Views and Film Index (1908)

IO VIEWS AND FILMS INDEX. Paths FrSres’: “AT HIDE AND SEEK.” At a child’s party it is a very difficult matter for the elders to entertain the mischievous young-seers and still keep them within the bounds of propriety. In most cases it would be a wise and safe idea to give such parties in an open field, thereby letting the young rascals have freedom to cut their capers ; and not in the confines of a house, where they are liable to do much damage to the furnishings as they play their games. In this picture we see the older people leave the little ones and retire to another part of the house. As soon as they are alone they start the game of hide and seek. Scattering in all direc¬ tions, they hide behind and under every available piece of furniture in the place. Then comes the interesting act of finding them, and in the performance they trip up a servant bearing a tray of food, knock over a tabic, smashing all the dishes on it, and finally hide under a billiard table and break up an interesting game as. well as the furnishings in the room. When the parents return they are horrified to find the apartment looking as if a cyclone had struck it. “ATHLETIC WOMAN,” by Paths Freres. Mrs. Neverrest is a very energetic woman and is passionately fond of sports of every description, and being blessed with a large fortune indulges freely in all her different sporting proclivities. Arising at 7 A. M., she partakes of a light breakfast and summoning her valet bids him to get the Sandow apparatus ready for her daily muscle train¬ ing. She strenuously exercises for an hour, then starts with her attendant on a climbing trip. She goes to the top of a high mountain with great ease and there awaits her panting servant, who not being a thorough sportsman like his mistress suffers severely from all this exertion. Returning from her mountain climb, our lady jumps oh her saddle horse as a rest and takes a brisk hour’s ride in the park. This over she must now refresh herself, so goes for a dip in the sea and there outdoes the fastest swimming fish in his course through the water. Returning home thoroughly invigorated, she feels that the violent exercise has aroused her appetite, and we see our female athlete eating a hearty meal with as much energy as she has walked, ridden or swam. After lunch there must be no rest, so away she goes for a long walk, with, her unfor¬ tunate valet hanging after. The promenade finished, the bicycle is pressed into service and, lastly, after driving a dog-cart, then an auto, the indefatigable woman returns to her dwelling, dresses for dinner and has still energy enough left to receive her various admirers and enjoy their society. In another Paths Freres’ film entitled “BURGLARS’ NEW TRICK,” it is proven that burglary is quite an art nowadays, and to be a successful housebreaker one has to have a fertile imagination and be able to devise new tricks, otherwise, with patent locks, burglar alarms and electric currents the profession would soon be a glory of the past. The two young criminals represented in this film are well aware of the necessity of ingenuity and soon prove that they are up to their task. They buy an old sarcophagus in an antique shop. One of t.he partners in crime dresses up as a mummy and lies down in the old coffin while his pal writes to a wealthy profes¬ sor that he will be happy to present him with a well preserved Egyptian mummy for his museum. Shortly after the precious gift is taken away by the grateful scholar, and thus Mr. Burglar gains admission to the enemy’s camp in an honorable way. The elated old man opens his precious box to admire its contents, but his pleasure is short-lived, for jumping out of his prison like a Jack-in-the-box our burglar grabs the old fellow, pushes him into the Egyptian resting place and, having locked it securely starts ransacking the whole house. He soon has his booty collected and loses no time in making his escape. Shortly afterwards the servants find their master prostrate in the casket. The clever trick is discovered, but too late, for the valuables of the household have disappeared, as well as the thieves. In “LUCKY ACCIDENT,” by Paths Freres, a horse attached to a stylish carriage is seen dashing down the main thoroughfare at breakneck speed and the occupants are just about to be hurled against the curbstone when a youth, at the risk of serious injury to himself, jumps bravely to the maddened horse’s head and thus prevents a terrible accident. The rescued party, an old gentleman and his daughter, an unusually beautiful girl, lift the unconscious form into the carriage and drive him to his home, where they leave their address and depart. The next day the invalid, feeling somewhat better, receives the gentleman whose life be saved, but on being offered money by the latter promptly refuses to accept it. The old man therefore not wishing to insist, takes his leave. In a few minutes a bunch of flowers arrives, the gift of the grateful young girl, and accompanying them is a note asking him to call. The youth is not long in reaching the girl’s home, and when they are left alone he tells her of his love. The father entering at that moment, the young man begs him for permission to marry the girl, but the infuriated parent refuses to listen to such a request and orders the young wooer out of the house. The girl, heartbroken at her father’s refusal, decides to die, so after picking some poisonous flowers she writes to her lover bidding him good-bye, then covers herself with the sweet smelling but deadly plants and is soon unconscious. Her lover, on receiving the news rushes back to her home, climbs in through the window and arrives just in time to snatch the maid from the jaws of death. The father coming on the scene just then, and attracted