Variety (July 1918)

MOVING PICTURE^ THE CUWS OF THE HUN. Paramount baa a propaganda feature with a punc'ti, In this flve-rceler, at the Ulalto. In which the youthful Charles Ray la starred. Excellent photography combined with Htait- llng realism keeps the Interest almost at fever heat and causes many outburstH of ap- ylaupe from the spectators. The titles nro particularly apt and add Just that touch of comedy which Is necessary to relieve the tension. The Htory hinges around the machinations of a regular army of Geriuun »pleK. who^e leader lives and works from one of the fash- ionable clubs supposed to be In New York. The cast has been well chosen and there Is "type" In every character. The spies attempt to obtain valuable govern- ment plans from a munitions plant, the con- Hultlng engineer and confidant of the presU dent of the concern being In the pay of the Huna. There Is a pretty little love story run- ning throughout, which gives the feature a human Interest twist. Ray as the young son of the president of the plant, who is determined to go to war In spite of the protests of his parents, wins the sympathy and plays In manly fashion—and It Is a role that could be easily overdone. LOVE'S CONQUEST. Glsmonda Lina Cavallerl Almerlo Courtney Foote In "Love's Conquest," a Paramount picture. A.ina CavalleH is Gism*nda. The most vital essential of a costume production is action, this applying especially to the screen where the Imagination is reached only through the eye. There Is nothing else, either beauty of lines or of delivery, to help along a baiting plot. This is one reason why so many of our standard and classic masterpieces have failed of success on the screen. But although "Love's Conquest" drags in spots, there are many things to be said for the picture, first and foremost the unusual beauty and grace of Cavallerl, and also the magnificence of the production, both setting and coutumes, ab well as the splendid direction of Jose. The photography Is excellent. Oismonda is Duchess of Athens about 1500. She has many suitors, but her affection Is en- tirely given to little Francesco, her child by a former marriage. To Glsmonda comes Prince Zaecaritt, an Eastern prince, aofompanled by his friend, Gregoras, bringing many valuable gifts, and also a huge lion which is thrown into a pit. About this time Glsmonda hears a notorious bandit has again ravaged the coast, killing many of her people. She at once offers the duchy of Soula to any one who shall slay the bandit. . ^ . Wishing to marry Glsmonda and become Duke of Athens, Zaccarla instructs Gregoras to make away with little Francesco, the heir to the title. Gregoras throws the child Into the lion pit. Hearing of her child's danger. Gismondn in terror swearw on the cross to Klve to whomsoever shall rescue him her life, herself and her kingdom. Thw llou Is killed and the child rescued by Almerlo, a hunts- Uut Glsmonda rebels when r,he sees who has saved the child, uiid offers Almerlo Jewels in- stead, which ho refuses. Having broken her vow .she Kpends most, of her time In a con- vrnt in alt^'mi't*"'! expiation, but the nuns tell her that only ran she be absolved by being voluntarily freed from her oath by Almerlo. Her people, becoming embittered ogainst her by lack of lalth, come to the palace In a mob. But among them appears a knlRht In armor riding a white horse. It Is the huntsmwi. He tells Glsmonda he Is now her peer as he has won the duchy of Soula by killing the bandit, proving his statement by showing her the outlaw's head. Glsmonda has him thrown into prison. , Haunted by her conscience she has Almerlo brought back to her In the dead of night ond he then tells her that if she will come to him for one night he will publicly absolve her from her vow. So she Kobs to his hut. but is seen by Zacearia and GreKoras when she comes out In the mornliiK. ^ ^ ,^, j„ They plan to kill Aluuilo. but (.Israonda overhears them and also learns thai it was they who uttemi.t..l t«. kill h-r chiM. (Tn>pnrast Koes away and GIsmon*da stabs Zaeearia out- ride Almerio's door. At a public cireniony of thanksclvine of t'bc death of the pirate Alniorio fires (Jlsmonda from her prr>niisf. (.rop^ra:? then denounces him ns the murderer of /ac- caria. but Glsmonda itnnudiiit.ly accuses him of hnvlnir attempted to kill her child. C.re- goraa