Father's Day

It is seldom that we find the production spoiling the script, but it seems to have in this case. The idea here and also the story are fine, but the players, excellent workers in many roles, were most unfortunately chosen for these. The son, played by William Stowell. is full of counter suggestions. It repels us to see a man with his character of physiognomy acting as this son acts. Then Hilda (Adele Lane) put comedy into her part, a quality that should have been as far removed from it as the poles. The story by Gilson Willetts should have been as impressive as a Bible parable. That giving away of the fruit, taking the old man. to a show, giving him many cigars (all these things probably the author's carelessness) really outraged the old man in his sorrow. In truth, it is heart-breaking to see the possibilities going to waste here. One can't call this a good offering. - The Moving Picture World, January 17, 1914