by the confusion, soon realizes the true state of affairs, and the last scene shows the young people as they are being blessed by the repentant father. “STORY OF A FOUNDLING,” another new Paths film. A young half-starved looking woman carrying a babe in her arms is seen trudging along, stopping now and then to beg for a place to shelter herself and child. Her appeals are in vain however, and, desperate with hunger and suffering, she lays the little tot on the doorstep of a poor looking hut and departs, leaving the child to its fate. The owner of the cottage, as he makes his rounds for the night, discovers the little human bundle and carries it in to his wife. The kindhearted woman welcomes the poor little outcast and, placing it in the crib with her own child, decides to give it a mother’s care. The next scene shows the two children grown, and one can see what a dutiful daughter the adopted girl endeavors to be and how anxious she seems to please her benefactors. The foster father, however, does not bear much love for the foundling and we see him now as he returns home one evening hungry and out of temper. Not finding his meal prepared, he is just about to strike his daughter, but before he can carry out his design his son steps between them and defies the infuriated man, thus defending the girl from the blow about to descend on her. Time goes on and again we see the brother and sister, now no longer children, but she a beautiful woman and he a fine looking man. They have learned to love each other in all these years and everything seems bright to them until one day a black cloud darkens their pathway, for the father wishes his son to marry a rich neighbor’s daughter, and when the young man refuses to comply with bis wishes and makes known to his parent his reason for refusing to obey the enraged and disappointed man drives them both from the house. As they are about to leave the broken-hearted mother clings to them in a fond farewell, and the father happening to witness this parting realizes all at once that he has been too harsh and decides to pardon the young lovers and let them enjoy their happiness. We next see the now happy family as they are gathered around the merry winter fireside, and all seems joy and gladness in the home once more. The Essanay Company s production this week treats of the “YOUNGER BROTHERS’ FEUD ” It is because the Younger family dare to declare themselves Southern sympathizers that the Jayhawkers determine to exterminate the entire family. They await their opportunity and kidnap James Younger from the arms of his mother in the family’s old Missouri home and ride away with their captive. Cole and Bob Younger appear on the scene just in time and rescue thei'r brother. The Jayhawkers turn and ride away, but as they gallop along the road they meet old Colonel Younger and they shoot him. A federal officer is now seen tacking up a proclamation, and among those who read it is Anne Fickles. It is after this that she makes her wonderful ride through the country arousing the populace ; with a black flag as a standard she organizes tl Black Band, which is then headed by the Younger Brothers and which commits many daring dee< of outlawry. The climax of the film is the reproduction of the famous Northfield bank robbei and the ensuing chase and capture of the two brothers, including their last stand in the det woods. Another MSlies production is “UP-TO-DATE CLOTHES CLEANING.” A gentleman, in j fine new white suit, takes a seat upon a freshly painted park bench. After perusing a paper fc , a while, he discovers to his great dismay, hat his clothes are striped with long bars of pail | ( stains. The painter returns only to be upbraided for his carelessness in not marking the sei j j with a sign. But the painter quickly suggests a remedy which is immediately acted upon. S the latter, with bis brush, draws stripes all over the soiled clothes at right angles, thus malcini a checkered pattern to the ultimate delight of the offended visitor. A group of clever comedians furnish the locomotion in MSliSs’ new film, entitled, “CUR] OSITY PUNISHED.” This shows two adjoining rooms, in one of which two musicians ai practising and in the other an irritable old man is suffering from inability to sleep. The landlor stops the music. The old man, in order to find out what is actually going on next door, bores hole through the wall. The musicians discover it and secretely determine to put up a joke o the aged Paul-pry. They go through a mock murder. As one falls to the floor, feigning deatl the sight proves so terrifying to the curious lodger that he jumps against the wall with fu! force and lands in the next room. He then rushes for the police after alarming everybody els in the house. The crowd rushes in and finds the room empty, it returns and captures th murderer as he sneaks through a trap door. They take the hamper with the supposed corpse t the police station, and when the body is removed the fellow gets up and laughs at the audienci “THE WHITE SQUAW” is the Kalem film this week. The story pictures the prosperou but fearsome times of the Wyoming settlers, whose only worry was the raids by the Blackfet Indians. One of the settlers named Spirael has just finished his mid-day meal, and afte petting his daughter Mina, incidentally exhibiting a scar on her forehead, goes about his woo chopping. Mother goes into the bouse and Mina is left alone. Lurking redskins have bee. waiting for this opportunity ; first fastening the door to delay the mother in giving the alarm one of them creeps up behind her, seizes her in a second, places her on his horse and the bam dashes away. Finally mother breaks the door lock, rushes out and fires a volley of shot at th retreating Indians, while the brave father mounts his mustang and goes in