Variety (May 1918)

MOVING PICTURES 29 RESTITUTION. Adam Bugeno Cony Eve Loli Oardner Lucifer and Satan Alfred Garlca Abraham Frank Whltaon 6arah Amy Jerome Pharaoh Pomeroy Gannon Joeeph Frederick Vroom If sry Mabel Harvey Jesus, the Boy Harold Qulntln Drtaeon Jesus, the Man Howard Oaye Herod .....•< •••• ir. a. Turner Nero John Stoppling Poppoela Mary wise "Modern Ruler" C. Norman Hammond Columbia Venlta Fltshugk Dr. John Boyd Edward Cecil Claire Boyd Virginia Cheater Dr. Thomas Jack Cocgrovo Blind Man C. B. Collins Hl» Little Daughter Georgia French With the world-wide war as the base, this partly allegorical and partly modern photo- play Is virtually a history of the world, since the beginning of things, up to the present day, and is a story of Evolution and the triumph of Democracy. It even delves Into the future, when man Is restored to that hap- piness of which the sins of his original an- cestors deprived him. "Restitution" is a production of some magnitude, it Is in nine reels, with over 0,000 feet of film actually used. It takes about two hours to show, and Is on the order of "The Birth of a Nation" and pictures of that calibre. Tbere are 10 types ot prin- cipals In tbe different historical settings and hundreds of people used In the many scenes where large crowds are assembled. The vast number of settings cover periods of the earth's hlBtory for 6,000 years, Including the Garden of Eden, Babylon, Egypt, the Holy Land, Europe and America. Naturally In a mixture of myth, truth and fiction, "Restitution" Is full of incongruities, rauny laughable, which detracts from the seriousness of the theme, although there is every evidence that an earnest effort has been made to treat the subject with the sol- emnity It deserves. There Is some wonderful photography and some of the scenes are painfully realistic, too much so, a number will have to be toned dewn before the film is presented to the gen- eral public. Clever camera tricks adds to this realism. The creation of Adam, and then Eve, In the Garden of Eden, the one out of dust and the other from the' mythical fifth rib, Is cleverly done. The spectators will receive many shocks, as the result of the flippant way In which the story jumps from one period of man's existence to another. The longest stretch is a picture showing Nero persecuting the early Christians and the next scene Is on board a Candlan Pacific steamer, from which a nurse thoughtlessly dropped a baby overboard. And one's Imagination receives another severe jolt when Abraham, of the Old Testament, clothed like an elderly Tyrolean yodeler, is seen going around In 1018, raising the dead and healing the blind. The pictures of the biblical characters are all as one has been led to believe they looked, Including the Saviour and the scenes in Jerusalem and at the time of the Pharoahs, appear to have the correct atmosphere. But coming down to the present day. With the thoussnds of pictures and cartoons of the Kaiser in this country, It seems that a bet- ter likeness could have been obtained of the German ruler and he could have been garbed In a correct uniform. Why he should be re- ferred to on the screen as a "certain ruler In Europe" Is hard to tell, but it appears like a weak attempt on tbe part of the pro- ducers to cater to the many foreigners ln'thls country who may see the picture and at the same time have secret and silent leanings toward the Central powers. The photoplay Is produced by the Mena Films of California, under the supervision of G. C. Drlscoll, directed by Howard Gaye, who also takes the part of Jesus, the Man. - The camera work was done by Delbart Davis and the musical program specially prepared by Harry Alford and John T. Read. MORE TROUBLE. Lemuel Peering Frank Keenan Harvey Doerlng John Gilbert Mrs. Deerlng Ida I.*wls Miriam Deerlng Roberta Wilson Cecil Morrowton Joseph J. Dowling Harold Morrowton Jack Rollins Mrs. Morton Wells Helen Dunbar "More Trouble," with Frank Keenan In the star role, is the current Rivoll attraction. It is distributed through Palhe although it does not appear in that company's recent release data, which may indicate that it was but lately turned over for exhibition by the An- derson-Hrunton company which is credited with the production. The latter might have bought the feature on "spec." on the star's name, since Messrs. Anderson and Brunton have been ac- tive with Paralta. "More Trouble" is of light- er texture than the preceding screen stories alloted to Mr. Keenan. It is almost farcical, but Mr. Keenan enacts the character of a much-worried father, Lemuel Deerlng, owner of a slecl works and "czar" of the small town of Dunvlllc. His son Harvey Is about to graduate from college and Is a most exemplary youth. Harvey quietly obtains his diploma at the head of his class, his four year record at college not containing one demerit. When he arrives home his father discovers that Harvey neither drinks nor smokes, and while pater Deerlng has his doubts, he takes Harvey In the business as a partner. Then things start to happen. Dills for cigars and cigarettes, for wlno and taxlcabs and other sundries arrive with the threats that suit will be started unless settlement Is made. Each time the elder Deerlng aaks If the bills are correct and the son disclaims any knowledge of