Variety (December 1915)

24 FILM REVIEWS TEMPTATION. Rene* Dupree Geraldine Farrar Julian Pedro De Cordaba Otto Muller Theodore Roberta Mme. Maroff Elsie Jane Wllaon Uaron Cb^vrlal Raymond Hatton Flve-pai. Laaky (Paramount) feature, starring Oeraldlne Farrar, scenario by Hec- tor Turnbull, produced by Cecil DeMllle. Eventually lllas Farrar, a good film actreaa, will learn tbe screen tricks and refrain from too much "emoting," and, with a suit- able scenario, will make a desirable acquisi- tion to the cast of any picture production. Irrespective of her operatic reputation, which Is unquestionably an asset In fllmdom. This "Temptation" scenario Is supposed to depict the trials of a pure girl seeking fame on the operatic stage. There Is the conventional type of Impresario who discharges a prima donna in spite of her vocal gifts because she won't accede to his Immoral demands, the noble young composer with whom she la In love, whose opera the Impresario rejects, de- spite Its value, because the girl won't yield to him, and the ultimate triumph of both, ending with the death of the lecherous Im- presario by being stabbed with a paper cut- ter by his Jealous mistress. In spite of the excellent acting (especially of Theodore Rob- erts In the role of the Impresario), the One photography and even the Farrar name, the story Is hardly worth more than being uti- lized for a two-reeler on a Jitney program. Jolo. OVER NIGHT. This William A. Brady (World) feature was Intended for comedy throughout. It gets laughs In spots, and quite probably the laugh- ter spots were unsuspected by the makers be- fore releasing the film. The best reason why "Over Night* Is not bringing more Kughs Is because there are not enough captions, espe- cially written by someone who had a grasp on caption writing. The feature manufacturers appear to have entirely neglected the cultiva- tion and development of the caption writer. Often the captions carry over a comedy pic- ture. It could do that with thla one. There are but few captions In "Over Night' and those of the most conventional sort, such as a bride asking the bridegroom If be had a li- cense, when there had been left open oppor- tunities for a half dosen captions on the pre- vious situations before that point waa reached. The single caption to get a laugh was when a mixed up couple of odd husband and wife reg- istered at a summer hotel. The "wife" told "him" to add "and wife" to his signature. He replied. "Oh. I've registered before." "Over Night" needs captions, funny ones, badly. There are so many situations In It susceptible of spoken suggestion. Two situations drew a laugh on their own. One was an old broken down horse running away and tbe other a rickety automobile. "Over Night" Is a tale of mixture Immediately after marriage. Two bridal couples meet on an Albany boat The wife and husband of tbe respective couples leave the boat to attend to messages, and the boat leaves with the two remaining obliged by circumstances to pose as man and wife. The odd couple left behind follow the boat on a train. This train (on a single track) was so phony an excellent comedy situation, a real legitimate humorous one, lost Its laugh through that After a aeries oT adventure* or Inci- dents, the two couples are reunited In the Birch Bark Hotel, where each had aaked for "Two Rooms. Please, Two." The picture Is a fllmliatlon of tbe Brady stage ploy of similar title. Its rlsqueness has been well held down on the sheet and the fun of It all takes away from any possible suggestlveness. In this the director. James Young. In entitled to full credit. In fact Mr. Young directed what should have been a first class comedy for a five reeler, but he finished bis work when turning In the film. It was up to someone else to see the points were sent over properly, through captions that are so badly needed. The finish Is too abrupt, leaving four people on the front steps of a hotel, two of them In pajamas with no place to go. There Is some slapstick matter but It Is harmless. Vivian Martin Is featured. The two comedians, however, take the picture along. They are Herbert Yost and Sam B. Hardy. Mr. Yost. Is the better fun maker for the screen. He knows how to inject a laugh. Hardy often alms for one but must be assisted. It's not an easy matter to keep comedy on the move for five reels, and when