Variety (September 1919)

DESERT LAW. .Rufo Dorsey ..Jack Richardson Tho Stranger. .George Pearce Donald McLane..; ,A1 Whitman Julia Wharton Leotta Lorraine Sheriff Ray Hanford Deputies Bert Appling and James Parley Logan Phil Oastrock Jta Joe .Singleton Lick .Leo Pearson Buck Curly Baldwin' Thrills galore are found In ‘‘Desert Law" (Triangle). There la little change for great variety In pictures of the "Wild West" type, as life there, according to the screen at least, is not complex and men, motives and emotions are primitive. Donald McLane Incurs the hatred of Rufo cinematographer, who has been her leadlnc man in picture id New York,; and with whona she was in love when he loft to Join tho French Army, The. tortures Miss Dalton receives at the hands of the Germans; particularly a captain of jthe Huns, Is appalling, and the agony she Bufferes Is depleted In every line of her face, of the Huns, is appallng, and the agony she the spectator Is'kept at a tension almost pain- ful. <f Miss Dalton Is seen at her best Jn this pic- ture. The scene In which she exposes her .br^t on which tho Hun captain has Im- printed the "cross of shame," to her lover. Is a dramatic climax whi(± It would Im hard to ^Thomas MclBhaa IS the hero, E; ly RadcIlffa tvrann^®“diHJ^k^^^ ® tlie.oooBplrlng uncle,, and there Is a supporting .iJ* husband, and Jack cast of equally competent players. But they ^ hA?d ' had BO comparatively llttk to do the entire a hardworking Hawaiian girl. Lydia Knott WM entlroly satisfactory, other roles were also capably bandied. Soenlcally the picture is one of the best of the season, and pbotograpbloally superb, the Hawaiian views being exceptionally good. has a sort of “Bird of vhSh plantation the 8lrl 8 husband, unconsciously sets Are to himself, and, while ablaze, plunaea head- ® horrible, psr- effort seemed, wasted. T^E CRAVING. Alla Kasarlb...>. Peter Gerald Beulah Grey. May Gaston Ctorr^l Wales. .Francis Ford His Brother ...«....DUko Worno His Mother. Jean Hathaway A strange picture is this Universal feature, P«»ovlnor** In wcvVIaV TKwam> Tni.....* ...ia,.... _ — vTusMs nvuiu UCM U LV ~ «« xisaoa. WUUauujT aUU IlOrriDia. DfiP* firm..*. M k ' ^ - —- - ^ual, even on the speaking stage. Miss Dal- haps. In conception, but a deserving fate for 5*1 i*“ ** Francis Ford plays a ton has a smalt but carefully selected com- the despicable German type as depicted drink-sodden^ creature. There Is DomTslmXZu rMhe^Sng^M anthTmWbem doinVVcelle^^ la the screVnTngT”'Dlmitor« m Sttons of Julto Wh^ Edmund Lowe, who takes Jean Picard, is a had his doubts about the effect, but "gMd Th® picture Is a fantosy, deaJtog with of t.ho rniintrv nnH la Durpoiinrlail Kw o Kwivy manly looking chap and acts In a straight- S 22 *l” be heard throughout the hoMe! ^le flesh, and the power of the of tho country and is surrounded by a'body torward*°ma*nner ^whlrS°«»?^a of henchmen as unscrupulous as himself, ‘•a^ward manner which carries conviction. When It Is learned that Donald has discovert crude oil flowing like water on bis RF&NH property, his chances for a. long life are not n . ivauaivu. Improved. So Donald Is speedily "framed," a Betty Buster. Edith Roberto man being shot at In a crowd and Immedl- Father John Cossar ately dragged out of sight. He la said to be Harry Carter murdered and Donald Is branded as the oul- ’ ; .Charles Gefrard prit. It all seems a little thin, but It gives Hlenden Kirk... .h Lewis J, Cody ' the legalized outlaws ajnotive for putting him Betty Brewster will have none of pink teas out of the way. So ha Is arrest^ and sen- xangoing. Upon leaving finishing school . tenced to death without delay..' But Julia has ®“® y^rns to work in her father‘s bean can- written tho governor for help and in response nery but, thwarted in this by her uncon- a man In plain clothes arrives. Learning the yinced parents, she contents herself by writ- true state of affairs, he sends a telegram In adverUsments for the beans, code for help. Donald Is rescued and goes to— , Betty s father is a bean magnate and Efllis the Wharton ranch, where the plain clothes *® ®. business