Variety (September 1919)

MO Vll*G PICTU JB,_r.,r.•/...'..,-...■,..*-•. ■•.■'.. ■■ , . ',_.-, r!i ■'*•.: '.' -Y-. ;:.-.■'•. ' : '' ■ ■' ES '•'■; ij* >:■" ! ' '■-',''' ;,:■■: '■'■'• '■'■■■M ■■'■ '• '■■ •■ J'"A'i ; fi5'"i ; .v ■'■•' ■', - ■'•'''•'.' '.. ■ ': "■':'>'; V- •'■ ffl 4= ■ It ■'' J ■ m STRAND. Th« augmented orchestra, which numbers around 45' men, Including eighteen violins, sent the enow oft nicely with an excellent eolection from "Madams Butterfly'" Tho v Outing Chester film, "Imposing on Good Na- ture," was more than of passing interest and It was aided by titles Of humorous tlngo. The feature picture, "Her Kingdom ot Dreams," found much favor with accumulated Interest because of the aiistar cast, there be- ing more picture names than ever before in a regular release. The bill held a Mack»Sennett-Paramount comedy that was given epeolal advertising, It was "Uncle Tom Without the Cabin." The; comio is like some of the former releases, with the same players and nearly tho same idea. Ford Sterling does his from the seat of a humpty-dumpty theatre, while Bon Tur- pin and others do the dirty work on the stage. Turpln Is undeniably funny. He not only works his doable-jointed eyes In "straight"' bat tor a time plays a cross- oyed coon as Well. But something fresher would bar* made the comedy much more wel- come. Among the vocal entertainers Redferne Holllnshead scored best with his tenor solo of "The Bonny Banks of Lomond." ibec. HER KINGDOHOF DREAMS. Judith RuHedge Anita Stewart David Rut ledge SpOttiSWOOd AltkeU James Warren Frank Currier Fred Warren Mahlon Hamilton Jim Warren Thomas Holding Penelopo Warren Kathi-yn Williams J: Wellington'Yarniil.'.'.'.'V.V.aidwta Stevena John Hastings... Herbert Frier. Pardon James Nelil Office Boy ......Wesley Barry Tom Langley....,^.. T"?™! 1 " . 8 ,» nt f<*,! Langley Tolly Marshall Mrs. Langley...... Mrs. J. W. Wade Billy Dayne.; ' Ralph Graves John Brown......;, Harry Ham The Minister .A Edward B. Tllton An all star cast Of players on Broadway In a legitimate production Is almost Invariab- ly an Important theatrical event. It re- mained for Louis B. Mayer to adapt that Idea for future pictures and glvo the Job to Marshall Nellan for the First National's current release at the Strand with Anita Stewart starred In "Her Kingdom of Dreams." It is patently of, much Interest In the Aim world, for not only can the big picture nous* advertise the all star cast release, hut tbe smallest exhibitor in the smallest town will eventually have> the same prlvlledge. which the small town- showmen have never had with a speaking attraction. But "Her Kingdom of Dreams" is a good picture aside from that It has sustained In* terest and very clever acting. Even the plot suggests no new or novel twist. The yarn was taken from a story which was used m a ladles' Journal. This doesn't mean that it hasn't general appeal. • Judith Rutlodge, a girl of the Southland, dreams ot the great world beyond the bills. And it is her destiny to bocotno tho head of a great metropolitan family. But It Isn't given to Judith to rise to sootal heights. The story itself deals with how she became the private secretary of a great banker, and followed that great man's wish by marrying his second son, Fred. This youth falls desperately in love with Judith after the marriage, but schemes of an anonymous letter writer lead Judith to think Fred Is Interested in other women. \ The letter writer had formerly played Fred against his brother William In ber game ot grab. It was she who had forged the elder Warren's name to a large check, then laid It at the door of Jim, who, when Be had discovered the forgery, bad been killed In an auto accident while trying to forget. Fred takes the blame upon himself for the forgery, a thing his father could never forget But before tie senior Warren had passed to the great beyond, a trusted servant had told tho old man the truth and he had gone to his end in peace. It is these bits which go to make the gen* .era! story interesting. Judith naves Fred from financial ruin after he bad Joined part- nership with one Tarnsll, a man Judith had never trusted. So, true to alt tras love stories, they end up with the happy life oat- look. Technically the feature la acceptable. It I* more the succession of picture names, the story second, which really counts. ' Mist Stewart was never more fully surrounded by well known players and it does not detract a Jot from her own oleverneas. Mahlon Hamil- ton portrays Fred In manly fashion and as usual Is good to look upon. Frank Currier as the elder Warren Is also admirable. Anna Q. NIlsBen as the adventuress is as villainous as should be. Edwin Stevens as the male villain looks tbe part. Thomas Jefferson, Tully Marshall, Kathlyn Will lams and Spot- tlswood Altken have bits. There is one scene when colored effects ars Honght. It Is short but effective. Another scene having Thomas 8antschl holding bis dead mother in his arms while copious tears doBcond Isn't pleasant and should be out down or eliminated altogether. It'a a question whether the star cast aids materially In the making of "Her Kingdom of Dreams," bnt that picture Is destined to much attention and demand, for it has a great association