The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-16


Dixie. The Secret Kingdom
THE production of 1.-THE Black But
terfly" at the Princess today and
tomorrow Is one Of the best in
which Madame Petrova has appeared
IN some time, and as THE Black But
terfJy" she interprets an emotional
type from which she ranges to the
character of her own daughter. In
cidentally, some Of the best examples
Of double exposure accomplished of
late are employed in showing Sonia,
the Butterfly, talking to Marie, the
daughter.
Madame Petrova. always stately ana
possessed Of a rare type of exotic love-
hness, succeeds In carrying the dual
roles convincingly; she is, however,
best In the part OF the sophisticated,
en1bittered, and lonely celebrity, the
toast" Of the French metropolis.
Afeature of the picture is the scene
Of blood TRANSMISSION upon the battle
field, when Sonia, after renouncing
the man she loves, saves the life of
one she believes ruined her life by
giving him her blood. The scene is
realistic; hut pathological scenes are
never particularly inviting.
The cast in support of the star is
good, generally speaking. The set
tings are adequate and the photoplay
Of average quality.
The Nelson has another of the N.Y.
ers-Theby pictures today. For real
downright decent comedy up to now
We haven't anything to equal these
pictures on the screen anywhere. So
different from the rest of the comedy
that one sees nowadays that 1t at once
aacends to a class all by itself. There
Is plenty to laugh about, and great
deal more that Just provokes curled
Zip, but its all clean and free Of rough
fhouse stuff. Both performers are OF
THE parlor variety and the humor is
really more in the suggested lines
than It is in the situations. Here is
where there Is evidence of fine
tpiece Of dictatorship. Others at this
ihouse today are "a Strange Adven-
lure" "Mr. Wright in Wrong" and "a
a5rain of Suspicion" The Myers.Theby
spicture is called three Ways Out"
At the Metro;Po Popular Plays and
FPlayers studios recently, Madame
sPetrova probably established new
.EGGQIu kI6 vi 6Omu6 u6Cu
Thy a motion picture star in one day.
I'm three different stage settings she
FUSED ten different gowns. AS a result
kDe the trials and troubles of keeping
bEabs on the gowns and fittings she
fuses in different scenes, she has OBJ
Hained the services of a wardrobe Sec
Eretary to keep the clerical records of
fsuch matters. This assistant does
mot handle Madame Petrova's gowns.
ther wardrobe mistress taking care of
ffhese duties.
Politics makes no stronger friends
sIDr enemies than does motion picture
Hswork. Helen Dunbar and Beverly,
eBayne, friends for years, find this es.
soecially true. Miss Dunbar has played
ksnany sweet and kindly roles in Bush
ksnan.Bayne pictures. Lately she has
Ebeen browbeating and attempting to
poison Miss Bayne; she has imprison-
led her, attempted to beat her out OF
IAN inheritance, and there seems to be
mo limit to the cruel and treacherous
b1atufe of Miss Dunbar, in her new
lrharacter role Of Jane Warren in Me-
hro's serial, 1.-THE Great Secret"
But the needs Of the picture only
demand that be cruel during screen.
ling hours" said Miss Dunbar, land
las / am naturally gentle off stage,
Miss Bayne and will remain friends"
Ollie Kirby, most versatile Of screen
lnlayers, is an ardent phonograph fan
land her stock of records Is reputed to
tbe worth hundreds Of dollars. Her
bungalow In Jacksonville, Florida, is
Ea haven OF rest and music for the
kalem players associated with her in
the Grant, Police Reporter" series.
miss Kirby co-stars with George A.
l.ariSin, the supreme artist OF daring
thrills.
The new Vitagraph serial, THE Sc
eret Kingdom, by Louis Joseph Vance
Rt the Dixie today, is continued story
Eof exiled royalty AND of thrilling ad-
ventures in the old world and the new.
gThe plot presents striking contrast
;between the life and pomp and in
ltrigue In a small European kingdom
and the free an eShilarating atmos-
phere OF a ranch in Arizona. The first
episode serves as an Introductory
chapter and shows us:
.srhe Land of Intrigue episode
1l.-The royal parents of the Crown
Prince of Albania are assassinated
thfough the treachery of their prime
minister, Simond, who secretly as
pires to the throne. 1t is his evil in.
tention to make away with the little
Crown Prince as we'll, but the boy
IS protected by Captain Barreto, a i
loyal commander of the King, who sue
ceeds in eluding the hired assassins
pnd escapes with his charge to Ameri |
ca.
Episode 2, which is the one shown
to-day. Royalty at Red Wing
Twenty years later we find the boy
prince grown to manhood and living
in ignorance Of his royal birth, un-
der the name of Phillip Barr, on an
ARIZONA ranch known as Red Wing.
by one of those fortunate coincidents
hict uncommon in serials the young
Princess Julia, daughter of Simond,
the usurper of the throne passes
Through the ranch while travelling in.