WHAT THE MOVIES ARE DOING

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 868, 23 February 1917, Page 20

WHAT THE MOVIES ARE DOING

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Moving Picture Attractions. Everybody's—"Gloria's Bomanoe'' The, King's —" The Hole in the Wall " Tb.elEmpress—"Fate's Boomerang" The Qaeen's--«The Daughter of MaeGregor' - Empress Theatre. THE World Film Corporation lias ■provided 'a strong five-act drama in- "Human Driftwood," and its drawing power has. been shown in full houses all the week. It is the story of a wealthy young New Yorker sowing his wild oats and then repenting of his folly in Alaska, where he meets the good woman whom he really wants to riiarry. There are a .great many sensational situations before he can get rid of evil associates and achieve the happiness he strives for. The "Topical Budget" heads a lot- of fine supplementary films. . '■* ■ . . •■ ' '■- • . *-'• " Fate's Boomerang." This is to be the leading feature of to-morrow's new programme. It is a tale of contrasts: the wife, who prefers city life and its opportunities'for flirtation, against the warm-hearted little maiden" of the hills. The latter, of course, wins out to happiness, and the wife meets a "sensational finish, dashed : to pieces at - - : .Wne foot of a towering precipice. Trie World-Film Corporation's photography is wonderful, particularly in.the' moun- ; tain scenes.. '-;'■' : 'Everybody's.' "Moily-O," a tender, winsome,, and yet merry Irish drama, splendidly screened by. ilie Triangle Co., has captured all hearts this week, and is still .going strong. -Pretty Molly, after much coaxing.: and coquetting, marries a fine-young jarvey—very much.- after the style of "Impudent Barney CPHea," in the song—and the fortunate jarvey I turns out to he really Sir Laurence O'Dea, the landlord of the cottage inhabited bv Molly and her mother. The scenes at" the Irish fair no one should miss seeing..:•. There is a capital selection of supporting films. ':<■■•. '....'; * . '■■•'* ' •'. * V " Gloria's Romance " and ■*' Somewhere in France." ~ Billy Burke makes her reappearance this' week in the film' novel; "Gloria's Romance," a serial which : has been shown at. 5000 TJ.S.A. .and created the sensation of the picture year. Billie' is delightful in every foot of this wonderful film, and the story is fresh f and sweet telling of the youth, womanhood, and mating of a beautiful girl. "Somewhere in France" is an example of the finest work of the Triangle studio. The scenario is by Richard •: Harding Davis, the Amesican war who will be remembered for his "terrific denunciation of the German methods in Belgium, and is written from life. The .war scenes are realistic and vivid, Louise Glaum, as a wo-

man spy in the .pay of -the German Government, -uses her charms in convincing fashion, and it is.a good thing for the Allied cause that _ the Huns have not got many ladies luce 'Louise in. their pay. * ■ .'. *■ ■■.» • ■»•."»■' But let us tell you a~little more about "Gloria's Romance." Chapter . I. is to be filmed at Everybody's . to-mor-row/ Gloria Stafford, is the pretty daughter of , a millionaire . banker, Pierpont Stafford, who is staying at the luxurious Florida seaside resort ■ ot. the rich American, Palm Beach, Gloria is accompanied by a • formidable governess, and gets no joy out of being sent to bed just as the after-dinner- fun com- . mences at the hotel. She is the real ■- thin" in girls, packed full of mischief and winsome deviltry and. bubbling over with life and delight in life. After a cute piece of strategy, which.puts a check on her governess, she bolts out ot -her room, and makes for the lovely gardens of the hotel. Her brother has left his car in a by-path for the purpose of taking liis sweetheart out for a spin. Gloria discovers it, promptly annexes. it, and sets off at top-speed down the o-orgeous moon-lit roads. Utterly careFree, hair blowing in the wind, she speeds up the car. and the ribbon ot "-road unwinds at lightning speed. , lhen the steering gear- breaks miles from anywhere,' and, after two or- three erratic plunges, the car dashes into the surf on the beach- Gloria . extricates herself all right, and sets off to find the hotel;. In no time at all she is lost in the trackless Everglades, and dawn finds her. hopelessly lost, munching a . banana with great x . cheerfulness, - her irrepressible sweet tomboyishness still in evidence in spite of the awful * ger of her position. ..--'.*"• ■ * . ' °':'-" * King's Theatre. "She," as dramatised from Sir Rider • Haggard's famous novel, has been the trump card- at the King's this week. It lias been very elaborately staged, and. the many thrilling episodes 0f... the.. story are carried out with considerable realism. Madame Alice Delysia, who fills the title role, is a good actress, but it is a-pity that a younger woman with greater physical charms was not selected for the part. The King's .programmes are always strong in.variety, 1 and this week the "Trip from Norway to New York," the Vitagraph comedy, and the "Pathe Gazette" complete a very entertaining bill. The war-items in'the "Gazette" are ' exceptionally; interesting. » o •_■••■_ » " The Hole in the Wall." The reorganised Vitagraph Company with £5,000,000 of capital is _ making tremendous strides, and this melodrama, ; which will be screened at the King's to-morrow (Saturday), is a credit to the producers. George Holt agf Heidelman, "the master criminal < , is a villain of the highest. rank, and the , central-, incident, the murder through the partition between two restaurant private rooms, is highly realistic.