there Is so much good material as this picture contains, It'a too bad moat of it should be wasted. Ten good captions In the first 1.S00 feet would do the world of good for "Over Night." But as a regular weekly release It's all right, and the story of two couples becoming mixed the sec- ond night of their marriages may give the film an additional Impetus at the box office. Rime. LYDIA GILMORE. Lydla Ollmore Pauline Frederick Dr. Ollmore Vincent Serrano Ralph Benham Thos. Holding Mr. Btracey Robert Cain Mrs. Btracey Helen Luttrell Master Ned Ollmore Jack Curtis Detective Michael Rale Five part Famous Players (Paramount) feature, starring Pauline Frederick. Splendid scenario, magnificent photography and excel- lent acting, combining to make a most classy plcttfre. Strong drama giving Miss Frederick plenty'of opportunity for ervotlonal acting and an unusual role for Vincent 8errano as a modern "heavy." Lydla Ollmore (Miss Fred- erick) Is married to a handsome man (Ser- rano). They have a little boy. Husbsnd has not been true to her, but she bears with him for the sake of the child. Husband has a liaison with a married woman, whose husband overhears and keeps the engagement. A fight ensues and Ollmore kills the other man. He rushes home and tells hla wife, pleading that ahe Is the only one who can aave bun by awearlng that he hadn't left home on that fatal night Child enters, sees his father In an ex- cited state and knows be had been out The trial hinges on the alibi and after the wife testifies In her husband's behalf, not wishing her son to bear the disgrace, the child Is about to be heckled, when the mothers calls a halt and tells the truth. A somewhat similar sit- uation was unfolded In a melodrama at the London Haymarket some twenty-odd years ago. The piece was called "The Red Lamp" and Sir Herbert Tree (then known aa Herbert Beerbohm-Tree) appeared In It. Husband Is convicted but dies of heart failure before the law can exact Its penalty. One of the best re- leases ever turned out by the Famous Players. Jolo. GERMANY AT WAR. These pictures are said to have been taken by the German General Staff for the Imperial Archives In Berlin. There are approximately 2.000 feet of film that has been divided Into three reels and brought to this country to ex- ploit the German side of the war through the medium of the "Fatherland" magazine. Of course, as usual, with German films depleting various phases of the present conflict, the effi- ciency of the German military system and the national preparedness, are exploited to a great degre%. There also are a number of rather thrilling battle scenes; one In particu- lar would make the picture worth while even If It had no other feature about It that con- tained action. It shows a battle scene In which several men fall. Of course the big guns are shown In action and later pictures show the destruction which the shells have wrought. The latter portion of the second reel has a couple of hundred feet of film devoted to air craft and one portion Is supposed to be a battle In mid-air between an aeroplane and a "Zep." This looks very much as though It had been staged for the camera. Another thing about tbla particular section Is that a peculiar aureole of light surrounding all of the objects In It that might make one sus- pect this portion of the film was "duped." There are one or two attempts st comedy In the pictures, but they are far over shadowed by the tremendous amount of destructive work that most parts of the film show. The picture Is too short to run as a regular fea- ture at any house, but It will undoubtedly at- tract business If played as an added attrac- tion to a regular program. Fred. dizzyhejghts. International Buyer Chester Conklln Rival Buyer Dave Anderson Maker of Aeroplanes Nick Cogley His Daughter Cora Anderson Aeroplane Demonstrator William Mason As a Triangle-Keystone (at the Knicker- bocker). "Dizzy Heights and Daring Hearts" has some real laughs, and what better could be asked nowadays from a film? It was di- rected by Walter Wright, who has filled It with camera tricks that holds a thrill here or there and laughs a plenty. Two buyers for foreign governments come over here to- gether. They are after aeroplanes. One re- ceives a wire about the other. He is told to go after him and stop at nothing. Nor does he stop. Steeples are blown