Variety (June 1915)

FILM W 17 , THE ARAB. to bring it considerably up and over She If- erage modern feature release, one beiM the ?2^2i l i on WJ flDe exterlor views wd the g otner m.n«r Ple H n( J ld n ma J ,ller ln whlch ">« major and Z«£ 2? tall8 „ havo been handled. To the latter, the producer owes much for the suc- ?h!L°n, the Jrt for " Tne Arab" I. one of Sm M P J ays , that require all the appropriate cuSE? P iTtll ^T to W> ri * nt and P eape- SJtLn- k tbe J*. 0 ? 10 Presentation, must the details be handled with infinite care. The P .l?« e ba 4 8 ?u flne thwne for a camera adapta- tion and the Lasky director has taken ad- nnnot 86 ?f eve ry, opportunity to send home a P Tho Ar°K° e . ,lt » t L e tr J c l5 tnat Btand « out in The Arab Is the shadow scene, showing a line of natives on march, the film catching their shadows only as they filed by the ma- chine. The entry into the palace at the nnale was another excellent section, the band of Arabs riding right into tbe structure with- out dismounting. The cast, headed by Edgar Selwyn, contributed some great character acting in this effort, Horace D. Carpenter in the role of Sheik of El Khryssa, offering a make-up that stood out conspicuously in the line. Selwyn, of course, playing a familiar part^held up the principal list with little or no\ trouble, Theodore Roberts playing op- posite in a heavy part. Gertrude Robinson monopolized the female section being the only girl in the cast. Miss Robinson hardly meas- ured up to expectations, tne type being a trifle off for the role contained. However, this is practically a "stag" piece and the girl s shortcomings were easily overlooked. The story tells of the Arab turning Christian a J d Preventing a cleverly planned massacre of Christians by the Turks. He falls ln love with the young woman and later rescues her from the Turkish Governor. The desert scenes and those depleting the Oriental village have been well attended to ln detail, the former of course being natural views while the lat- ter was built to order. The Turkish customs add great coloring to the picture, the direc- tor apparently being well posted on such af- fairs. Irvln Cobb, the celebrated journalist, took a small part In the reel, showing only for a brief moment at the beginning. "The Arab" surpasses many of the previous Lasky releases and will set a mark for the others to aim at for some time. It's a sure thing wherever played. Wynn. MADCAP BETTY. ''Betty" Elsie Janis Jim Denning. Owen Moore June Hastings, Betty's Cousin, Juanlta Hanson Mr. Hastings, her uncle.. .Herbert Standing Mrs. Hastings, Her aunt Vera Lewis The Boarder Harry Ham Malzle Follette Roberta Hickman Bosworth made this picture some time ago. It was scheduled for release on the Para- mount Program May 17, the name originally being "Betty in Search of a Thrill." The picture has been released throughout the country but the first New York exhibition oc- curred this week at the Broadway. The first metropolitan showing was scheduled for the Strand but an outside picture was slipped In Instead. "Madcap Betty" is in five reels starring Elsie Janis, directed by Philip Smalley. It relies entirely too much upon the star. No matter how clever she should have been supported by a real story. The plot was written by Miss Janis and tells of the adventures of a young convent bred girl, who, upon getting away from religious sur- roundings, wants to see the world. The peo- ple around her try and keep things very se- date ln order that Betty will not be shocked. Betty falls asleep and has a marvelous dream which makes the story. She runs away from home and secures a position In a department store but finds she does not like that work and Is dismissed, then securing a position In a show through a chorus girl friend. Betty has trouble with the stage manager and Is dismissed. A cabaret Is the next. Engaged as a singer she Is Insulted by an Intoxicated roan but her sweetheart Jim Denning (Owen Moore), who happens to be ln the place, res- cues her. She then dons boy's clothing and figures in a few wild escapades. When awak- ening, she tells Jim she will marry him im- mediately. Miss Janis Is most vivacious on the screen. This is her second film pro- duction and she seemed to be effervescing with spirit. The picture is like putting Elsie Janis on a stage for an hour and a half and telling her to do everything she can, except- ing to sing and impersonate. Mr. Moore Is a well groomed leading man and does some likeable work. Herbert