ZJoqttenil,: the who eventually. -~/ deals with Heidelnian, is a fine piece; __.-; of characterisation and. his love story, pretty, andyas is proper, provided "w;ith . a-glorious ending. The ether films a?e':. alfof the best, and you can be sure/ofy v. a capital bill well diversified. . r - ; * * * .*' ( Queen's Theatre. You can't beat a really good detec- n ■tire story for fetching and holding the. - public. The proof is the crowded state : of the Queen's this.week. People have . been thronging up 'Cuba-street every night to follow the. thrilling situations of r 'For the Defence," a sensational detective storv in which Madame Fanriie .. "Ward, one "of Americais—reigning favourites in Picturedom,-fills the- leading part with striking power. The fifth instalment of the circus serial, "Peg o'tlie Ring," gives strong support to the leading attraction. ; * ; '•»-■■' * * " The Daughter of MacGregor " A private. screening of the above picture took place at the Queen's Theatre yesterday. It is a thrilling story by the Famous Players Co., with numerous highly picturesque scenes in Scotland and Florida, and several typical" Scottish characters, which are presented in a natural manner. Some of these characterisations are distinctly clever, depicting people who might have stepped out of Sir Walter Scott's novels,, so rugged and true to life are., thev. -.-.■".# * ■* ,* : -. '■'~' ■ This especially applies to Mr. . Arda Le. Croix's portrayal of Donald MacGregor, a stern old Puritan, dominated by a second wife, who soured his disposition and caused him to cast out his own daughters : Valentine 'Grant essays the character of Jean, the persecuted heroine, and is also responsible for the scenario, and right /well does she perform both roles. She is delightful in the early scenes with the crabbed stepmother and irate father, and when she reaches Florida and comes into con'•tact with the rough element in a lum : ber camp, she speedily charms them •with her innocence and personality. Her dog, Lady, secures for its intelligence, and is no mean factor in winning success for the pro- . duction. ■ . £. « » i © The story shows us Jean MacGregor being sent from her' Scottish home to her uncle in Florida, where she is soon lored by all in the camp. Thieves are making free with the logs, and.. Jean manages to discover their depredations arid secure their which makes her a heroine in the camp. She "has many escapades, and a succession of thrilling incidents end in reconciliation with -her lover, from whom she has been parted by calumny, and a com-, . plete understanding between- Jean and her father, who, on the death, of his wife, appreciates. Jean at her true worth. ..'A fine Scottish romance, excellently portrayed, and one that, should draw capacity houses to the Queen's all" next week- : ■ ~-■•''«.'. •» * »...•■-.. Geraldine Farrar said good-bye .to the shadow-stage for-the present to make reappearance in grand opera. the completion of "Joan of Arc" in the Lasky Studio, her fellow players presented her with a. handsome set of silver toilet accessories. - e »-.»■'.« Fannie Ward, who "stars" in Paramount's latest production, "For the Defence," started-life in quite-a humble position, became an actress- famous throughout the European and American continents, married one of Londons millionaires, was. divorced', and disappeared from the stage for a time. New, she has added to the long list of her- . adventures by "becoming a cinema-star. Quite recently she made another plunge matrimony by marrying Jack "Dean, a member of her cinema company.

