What the Movies are Doing.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 914, 18 January 1918, Page 7

What the Movies are Doing.

Paramount — " The Happiness of Three Women." THE new programme, at the Paramount will introduce House Peters and Myrtle Stedman in the Morosco production, "The Happiness of 'Three Women," adapted for the screen from Albert Payson Terhune's unusual story. House Peters is a popular star, who will be remembered as the dashing bandit Ramorez in the Lasky pro•duction of "The Girl of the Golden West," and as leading man to Blanche Sweet in a number of other Lasky features. "The Happiness of Three Women" marks his return to the Paramount fold. Charming Myrtle Stedman will be remembered for her fine success in the Morosco jDroduction of "An American Beauty," and later as . co-star with Sessue Hayakawa in ' 'The Soul of Kura-San." «• * * * The story of "The • Happiness of 'Three Women" relates in exciting style the inteersting adventures of Billy ■Craig, a. young solicitor. One of the unusual features of thq. picture is the ■exposure of the method used by clever la,wyers to secure confessions from criminals. Some, of the effects and •scenes shown are said to be startlingly ■realistic. . The first screening of this first-class production happens at the Paramount to-morrow (Saturday), and continues through next week. Anita Stewart at the King's. What may happen after the war is the foundation of the Greater Vitagraph's latest super-feature, "The Billions Plot" or "The Message of the Mouse," to be screened at the King's, commencing this Saturday. The drama is full of new and wonderful things. Anita- Stewart is the heroine and Rudolph. Cameron is, as in actual life, her lover. The cast is an extraordinary one, and special mention should bo made of Rogers Lytton, who plays the part of Varrie, the international spy, called "The Rose," and also of Julia Swayne Gordon, who portrays his woman confederate. The first sensational happening is the explosion in the munition works owned ■by the heroine's father. The working •of a huge and intricate system of underground spies is revealed in the most interesting fashion, and very amazing are the devices and fantastic electrical machines that are used for inter-com-munication. The foiling of the whole diabolieial conspiracy comes about in the most surprising way. * * * * Everybody's—"The Tarheel Warrior." The queer title of this fine Triangle drama means a man tliat has never known or shown fear. Walt Whitman as old Colonel Mills is splendid. Faced by almost certain ruin, and, what seems worst of all, by the loss of his fine old Southern homestead, the Colonel goes to New York to raise the needful money. There he finds that everyone to whom he applies is so tied up with investments that nothing can be done. He falls in then with a veteran friend who is making a: "surefire" plunge on Wall-street. The temptation for the old man is too strong. The concluding scenes are full of strong pathos and wonderful acting. A new Triangle actress, Ann Eroman, is said to be the daintiest

little lady that has shown up for a long time, and her love making is delightful. The Southern scenes are very beautiful, and special mention should be made of the quaint old negro couple who are so proud of being personal retainers in the Mills family. * * -K- ■siEmpress—"A Woman's Way." The ways of the modern smart set are treated with merciless candour in "A Woman's Way," a society drama made by the World Film Coinpany, to be screened at the Empress with the incoming new programme. Ethel Clayton is the heroine. She portrays a country beauty who marries a city man of wealth, and is bored by the life of the gay circles into which he takes her. Slowly they drift apart, imtil the husband becomes infatuated with a clever adventuress. A motor car joy ride leads to an accident, and there is a prospect of scandal. The little wife resolves to fight the woman with her own weapons, gives a dinner party, and dresses in a- way that amazes everyone. The husband, disillusioned, seeks reconciliation, and is treated to plenty of cold fact. The story is full of dramatic moments. Montagu Love is said to be splendid in the role of the lover, while Carlyle Blackwell also does well as the husband. The settings are something to be wondered at, being examples of the lavish and costly surroundings of the rich society idlers of a modern great city. # # » « "The Modern Musketeer" is the title of the next Fairbanks film, but the chances now are that it will be delayed a while because of an accident to Fairbanks' s new leading woman, Marjorie Daw. & a # « Max Marcin's melodrama, "The House of Glass," has been acquired for the screen by Clara Kimball Young.

"Stella Maris," upon which Mary Piickford is now engaged, will give that actress the opportunity to essay her first dual role. The two parts, as is customary in such cases, are widely different. * * * * Frank Keenan, after a brief return to the stage, has gone back to- the films. He is at present working at the Pathe Studios in a little thing called "Loaded Dice."

Maciste, the Italian film actor and soldier, lias been killed at the Front. His career has been a remarkable one. Five years ago he* was working on a bridge in Italy, a gigantic, muscular figure, bronzed, and clad in the picturesque garb of the Italian peasant. Gabriele D'Annunzio, who had just finished his famous film play, "Cabiria," happened to pass the group of workmen. He was looking for a man fitted to' play the slave in "Cabiria," a man who could - perform feats of

strength and endurance through, reel after reel of film drama. Maciste chanced to be lifting a great block of stone as the poet passed, and his fate was sealed there and then. He became one of the most successful film actors in the world. He had no education, but he had a certain native shrewdness which made him reailise his value and demand good pay. * * * «• Clara. Kimball Young in "Trilby" is the latest attraction on the screen.