rival. Wingate, her fatheFs man also seeks safety. Barricaded In the *“• Bills. Brewster house, they fight desperately with the out- “OlAs certain options which he wishes to )(p- lawB, who surround them. But at tho crucial ®? J®*"® “Lout to expire. The papeis moment four automobiles crowded with sol- • *“ °®** Francisco on a certain day diors arrive, Riife having boon killed In the before a certain hour. meantime. It being discovered that Donald .,,^“® P>et®re, a Bluebird feature. Is one of did not commit the murder of which be is ac- those stories of a choso In which the hero— oused, ho Is let free to bore for oil and make ®’’ fi? In tWs case—arrives Just in time, love to Julia. on the tick of the clock. The parts are well played. A1 Whitman j Betty Is the emissary, as her father Is sud- as Donald shows himself to be both a horse- o?? j stricken with gout. She Is to meet man anff fighter, while Jack Richardson makes Giendon Kirk, her father’s lawyer, whom she a villainous villain. b,®,® never seen, at a oertaln Junction. But . Direction and photography both of a high Wingate, tho perfidious secretanr, whom she order. >r ^ i «» has never seen either, boards the train and impersonates tho lawyer. He gets the papers THE EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES. &o,.*.''SkirESw15j.irS Elizabeth Holt Lillian Walker trives to get Kirk off tho train at a way sta- John Russell, philanthropist Carl Brlckert tlon where they are both left behind. They Wm. Qlldersleeve, banker John Costello become Involved In all sorts of dlfllcultles. Bobby Qlldersleeve, his son...Edward Keenan Wingate, finding that he has taken the wrong Count Orloff Henry Sedley Package from Betty, comes back and denounces Leighton Craig Edward Roseman her as a thief. She and Kirk are thrown In Mrs. Goodwin Harriet Ross Jail while Wingate departs for San Francisco Alma ...Reeva Greenwood automobile. Miss Partridge .....Peggy Lundeen Betty and Kirk escape in khother car which Ted Phelan Howard Truesdale they have stolen. They arrive at a road-house Jim Connors.... John Dllllon ’J,*’®’'® tbelr car Is recovered by the owner. Sentiment, heart Interest and a few dramatic Wingate Is hero too, and Betly gets tho pa- touches are woven Into this extremely pleas- P^xs again. Here her father comes In a car ant five-reel comedy In which Lillian Walker PlcJts up Kirk while Betty goes ahead on is featured, and produced by her own organl- » motorcycle. She falls off and Wingate re- zatlon. It was shown privately. covers the papers. Then a thrilling chase The subject Is treated In a novel, natural commences, on and off ferries and over fashion, and one that will make an appeal. bridges, until finally Wingate staggers Into Not the slightest strain upon one’s credulity *®® ®®®® where a meeting Is being held. He and the ending is the logical outcome of a Produces tho papers which prove to be Betty’s seduence of plausible events. The story Is by ®®®® advertisements. Again he has taken the Louis K. Anspacber, Roy Somerville wrote the wrong papers. scenario, while Edward Dllllon did the dl- Betty totters In on the minute with reeling. the papers, closely followed by her father and The photgraphy and lighting are satis- Kirk. Her father makes her his manager, factory and In the latter reels some fine houses while Kirk persuades her to let him be her and gardens have been requisitioned, all fit- partner. ting In comfortably with the locale. While , H Is an amusing story, Xull of snap and ac- lacking novelty, at least In pictures, the story “®“- H combines comedy and melodrama Is' Interestingly unfolded and has to do prln- and provides a diverting and original plctura clpally with a young woman who Is changed Edith Roberts, as Betty, Is a most daring overnight, through the death of a distant rela- woman as well as a good actress, while tlon, from Lizzie Holt, a sweat shop worker, ‘“® pass. Direction and photogranhv to Elizabeth Holt, heiress. excellent. Elizabeth Hold (Miss Walker), who said she — was tired of being poor and craved riches, THE MARRIAAF RINr has a terrible time with her money and has ,, , KIWu. to assume the role of her own private secre- t. Marriage Ring" Is styled a Thos. H. tary before the man with whom sho Is In love ;?