User Reviews

Signalizing its first American production, the Éclair Film Company released a two-reel subject entitled "Hands Across the Sea," on November 21st. Realizing the value of something unusual for the initial American production, the Eclair folks have spared no expense to make this picture notable, not only in proportions but in character and quality. In many respects it comes up to expectations and, while it is above the average, it is not quite up to the Eclair standard of photography. The story of the picture is too long to relate here. It is a grouping of some of the principal incidents of the Revolutionary War. There is a very good interpretation of the mission of Benjamin Franklin to the Court of France and the enlistment in the cause of American independence of the French noblemen, Lafayette and Rochambeau. The scenes following are taken from Revolutionary history and, while they are in chronological order, they are rather fragmentary, it being impossible, of course, to cover so extended a period otherwise. The battle of Monmouth is most elaborately staged and costumed, there being some 350 men engaged in that scene. Here the incident related of Moll Pitcher is brought out prominently and with good effect. Other hand to hand encounters and skirmishes between the opposing forces are equally well portrayed. In point of action and realism attained in these scenes, excellent results have been obtained. In this picture the Eclair Company has given us a new glimpse of General Washington. We have been accustomed to think of him as sitting passively upon his white horse or in some dignified pose. In this subject he is shown as a fighting general with an ever ready sword and an impetuous spirit. This conception may be somewhat startling, though it is on record that Washington was quite handy with his sword and that he did, at one time or another, some real fighting. Interwoven with the scenes of battle is the thread of the love story of Charlotte Temple, supposed to have been betrayed by a British officer and to have died a miserable death in poverty. A character called Grace Deane is the friend of Charlotte who takes the unfortunate girl under her care. The part of Charlotte is prettily portrayed by Miss Helen Martin and that of Grace Deane by Miss Dorothy Gibson. The latter has had considerable picture experience and is more widely known as the Harrison Fisher girl, having posed for Mr. Fisher for several years. Miss Gibson was given very little opportunity to display her ability in this picture, but she made good use of what chance she had and is a very pretty figure of a Colonial girl. The picture was produced principally under the direction of Mr. James Slavin, well known in theatrical circles as a writer and producer. The Eclair Company has, by this production, demonstrated its ability to produce large things, and independent exhibitors may look for many good pictures from its American players in the future. - The Moving Picture World, November 25, 1911