Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-09-26
HEART GRIPPING
STORY ON SCREEN
Helen Hunt Jackson's Great
Novel Portrayed in Re-
markable Manner.

The most pathetic screen production
ever seen in Boise.
That is the common verdict given by
those who saw the first production by
Elliott & Sherman of Clune's Cinema
operate Ramona" taken from Helen
Hunt Jackson's famous novel. Pathos,
deep and gripping, vibrates through the
entire film for three steady hours. 1t
is made the more touching by the
splendid orchestra selection that fol-
lows each scene. The happy beginning
at Santa Barbara in the prologue when
Senorita Ramona Gonzaga, strikingly
impersonated by Miss Mabel Van
Buren,, meets Angus Phail at her sis
ter's wedding; the latters success in
securing the promise Of her hand, and
the tragic ending when Angus returns
to find his promised bride has been
welded to another, is but the forerun-
ner of what comes later in the play.
That which follows is not compliment
tary to the government of the United
States in it's neglect of the southern
California Indian, nor to the brutal
treatment by the whites of the stolid
red man.
There are few laughs In the play.
The story of how Allessandro, captain
of the sheep shearing band, son of
Chief Pablo Assis of the Temecula
tribe, met Senorita Ramona Phail, the
half breed daughter of Angus Phail,
woos and runs away with her; the
birth of their child; their desperate
and fruitless attempts to establish
home, only to the driven from pillar
to post by the invasion of the white
man. the sickness and finally death
of their child and later the brutal
killing of Allessandro, are scenes that
leave the audience in tears. The ro-
mantle ending when Ramona is at last
found by Felipe, her childhood COM
panion, and becomes his bride softens
the pathos of it all.
The Photographic effects are good;
the film is clean and clear. Many of
the scenes are taken in the most pic
turesque spots of southern California
and give to the entire production an
artistic finish. The play follows the
novel accurately. Helen Hunt Jack
son personally investigated the condi-
tons Of the Indians and officially re-
ported her findings to Washington.
| Congress is charged with failure to
act and protect the Indians, but Helen
| I1uIlI JdchSOn pldCeu lleT IueSSdSe De-
fore the American people in her book
Ramona" which was woven from
| data secured in the personal investiga-
ton she made of the Temecula In
dams.
The orchestra OF 20 pieces is of as
high standard as the play and film.
The California Mission singers, Miss
Franz Marie Creager. soprano; Miss
Leona Dustin, contralto; Ralph c..
Smith, tenor; Edwin Cowles, baritone,
add to the strength of the production
Richard Sterling as Angus Phail, a
wealthy Scotch ship owner, plays a
double role with effect: H. NJ. Best as
Father Salvierderra- Padre of the San
ia Barbara mission. is the good
| friend" in all the tragedy that be-
falls others: N. De Brullier as Felipe
Moreno, Jr.. and Miss AIDA Gleason as
Senorita Ramona Phail in the play
handle very difficult parts with excel
lent effect; while Monroe Salisbury
as Allessandro Assis, son of Chief
Pablo Assis. makes an excellent hero
Indian whose part calls for his best
talent