up, aeroplanes go wild and there are 60 other mix-ups, not of the familiar sort either. In two reels this film holds a lot of fun and was excellently produced, considering the many tricks ln- volvod. Stme DESTRUCTION. Fernande Thcda Bara Dave Walker J. Herbert Frank John Froment, Sr James Furey John Froment, Jr Carloton Macv John Froment, 3d Gaston Bell Mr. Deleveau Warner Oland Joslne Walker Esther Holer .Iodine's Brother Master Tansey I<ang Arthur Morrison Mill Foreman Frank Evans The scenario from which "Destruction" was fllmlzed. Is based on Emll Zola's famous book entitled "Labor." It Is a five-reel Will- iam Fox feature In which Theda Bara Is the star. The picture was filmed originally about three or more years ago as a three-reel pro- duction and released by the Solax Company, which has since passed out of existence as a releasing firm. Will S. Davis Is accredited with both the direction and the authorship of the story. He may have written a better story than has been finally turned out, but If he did the record taken by the camera does not show It Incidentally, If the author Is re- sponsible for the "cut-In" titles he should be taken to task for tbe manner In which he has framed them. There are times when bis language no more fits his characters then the title of "gentlemen" could be applied to sub- way guards as a whole. The photography suffers to a great extent from over lighting and lack of lighting In spots and were it not for the acting of several of the members of the supporting company the picture would be a particularly bad one. Miss Bara Is far from being at her best In this feature. She seems to employ but three tricks of expression throughout, and these are naturally much .overworked. The principal fault with the film version of "Labor" Is the fact there Is absolutely not the slightest attempt at con- tinuity In the manner In which the story Is unfolded. Things happen throughout the pic- ture without any rhyme or reason for them and tbe audience Is forced to figure It all out for themselves. It would seem as though the author was too close to his subject and when he came to direct the picture be took too much for granted regarding general famili- arity with the subject he was filming. Miss Bara In the role of an adventuress manages BBSasaSBSBtaXlSSSSjSJBBBlBSSSBBBBBBJBBJBJBBBBBBJBBaxBajBjSa to beguile a wealthy mill owner Into marry- ing her. She learns that he has heart failure and believes that If shs can prejudice him against his son by a former wife, she will receive his wealth on hla death. In the former ahe la partially successful, bat death overtakes the husband before the will Is changed. She then schemes to do away with the son, but falls to reckon with the workings of the mind of the man who la near a re- version to primitive type, this finally brings about her destruction. The role of almost "cavs man" type was wonderfully plsyed by J. Herbert Frank and It stood out as one of the characterisations distinctly worth while In this picture. There were times when he domi- nated the scenes completely and the stsr had little or no chance against hla personality. Carleton Macy as the mill owner also gave a most studied performance, as did also James Furey as the aged grandfather. The picture could be helped a hundred per cent, with the aid of retltllng. The first thing to do would be to establish the characters to a greater extent than Is now done and then to tell the story by the means of the titles, In the event that the film could not be reassembled to clarify the story. Fred. THE BURGLAR AND THE LADY. Hadley Stone Mr. Calvin Relsland Mr. Harmon James O'Neill Mrs. Harmon Mrs. Buermelster Norma, Mrs. Harmon's niece Miss Claire Whitney Butler Fraunle Fraunholi Raffles Mr. Jamee J. Corbett Rev. John Banfleld Mr. Edward Cecil Five part feature, scenario by Langdol McCormlck, directed by Herbert Blacks and being state-righted by the Sun Photoplay Co. It Is an Interesting plav with a Raffles cen- tral character and a Sherlock Holmes con- stantly on his trail to keep up the keen, sus- pensive Interest. Man and wife are legally separated, father taking elder son, and mother the younger. Father prospers end showers luxuries upon elder, while the younger steals to get medicine for his mother. The elder boy becomes a minister and the younger the Raffles. James J. Corbett