them. He falters once when a note for $25,000 bear- ing hla endorsement is presented to the father. The blow-off cornea when the mills are forced to close since the bank refuses to extend a loan because of a threatened strike. To make It worse the sheriff attaches the plant on be- half of one of the son's supposed creditors. When Deerlng is about to disown his son, the explanation comes. Harold Morrowton, Har- vey's college chum, admits that he was the real culprit—that when his millionaire father had cut off his account be bad masqueraded as young Deerlng and had copied his signature. How such a condition of affairs could have stood up In a college Isn't explained, but as the story is a farce. It doesn't make much difference. The feature has been expertly cut. It probably was longer in Its original shape. As shown. It ran about 65 minutes, and al- though some loose ends were not picked up, It afforded pleasant amusement. Ooody-goodles like Harvey may exist, but no one haa discov- ered them. The explanation comes with the divulging that Harvy and Harold are fraternity brothers and young Deerlng couldn't tell on the bad boy—thus he did have a vice after all, and It nearly led to his dad's ruin. "More Trouble," however, is all Keenan, and the star portrays his role with his usual Intelligence and cleverness. The story Is by Edgar Frank- lin, with the scenario by Oulda Bergere. Er- nest C. Warde directed, getting considerable action. /Dee. THE GOLDEN GOAL John Dtfran Harry Moray Beatrice Walton Florence Deshon Laura Brooks Jean Paige Mr. Walton Arthur Donaldson Richard Talbot Denton Vane In Vltagraph-'s latest Blue Ribbon feature, "Tbe Golden Goal," the part selected for Harry Morey as John Doran fits him. Flor- ence Deshon, as Beatrice Walton, the daughter of a wealthy financier, also did good work opposite the star. Tbe supporting cast must have been selected with care. Their acting la of tbe best. Lawrence McCIoskey wrote the story and Garfield Thompson the scenario. It was di- rected by Paul Scardon. The picture opens with a saloon fight be- tween John Doran, a longshoreman, and an- other member of the gang. His home Is on one of tbe lumber piles on a dock. After the encounter he goes to bed and oversleeps the time for bis boat to leave In tbe morning, .and is loft ashore, broke. Wandering through the neighborhood he comes across a seaman's mis- sion, and decides to go In. Tbere he meets Beatrice Walton, society girl who is looking for thrills. Attracted by his size and strength, she engages him to manage* her father's estate. Things go on until he Is thrown aside through being uneducated. He vows yet to be a suitor for the girl's hand. Assisted by a stenog- rapher employed by the Talbot Lumber Co., for which he Is working, he studies night and day, and with speed becomes president of the Lumber Workmen's Union. Miss Waltop's father, who Is trying to purchase the com- pany, has her Invite Doran to the house, and bribes him to get his men out on strike to put the firm out of business. He does it, but later repents and exposes himself to his brother members. They want to murder him, but a short talk to the men by his stenog- rapher and instructor changes their minds. The story ends with the young woman who had educated and stuck with him throughout in his arms. The picture should be a good single-day feature. A DOLL'S HOUSE. Nora Elsie Ferguson Helmar H. B. Herbert Mrs. Linden Ethel Grey Terry Dr. Rank Warren Cook KUen (Maid) Zelda Crosoy Anna (Nurse) Mrs. R. S. Anderson Ilclmar children { j^SeMe Krogstadt children \ Douglas Redmond (Charles Crompton "A Doll's House," an Artcraft, with Elsie Ferguson fentured. Adolph Zukor presents this splendid film adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's familiar story and Maurice Tourneur directed. . Miss Ferguson is excellently cast for the role of Nora Helmar, who made a great sacrifice for her hUHbnnd, and who railed upon some of her famed hlHtrlonlc ability to send the screen characterization over with realism and naturalness. Miss Ferguson enacted tbe part with credit and made the role well worth seeing. While Ibsen's best impression was made with the dialogue, the Artcraft production uses quotations for captions that are well chosen. "A Doll's House" might have suf- fered In the hands of any other screen star, hut with Miss Ferguson It appeared to be an easy trick. Tourneur held most consistently to the Ibsen tbeme and at no time endeavored to elaborate In a manner that would get beyond the idea conveyed by Ibsen. He took no licenses, although there were ample op- portunities to do so, and he didn't even Jump the traces with the little dance that Nora did at the party. This scene Miss Ferguson handled deftly; subsequently It was held within the bounds of conventional propriety. Tbe cast did very good work, and through- out tbe picture holds far more tension than at first Imagined from the story as given In book or stage form. One likes Miss Ferguson, and In "A Doll's House" she gives further and conclusive proof that she Is at home either in spoken drama or depicting natural- ness before the picture camera. A good pic- ture and worthy of production anywhere. Mark. PERSHING'S CRUSADERS. "Pershing's Crusaders," -or "Following the Flag to France," In eight reels, official