User Reviews

Whatever shortcomings are to be charged against "Envy," the five-reel photoplay which constitutes the opening number of the "Seven Deadly Sins" series, to be presented by McClure Pictures, the scenario alone must bear the blame. Absolute honesty of purpose on the part of the person responsible for the story would have insured an uncommonly entertaining screen drama. Starting with an effective and fairly novel theme, the unknown author has developed it consistently and with due regard to its dramatic worth up to a certain point and then forced the situations to the limit of sensationalism. The last reel is full of the liveliest sort of action. A thief, who discovers that the woman he has assaulted is his own sister, has a terrific battle in the cabin of a yacht with a man that has been the young woman's protector. In the meantime another young woman, the intended victim of the man of wealth, is engaged in crawling out of a port-hole and is rescued by her lover and the sister of the thief. The latter girl, a beautiful and accomplished actress, has been warned by her physician that she has a weak heart and must give up all violent exertion, but she disregards the advice with a vengeance when the "redfire" finish gets well started. As before intimated, much of the work of the photoplaywright is admirable. He understands the value of contrast and carries out the meaning of the title by showing a successful woman of the stage surrounded by flatterers, money and, apparently, everything to make her happy, yet haunted by apprehension of her criminal brother and her physical condition; then, bringing into the story a simple little country girl, who envies the lot of the unknown celebrity and finds her fate strangely bound up with this same woman. Deft touches of characters, brief sidelights that reveal intimate and unexpected bits of life, progressive movement of plot, and most of the other elements that go into the making of a drama, either for the screen or the stage, are to be found in this picture play. Many persons will consider it thoroughly entertaining; but it does not bear out the promise of its earlier scenes, a promise of a much higher quality of dramatic fare, of more food for thought and less dependence upon physical action. In respect to the efforts of the cast and the general production, nothing but praise need be written. The direction by Richard Ridgley and the photography by George Lane, are fine specimens of the two arts. No detail has been slighted. Ann Murdock heads the cast. As Betty Howard, the actress, her beauty and histrionic skill are important assets in the success of the picture. A fetching boudoir costume, a chic bathing suit and an elaborate "nightie'' are features of her extensive wardrobe. Shirley Mason could hardly be improved upon in the character of Eve Leslie, and George Le Guere, Lumsden Hare, Robert Cain, Jessie Stevens and William Wadsworth, denote the care and judgment displayed in selecting the other players. – The Moving Picture World, February 3, 1917