Standing aB the old sport undo has few opportunities but handles his role In clever style. Junita Hanson, a good looking blond, and Roberta Hlchman, of the same type, were seen but at Infrequent intervals. Vera Lewis and Harry Ham fig- ured inconspicuously. Too much has been left to Miss Janis in this picture. However It Is an amusing five rceler, with a star who is untiring. WORMWOOD. Gaston Beauvals John Salnpolls Pauline DeChamllles Ethel Kauffman Sllvlon Guldel , Charles Arthur Mons. Beauvals Edgar Davenport Cure Vaudron Steven Orattan Andre Gassonox Philip Hahn Helolse St. Cyr Lillian Dllworth Comte DeChamllles Frank DeVernon Coratesso DeChamllles Bertha Burndage Margot Caroline Harris Marshall Farnum deserves unstinted credit for having turned out an exceedingly thrilling pictorial visualization of Marie Corelll's tamed novel "Wormwood" for Fox. K Is a flvo-reel production that is most capa ly acted from beginning to end with a cast that might be termed absolutely flawless. The Corolll masterpiece needs no retelling for the tal* has been read by almost every one. The film version tells the story most consistently with the exception of the last reel where a scene Is shown which Is supposedly a review of what has passed In the mind of the absinthe fiend during his last moments of life. This Is evidently not clear and It detracts consid- erable from the Initial punches the film de- livered. John Salnpolls as the absinthe fiend gave a truly remarkable performance. Ethel Kauffman gave another performance of merit. She is but eighteen and has a future in dra- matic roles before the camera. Lillian Dll- worth also proved herself worthy of being included in what Is almost an all star pic- ture cast. As to the production, the exteriors were taken principally in New Orleans and they are exceedingly well done. The Interiors were taken at the Pathe studio and were exceptionally well done. "Wormwood" is a feature that will not only attract first day's business but should bring second day trade. Fred. MY BEST GIRL The musical comedy. "My Best Girl," has been adapted Into a five-feel feature by Rolfe and it makes a very acceptable comedy drama for the screen. It contains the elements of an interesting story and it brings a good many laughs. Furthermore the feature Is capably acted by the company which Is headed by Max Flgiuan and Lois Meredith as the stars. The flrbt half of the picture which shows the college life and unfolds the beginning of a pretty romance between Dickey Vanderfleet (Max Figman), who is a senior at college and the daughter of an aged chemist. The girl Is played by Lois Meredith. Dickey Is ex- pelled from college because a woman Is found in his room. The girl was a sweetheart of a student who held an adjoining room and who to escape detection placed the girl ln Dick's room. Dick Is engaged to the chemist's daugh- ter, but when she hears of the escapade she calls It all off. Dick returns to his home and Is about to sail for Europe when at a farewell party he comes to blows with a sol- dier ln a cafe and striking him on the head with a bottle almost kills him. In trying to escape the police he changes places with his chauffeur, who is a deserter from the army. The police looking for Vanderfleet learn from him that he Is the chauffeur and when he tells his name he Is arrested as the deserter. At the post he Is sent to he discovers the girl of his heart, but she ignores him. He also dis- covers the brother of the girl who was dis- covered ln his room with the result that he sends for her and she squares things, with the result of the usual happy ending. The pro- duction which Is largely outdoor scenes is very effective. The direction Is adequate at all times, the army post scenes being especially well handled. Max Flgman's playing at all times was all that could be asked. "My best Girl" Is a very entertaining feature and one that should attract audiences. Fred. MIDNIGHTAT MAXIM'S. A Kalem four-reeler that has only Its length to base any claim that It is a feature film. It Is to be released on the regular General Film Co. service, but Kalem will have to do much better, ever so much so, to keep ex- hibitors from complaining that It Is turning out a single reel ln feature aire. Even as a single reeler, "Midnight at Maxim's" would be mild. The title of course Is excellent, any- where where it is known that Maxim's Is a restaurant playing a revue and cabaret. A snappy picture might be expected under the name, but It's not there. The