New-York tribune., 1919-06-19
On the Screen
Jess Willard's 'sIhe Challenge
of Crime" Has Premiere
at the Park

Anybody whose acquaintance with
the formalities of the prize ring is
merely at a bowling stage can enjoy
Jess Wizards picture THE Challenge
Of Chance" which was shown for the
first time in New York at the Park
Theatre last evening. For although
Jess makes every inch of his stature
count and uses his famous fists to ex-
cellent purpose, while knocking out vii
lains singly and in hordes not one
actual prize ring scene is staged.
The management asked the indul-
gence of the audience for any un-
toward happenings that might occur
during the running off Of the picture,
a few hours before the performance.
Things went smoothly at first, and it
was only toward the end that certain
discrepancies were noticeable.
The world champion heavyweight
plays a cowboy part. Old Charles Burr
sends for him to come to his ranch
in Texas and buy horses for him.
Right away on the train things begin
to happen. In the first place, all the
pretty girls nudge each other and mur-
muir: Gee! l wonder if he's mar
ried!" Then, of course, what in an
other picture would be The Girl also
is on the train. Her seat is just op-
posite Jess, whose movie name Is Joe
Bates. When the train makes a longer
stop than usual, Jess and Fay Calvert
watch an ill-natured old man beating
a high spirited and refractory horse
x,y;% II u.
little trusting hand on one of Jess's
paws he knows that its up to him to
rush to the rescue. He lays the man
low, knocks out four of his retainers,
mounts the horse, throws $40 at its
owners head and dashes off after the
vanishing train.
This is fight No. /. The next day,
| just after Jess has neatly figured out
that the savings from his years sal
ary on the ranch will enable him to
start out for himself, he sees the VIC
tim Of his horse saving episode of the
day before entering the office. The
mans face resembles cubist arrange
mcnt of that old fashioned remedy,
vinegar and brown paper.
Sad to relate. Jess's victim was his
DDSS-OlU OudTleS Duff. ne future
looks dark. 1t looks even blacker
when Burr tries to cheat The Girl of
the train out of an agreement to buy
her fathers string of racing horses.
Jess foils him again and continues to
play the hero by rushing the bridge
and saving The Girls and a lot of
other prize winning steeds from fall
ing into the hands of the insurrectos-
Mexican Black Handers-whose money
loving propensities fall in nicely with
the deep laid schemes of old Charles
Burr
Mr.. Willard strolls through the film
with the ease of n veteran in the mo-
tion picture studio. He is supported
by an efficient cast, including Airline
Pretty as Fay Calvert, Albert Hart as
Charles Burr, Lee Hill as a trainer of
the Calvert stables, and Harry Van
Meter as Ell Captain, Mexican chief
tain.
There are a number Of fine spectacu-
lar scenes in the last half Of the pict-
ure, including some 'cross-country rid
ing, several race course scenes and the
triumphant return from Juarez Of
Joe Bates with the rescued horses.
Jess maintains a Sir Galahad-like air
to the very end, when Fay falls not
into his arms but into those of Bob,
the trainer.
The scenario is by Roy Somerville
and the picture was directed by Henry
Revier. K. w.