Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-09-14
BEST THEATRE TODAY.

The name of Charles Ray, the sprightly young star in Paramount pictures, apparently is synonym for success. That will be demonstrated when his newest vehicle, "The Claws of tte Hun," be presented at the Best Theatre to audiences which will go wild with enthusiasm. MT. Ray will be seen in most congenial role and his portrayal of a red4blooded American patriot as vidid as it was artistice and satisfying.
 In this splendid photoplay MT. Ray plays the part of John Stanton, the son of manufacturer of ammuni tion. His mother is i'll and, like num- erous mothers, she dreads to see her boy go lover there." The government has entrusted the secret of high ex- plosive to the boys father, which is kept in a safe and which is vainly sought by spy in the plant.
 MT. Ray gave a forceful portrayal of the young hero, and, as usual, Rob- ert McKim proved very despicable william as the German spy. Jane Mo- yak was charming and Melbourne Mcdowell did artistic work.
 Charles Ray in "The Claws of the Hun" is the picture of which Hey wood Brown wrote in the New York Tribune: We have seldom seen a moving picture audience so worked up over the outcome of film play as that in the Rialto yesterday. There were frequent shrill whistles of en- ccuragement as well as applause
 Cleveland Moffett, the author, fam ous for his work in fighting Hun pro- pagandists, made this comment after seeing it at the Rialto in New York: "Say, that certainly gets me! I'd like to have the royalties on that picture"
 That's the rousing kind of picture the exhibitor gives his patrons in this Thomas H. Ince production. It's a feature that will back up the stronger statements, picture that will make the crowds cheer so loudly that the people in the street will hear them.
 "The Claws of the Hun" is melo- drama but melodrama of the highest type-patriotic melodrama that makes men and women better quali- fled to fight their part in the war.
 The production is compelling be- cause it takes new angle in war pictures. Its big ideas are:
 It tells the story of boy who want ed to go to war, who was told he was physically unfit, and who set out to prove the doctor was wrong.
 It shows stouthearted youth fight ing German conspirators in America. a boy who wins after he seems to be thoroughly beaten.
 It appeals to the mothers who don't want to lose their sons to the women who want other women's boys to go to war but who won't sacrifice their own. Vigorously it tells why every mother must make the supreme sacri- flee.
 In short it takes the average Am erican family of today and with thrills and tears, suspense and smiles, it brings home the yearning of the youth who would fight and of the mother who would save her son while oters die.
 You have an intimate story of the work of the German propagandists, showing how they operate among ev- cry day folk; you have a powerful patriotic story of the youth who wants to fight; you have title that will pull the crowds; you have a picture that shows new scenes of great magnitude in. munitions plants and, greatest of all, you have Thom- as H. Ince production starring Char les Ray.
 Charles Ray fighting Germans ir America-there are no battle scenes, nothing blood-thirsty-patriotic ap- peal that is actually part of a com polling drama.