entire four reels are employed to exhibit restaurant re- vues and dancing couples. One scene has a bit of a revue, and a close-up of three men seated at a table follows, this constituting whatever action Is there, and It Is repeated In the same Idea about 60 times during the running. An early slide said the cabaret people were taken from Maxim's, Bustanoby's and Rector's revues. Even so! A story threads through, of Mr. Shye, a bashful young man, making advances to a cabaret performer, finally meeting her and then her. husband, with plenty of "John stuff" mixed ln. Tbe dancing was done tn a curtain-enclosed set, without a sign of a lestaurant, and the res- taurant scenes themselves made the produc- tion cheap looking enough. The large number of girls must have been mostly drawn from the Kalem extras. George L. Sergeant Is mentioned as the director of the film. It was Bhown privately Tuesday morning with cards handed out for views to be expressed on them. Eut few were turned back. Most of those there were exhibitors. They might have pre- ferred to remain silent, but It would likely have done the Kalem people a world of good to And out what they really thought of this mess. In any town of small population and far enough removed from New York to have Maxim's conjured up as a horrible example of New York after dark, this picture might excite some comment, but In that case the village would be too puritanical to stand for the ex- hibition, so Kalem Is up against It either way. These daily release manufacturers should commence to take this feature film proposition properly, either doing It well or not at all, for they but Injure their own names. Another recent example was Sellg's "Light O* Love" In three reels. Awful! Here are the oldest makers ln tbe trade, 'old "Asso- ciation" manufacturers, standing still In fea- tures, allowing newcomers to literally beat their heads off at their own game. There U no vlBlble reason why an independent maker should organize for better screen results ln multiples than tho dally release films, but they do. There's a big fault, if nothing else, somewhere around when this kind of a fea- ture can bo turned out and allowed to pass. On ipon a time the manufacturers when ti v knew they had a bad boy put It back on '■■■ si elf. Now everything goes, probably he theory it will be forgotten to-morrow, and the trade must take It anyway, but fea- tures will do as much to Injure the name of a standard maker and as quickly aa the dally releases did to build them up. The old line concerns perfected themselves In photography and then let the newcomers get the best of everything else. Maybe they think the public Is going back to dally releases. Maybe it Is. but meanwhile the dally release men had bet- ter watch themselves, for now they are among the also rans of the feature manufacturers. FINE FEATHERS. Janet Beecher Is the featured legitimate player in the film version of Eugene Walter's play, "Fine Feathers," one of the World Film's latest releases. Miss Beecher Is a clever actress but her work ln the picture was handi- capped through her unfamfilarlty with cam- era "poses." With more experience she should have no trouble ln becoming one of our best film actresses. "Fine Feathers" has long cap- tious and too many Interior scenes, with repe- tition of home views that have a tendency to drag out the picture. Tbe action doesn't reach any great heights until almost the closing period when the bursting of the Pecqs dam Is effectively shown with a flood scene following that was very realistic. It may have been pictures of the Ohio flood but they answered the purpose admirably. The really big acene also comes at the last when the leads have a fight with the young chemist wounded and a pursuit by the officers for the man who did It, this same man committing suicide before the police battered the door down. For an Interminably long time It seems one sees, first an Interior of the Reynolds workshop, then the Reynolds' home (first when comparatively poor and later when they have struck It rich) and the office of John Brand and then his (Brand's) home; back and forth these scenes go until they have the eyelids batty. The action drags until the Reynolds spend a night at Murraya and then later until the flood and fight take place. The photography for the most part was excellent. The director followed the script pretty closely and for that reason did not take advantage of some Inserted scenes that would have Julckened the tempo. As It stands "Fine eathers" gave Mlas Beecher an opportunity to study her first camera work. In the next feature one can expect a whole lot from her or else be reasonably disappointed. The role of the reporter was not convincing and David Powell as Bob Reynolds, the young chemist, whose report brought his wife flne feathers but almost wrecked their married life, was harsh and at times mawkish and discordant. Lyster Chambers made a pretty slick villain. The settings could have been Improved upon ln many ways and a gsneral deduction Is that the feature Is not up to the mark anticipated. There Is a good moral to the feature and that Is one advantage ln the sections where wives will spend the money Intended for the grocer and butcher for hats and clothes. To all ap- pearances the director tried hard enough to make the picture round out Into a big dra- matic punch, but at that there appears to be something missing. Perhaps It waa action In the first periods. It does not require 4,000 feet of film to put over a moral. Other firms are putting 'em over In 1,000 and not losing any beauty sleep. Mark. WITHIN THE GATES. Any question that takes religion as Its theme whether on the screen or stage Is bound to get "the bird" sooner or later and this Is exactly what may be said of the four- reel feature entitled "Within the Gates." which Rembrandt has prepared for release. The picture was made abroad and Judging from the types In the film It Is the output of either a German or Danish manufacturer. The scenario plot deals with the attempt or a priest to win the love of a girl who Is engaged to a chum. The priest knows that the father of the youth who Is engaged to the girl Is very HI. He persuades the father to will his fortune to the church and order his boy to adopt It aa a career. This seem- ingly would leave the way open for the schemer who desires the girl. The boy obeys his father's wishes and the girl suffers a collapse. Later her relatives In the hope of effecting a cure take her to a sacred spring where during the course or the services she recognises her former lover ln the robes of office. It Is the sight of h|m that really per- forms the miracle and having learned where he Is the girl decides to Invade tbe convent to speak to him. In the meantime the per- fidy of tbe scheming priest Is discovered and he Is banished from the church with a curse. The picture Is but fairly well acted and like- wise might be said of the production. The copy that was shown seemed to bear signs of duping. It Is a picture that will only do for the very cheap houses and then only ln certain neighborhoods. Fred. THE WILD OLIVE. Miriam Strange Myrtle Stedman Norrle Ford Forrest Stanley Evle Wayne Mary Ruby Judge Wayne Charles Marrtot Charies Conquest Edmund Lowe The latest production of Morosco In five ree.s, the press witnessing It privately Wed* nesday morning. The picture Is adapted from tbe novel of the same name by Basil King. Myrtle Stedman Is starred. A college boy going to the lumber camp of his uncle Is accused of killing him after they have a quarrel. He Is convicted and sentenced to death, but escapes and with the aid of a girl who Calls herself "The Wild Olive" (the only name he knows her by) he leaves the coun- try and goes to Buenos. Aires, securing a po- sition with a firm there with whom the girl had told him to become connected. She planned the trip and gave him the money to make It. He Is successful in the South i American city and meets a young American glr who Is visiting relatives. The two faU In ove. although the boy bad vowed he would make "The Wild Olive" his' wSfe The girl he falls In love with is a step-sister of Olive, but this Is unknown to the manV He tried to communicate with the other girl by mail. His letters were returned, he hav- ing no other name than "Tho Wild Olive" for the address. The American girl goes back to New York. A short time later the man gets word he Is to become the manager of the New York office of his concern. He Ib perplexed and does not know whether he can go, afraid he will be recognised although since he has been south a heavy beard adorns his face. He goes to New York and at a dinner meets Olive with her stepfather. He Is engaged to the other girl, but «it Is easily seen with whom he Is ln love. After many complications he gets Olive and Is cleared of the murder charge. A decidedly Interesting feature. The opening scenes are laid In a lumber camp in which there 1s some good natural scenery. Tne olty scenes are