Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-26

VIII some kind lady or gentleman OK
/ plain the why's and whcrefores of the
! great appeal OF "thc old mill'' or "the
! old homestead" in our American ltera-
! turc and drama? 1t is unquestionable
| ana indisputablc; "Way Down East"
The Oll Homestead. Long Acres" etc,
! will give ample evidence of it, Now its
appeal invades the movies and succeeds
! in getting over even better there. We have
had these sweet country plays" ever
since the industry began: but never has
| it been more clcverly handled than in
Hazel Eirkc," the new Pathe Gold
Rooster film.
The story has all the elements of the
poor miller, his lovely daughter, the
benevolent and rich country gentleman
who cducatcs her, expecting to marry
her, only to have her fall in love with an
other man and marry him. The Squire"
proves his true love by turning said lady
over to the other gentleman. and all ends
happily. OF course, fathers curse" fig
ures prominently, and unfortunately for
father; but it serves to add interest to
the picture.
This type of story, no matter how sem
tim"ntal hangs together well in picture
form, and Hazel Kirke" is no eXcep-
ton.
Pathe has given its most capable cast
to this film. The pleasure of again seeing
Creighton Hale look as if he has lost his
best friend is so great that one almost
forEets how really excellent Pearl White
is in the title role,
This is the first opportunity and role in
which she has had opportunity to be any
thing but the heroic heroine. This time she
is the clinging vine, acknowledgements
her style plus a few moments of really big
emotion She does it eXcellently. Never
nl
ural, while in the last reel she proves
that she can portray suffering of the
kcencst kind quite as well as she can do
the other lighter parts. 1t is a revelation
to see one whose Elaine" pauline" and
other serial hcroines' are so noted prove
herself such truly capable actress.
Any picture with such finished actors
as Bruce McRea, Hatch and Creighton
Hale will at all times lie well done. The
action is stirring and photographically
excellent. The closing scene is especially
lovely.
Willard Mack, author of "Kick In," 80
Much for So Much" and other plays. has
been engaged by the Jesse l.. Lasky Fea-
ture Play Company to write photoplays
to ne produced by the big motion picture
firm and shown at such theatres as the
Stanley. Mr.. Macks name, therefore, is
added to list of well-known dramatists
WHO are luIHlIB tnelT attention almost eN-
Clusively to motion pictures for the
Laslty Company. Among others who are
members of the firms literary staff are
William c. De Mile, author of "The War
rens of Virginia." 1.-THE Woman" and
other plays produced by David Belasco;
Marion Fairfax, Margaret and Hector
George BronsOn-Howard, whose
recent novel, Gods Man" is attracting
wide attention, and Paul Dickey, author
of The Misleading Lady" THE Ghost
Breaker" and other plays.
One of the best bits of screen acting
seen in a long while is done by Ruby
Hoffman, in "The Devils Prayer Book"
which is booked for the Market Street
Theatre Thursday,
Viola Dana, i'm THE Innocence of
Ruth" at the Savoy today, is always di-
rected in her plays by John Collins. who,