United States war films released by the Committee on Public Information, Is divided into two parts of one hour eaoh. the first, America Prepar- ing, and part two. The Stars and Stripes Over There. It Is being shown at the Lyrio and Is now in Its second week, with four weeks more to run. One is Impressed by the general excellence of the photography, which may be due to the fact that moat of the scenes are taken In the open air. While there is little or nothing that has not already been shown in the respective news weeklies, or a somewhat similar scene, the composite assemblage Is Intensely Interesting and calculated to Inspire confidence In our army and navy, as well as the visual assurance that our Government Is doing all In Its power to push forward war work In all Its branches. It opens with Presi- dent Wilson's address to Congress. Then comes a suggestion of the lnvaalon of Belgium, the appear of the Deutschland submarine in our waters, a flash of the Lusltanla, the Liberty Loan, engineers at work, American agricul- ture, our 38 cantonmente, capable of housing 1,000.000 troops, the making of army clothing, women In service shops, shoes, meats, bread, camp laundries, Red Cross in camps, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, Masonic and Y. W. C. A. buildings In our camps, shipyards, our big guns, drafting, camp kitchens, drill, medical corps, ambulance drivers, aviation, aerial photography, the navy, housing of naval recruits, our submarines, torpedoes. After Intermission, camps In France, signal corps, trenches, camp sports, aviation camps, wirelessing from planes, American soldiers in front-line trenches, dressing stations, snipers, gas alarm (putting on gas masks), dispatch riders, camp post office, close-up of General Pershing, Secretary of War Baker at the front, camouflaged guns, Pershing and Presi- dent Poincare at the front, Germans captured by our men, the Kaiser overlooking the goose step In front of his palace In Berlin, President Wilson, ending with a huge shadow of the American flag covering It all. The feature is almost certain to attract patronage wherever shown In America. Jolo. THE FAIlTPRETENDER. Sylvia Maynard Madge Kennedy Don Meredith Tom Moore Harcourt Robert Walker Ramon Gonzales I'aul Doucet Capt. Milton Drown Wlliner Walter Townsend Emmett King Freddie John Terry Barnum Charles Slattery Marjorle Townsend Florence Billings Mrs. Townsend Grace Stevens The Goldwyn people have evidently discov- ered that It Isn't the easiest thing In the world to sustain Interest in a straight comedy or farce and so have employed a melodramatic theme for this week's feature at the Strand in which to star Madge Kennedy. It is "The Fair Pretender," written by Florence Oolles, directed by Charles Miller. While the conclusion of the tale Is more or less obvious to one at all conversant with plots, it travels along, alternating between comedy, drama and farce. Analyzed In detail, there is probably not one new thing In the production, but the mixture Is entertaining. A young author writes a play, the theme of which Is that anyone with nerve enough can pretend to be what be is not. A wealthy friend offers to finance him In society In order to discover the accuracy of tbe thesis. A girl stenographer reads this foreword of the piece and also tries It. She poses sb a wealthy young widow and they meet at a house party. While putting it over on one another they fall In love. At this critical juncture "Captain Drown," whose widow the girl Is supposed to be, puts In an appearance. The host is a wealthy inventor, and In the house Is a German spy who steals the plans. The classy production and the neat blending of the scenes, together with the numerous little side issues, keeps the picture at white heat, which ends abruptly with an ingenious proposal and acceptance for the "clinch." Miss Kennedy Is tbe stenographer and con- tributes her share to tbe generally good re- sult attained, with Tom Moore ns the lover, running her a close second. All the other pnrts are well played, including a "bit" by Jack Terry, hitherto known to fame as a vaudeville star. Jolo. A BROADWAY SCANDAL. Dr. Kendall W. II. Dalnbrldge David Kendall Edwin August "Kink" Colby Lon Chaney NYneite ItisRon Cartnel Myers Armando IMsson Andrew Robson Paul Do Caval H. K. Shilling Falkner Frederick Gamble This latest Universal release tells the story In live reels of the general misconception of the character of French women as understood b'-- Americans. Nenette Dlnson, a young French girl, Is ca.