Is starred In the role of the dress-suited burglar, which is a valuable asset to the picture, and besides, he's a good screen actor and has sufficient drnmn and the story Is progressive and cum- ulative. Tbe meeting between the two broth- rifles for the role, it Is consistent melo- ers Is good, clean heart Interest, as Is also the finish where Raffles decides to go straight and eventually marries the daughter of the man whose house and office Is robbed bv him. "The Burglnr and the Lady" la an acceptable pic- ture for any house. Jolo. THE IMMIGRANT. Masha Valeaka Suratt J. J. Wnlton Theodore Roberts David Harding Thomas Melghan oi*n Jane Wolf Munslnsr Raymond Hatton Walton's Partner EVneet Joy Walton's Housekeeper Gertrude Kellar Valeska Suratt will add hundreds of ad- mirers nnd a host of laurels to her already large collection of both through the work that she has done In the flve-roel Laskv feature. "The Immlerant," * n which she Is starred. The story of a beautiful Russian girl who comes to America and falls into the clutches of a crooked contractor and is forced to be- come his mistress, Is so well enacted by Miss Stirntt that she surprised even her snngulne friends who witnessed the picture. There Is one thine about Mlas Suratt In pictures; she photoeraphs beautifully, and this fact, coupled with her splendid carriage and wonderful way of wearing gowns, make her a film star of the tint magnitude. For capping all of these as- sets she has developed an acting streak In films that will carry her a long wav If she cares to continue before the camera. Oh. what a vampire she would make, providing she had nothing but that sort of roles written for her In a series of film dramas. There are many now In pictures getting by on that Vampire thine that would have to look to their laurels If Val Suratt ever decides to go In for that tvpc of role as a steady diet. The opening of the picture shows the Immigrant girl (Suratt) coming to America on shipboard. She Is strlklnalv beautiful In her simple cos- tume and attracts the attention of one of the ship's officers. He tries to "make her" and a row follows, and David Harding (Thomas Melghnn). one of the passengers, rescues her. J. J. Walton (Theodore Roberta), the crooked contractor. Is also a passenger on the steam- er and witnesses the row. He Is also struck by the beauty of the girl and she awakens In him all sensuous desires and he plots to got her. In New York he,looks her up and engages her as a maid In his home. Being a bachelor, his home Is In charge of a house- keeper. Walton Is a fast worker and the first night the new maid la under his roof be breaks Into her room and evidently accom- plishes his purpose. With the dawn of the following day tbe girl makes her escape. Dut Walton goes after her again and with promises of marriage gets her to return. Later, young Harding has risen In hla profession, that of engineer, and Is a rival of Walton's. Harding has secured a contract for a dam building pro- ject by bidding against Walton and the latter decides to ruin him. The dam Is almost fin- ished and Walton plots to blow It up. He succeeds, but tbe waters undermine the house he Is In and be Is killed, xiardfng la ruined, but be has Masha and the two decide to start life over again together. The scenario by Marlon Fairfax carries sn element of suspense and a little touch of action here and there that would make tbe picture worth while without Miss Suratt. but with her and the well known box office drawing power of her name Jt will be a winner. THE DESPOUER. Colonel Damten Charles K. French Sylvia Damlen Enid Markey The Emir Frank Keenaa The Mayor Roy Laldlaw The Abbess Fanny Mldgley Field Marshal J. Frank Burks Thomas H. Ince. Kay-Bee (Triangle) pro- duction, story by J. O. Hawks and Ince, fea- turing Frank Keenan. It la a strong protest against the violation of women in war. and Is magnificently done. In spits of the close-ups of Keenan, which were no more necessary that they were in his previous film production, "The Coward." Keenaa la east for the role of the leader of a wild band of "Irregulars'' attached to an army, though no actual coun- try or war Is Intended to be depleted. The colonel la ordered to take his men to capture a small town and compel them to disgorge a sum of money which had been collected Is sld the enemy. His chief leader