Moving Picture World (Dec 1917) - Learn About Movie Posters

1806 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD December. 22, 1917
1, Minis on the Bcreen a murderous visage, which we
readilj recognize as thai "Kaiser Wilhelm, Emperor of all the
Huns, win. Bung a war of conquest Into the world, believing
that !>• could quickly conquer Europe. The Hun emperor aimed
his lirst I >1 < > w against Russia, where mobilization seemed most
difficult. I 'u i Russia, at the first call to arms, rose as one fighting
man. From every part of the vast empire came galloping
LCks." A distant view of what the last sentence of this
latter subtitle implies, which gives a dramatically realistic
suggestion of the spirit of the Russian people at the begin-
Hut Where Thompson Did Photographic Work.
ning of the war, is followed up by views and subtitles which
recall the fact that Russia mobilized six million men in ten
days and twenty millions later. The army in its turn, we are
told in subtitle, mobilized billions of "Cooties," among whom
socks were luxuries and rags were used as substitutes. Then
we learn of the demoralization of the Russian military
machinery because of Russia's failure to imprison pro-Germans.
Step by step the picture leads us along the line of German
intrigue, showing incidentally the destruction of Turkey's
shipping facilities and telling of the enticing of Turkey into
the war by Germany. The results of the German intrigue in
Russia, such as overcrowded hospitals, shortage of war materials
and surgical necessities, caused by the diverting in other
directions by Pro-German influence, of the millions in money
raised to successfully carry on the war, are illustrated. Then
comes the dark hour, when the Czar took supreme command
of the army and navy and sent Grand Duke Nicholas to the
Caucasus, which is illustrated in the picture with a familiar
view of these two central figures conversing presumably in the
grounds of the palace.
In this manner the picture tells Its story of this remarkable
period of history, always in the same effective and lucid
manner, giving us, first-hand as it were, truthful pictures of
the student, the peasant, the soldier, the socialist, the anarchist
and the Bolsheviki, "all of whom have been led to believe
themselves ready for complete freedom." The revolutionary
period is vividly described in the picture, showing
among other interesting scenes, the room in the Hotel Astoria
in Petrograd, where Mr. Thompson lived, with its windows
broken and its walls pierced with bullets. Neither have the
leaders of the different factions in Russia escaped the everwatchful
Thompson camera; and one of the most interesting
points brought out in the picture is the concentrative spirit
Donald C. Thompson in Trenches.
of the Russian soldier fighting at the front, disillusioned of
the German lies.
The most realistic battle pictures yet brought to us are to be
be found in the latest Thompson pictures. These were taken
on the Dvinski front. Some remarkable scenes show a gas
attack and the men in the trenches donning their gas masks.
In these scenes the poisonous vapor can be seen distinctly in
descent over the trenches. At another point a machinegun
attack on a detachment of Russians sent over the top to
clean out the German trenches shows the wiping out of the
entire detachment with the exception of a half dozen who
were taken prisoners. Nor has the photographer forgotten
the noble part that Russia's women have played during this
trying period, for they are seen in the picture at work in
various capacities, including soldiering.
Plans for the future handling of these pictures, which are
in course of a week's showing at the Strand theater, are under
consideration. For the present information regarding them can
be had from the Donald C. Thompson Film Company, 33 West
Forty-second street, New York City.
'Too Much Henry'
Amusing Metro-Drew Comedy in Which Mrs. Henry Learns
Through Nerve-Racking Experience That
"Distance Lends Enchantment."
IT
Reviewed by Margaret I. MacDonald.
IS astonishing that the amusing domestic situation in Drew
comedies has not been run to the ground. The fact remains,
however, that Drew comedies still continue to hold good,
and when we are prone to believe that they have reached the
very last point in domestic complications, one funnier than the
rest presents itself on the screen. "Too Much Henry" is one
of these.
As the story runs, Mr. Henry, a traveling salesman, is unable
to pay proper attention to his business because of the tormenting
recollection of his wife's tears at parting. No matter
how frequent the necessary absences occured Mrs. Henry failed
to get used to parting with hubby. At last a bright idea enters
Henry's head and he takes a lengthy vacation, during which
time he follows his wife about the house like a dog, insisting
on "running her house as he thought it ought to be run."
Finally hubby's "cuteness" gets on Mrs. Henry's nerves, and at
the close of the vacation instead of shedding tears she gleefully
packs his suit case and sees him return to his work. Noon that
day brings the last straw to Mrs. Henry's trials, when Henry
returns with the news that he is to be retained in the home
office.
"Miss Jackie of the Army"
Margarita Fischer Pleases in Five-Part American Production
of Patriotic Flavor.
A ROLLICKING,
Reviewed by Margaret I. MacDonald.
light-fibred role is that played by Margarita
Fischer in the American Film Company's production directed
by Lloyd Ingraham, with a cast perfectly capable of
taking care of a number of fairly interesting characters. The
picture is evidently intended for a patriotic offering, but is
not particularly striking as such.
Margarita Fischer, in the role of the daughter of a military
officer, is destined by the author to play a leading part in the
capture of a gang of spies, the leader of which turns out to be
an important member of the ranks of the American army under
the command of Jackie's father. A pretty love strain, lightly
dwelt upon, runs through the story. A bit of comedy develops
in the picture through Jackie's overzealous desire to find incriminating
evidence. In her search she discovers in the belongings
of a soldier upon whom she has placed an ungrounded
suspicion a paper that touches her affections. This is a real
estate advertisement which leads her to believe that this man
who has already made love to her, and who she secretly loves,
is entangled with another girl. Her success in trailing and
leading to the capture of the spy gang proves to her father
that his supposed misfortune in the possession of a daughter
in place of the son that he has wished for was not such a misfortune
after all.
Some criticism might apply to the elaborate quarters of the
individual soldiers, unless we are to believe that they are quartered
in their own homes. The picture will be found pleasing
to many, especially on account of Miss Fischer's charming
personality.
General Spy Expose
New Serial, "A Daughter of Uncle Sam," Founded Upon
Providence Journal Revelations.
inside story of THE the sensational manner in which countless
German spy plots and intrigues have been baffled by
the United States Secret Service within the last three years
is shown for the first time in "A Daughter of Uncle Sam," the
tremendously gripping patriotic serial to be released through
General Film Company, beginning January 12. The twelve
episodes of this lively serial, which is produced by the Jaxon
Film Corporation, reflect the campaign of the Government
against the destruction inaugurated in the United States by
German agents.
The rapid succession of thrilling incidents in connection with
the tracking down of plotters and spies is based almost entirely
upon facts revealed in the sensational disclosures which have
been made through the Providence Journal in the last eighteen
months. The announcements carried by the press of the country
from time to time that "The Providence Journal will say
this morning" have formed some of the most stirring chapters
of the current history of the war and the activities of the
United States Secret Service. The amazing ramifications of the
work of the plotters in this country are revealed in a startling
fashion by Jane Vance and Will Sorelle, two well known picture
stars, and a strong supporting company.