Volume I: Narrative History

Chapter 7 (1914): Other February Releases

All's Well That Ends Well, a Princess film released on February 20, 1914, received a negative review from The Moving Picture World: "A criss-cross love story with little suspense, but with a broad humor without finesse running through it. The situation is rather meaningless and impossible. Not especially strong on anything." A Can of Baked Beans, issued on February 22nd, was from a scenario by T.O. Eltonhead. Featured were the Turner twins, Fred and Allen, the young sons of J. Alan Turner, who had been hired two months before as technical director for Thanhouser Big Productions. In addition to the twins, his actress daughter, little Alice, accompanied him to New Rochelle. The Moving Picture World found the film to be good comedy but not particularly wholesome for children to view.

Thanhouser advertisements and news releases proclaimed the advantages of its multiple-reel films: "The death knell of the unknown feature has been sounded by the Thanhouser Big Production - with known stars and stories by a known maker of the best there is in motion pictures!" Note The thrust of the message referred to the success of lengthy foreign films featuring players unknown to American audiences. George Kleine's importation of Quo Vadis? was but one of several examples which had captured the public's fancy and money.

The Golden Cross, issued on February 24th, featured Maude Fealy and was well reviewed. Their Best Friend, released on February 27, 1914, was from a scenario written or suggested by Charles E. Maltby and H.B. Maltby, Charles E. being the person from whom Charles J. Hite purchased the Columbia Garage a year earlier. The film garnered mixed reviews, mostly favorable. The Hold-Up, the Princess film of February 27th, was found by The Moving Picture World to have good photography but weak acting and an outdated plot. Cardinal Richelieu's Ward, a Thanhouser Big Production released in four reels on March 1st, featured James Cruze as the cardinal and Florence LaBadie as his ward. An item in The Morning Telegraph, February 14, 1914, noted: "The name of the Thanhouser release has been changed from Richelieu to Cardinal Richelieu's Ward. After the picture had first been named it was learned that the Universal Company had produced one with the same title, which was the reason for the change." As usual for Thanhouser four-reelers released by the Mutual Film Corporation, Cardinal Richelieu's Ward was virtually ignored by reviewers.