Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

20 EXHIBITORS HERALD NOTED RUSSIAN STARS DIRECTED OWN FILMS; SEEN AS INNOVATION WHEN SHOWN ON BROADWAY First Plays Imported from New Republic, Featuring Theater and Screen Actors, to Introduce New Form in Production; Big Ballets Appear When the Russian art films are presented in New York with the leading national actors of Moscow and Petrograd in the principal roles, Broadwayites will witness one marked innovation from the usual practice of American studios, it is announced. The Russian stars direct their own plays. Not only do they accept or reject with absolute finality the parts they deem congenial or unsuitable to them as the case may be; not merely do they study the roles with the same attention, in fact, as in the stage plays, but they rule the proceedings in the picture studio and retain entire freedom of action as to expression of their individualities. Actors Follow Own Bent The logical result of this is that there are no dolls nor mannikins in Russian pictures. The artist knows his part thoroughly, picks his subordinates and builds the structure of the play as intelligently as he would build up a spoken production at the National Dramatic Theater or the Theater of Arts. In Russia there is a total absence of "Register scorn!" "Indicate hate!" "Fall down in a faint!" and other stereotyped commands of filmdom. It is contended that far greater heights of dramatic power arc attained when the actors know what they are doing and follow their own bent than can possibly be attained under the old mechanical system of following a studio director automatically. I. I. Mozjukhin, Russia's leading actor, possesses a resourcefulness of ideas, a broad method and a sweeping attack that cause him to dominate the screen or stage plays in which he appears. Some notion of Mozjukhin's versatility is conveyed by the fact that he will be presented as Kmita in Sienkiewicz's "The Deluge," as Nicholas Stravrogin in Dostoevsky's "The Possessed," as Hermann in Pushkin's "The Queen of Spades," and likewise in the leading male role of Tolstoi's "War and Peace." Cast of Stars With Mozjukhin in the film plays are associated the women stars who have worked with him in the stage plays at the national theaters of Moscow and Petrograd. The other big men of these theaters are likewise associated with him in films. A cast made up of one star and a lot of nonentities is unheard of. A number of stars collaborate in all the important works. For example, in Leo nid Andrieff's "The Dagger Woman" are presented Mozjukhin as the artist, Gzovskaia in the title role, Panoff as the father and Karabanova as the sweetheart. The three greatest dramatic names among the women are Mmes. Olga Gzovskaia, Nadia Lisenko and Vera Cholodnaia. The first named is the Sarah Bernhardt of Russia, who is young and has been crowned with the laurels of a great career at the Theater of Arts, Moscow, where Maeter I. I. MOZJTKHIN, NOTED RUSSIAN FILM STAR linck's "The Blue Bird" and many other masterpieces were first produced Great "Vampire" Appears The great "vampire" of the Russian stage is Mme. Lisenko. Mme. Lisenko played at the National Dramatic Theater at Moscow prior to achieving her success in the films. Vera Cholodnaia also is a dramatic player from the National. The famous ballet russe has contributed much to Russian films. It has carried further the art of pantomime than any other ballet in the world, consequently its alliance with the motion picture possesses an unusual significance. In Mme. V. A. Karalli, prima ballerina of the Moscow and Petrograd ballet russe, and Mme. Balasheva, a dancer from the late Imperial ballet of Moscow, the films have acquired the services of two noted ballet artists. Besides these and other stars, hundreds of the ensemble dancers from the famous ballet are also used in the picture studios. PRESIDENT'S DOUBLE APPEARS IN ESSANAY FILM WITH WASHBURN "President Wilson of Filmland" makes his debut in Bryant Washburn's forthcoming. Essanay feature, "The Man Who Was Afraid." This person is said to be the closest resemblance to the nation's chief executive ever shown on the screen. The photodrama is an adaptation of Mary Brecht Pulver's patriotic story of the same name, published in the Saturday Evening Post. It hinges on the President's call to arms. A man to resemble Mr. Wilson signing the proclamation was necessary for the production. P. H. Westphal, a hotel clerk, from Lafayette, Ind., delineates the role of President Wilson. The production is scheduled for publication through K-E-S-E, June 2. Bryant Washburn appears, in the role of a national guardsman who is afraid to answer the President's call, owing to the influence of his mother. His friends call him "Slacker" and the girl he loves spurns him. Pained by taunts, he disregards his mother's protestations and hurries to the front. He distinguishes himself in battle, even more so than do the erstwhile friends who had branded him a coward. Thus he redeems himself and wins the girl he loves. The production has a screen time of sixty-five minutes. ROTHACKER FILM CO. MEMBERS SUBSCRIBE $4,000 TO U. S. LOAN Among the Chicago firms which contributed to make the government's first popular war credit a success was the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company, the members of which subscribed $4,000 to the Liberty Loan. The concern plans, it is announced, to do equally as well on the next subscription. W. R. COLEMAN WILL DIRECT THE INITIAL MEREDITH PHOTOPLAY William Robert Coleman, formerly connected with Biograph, Selig and other producing organizations, has been engaged to direct the first of six productions starring Lois Meredith and bearing the star's name as a trade brand. The first story for Miss Meredith has been selected and Mr. Coleman, co-directing with Marcel Morhange, soon will start work.