la Emir (Keenan) with a nondescript uniform that Is a cross between a Turkish, an Egyptian and several others. Emir meets the colonel's daughter and, having been In battle for weeks without the sight of a female, casts libidinous eyes upon her. Villagers refuse to give up the money no matter what threats are mads to them until, yielding to the suggestion of Emir, the colonel tells the mayor and his staff that unless ths money Is forthcoming by oae o'clock that night he will turn his men loose In ths abbey where the women of the city had sought sanctuary. They do not yield and the colonel gives the order to Emir to order the men to spend the night In the abbey. Meantime, Sylvia (colonel's daughter) la seeking her father bad been held up on the road end goes to ths abbey. When Emir and hla now drunken and saves* band arrive there la a aerloua situation. Syl- via aees Emir at the door and orders that It be opened to him. feeling that her father's man will protect all. Emir pretends hs doesnt recognise her and affects to disbelieve Ler story of her Identity. He gives her the choice of having all the men turned loose among the women, or to sacrifice herself for them all by giving herself to him. She mskes the big sacrifice and there la enacted a horrible bit of realism, showing as far as Is permlsalbU the cbnvent-bred. Innocent girl at the mercy of the big. drunken brute. In this Keenaa sblnes aa brightly aa he ever did In anything be ever portrayed upon the stags. At ths finish she shoots him dead. Meantime ths colonel's conscience smites htm and he rides to the abbey, to find his men asleep outsloe, and told they were kept there by Emir. H* enters, and finding HTmlr dead, calls In ths men and directs them to cast aside all re- straint with the women. He calls for Emir's murderer to make an example and a veiled woman Is brought before him. A volley of bullets In sent Into her body, and then, only then, does he raise the veil to find It Is his own daughter. It Is all a dream, the colonel having gone through It all while dosing In a chair awaiting the mayor's decision, u-mlr wakes him up. and tbe colonel gives the order for "boots and saddles," and they ride away leaving the village In peace. Well played, strong story and magnificently photographed. Jolo. THE HUNT. The Father Frank Oppermas The Daughter May Emory Suitors for her hand {|fftt V fiSu* The Colored Groom Ford Sterling The Ditto Chef Guy Woodward The Ditto Malu Polly Moras Bennett Keystone (Triangle) two-part pro* ductlon, featuring Ford Sterling, built (not written) around a fox hunt Sterling plays a swell coon, who Is chased Instead of the fox because the fox baa been rubbed with smoked herring end snother rlvsl for the hand of bis wench puts a herring In the broken sole of Sterling's shoe. Innumerable other situations and tbe Inevitable shooting sffslrs In which everybody runs at top speed. Very funny. Jolo. GILDED YOUTH. Pinkie Cochrane Rupert Julian Sam We 11 bridge.. Bertram Orossbj Msc MacTsvlsh O. E. Wllsos Marie Carmen Phillips Victor Cochrane MacTavlsh Hsl Cooler Olive ..: Rene Rogen Angelina Le Saint Elsie Jane Wilson In writing "Glided Youth," Rupert Julian, who Is the producer aa well as ths sutbor snd oqe of the actors In this three-reel Uni- versal feature, hss borrowed a bit from "When We Were Twenty-One" for the origi- nal plot of hla scenerlo. But the picture It- self Is a long Improvement In tne type of three-reelers that srs ususlly produced by tba U. Three struggling artists adopt the Illegiti- mate child of one of their models who bat died. In later years the trio regard ths youth as their own son snd have great plans for his future. One of these Is his marriage to the rather pretty niece of one of them. But the boy fells Into the handa of s pair of schemers who are after what they can gat out of any one that comes their wsy. Tba three-old artists have become highly success- ful and when tbe boy fails for the scbemen they resdlly tske him Into camp through the wiles of ths woman of ths two. The boy la lnfstusted snd wants to marry the woman and as a laat resort one of the trio of hit guardians decides to "cut him out" with her snd thus ssve the lad from himself. There U some excellent actlnr done In the picture snd ss the story Is Interesting ths feature Is one that ahould fill In nicely on any program.