Variety (November 1917)

46 MOVING PICTURES THE SHIP OF DOOM. Martin Shaw ... -Hone :Blue Clara Gove Clm ftw McI J?^, e, J Jeff Whittlesey Arthur Millet Mate Aaron Edwards "Bundown"' Shattuck Prank Brownlee A Triangle feature of melodramatic nature. Interesting as to story and as the players are an efficient group and there Is a bit of strlK- lni photography, the picture Is to be clamed as above the average. The action begins In a fishing village, of which Clara Is the belle and Martin her affianced. Jeff has insulted Clara and In the resultant fight with Martin falls from a cliff to the ocean. His body Is washed ashore and as the men of the village plan Justice in spite of Jeff's bad character the girl and Martin escape In a launob. They are picked ur by a trading vetieel of the two- mast type, bound for the South Pacific. This ship Is mastered by "Sundown" Shattuck a powerful brute who rules his crew of roughs with bis fist. Only that a woman was aboard the launch would he have allowed the rescue. By reason of bis powers on the high aeas the captain marries the couple. However, mar- riage to him Is no bar for possession, and at night he tries to take the woman. Martin fighting him but hardly a match for the burly "Sundown." As this fight progresses the crew mutinies and the battle becomes general all over the decks. In the meantime a fire breaks out and all hands take to the boats. Martin loses In a drawing as to who must go over- board to lighten the weight of the rowboat. but he manages to gain an island. There, too, lands the captain with Clara, aure in the belief that he will gratify his desire. But he dies, trapped by qulckaand. Clara finds Mar- tin, who Is half mad, brooding over the kill- ing of Jeff, and when a rescue boat lands to take them off to another ship he refuses, believing It Is the vengeance from above that bids him remain in expiation of his deed. Thus are the two left on the uninhabited Isle. Perhaps not a human ending. The acting of Frank Brownlee aa "Sundown" Is particularly good. Excellent types have been chosen for the crew. The picture was directed by Wynd- hara Qlttens and the photography was accom- plished by Allan Davis, who got vivid results in the faces of the lovers lit up by a lamp while aboard the launch. Ibee. Her hand sought the jeweled dagger in her bosom that was to be her last defense. As she stood, hesitating, there came to her, by a trick of memory, scenes of her early happiness. With what high hopes she had seen Vale set forth on the road to fame and fortune! And now—the sacrifice 1 Her hands tightened on the dagger — well, she would be no lamb led to the slaughter! Isn't she stunning! Of course, it's r ALICE BRADY in "HER SILENT SACRIFICE" Directed by EDWARD JOSE Distributed by SELECT PICTURES CORPORATION ¥ LOYALTY. This Bernstein feature (Oro) waa designed for state-righting but it does not even meas- ure up to program standard. The story lacks consistency, the types are not well chosen and there are other things lacklngexpertneaa. Nell Woodward, a laas from the West, comes to New York armed with a letter from a Western manager who thinks she can make good In a Broadway show. She has no diffi- culty In getting to Randall, who, it develops, Is czar of all theatredom, and she Is given the star singing role In a musical show, aa the result of a laat minute walkout. She scores a aensatlonal hit That night the girl dlnea with Hugh Gordon, a* dope fiend and the profligate son of a wealthy widow. He baa been angeling some of Randall's shown. At the same cafe Hugh's mother Is dining with a party and snubs Nell. Hugh proposes In- stant marriage and, apparently from pique. Nell agrees. This alliance so angers Randall that he dismisses Nell the next morning, giv- ing her two weeks' salary. Perhaps he coveted Nell, but whatever the mysterious reason Ran- dall discards all chances of success with the new star and goes further, for he is credited with keeping her from any other theatrical engagement. This he does by putting her on the "blacklist" (something never openly aaso- clated with the legitimate stage). Nell Is far from being a vamp. In fact, so big a man as Randall Is represented to be could have picked on any number of better-lookers. Any- how, Nell is reduced to singing in the cab- arets. Randall sees her in one and offers to take her back if she ties the can to Hugh. Nell refuses. Same cabaret, same night. Nell gets an offer of $5,000 from Hugh's mother to leave town. "Sn.ov.blrJ" Hugh, gone daft for want of coke, attacks Nell, who pulls off her wedding ring and pawns It for the where- withal. Off goes Nell, gets the five thou, sends Hugh out to get a lot of clothes and tickets for the West where he can make a new man of himself. Anyhow, she Is loyal to her husband. During the first half of the picture the titles take up too much footage. Some call the theatre czar Randall and others say it is Randell. Betty Brlce Is featured. While she does well enough, Mlsa Brlce Is not the best type for Nell. Ibee. THE SUDDEN GENTLEMAN. Garry Garrlty Wm. Desmond Louise Evans Mary Mclvor Count Louis Camlnettl Jack Rlchardaon Mrs. David Hawtry Margaret Shllllngford Geo. DouglaB A. Holllngsworth Edward Douglas Donald Fullen The title or this Triangle refers to the speed in which Garry Garrlty, an uncultured cheery Irish lad direct from the Old Bod. bents himself for the station of heir to the wealth of a rich uncle who has died In America leav- ing him the estate. A comparatively small portion of the deceased person's possessions is left to his stepdaughter Louise, who la bit- terly disappointed, believing she was the sole heir. When Garry arrives in the garb that might be called "Sunday best" back where Garry was the pride of the little village In Ireland, Louise Is not only peeved but very much upstage. Louise has a suitor, a foreign Count, who starts to "frame" a compromising situation between Garry and a grass widow. The latter being beloved of the Count con- sents, and the supposition Is that a marriage will be forced and the fortune hunter be de- clared "in," he being after the money and not any girl in particular. Meantime, Garry has developed Into a gentleman and won the love of Louise. The frame-up clouds their romance for ji few hours, until Garry can give the Count a trimming and Louise finds out the truth. The scenes In the Irish vil- lage are well presented and, altogether. It Is a pleasant, harmless story. Wm. Desmond, as Garry, gives a clever characterization of the Irish lad, the feature being up to program standnrd. The direction was by Thoa. H. Heff- ron and the good photoplay by R. E. Irish. Ibee. 729 Seventh Avenue New York City OVER HERE. "Over Here" Is a two-reel picture distrib- uted by World, showing in a most interesting and Inspiring way how the big cantonments are created for the reception of our troops. This cantonment Is Camp Pike, Arkansas. It was completely constructed In 52 days from a woodfd wilderness to a fully equipped city of $-10,000. This did not Involve the mere throwing together of a large number of flimsy shacks with camp surrounding but the making of Rtreets, sewers, water supply, a railroad spur four miles In length to the nearest trunk line—In fact, a thoroughly modern, up-to-date living place with every comfort for our sol- dier boys. The main Interest In such a pro- duction, aside from the patriotic feature, which it exceedingly compelling, is the speed and efficiency of the entire proceeding. Thus w« see ditch digging by machinery, water pump- ing by the million gallons, railroad construc- tion In amazingly little time, street building at rriv^.louH momentum, a whole building to house ;«:i entire company put up ready for occupancy In an hour and three quarters, thousand of men at work, thousands of mules and horses, hundreds upon hundreds of trac- tors and motor trucks—and the tremendous things going forward with Immense energy under direction so perfect the result seemed quite easy and simple. Finally the first troupe enrre swinging in at the appointed hour and "Over Here" winds up in a blase of fervor. The 3,000 seres of wild Isnd upon which Csmp Pike now rests wns bought by the business organization of Little Rock and presented to the War Department under whose supervision the cantonment was built and the picture made. Jolo.