Variety (November 1917)

44 MOVING PICTURES HER SISTER'S RIVAL. Prince Duskoff V. A. Polonsky Nlta, the adopted daughter V. V. Colodna Mary, the daughter L. M. Coronova Although Pathc is releasing this feature It was produced by the Russian Art Film Corp., and may be Instantly recognized as a foreign picture. An Is the rule in foreign fllm dram a a the m-ts In "Her Sister's Rival" uro very pretentious, They seem to pay more attention to the sets abroad than to the dressing of the principals. Naturally the Myles In clothes seem u bit strange to America. nil save In the conventional evening dress of the men. Tho women's evening gowns, how- ever, seem dowdy compared to ours. The story tells of Nlta, an adopted daughter, and Mary, the natural daughter of a wealthy widow. At a social function the girls meet Prince Baakofl and a banker named Bartlnsky. Nlta, the pretty, attracts the Prince, and he dares her to come to his home ostensibly to see his art collection. The pair become Intimate. Mary in the meantime has become smitten with the Prince. The latter Is in great need of money, and goes for advice to Bartlnsky, who tells him that a match with Mary would be the thing, as the girl would receive a large dowry. Thus it happens that the spendthrifty noble- man throws over Nlta for Mary, and in desparation Nlta marries the banker. But the Prince soon continues his affair with Nlta, the while spending his wife's wealth at an alarming rate. The mother attempts to stop the squandering, but the Prlnee even goes so far as to forge Bartinsky's name to notes. He is finally trapped in a compromising position with Nlta. The mother then proposes he do the right thing for once In his life and shoot himself. This comes when the house Is sur- rounded by the police on the forgery charge. The finish Is the old lady killing the profligate, then placing the revolver In the dead man's hand. An abrupt ending. There Is nothing ex- ceptional In this fllm story, with Its tragic end-, ing. But foreign pictures of this calibre are welcome for a change now and then. The role of Nlta Is well done by V. V. Colodna, a girl o? unusual brunet beauty. Ibee. The First Paralta Play J. WARREN KERRIGAN IN Directed by OSCAR APFEL "A MAN'S MAN 59 Written by PETER B. KYNE There is no expense limit on our productions. There is no time limit on our productions. Our only limit is the end of human genius and ingenuity. The Second Paralta Play BESSIE BARRISCALE in Directed by REGINALD BARKER 'MADAM WHO?" Written by HAROLD MacGRATH PARALTA PLAYS, Inc. 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City DISTRIBUTES BY WW. HOQKINSQN CORPORATION * I.. THE WOLF AND HIS MATE. "The Wolf and Hit Mate" It a Universal production, dlreotad 'by B. J. LoBalnt and starring Louisa Lovely. The picture takes its title from the hero who Is known aa "The Wolf," because he Is so ferocious In bis deal- ings. Feature opens in a backwoods court- house. Two men claim title to a piece of Property on which Is a log hut One Is "The Wolf" and the other, named Nolan, unscrup- ulous, and who generally oomes out on top "The Wolf" bests him hi a very rough-and- tumble fight and says he is going away, but that on his return he will take possession of the property. While he Is away Nolan dies and leaves his property to a niece who is supporting herself by conducting a wa ll restaurant for the woodsmen. Residing near- *Lil B J&?a wld0 7 r °J her late »">ther, with their child, and who Is now married to a -i^.k Wh . e . n PK crook commiU * robbery w u£. tne ald of the child the girl takes the child away from them and intends to rear It Honestly. She gives up her restaurant and goes to the Inherited hut to live. It Is not explained how she earned money for food, of which she seemed plentifully supplied, not to mention clothes, etc. The rest is quits ?hl l0 ^t*. "i he ^ olf " returM » nd confronS !w s !f. 1 ' 8ne r «fuses to leave. He goes to the village store where he is taunted about the situation. He grabs the biggest chap there, wallops him over the head, drags him -. on< fc p i cks up * minister and marries the Vli t? foree * ,i' Now **• cabins mine by taw. .?i e * r , kIn . ,Uy . lf yw want tor." She replies: it is also mine and I'm going to stay." He sleeps outdoors and sends her birds he shot. She invites him for dinner. He kisses her by force. 