Is draKKcd away, and liisinom.H aud Almerlo, already in love, are married by the pr'«'«t- , ^- j«' Cavallerl fulfills every demand as Gismonda, both In aiii)earaneo and In acting, and ^'"urt- ney Foote as the huntsman makes a striking liKure and plays the part admirably. The smaller parts are capably filled, and es- pecially noteworthy Is the handling of the KrcHt number of ext'-a people used. THE EYES OF THE WORLD. The seven-part Clune Film Corp. screen l.ro.lucti<ui ol Harold Hell WrlRhfs novel, •The Kyes of the World," is. scenlcally, one of the most sensationally elTeetlve features , ver offered to the public. Hut to anyone who has not read tlie book, all attemi)ts to follow the "story" are Imiiossible. At best It is an alle^orv visuall/ed in narrative form. flaslibieU.^" are frenuenf and confu-ln«. when it is ail over ynu l!:i\e a h.i/y of a :^w«et little j;irl who plays „ , hero who paint, picture^, a vil- l-ilii who eruleavor.M ir) ravish the heroine and a vlllainess who Is eciually unsuccessful in her lecherous desipus on the hero. Some of tho photography is unique lu that you Th.' and when eoncept ion a violin, a get *i ture, |ti( llgiblc^ impression rq^fber than a clear pic- le commercial value of which is neg- igibicQ A man who is generally regarded in the Industry as an expert, makes the state- ment that the production must have cost in the neighborhood of $1()U,0U0. Asked If he would pay one-fourth that amount for the negative, he replied: "It's a beautiful pic- ture." Jolo. THE PAINTED LILY. In conventional manner a conventional vll- Inin lures away a trusting girl—a conven- tional "our girl Nell"—while the old father, with conventional simplicity, or stupidity, Kives his blessing. This all happens in "The Painted Lily," a Triangle feature which stars Alma Rubens. Yet the picture holds the at- tention throughout Its length, the story. though old, being well told, well directed, and generally well done. Mary Fanjoy, a flower girl, marries Cecil Grey, a man of whom she knows nothing except that he once bought flowers from her and afterward took her to a cabaret show where he behaved .disgracefully. Ensconced in a luxurious apartmant In Now York, Qrcy announces to his brido that instead of being a promoter he is a gambler and that her duty will be to put on fine clothes and walk Itroadway as "capper" for the establishment. When she rebels be tells her that their mar- riage was not legal. Discouraged, she con- sents. "London Louie," recently set free from prison, comes back to blackmail Oref. Fail- ing, he "tips" off the police regarding Orej. the resort is raided, and Jeanette Wayne, who Is in love with Grey, is killed. Mary Is forced by Grey and Louie to go to the Wayne home and pass hersvlf off to Jeanette's old blind mother as the daughter, in order to get hold of her money. The two become greatly attached to eacb other, the old lady believing Mnry to be her long-lost daughter. At the Wayne home is Tom Burton, a young farm hand who had previously been mined In Grey's resort. Grey and Louie come on to the village where the Waynes lire and engage In an attempt to rob the bank. They are both shot by the police. Dying, Orey oonfeases that Mary is his legal wife. Then Burton oomes to claim her. ^-'^■'■oyj^'^.y^^Ay^/. /-,': '////'/■ ^rr/y- ^ '.y, ■■■■v/^/./■//.'/.'/■/./■'■-■//,^-- -'■ w'-v ,""*,' ■!■•■ .' \-. iSv^-*^^ i*r—^: ks?'^^ H. Ince A splendid power working for finer motion pictures, a genius whose photoplays have made money for exhibitors through- out the world, a master producer—that is Thomas H. Ince I who will release at least thirty-two of his star feature pic- j tures through the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation in the ? year beginning September 1, next. In addition Mr. Ince will produce several special productions. William S. Hart, Charles Ray, Dorothy Dalton and Enid Bennett are the stars appearing in Thomas H. Ince's produc- tions. Each is a name of tremendous box office value, tre- mendous because Thomas H. Ince possesses the implicit con- fidence of exhibitor and patron. They know that 'ince Stand- ard'' means a standard set at the peak of excellence. »»«,.« ^»- -».. Cpanimount >v FAMOUS PLVYERS-IASKY CORPORATION ADOLPU ZUKOR Prmt. JE8SS LLASKT t\v Prmi. CECIL B. DE MILLE DirKtarOtmnl '-NtW YORK^ • J