i .-"Neptune's Daughter." witii shapely Annette Kellerman in the leading role, showing her skill in swimming and diving, has taken Tasmania by ' storm. Hobart claims -to have the largest picture palace in Australasia, and it was, packed to "the doors every night -that Annette was on the screen as/the. Sea--God's daughter.' In fact, Hobiirt went off/.its head\over ''Neptune's -Daugh- • • tor." \"; y ";//•;/ /'.,-" : /• Launeesfcon has now. followed suit. ; The ' 'Daily - Telegraph? s says :. ' 'It. is not exaggerated praise to say that ''Neptune's; Daughter" -is the most delightful and biggest pictorial v - success that has visited Tasmania-. It is the finest . production ' from : the moving camera to date.'' The Shipman Enterprises, Ltd., are being pressed to make a return tour through New Zealand, but - engagements in New South and : Queensland will take a good . while : 'yet to fulfil. ' * ■» ■ * ";■■■ ■ *. : ... ■; "Intolerance," the wonderful D. W.' -Griffith, picture, which.. J. C. Williamson, X.'td.,' are' to present* in Australia, and presumably, •, New • Zealand, cost £400,000 to make. The-/-point.of the story is "man's inhumanity W man.'" The heroine of ''Intolerance" is a- new "discovery" of Mr. Griffith's—Constance Talmadge. It was her first appearance in pictures; though her sister, Norma ' Talmadge, has an established position in the film/world. _: Griffith lias _ remarkable powers . -in- 'picking'' new. people. Discoveries of his include Mary Pickford, Mae Marsh, and other screen ■ celebrities. -, ; « • ' » ■■■■ ■» " -> * . The partnership l of.-William Desmond , and Jane Grey; which 'commenced, in Australia when . these two artists madc\ a .great success • with "Paid In Fiill" and still 1 continues, the only difference being. that • thiey ■' now 'appear on the screen v tinder< - the-Incis: directorship instead of on the ordinary stage. \ • © o • ©• "v,.. "Ransageki," or - , a- combination of stage aid screen drama, is v all the rag;e in Japan. It seems that all the sentimental parts—lovers' farewells, . proposals ; in fact, anything in the; way of "sob-stuff"—is given in dialogue. But when it comes to thrills, down comes the screen and 'the camera/lwlds sway: ' i ; ./ ■>.■;•■'/';:#> « .' 9 \ "" -L : .. ■ Beaumont Smith has . entered, the. /. moving" picture field in Australia,. and ■ his first production; "Our ../Friends the/ Hayseeds," .will be released towards the end of the month. It is> a fourreeler, 5000 ft in' length, and illustrates incidents of life -on the. wayback selection. The work of production: was carried out near Adelaide. . . o . _ ' • , ® J. F. Gavin has completed the taking of his latest., picture, the "Murder of Captain Fryatt,''.whigh extends to over four reels.. Franklyn' Barrett, who carried out the photographic work, .asserts that this is,-liis best effort; . .

Norma Talmadge just happened into pictures. She. saw a photo-play whilst a schoolgirl in Brooklyn, and told her. mother it was juat the work "for her. A visit to a moving picture, studio followed, and she was engaged on the-spot. She is 18 years old and her birthplace, '.-was at Niagara" Falls. All the experience she had before entering moving pictures was what, falls to the average schoolgirl through amateur theatricals. ; ■& " ' ;' '« a .« ' Enid Bennett, the talented young Australian actress who /'was lately enby Triangle to play star parts, has already become a picture celebrity. In the principal American magazines her photograph appeared recently with most complimentary : footnotes. Her first ' appearance .on the screen will be in the difficult part of a blind girl.