of film names. TbO*. RIALTO. The,hilt for the current week, outside; of the feature, is not particularly good at the Rtalto. "Uncle Tom Without a Cabin" Is a sorry lot ot hoakom to be turned oat by the Mack Bennett people, and the news weekly is only fairly interesting. The musical features of the program Btand out as far the best The overture, a selec- tion from "Tannhaueor," was directed at the opening show of the day by Hugo Relson- feld and his handling of the brasses was particularly good. A very strong applause appreciation greeted the completion ot tbe work. Further down In the bill the selection from "Nobody Home" was also liked. Tbe snap and the pep of the latter was a com- plete contrast to the heavy Wagnerian num- ber. Greek Evans, baritone, also was on the bill, offering a solo entitled "The Tramp," which was liked. The feature was Enid Bennett In "Step- ping Out," a story of New York life that had a lot of heart Interest, but little else. Mist Bennett, however, appeared to advantage In tbe offering. The news weekly held clips from the Oau- mont, Graphic, Qaumont News, the Interna- tional and Pathe. The scenes of the oil Are of a week ago were a little old, but Judging from the entire edition news for the pictures must have been very scarce during the week Just passed. Fred. STEPPING OUT. June Hillary Enid Bennett Robert Hillary, her husband....Niltt Welch Lillian Nicholls Julia Faye Mrs. Bmma Hillary ...Gertrude Clair Frank Wilson William 8. Conklln Robert Hillary, Jr Bota Miller Enid Bennett la tho star of "Stepping OQt," a Paramount picture. It Is from the pen of C. Gardner Sullivan and directed by Fred Niblo under the supervision ot Thomas H. Inee. The story contains one of those sin- gle trsck plots that are extremely easy to follow, but Which generally lack Interest. That Is true in this case. There is, however, a flock of heart Interest and'this la what will send the picture over nicely with the work ?■( Miss Bennett as an added feature. For a uil woek run, however, It does not seem that tbe production will stand ap, at least as far as the Broadway houses are concerned. / is a very nifty, seU-centarad chap, who upon_hls wife as nothing more or less than i servant In the house. One night he decided to "step" with one ot the* nifty key.! pounders who works In the bank. Wifey spot. him in the movie and decides to take the air taking baby with her. Strange to say the boy's mother sides with the wife and B3 elded that she will go with the girl. ;'' : After a separation the boy awakes to hit error and there is the usual conventional re- conciliation. i ..-..; .,■'£ There are only three sets to the picture One Is the interior of the flat, the second as : office set and a cabaret scene. AH told they did not amount to much outside of the flat The. direction of Fred. NiMo is fairly good and his handling of several of the bits here and there Was very effective.' In the supporting cast Nllos Welch standi out In tbe role of the husband. The role is a particularly difficult one as It carries not' the slightest sympathy and. this is hard on the handsome Juvenile. However, tbe twist at the finish places him In the right light with the audience. Miss Bennett was par..' tlcularly good. There were spots, however," where the almple black and white tints were permitted- to remain in the picture and In these scenes she did not look so good. In the scenes that were amber tinted she showed to much better advantage. Oertude Clair ai the mother was very good and Julia Faye as the flip stenographer got by in good shape, THE SPEED MANIAC. ' m Miss Bennett Plays the role of the wife of a young bank clerk, who la grabbing himself a salary of $25 per. They are living in a smalt flat, the family comprising the wife, husband, the tatter's mother, and the child of the young pair, dotting by on $25 a week With that sort of a family Is going some In these days of the H. C. of la The husband Billy Porter ...../.............Tom MU Pearl Matthews. .- . .Eva Novak John B. Prescott .Chaj. K. French Philip Malcolm.... Hayward Mack Knockout McCluskey...........L. 0. Shumway Mary Helen Wright Red Meegan, Billy's father Jack Curtis Jim MoOluskey Georgie Stone Tom Matthews, Pearl's brother, Geo. H. Hackathorfl' John Matthews, Pearl's father, .Charles Hill Malles Cigarette Keefe, a crook Ernest Shleldi A picture giving every oportunlty to its star to show off his horsemanship, pugilistic supremaoy and ability to drive a car with a degree of speed equal to Gaston Chevrolet. Though' thin In story value and borderinf on the rankest kind of melodrama, It la, nevertheless, replete in continuity of action, ] and seldom lags In this respect. What saves It from betng mere traeh are three of the biggest climaxes that were evet combined In five reels. These are sufficient to provide enough thrills to offset any ludicroui valuation of a very weak plot. ■.', T E ", •/■ FILM SPECIALS, Inc. " ■- • ■ ■■'... ■ ■•.'■ •'A-^ftv ' /■ a; PRESENTS THE FIRST OF THE '.'.-.. . ...■•:■.' ■ ' : "V ■■;" ■: ■ ■ • ■ ■ . . ........ ■ Y < . "• ■ ■ ... .v. ... . ■ ■ ■;. ■ ^ ;' , . . ;■ - .' • -r '■.: ■. ■ •'■■'-•■;■ , ■" ■ u EDWARD JOSE PRODUCTIONS MOTHERS OF MEN DIRECTED BY EDWARD JOSE W ■'.- ■# a<i