Wid's Films and Film Folk (1917)

eS me Fre ee SS SS Thursday, January 25, 1917. ” WI D'S PERSONALITIES AND HUMAN BITS MAKE LITTLE ROMANCE ENTERTAINING Henry B. Walthall and Mary Charleson in LITTLE SHOES Essanay—K-E-S-E Service TORY GL ORG ok Sees hcesaeesee sere ee Arthur Berthelet mPa EA COs. ae cecbctcceccaetaeences cusesecwcetecuoeme Eleanor M. Ingram BOUHINA RIO UB Y 20a eee E. T. Lowe, Jr. PA SAW ELOLIB. . .2.cctcccscs-Appealing, entertaining romance Pers LU EGY cores sce Possibly improbable, but surely appealing _ DIRECTION........ Kept action human, with good individual scenes Ser OOPOGRA PHYS oc. sccscse-2ncscke ces Very good LIGHTINGS.......... Not exceptional, but quite satisfactory OAM AGW ORK 228 ek ote. ek ee Good BS ATS ceccsnccctes Human characterizations made situations register SUPPORT..........................Some good types; kids excellent HRS ER LORS fiche 2 oes cu es a ee A few very good MONEE LO) Fes see-e ee eek ot eer ee ec Fitted atmosphere nicely BIC AT Lies poetn cc esiches on: ot aed us ac p, Se aaae Generally very good Pe Sete ee Apia. 33 ae Sixty-seven minutes ia) ’D say that this should register, particularly with m| the ladies and those who enjoy an appealing little romance, with the action centered entirely upon the personalities of two lovers. The production has been carefully handled, with an excellent development of situations and a scenario which gave some delightful twists with a nice element of suspense. The story opened with a little rich girl giving her shoes to a ragged waif so that he might buy new ones. Peeamieed to come back to her some day to marry ers. The boy secured a job with a cattleman of South America, and when we found him grown to manhood he had achieved success. The main incidents began with Mr. Walthall coming back to New York in search of his little princess. He was told that she had married, but afterwards he met HANDLING MAKES SUSPENSE Mary MacLaren and Harrison Ford in THE MYSTERIOUS MRS. M. Bluebird PLAC G2 0) te nese 8) yay Lois Weber RRR en oaceen a bes wc Thomas Edgelow UPC) BY 6. ooh A ee Lois Weber SPAN MEAT ALIN oo ones ccace Secon acceso ae Al Siegler ASA IWHOLE..*........ ee Excellent entertainment, well constructed story, beautifully handled Sy LOT Vest Very good suspense with splendid human : touches DIRECTION........ Registered classy atmosphere and kept action human PHOTOGRAPHY .......... oe es aga ee Splendid LIGHTINGS.....Many artistic effects; generally excellent SCA MIGA VOR Ke Particularly pleasing NLARS 25. Made characters live; pleasing personalities BAI eRe cache tatee... =. ¥ Fide Ee ae Some very good types 134 id’ (0) Artistic composition made them distincti bah ts (UD oS ee, a Pircollent ATO ERE Rie SS RE ee Ea: Sa Very good PN atc acai nig deve yssmderetesirnshesnccass HERE “tC WOMTHINT Ea a girl and fell in love with her, and after several misunderstandings and disappointments, all of which were cleverly handled, he finally discovered that this girl was his real princess, he having received information regarding the marriage of a relative of hers who lived in the same house. While the atmosphere of the offering is not exceptionally artistic, it is quite acceptable. There was one bad scene where Mr. Walthall and Miss Charleson were shown to win a prize at dancing, because the timing of the action of the dancers was so bad as to make it appear ridiculous. ‘There is such a wide variance of opinions in this country as to what constitutes graceful dancing that this scene will appear bad in most sections. There was one bad character, and I can’t understand just why he was engaged. This character was Mr. Walthall’s secretary, or companion, and he certainly was a sad “simp.” He had one of those funny little moustaches which made his action seem even more ridiculous. In the supporting cast were U. K. Haupt, Victor Benoit, Mary V. McAllister, Patrick Calhound, Jack Paul and B. C. Turner. The Box Office Angle. In advertising this you might hook up some such suggestion as this: “Dante loved at eight, and so did the hero of ‘Little Shoes.’ Do you believe in such faithful romances ?” You will have to make almost your entire advertising appeal to those who care for human little love stories intelligently played. I’d call this a delightful romance of a ragged urchin who became wealthy and lived his life with the one purpose of some day “finding his princess.” Of course, you can play up Mr. Walthall and Miss Charleson, and I‘d refer particularly to Miss . Charleson’s work in “The Prince Chap,” since that is one of the best characterizations she has given us. This isn’t a big offering, but it is a very pleasing little bit of entertainment for those who like romance. The more prosaic cynical audiences who want red-blooded drama, and the low-brow gang who ask for wild “mellerdrammer” may not like this. IMPRESSIVE. SLUMPS AT END Ora OR the most part this was a study of mental conflict. There was a splendid element of suspense introduced, and at one time this was developed to almost an uncanny degree. The mystery drama was relieved very frequently by little human touches and nice bits of comedy. From start to finish the offering showed the touch of intelligent direction, the atmosphere being distinctive, with all of the characters behaving like human beings and making their action register in a convincing’ manner. ; The essential difference between most of Miss Weber’s productions and the “things” done by so many of our mediocre producers is the fact that in almost all of Miss Weber’s films we find a thought. We also find that Miss Weber invariably gives us a mental conflict rather than a physical one. Mary MacLaren, who is a youngster with a very appealing personality, and Harrison Ford, who is certainly going to find himself possessed of a very large following after this picture has had some circulation, both gave characterizations which registered because they were natural and never overdrawn. Of course, Miss MacLaren is entirely a “find” of Miss Weber’s, and