The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-24
'"Heliotrope" a Film
Drama
Of
Loves, Hates, Desires, Sacrifices
p, bhurn
Drama
By Richard Washburn Child.

which touch some OF life's deepest
problems? Yet IL happens, and
after this fashion:
Harry Hasdock, the father is
"lifer." He is doing" his fifteenth
year when we get our first closeup
OF him. The caption tells Of his
passion for the perfume, which in
happier days he had used freely,
In season and out. and which had
won for him the nickname OF
"Heliotrope Harry" from the
gang" The only member OF the
old crowd in evidence Is "Spikr"
Foley. played by william b. Mack
Spike" Is faithful in his devotion
to "Heliotrope." although he is
timid and is going straight" fully
determined to keep out OF the en-
brace OF the law.
HOW STORY Is UNFOLDED.
The opening scene. in n French
convent in New Orleans. introduces
the charming heroine. Alice Hale,
played by Diana Allen. She Is a
supposed orphan. who is pecping
into a girls world Of romance over
the top of her lesson book. Her
chum persuades Alice to go home
with her for the holidays. This
girl. Mabel Andrews, played by
Betty Hilburn, is the daughter of
a wealthy lumberman, George An
drews, played by Clayton white.
Alice goes and meets her fate in
Jimmie Andrews, portrayed by Will
lam Lyttell. They be come engaged,
and their pictures, with a glowing
story of their romance, appear in a
Sunday newspaper.
70 CT nd
sends 1t to "Heliotrape." The father
writes in return, telling heretofore
unknown points in the case. This
letter is stolen by Heliotrope's
scheming and disreputable wife
played by Julia Swayne Gordon-who
lives in the house where Spike"
rooms. She gets the papers, resur-
reefs her daughters birth certificate
and Smells coin" She takes Sol
Goldman-played by Ben Hendricks
-pawnbroker for the gang. into her
confidence. With promises of
good thing" she lures him into CIV
ing her a wardrobe in which to
play the part.
PARDON is GRANTED.
Spike" overhears their plans,
communications with "Heliotrope,"
NHo, tnOuSH a tTuSlN, proceeds
almost to wreck his cell in an i'm
potent effort to escape and rescue
his child. The warden, in favor of
the honor system, quiets the dis
tracted father by promising to in
tercede with the governor, who
is expected next day. The result
is a pardon, signed on "Heliotrope's"
promise that he will not injure
in
keep her from revealing his secret
"Heliotrope" is next seen at a
hotel. Immediately clothed and
wearing his favorite flowers. His
daughter, registered at the same
hotel, is accommodating wedding
finery. The wife and mother is in
stalled in the room next her daugh-
ter, who is unsuspecting of the
nearness of those who brought her
into this world, one of whom in
tends to ruin her happiness.
BATTLE OF WITS BEGINS.
Here begins the weird battle of
wit and perfume. The wife scent,
her husbands presence before she
reads of his pardon. In fear for
her life she fees from place to
place, always followed by the
scent of MISUNDERSTANDING in
bouquets, in pots. in notes and
sprayed through the keyholes During
her absence-hunting rev ave-
nue. of escape-"Heliotrope" enters
her room, steals the birth Ger
tificate from her desk and burns
the only evidence that the child
is hers.
The end is happiness, for the
girl becomes the bride of the man
she loves, secure in the happiness
purchased by the loving sacrifice
of her father. The play shows
rare glimpses of an unusually
high realization of the obligations
of fatherhood. A love powerful
enough in it's majesty to melt all
hearts.
There is n charm about Hello
trope" which is indescribable. Like
ell truly fine works of art. ito
effects cannot be put into words,
but they are there.
"Heliotrope's" human appeal will
create many an April face among
lovers of pictures.