Wid's Films and Film Folk (1916)

WID’S seemed a bit forced. very good. Throughout the offering Hopper’s work was on a par with that of most any $5.00 a day extra man, since his gestures, his mugging and other attempts to secure laughs were all painfully poor, so far as camera values are concerned. Certainly it seems to have been conclusively proved that Hopper is not a fit subject for film work, and it would seem to me that something strenuous should be done if any more pictures are to be released with him as a In a few spots her work was star, because some decidedly unusual story, with ey esI ~ a s z> ‘ & angles which will keep the mind of the audience off Hopper, is about the only chance to put him over in work during the rest of his contract. Thursday, May 25, 1916. I would imagine that the chief difficulty with Mr. Hopper is that he has worked so long in a certain routine that it is a very difficult matter for him to accommodate his actions to getting over comedy without the use of the voice. This production may pull a little money where they have not seen Hopper’s previous pictures, but I do not believe that it will draw very well where his others have been shown, and, because of the fact that it is not a good picture, I would not consider it a good booking propositiorl, even though a bit of money might be made. It is quite essential always to please your audience. Others in the cast were Chester Withey, Lillian Langdon and Max Davidson. LOST MEMORY STUFF MADE FINE BY CAST AND PRODUCER. Anita Stewart in THE SUSPECT Vitagraph-V. L. S. E. PER HCC ERE eaysic el otaie ie} ove « «Mere: oe. S. Rankin Drew ORO REC AS IVUAIN Sir. chon... . ees arene Arthur Quinn PAPUA EE OhERG eer ue social MBs cans « 2 aBeke Seater s/s H. J. W. Dam HIORURIZHD) BY S.. ccs. ss etic ere S. Rankin Drew Eee AEWW LOUGH. raeregiiesctes.. Seeteunys Made by handling SO Nats g et have dtcvetamas, + ot Old stuff well twisted MEPEVE CUI ON Gris iii) cesietevs +. oRetiehecs & che ay ls Very good PHOTOGRAPH er seis cats s ctgere solo ete oes Splendid TI GHUUINGS Sag spas coeicdewoks s . ete toe Some very fine CAM HEAR W ORM. viet as ss eee eine ee Excellent SA Futiccctees es tris) secs Beautiful, forceful, appealing Pex EROU ERM igava teh chathicks srs. siictc. «\<ietiors’ odolae is «5s Splendid HEN THRIORS 25. cca ele ae oc Some very well chosen PUERTO R SS: mocss a sacWarcccuss, « s/he Pescehecate she Very good PRMD A TDi tatetieols c's oi cecee «ke Fine, with a few slips MRD CGUE Herter esta ckerces ian’ «3 quraaasucka ateets. « Six parts HIS is the first big feature in which Anita Stewart has appeared away from the direction of Mr. Ince, and it would seem from this that the beautiful star is surely going to be able to continue with her successes despite the change in directors, because all of her work in this is decidedly pleasing. She handles the big moments with a tempo which registers with true force and she gives a characterization throughout which carries an appeal, and holds the sympathy, although at the same time there is always a suggestion of repressed strength, typifying the leader of this anarchistic organization. 5S. Rankin Drew has given us a splendid production as to the general atmosphere and his direction has been particularly effective because of the intelligent use of close-ups and the well-timed use of the cutand-flash method in important situations. . Many of the exteriors were particularly beautiful and the interiors were decidedly in keeping with the locations needed for the story. There were a few little slips in detail which will undoubtedly be noticed, and it seems to me that some of this could be eliminated in editing the production. It is too bad to have little things which jar getting into an offering which, as a whole, is. decidedly “worth-while.” As for instance, we have a mixup in the dates of the marriage license, the birth certificate and the letter written about the same time as the marriage, there being an error in the date of these documents, which would make the marriage apparently some time before the letter, which was really written before the marriage. These things could, of course, be changed, and since the attention of the company has been called to them they probably will be. At another place we find very modern American metal ash-cans setting in an alley-way which was supposed to be in Russia. This was a bad touch. The time of this story was presumed to be about 1905, and yet we find Mr. Drew wearing the very latest cut clothes, surely 1916 models, and I know that this is a point which will be noticed, because clothes in 1905 were quite a bit different from those worn by Mr. Drew. This matter could also be remedied by simply changing the dates of the documents. The doctor who attended Miss Stewart when she became a mother did not seem well chosen as a Russian type, and the location where we find Bobby Connelly taking his place as a soldier beside his grandfather, also failed to register Russian atmos here. E The chief fault with the offering, however, is the fact that it is based on that ancient standby, “lost memory.” It is certainly decidedly to the credit of Mr. Drew that he has been able to take a story based on an anarchistic play and a hero who lost his memory and identity, only to have it restored at the psychological moment by another blow, and make such an absorbing story as he has given us in this. The entire cast of principals was decidedly capable and the more important dramatic moments were splendidly put over. Anders Randolf as the Dussian Duke, Frank Wupperman as Sir Richard and George Cooper as Valdor, were particularly pleasing. Bobby Connelly was, as he always is, a real star. He put over several little touches that will certainly register as “sure-fire.” Taken as a whole this is an offering which will not only give satisfaction but will register as particularly pleasing. Miss Stewart is a big favorite almost everywhere, and the manner in which this has been handled, as to registering the important scenes, carries the interest all the way. There are some moments which are truly tense and dramatic. I would advertise Anita Stewart particularly, because her work has always been good, and I would call attention to the fact that this offering has been directed by S. Rankin Drew, mentioning the fact that Mr. Drew made “Kennedy Square.” Others in the cast were Julia Swayne Gordon, Edward Elkas, Albert Babock and Anna Brody. 603 )