pursuit. At a furiou speed go pursued and pursuers, one of the braves holding little Mina firmly on the pommel of th saddle. The father is gaining in the' chase, and the Indians becoming alarmed try a ruse leaving the horses to gallop through the brush alone, the reds with the child take another cours on foot. The father is completely deceived, follows the wrong trail and loses his child. Thi Indians are now seen as they return to their camp where the entire tribe assembles ; Mina wim the red raiders and they decide not to burn her at the stake but to adopt her, and she is at onei clothed in an Indian blanket. Then the tribe celebrates the capture with dance and pow-pow The next scene shows the white squaw ten years later, a beautiful grown figure and handsome o face, except for the star on her forehead. She is the pet of the tribe, entering into all theii sports. The chief instructs her in shooting, and she is shown popping potatoes from the fingern of a brave, thoroughly accustomed to her home. But on one day the Indians go out on tin warpath, Mina and the squaws remaining in camp excitedly awaiting their return. Soon thej hear the sound of horses’ hoofs and the band is back with more plunder. The bucks make theii horses fast and the captive is tied to the stake. But suddenly the white captive catches sight of Mina, and the scar on her forehead tells him at once that he has found his sister, and shi is quick to recognize him also. Escape is determined upon, but the chief and the braves rcturi and after holding a council decide to bum him. The fagots are piled high, and while prepara tions are going on Mina is frantic. Suddenly a thought strikes her. She gives a false alarm of approaching enemies and the Indians at once flee from the spot, abandoning their intendet victim. The girl releases her brother and before the Indians have returned they have covered.' some distance, both riding on one horse. The savages pursue when they discover the trick, anc the fugitives wait in ambush for the leading savage to come along. As he comes riding by h< is lassoed and beaten insensible by the young man. His pony is taken and the couple make gooc their escape with two horses. The last scene shows the arrival of brother and sister at their olt home, where their aged parents affectionately greet them. “ THE GALLANT KNIGHT” does the work in a new Lubin film of that name, in whicl a wealthy widow determines to unburden herself of a million for charitable purposes. The fac! leaks out through the papers and she is besieged by a myriad of people who wish to assist hei in this laudable vocation. Among the callers is a certain Russian Baron, a man of giganti< stature, who presses his suit with such vigor that the widow cannot resist his attentions. Als< a diminutive Italian Count is a most energetic suitor. The Count is surprised in bis lovi making by the Baron who feels that he has a prior claim, and throws him out of the house The Count, vowing vengeance, repairs to his house, where he dons the armor of his illustrioul ancestors and sallies forth. He conquers and is received as a hero by the confiding widow While taking his breakfast “THE NEARSIGHTED PROFESSOR” (Lubin) pushes hi spectacles over his forehead. When putting on his hat to go out, he misses his glasses, and beinf very nearsighted, upsets everything in the room. Being late for college he rushes out of the bouse Not being able to see, he falls over everybody and everything. At last, while he wipes thi perspiration from his brow, battered up from his many accidents, he finds the spectacles upoi bis forehead. Now he can see and is happy once more. “A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED,” or “THE PRODIGAL SON UP TC DATE” is one of the latest films by the Vitagraph Company of America. Our picture opens witl a view of an old farm, the father and eldest son plowing in the field. The younger boy, whi does not fancy this kind of work, is sitting beneath a tree carefully scanning an illustrate! city paper. The father finds him here, scolds him for his indifference and indolence and bid him help his brother in the field as he is too ill to work. The old man continues on his wa; homeward ; the younger son watches the old man, then resumes bis reading. The followini scene shows the simple parlor of the farmhouse. It is after the funeral of the old farmer The widow and two boys with several relatives are seated about. With the exception of thi younger son all are deeply affected. The will is read and by its provision the indolent son i left $5,000.00 in cash. With this amount of money at his disposal the farmer boy imagine himself rich and determines to leave the old homestead and see the world. His mother am brother remonstrate with him but he refuses to listen to their arguments and after bidding then adieu the young man departs. In due time he reaches the city, gazes in amazement at the tal buildings and other strange sights. A sharper spies him, sizes him up as a prospective “gooi thing” and malces himself very agreeable. Suggests that he purchase a more fashionable suit 0 clothes and leads him to a haberdashery where the farmer boy is quickly transformed into some wbat of a dude. Finding that the young countryman is well supplied with cash the sharl proceeds to show him around and incidentally gets a whack at the purse. They enter a broker’ office where the rube is introduced, and shown the workings of the stock market. He invest some money and through the machinations of the fakirs is winner by several hundreds of dollar* The countryman with his new friend leave and we next find them in a concert hall. Two girl are doing a turn and after finishing come down among the audience. They are introduced to th When writing’ advertisers, kindly mention Views and Films Index.