®®, P^oouctlon, with Enid Bennett starring, will favor her with his attentions. Ho Is one iLfi ° “®1 fred Nlblo’s name on the Initial 5^" “uid be heard thfoughout thi hSusi: TPho Marriage Ring" and Miss Bennett are anywhere the flags of the Allies ny. Mark. OUT OF A CLEAR SKY: Celeste do Bersek. .Marguerite Clark Melghaa S“®i® ®'y®k .B. J. Radcllffe Grown Prince...,. Raymond Bloomer “thoV ^bby Connelly gtevo Rotert Dudley Granny 'j^Yte. V.V.V.V. V.V.Vliagkto' H ‘ -Nell Clark Keller i.%l®V^®*’^u®?®®““®'.‘'0"t a Clear Sky” among the best of the long list of Marguerite Clark film successes. In It to do but look which, of course, she does. “ The story la by Marla Thompson Davlea directed by Marshall Nellan, his final Par^ r“®* distinguished for brllllatoy. It seemed as If the jttat cotta WgJ“ u%tranS'w«®'«^n“ has never seen either, boards the train and^ nf follows In quest impersonates tho lawyer. He gets the papers S, “® ,5?®^® refuge In the mountains before Kirk’s arrival, and makes Betty ^ T**®^ ®*‘® encounters ^ young lleve that Kirk Is he—Wingate. So Betty con- earano®hn?’'^tio*“i™ T**® ®‘d®^her to trives to get Kirk off tho train at a w^sta- In which v.avco tv xvu-n, ou. loe xraiD ai a way eta- ohA lo i- V-Z i «uuw m wmen tlon where they are both left behind. TOey finding and on bwome Involved in all sorts of dlfflculUea Is beUev^^*«hfi iJ h.L®*®^®® rulns.,tt dndJng. that he has taken the wrong tSn« 8®®d for- ..tiiKuto, unuing tnai ne nas taken the wrong tiin« 8“®“ *®r. package from Betty, comes back and donounow uhcle denart^^ in ihi JiiP.® P**?*"®®* .and her her as a th ef. Sho and Kirk are thrown ta *" *'*® *’®“®^ ®ho Is dead. Then x«n W.VIY.. Wi x- i^ruwil in sue doea soniA mni*A Aiitav-Hivid-As. 1_ “ VT jail while Wingate departs for San Franolaoo In an automobile. Betty and Kirk escape In khother car which they have stolen. They arrive at a road-house where their car Is recovered by the owner. Wingate Is hero too, and Betly gets the pa- pers again. Here her father comes In a car and picks up Kirk while Betty goes ahead on a motorcycle. She falls off and Wingate re- covers the papers. Then a thrilling chase o^mences, on. and off ferries and over bridges, until finally Wingate staggers into tho office where a meeting Is being held. He produces the papers which prove to be Betty’s bean advertisements. Again he has taken the wrong papers. _ And Betty totters In on the minute with the papers, closely followed by her father and makes her his manager, while Kirk persuades her to let him bo her partner. It Is p amusing story, full of snap and ac- tion. It combines comedy and melodrama ® ^«T®rtlng and original plctura Edith Roberts, as Betty, Is a most daring young woman as well as a good actress, while the all pass. Dlrectloa and photography THE MARMAGE RING. "The Marriage Ring" Is styled a Thos. H. - « - — —waav to UOOU. X UDIl 2 J®“® o“tey-cutey stuff In at- to qualify as a housewife in order band****** **** young land owner for a hus- mlnd. Tricks and llluBtons are shown on the screen, but the Jihotography Is not particularly extraordinary. The picture was shown at the Broadway Theatre. Carroll Wales (Francis Ford) Is a cbenHst who has discovered the formula for a high ex- plosive. ‘This secret Alla Kasarlb wishes to learn. He uses his vzard. May Gastoui who is under his hypnotic power, to tempt Waxes with liquor, knowing that he has formerly been ad- dicted to drink, but had overcome It. Wales returns to bis former mode Of Ilvlnl:. Kasarlb gains the ascendency over bltn and learns the secret Wales’ spirit Is taken on an imaginary trip over battle grounds kad through scenes of lust to show him the pit- falls that await slaves of the flesHr’ So 'Wales awakens a changed mian. Ho goes to tte laboratory-of JCasarlb, where ther la a strag- gle, during which an explosion kills Kasarlb. And the ward and he are then released frtte Kasarlb’s Influence and free to marry each ether. , ; Several