'What I want I take." SheTtaps hta face. Crook comes and steals the child. She ™ ane » t? "The Wolf" and begs him to rescue % " tt,e B,rL T He *oes. W»e kisses him: „ W r h MiL. want l uke " Cllncn - Good pop! ular-prlced program picture. /oto. THE JUDGMENT HOUSE. J. Stuart Blackton has given fllm patrons a real picture in his production for Paramount of "The Judgment House," Sir Gilbert Parkers story of London and South Africa in the days this decision justifiable. There is a fine pro- fit fmT*"" 11 " 8 . 116 Photography and lighting, fine titling and excellent settings, both exter- !°, r » n £ interior. The acting is above par. violet Homing makes a success of the difficult role of Jasmine, the woman who doesn't know her own mind. Wilfred Lucas as Byng, Con- way Tearle as Stafford, Crasy Thunder as Krool and Florence Deshon as Almah are excellent. A part well handled Is that bf Fellowes, by Paul Doucet. Lucille Harnill has a small role well done. There are some real- st« C .n b ? t f ,e ^^ ene " 'to** in the wihta of ?«? "iA* 1 *?* but none the le »» effective there- *° l r - . The Interiors sre mostly L Cvmmodore ?^H° n \ bome ln Brooklyn, while lome of the charming garden scenes were taken at his f* 11 * ,^ Und home in °J r8 tcr Bay. The story is well adapted to the screen, and the adap- tation Is by the producer himself. Sir Gilbert was here at the time and helped in many ways by suggestions. The plot deals with a woman's effect upon the lives of at least three men. One she loves and does not marry—an- other she marries and does not love—until ln the crucible of war she learns she really cares for him after all. Intrigue, treachery on the part of a servant who expiates hla wrong bravely in a last touching scene of seir-sacriflce on the ensanguined field—these are Che component parts of a story built about the theme of love and war in a period filled with exciting incidents, a seeming prelude to the terrific days of the present. It Is a good picture for all classes and is satisfying to the last of its six reels. j 0 k>. HER SILENT SACRIFICE. m 1 !" 6 .. •« '. A,Ice Brady Richard Vale Henry Clive Fnnce Boissard R. Pay ton Glbbs Sarthe Edmund Pardo Countess Coralie Mrs. Blanche Craig Ubupln Emll LeCrolx Credit is given for the inspiration of Eve Lnseirs scenario of "Her Silent Sacrifice" to Henry J. W. Dams play, "The Red Mouse." The story is so old and has been used so many times, with modifications, it seems im- possible to think, of a new twist to it. A young Normandy girl lives with her grand- lather who conducts an inn. A poor artist paints her picture and they fall in love. Ar- tist is starving and girl is told by wealthy Parisian art connoisseur and libertine that if she will consent to go with him to Paris as his mistress he will make the artist famous. She agrees but makes it a condition her lover shall first be made. Libertine "makes" the artist through his wealth and Influence and comes to claim his reward. She is to com- plete the bargain that night but at the cru- cial moment the rich prince's Bast Indian serv- ant kills him and commits sulolde, all to save the girl. In the first reel the prince strikes his (servant with his riding crop but the beating is Interrupted by the girl. That was enough for the Indian to kill the prince and save the girl. Beautifully produced and finely acted and photographed, with a sump- tuous banquet scene and with plenty of class, but the story is too trite. Alice Brady does excellently as the self-sacrificing peasant girl. Henry Cllvc makes a good type of artist and Robert Payton Glbbs, as the libertine, gave a brilliant performance. The feature was di- rected by Edouard Jose for Select, with BenJ. Struckman the cameraman. Jolo.