-dilcr in a French restaurant In lower Druadway ; her father Is the proprietor. He Is desirous that she marry Paul I)e Caval. a clerk In nn exporting house, but Nenette, who Is of a romantic nature, sees nothing attractlce In her suitor. Her father Insists upon the union. The evening of the be- trothal arrives and all Ir In readiness for the ceremony when "Kink" Colby, a denizen of the underworld, who frequents the restau- rant, Heeing an automobile standing outside tbe door, decides to steal It and Invites Nenette to take a short ride with him. She consents and rides away with Colby to an uptown cabaret where her dancing Is noticed by Falkner, a theatrical manager. Leaving the cabaret, Colby—whom Nenette does not suspect Is a notorious thief—is pur- sued by motorcycle police. He puts on nil speed and the officer seeing he is being out- distanced, fire* several abets, one of which etrikee Nenette In the shoulder. Colby taken her to the private boeptlal of Dr. Ke nda ll . Tbe doctor is out, but his son, also a phy- sician, enters at about the same time tn a state of intoxication, his usual condition. He treats her. Nenette, who has given an assumed name* passes a few daya at the hospital, during; which time young Kendall becomes infatuated with her. but with no Idea of marrying her. When she learns the nature of his admira- tion, she leavee without notification. The Kendalls read in the paper of the Incident of the shooting, also that a policeman waa shot by an unknown man In company of a woman In an auto. They notify the polios of their patient and detectives start on the trail. They locate Colby and endeavor to shadow him to where the girl la living. Falling In thla they arrest him. They take young Kendall to the home of Nenette, who Is again on the verge of pledging hereelf to De Caval. Bhe Is plaoed under arrest and the trial of the two takes plaos. Colby la sentenced for life and the girl given a soa- pended sentence. Young Kendall In the meantime gives hla services to his country and goes to Fraaee. While there he learns the true character of French women, and decides to return to America and seek out Nenette, this time for the purpose of marrying her. Upon his re- turn he finds she haa become a Broadway star and Is collecting for tbe Red Cross. He bids a large amount of money for her neck- lace, and after a short talk, during which they both explain that they had misunder- stood each other, they marry. Harvey Gates, the author, has not outdone himself In this attempt, rather be has writ- ten a weak story with little punch and very ordinary situations. If anything the theme is offensive bath to the French end to Americans. How be came to assume Ameri- cans generally regard all French women of loose morals is not explained. Joseph Do Grasse's direction was as good aa could be expected with the meagre material furnished him. The lighting effects were generally good, as was tbe photography. Miss Myers, though sweet in the leading role, at times overacted. Andrew Robson as Nenette's father did some excellent work, as did Frederick Gamble, aa tbe theatrical ager. HIGH STAKES. Ralph Stannlng J. Barney Sherry Inspector Culvert Harvey Clark Marie Stannlng Jane Miller Chaklff Ed Washington Lady Alice Myrtle RI shell Clyde Harrison Ben Lewie Janitor J. P. Wilde Jimmy Dick Rose04 Nearly everyone likes a mystery, eepeclally when It Is explained to them. That Is why detective stories always have a general ap- peal. In word-story form they are usually Intensely interesting and In film form they can be made almost as engrossing. "Raffles" had a vogue, especially as a story In which the gentlemen "amateur cracksman" was quite an alluring character. "High Stakes" is a sort of "Raffles" plot, but the central role, while along tbe same lines, Is a man of middle age. Ralph Standing is believed by Inspector Culvert of Scotland Yard to have robbed the vault In Kensington Museum (London) and to have made off with famous gems, notably the "Southern Croea." Bunding, however, appears always to be on guard against being trapped, and like "Raffles," he continually taunts Culvert with the Inefficiency of the police. He even has bis own apart- ment robbed that he might have tbe oppor- tunity of visiting Culvert's office. There a triip is laid for him, but the latter falls to fall for It, and as he never removes his gloves. the Inspector gets no chance to finger print him. On his way home Standing helps In the rcHcue of a woman who has Jumped from tbe dock"'. He taken her homo and later off era her marriage. They live In a little English town happily for five yearn and a Hon is tbe couple's blessing. Culvert happens upon Standing one day after church. A few days before, at an evening affair, a string of pearls were reported stolen. Culvert tells Standing that bin (Culvert's) son Is under suspicion and begs ao»Uttanco. Standing goes to London for a week and re- tjirns with a replica of the mlBsIng pearls. Wlii-n he turns them over to Culvert, the In- Hpector believes them genuine and Is about to place Standing under arrest, ho having sworn years previous to "get'' the mysterious cracksman. At that moment Lady Alice, who had lost th ; pearls, arrives to tell the news that her gernii had hern found In a crack In tbe divan. Standing explains his Hiring are but paste and tosnes them Into the grate Ore. While "High Stakes" Isn't a "Raffles." It I* an Interesting mystery story and should nh-ely fit Into a program. That the scenes of action are laid In England mean little, I'xci-pf flint it Ih a change from the netting of the majority of Amerl'-un features. It Is probable that England was picked because the greatest of detective stories were "loraled" there by A. Connn Doyle. There 1^ no real attempt to go Info Scotland Yard method", but Arthur Hoyt ha* directed An- drew Snutar's story well and Elgin I^eslle aided with good camera work. /bee. John narrymore. engaged by Paramount company for pictures, will first appear In Willie Collier's success, "On the Quiet." Ches- ter Wlthey will direct tbe picture.