law In playwrltlng that holds you can keep as many of your charatcers as you please in the dark regarding the mystery of your plot, but the audience must at all times be in on It. In the picture several of the prin- cipals really know what has happened but the audience Is left In the dark until the final scenes, therefore there are stretches of the film in which the action means absolutely noth- ing to the audience until they see the final explanation at the close of the picture. In Its present shape "The Moonstone" does uet look like a winner. Fred. LITTLE MISS BROWN. Betty Brown Vivian Martin Jane Glen ton Julia Stewart Justine Glenton Edward M. Kimball Joseph Clews Crauford Kent Robert Mason Chester Barnett Mrs. Dennison Ethel Lloyd Richard Dennison Charles Dickson Mr. Burke, his uncle W. J. Ferguson Mrs. Burke Alberta Oullatln Night Clerk Ned A. Sparks Telephone Girl Jewel Hllburn Bellboy John Hlnes A film version of this recent stage comedy by Philip Bartholomae has been made by the World Film, starring Vivian Martin. The pic- ture is in five reels and directed by James Young. Outside of a goodly amount of pub- licity for Hartford, Conn., and a bit of a mix- up in a hotel in that city there Is little to It. Betty Brown is a society girl with many suit- ors. She is engaged to one and agrees to elope with another. Plans mlscue and she finds herself In Hartford with neither friends or money. At a hotel she Is taken for an- other man's wife (with her hair down her back and childlns looking) and Is given a room In a suite reserved for this party. The man arrives later but goes in another room In the same suite. They do not meet until next morning In the parlor. His wife arrives but she Is calmed down as $10,000 Is to be given to her and her husband by his uncle If they are happily married. As the uncle happens to be on the ground no fuss is made. The girl Is rescued by the young man she was engaged to and they are seen in each other's arms at the finish. A maid of the hotel slept In Bet- ty's room so no scandal could arise. Although much of the action takes place In a hotel and such scenes In most Instances are made a bit spicy or risque, there is nothing here to be termed offensive. The production has a num- ber of comedy parts, one of which is played by W. J. Ferguson, as an old sport, hindered by a wife and gout. His work brings a num- ber of laughs. A wife played by Ethel Lloyd has little to It A comical bellboy was John Hlnes. His work will bring the laughs but Director Young evidently forgot bellboys do not work both day and night, even In Hartford. Crauford Kent and Chester Barnett as the suitors did well enough. Miss Martin easily takes first honors. She Is of the dainty type of screen artists. Her personality is screenly perfect. A flve-reeler almost entirely studio made and a fair picture of its kind. THE BUILDER OF BRIDGES. The Frohman Amusement Co. Is the maker of this flve-reeler, releasing it through the World Film. It is the second feature produc- tion of the Frohman concern. C. Aubrey Smith Is the star in the title role. The story deals with a weak boy who steals from his employers and Invests the money In worthless stocks, confessing to his sister. She decided that she will make a man connected with her brother's concern fall In love with her and marry him, thereby securing tbe money to settle for his theft. The man falls in love with her, but hears from a former suitor she only wants to marry him for bis money. This enrages him and all bets seem off. The girl learns she really loves the man, and after her brother had recovered half of the money he stole, tells the man of her love. The brother, promising to lead a righteous life, brings about a happy marriage. Mr. Smith is an exceptional actor but not a convincing lover. Edith Wells as the girl is attractive and did well. The young man who played the brother Is called Jack Sherrill. A bad bit was the use of an evening paper with the "evening" very notice- able in a breakfast-table scene. This dsily has a Aim reviewer advertising solicitor who does press work for film concerns, one of which may be the Frohman Co. "The Builder of Bridges" does not hold up throughout the flvo reels, but tho s.art is very good, with the scenic effects well selected. A very ordinary feature.