Louis Mann (1915) 🇺🇸

Lasky Engages Louis Mann

Samuel Goldfish announces that an arrangement has been entered into between Louis Mann, the distinguished American comedian, and Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company by which Mr. Mann will make his first appearance in moving pictures under the direction of Mr. Lasky. This contract calls for Mr. Mann to star in a screen version of Elevating a Husband, the noted comedy success in which he appeared less than two years ago under the management of Werber & Luescher.

Elevating a Husband was written by Clara Lipman (Mrs. Louis Mann) and Samuel Shipman. The piece was first produced at the Liberty Theater and scored such a success that it was later transferred to the Criterion Theater, where Mr. Mann and the production remained for the entire season.

In Elevating a Husband Mr. Mann plays the role of the proprietor of a string of five and ten cent stores who marries a music teacher more educated than himself. The plot depends upon the attempts of Letty (the music teacher) to educate her husband and teach him the ways of the polite world. The play has a distinct dramatic episode in addition to its human aspects.

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“In Fear of His Past”

Two-Reel Majestic depicting the bitterness of undeserved punishment with a redemption through natural justice.

Reviewed by Louis Reeves Harrison.

Cast.
John Burton… Jack Conway
Colonel Gray… Spottiswoode Aitken
Mary Jennings… Mary Alden

Among all dramatic situations, one of the most affecting is that of a man imprisoned for a crime he did not commit — it is a blot upon our present stage of civilization that such a thing is possible. That undeserved punishment falls upon the head of a young man of no criminal tendencies through the machinations of a clever adventuress at the beginning of In Fear of His Past. She is the real thief, but she succeeds in making circumstantial evidence point to an innocent man that her crime may be covered.

His escape from prison is attended with a line of action entirely new, and he escapes for good. He becomes the secretary of an eccentric old gentleman of wealth engaged in writing his memoirs, named Colonel Gray. This role, delightfully interpreted by Spottiswoode Aitken. is one of originality. Colonel Gray is wealthy enough to be eccentric, and his eccentricities are rich with human kindness. He judges men for himself, and tries them out before allowing that judgment to set.

The young secretary merits the confidence reposed in him. but is tormented with fear that his identity as an escaped convict will be discovered. Now comes the adventuress in pursuance of a new scheme, that of robbing the eccentric Colonel. She succeeds in getting an interview as an agent of rare books and ingratiates herself by posing as an author.

She is engaged to assist in writing the Colonel’s memoirs. She recognizes the secretary as her former victim and silences him through his fear.

The arrival of a simple young girl, the Colonel’s grandchild, seriously interferes with the plans of the adventuress and augments the dread of the young ex-convict when he falls in love with the granddaughter. The adventuress is driven to make a desperate move — she insists upon the secretary becoming her accomplice in robbing the safe. He is driven to the point of committing crime under the influence of his haunting dread, but asserts his manhood just in time. His quarrel with the adventuress draws the attention of Colonel Gray, and he overhears the adventuress incriminate herself. She is promptly placed under arrest and the splendid old Colonel secures a pardon for the young ex-convict by personal testimony before the Governor. The secretary escapes imprisonment to follow an honorable career, but how many are hurled down the plane of disgrace and humiliation to utter demoralization and death through the lack of a little common humanity and judicial intelligence. The big problem is admirably suggested.

Scene from In Fear of His Past (Majestic).

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Blatz opens Ivonhoe Theater.

Charles L. Blatz opened the Ivonhoe theater in Sandusky. Ohio, on November 21 to the delight of Sanduskians. It is a well built and up-to-date picture house, and has a seating capacity of 700. The music will be supplied by a Fotoplayer. The admission prices are 10 cents for adults and 5 cents for children. The Ivonhoe is open from 1 p. m. to 11 p. m.

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Collection: Moving Picture World, January 1915