novel effects are secured In the Illus- tration of some of Wales’ hallucinations. He toys with wine glasses and.bottles In whidh women dance In wild abandon, and he curi- ously picks the wriggling figures up In hla fingers. But one wonders what It Is all abottt. Mr. Ford does hls best work when be Is supposed to be drunk, although the picture affords little chance for acting. Mr. Ford did hls own directing. JACK CUNNINGHAM Staff .Writer Robert Bronton Stadlokji Los'Anffeles Recent Releases for Barriscale, Keenan. Glaam and Kerrigan ‘ will favor her with hls attentions. Ho Is one of those altruistic young persons who does set- tlement work, and at first scorns to marry Elizabeth, when he discovers her Identity and she has to fairly throw herself at him before ho win accept her. Miss Walker acts with pleasing simplicity In both roles. In fact, one is more interested In the star than in the story. There Is no lack of action. A gambling house raid In which some society slummers are caught and one or two good scraps, tone down the slight tendency to overdo the so- ciety end. VIVE iXfrance. Jenevicve Bouchette, picture actress, _ . Dorothy Dalton Joan Picard, army cinematographer, „ , , „ . . Edmund Lowe Captain Heinrich May. Frederick Starr Colonel Bouchlcr, French officer.Thomas Guise Pierre La Gal, French peasant. .Bert Woodruff Many pictures of Into dealing with German atrocities, but for sheer harrowing realism, with thrills thrown In, few have equalled the above, In which Dorothy Dalton Is featured by Paramount, shown prlvntelv Inst week. T.bft„starv..w.0fl ,wrttti;ji...by u,.IL. Van Lee®, arid the picture made under the direction of R. William Nelli. Technically, Mr. Neill hna turned out an excellent production and the pliotogrnphy has been handled In masterly manner. Miss Dalton Is .Tenevievo Bouchetto, a picture actress. Learning her nged parents hnd been murdered by German troops In their home at Doschon, Franco, she returns to her native town, and meets Jean Picard, an army --- — - W— - —.W,.# VMV SAJJbACat redllog as being the direotor, and It vas some strenuosity that Niblo put hls wife through as Miss Bennett in private life is Mrs, Fred. Niblo 8 work on this Paramount picture stamps him as a director of merit, with prospective subjects sure to show Improvement. Hls long companionship with things theatrical stands him in good stead, and he shows a deft touch here and there of details that makes the en- tire production stand out. Miss Bennett was never seen to better screen advantage than In this subject. All the way she not only makes a sweetly, womanly ap- peal to the men out front, but also endears herself to the women by the natural way she • handled the role of the unhappily married woman. It is a war picture In the sense that the entire theme Is founded upon the German spy system, and that It spreads propaganda of the. American type that means one thing— the utter rout of militarism and the extermina- tion of the Hun-murdering army system. Bbr this the scenario Is to be praised, although there Is not a single Uniform shown or any- thing tending to create the Impression that all patriotism runs to life In designated nHli- tary-wearlng apparel. So that the picture could have a picturesque setting that would be -■-'-mighty ■ulctffind'ttttra'etfV''6'-6k'ffi cameramen get plenty of scenic action on Hawalla. The picture starts In the States and ends In the far west, with tho atmospheric environment of the kind that helps put a pic- ture over. The story Is pretty well connected ■grith suffi- cient villainy to sustain a high tension throughout. The cast for the most part is up to the TO THE FOREIGN THEATRE MAN You can add to your inpome by dis- ? tributing American-made films through- > out your territorj^-lOO percent increase ’ ^ in foreign sale last year! . Also carbons afid all motion picture accessories There is still a splendid opportunity for live, responsible distributors in many districts. The facts will be sure to interest you. ; Inter-Ocean Film Corporation ''"'■(Faid'B.''idroineiini Pre^^ 42nd Street near Broadway, New York