satis- factory. Miss Stedman, a blonde ln real life. Is a decided brunet, In order to fulfill the Olive part. Miss Stedman's playing Is con- vincing. Forrest Stanley Is a capable lead- ing man, who delivers a punch when needed, in acting and pugliletlcally. Mary Ruby In rather prominent nart pleases, aa do Charles Merrlot and Edmund Lowe. A good produc- tion in all branches besides. THE PATRI0TAND THE SPY. "The Patriot and the Spy" is a four part feature which Thanhouser produced as a contribution to the Mutual Masterplcture list. The featured players are Alphonse Bthler, James Cruse and Marguerite Snow. The first , f ,? w . Period' of this film go quietly along with little dramatlo tension until the Thanhouser directors get busy with their war scenes and the night photography at which this oonosrn appears to be making a specialty of ln recent pictures. As a feature the picture does well ln spots, the closing portions doling out enough blood and thunder to make up for the first stanias. As a big, gripping war feature, with a story that has a r 'punch" and sub- climaxes of a hair raising sort "The Patriot and the Spy" misses ths mark. The greatest fault Is with the story. Quite ordinary to be true but doesn't make the hero do enough to Elease the average movie fan who has long •en used to seeing Jim Cruse pull down mountains and move heaven and earth for the woman he loves ln the celluloid romances. The advance notices said that the story hinged on action ln a certain Continental village far removed from busy centers where peasant folk had other things to think of than war. Blanohette (Miss Snow) marries Pletro (Mr. Cruse) much to the discomfiture of Johannes (Mr. Bthler), the rejected suitor who turns out to be a spy. Pletro Is hurt when rescu- ing his eldest child from the path of a speed- ing auto. That prevents him from going to the front although Johannes departs amid great acclaim. To make a long story short tbe Spy frames up a deal whereby he per- suades the Patriot Pletro to attempt to blow up a bridge only to he easily captured by the Invaders as ths Incoming army ighters are captioned throughout the film story. Pletro manages to escape, he reaches home to find Johannes forcing his attentions on his wife. He and Joey do a Hackenshmldt-Ootch bout with Joey being plunked for the count by members of his own side who fired through sn open window. Here comes one of tne thinnest situations of the picture, made thin through the holding of tne scene and the supposition oarrled that Pletro with a small shooting Iron fired time and again at six or seven soldiers who were pouring lead Into the open window. The best part of the pic- ture Is several of the battle scenes and these keep the picture from going out with the tide. The story falls to tell much and Just what kind of a war It was was left to much imagination. Afarfc. THE GOVERNOR'S BOSS. The Governor William Suiter Mrs. Morton Pauline Hall The Boss Edward P. Sullivan Ruth Anna Logan Fordyce Manvllle Edward K. Koseman Edith Elsie Balfour Archie Tally Bert Tuey Grace Ferguson Dorothy Kingdon A Delegate Rev. Madison C. Peters Policy Seller Frank Tinney This five-reel feature with Its scenario based on the stage play of the same title which was a failure when produced early In the year, portends to show the manner In which ex-Governor William Bulzer was framed by the alleged bosses of the political party which put him Into office. The story Is melodra- matic In the extreme and all of the modern expose devices are brought Into play. There Is the dlctophonc, the dictagraph, the motion picture machine, etc. Tbe leading role of the drama Is played by tbe ex-Governor him- solf, and In passing It might be well to state that If given a chance ho might have made a better Governor for the Empire State than he will ever be a motion picture actor. Two other personages of more or less public prom- inence in the cast are the Rev. Madison C. Peters and Frank Tinney. The latter plays Just a bit in one scene while the former couM not'bo distinguished at all. The feature has been quite cheaply produced and the pho- tography In It wavers between very good and very bad. there being entire scenes that are completely out of focus. Rape, blackmail, forgery, the stuffing of the ballot box and the bribing of state politicians ail play a promi- nent part In the theme of the feature. Ac- cording to the story tho poor "Ex-Oov" never had a chance from tho ntait. There Is a chance for the picture In the smaller towns. Fred.