Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1916)

2216 CUETLEIN, “SEE AMERICA FIRST” CAMERAMAN, IS NOW TURNING TOWARD THE SOUTH As was announced when Edward Guetlein, the Gaumont cameraman for “ See America First,” started north last spring, the first touch of cool weather is now turning him toward the south again. For this series he has secured some highly picturesque views of New England and the Adirondacks. That he is now following the retreating warm weather is seen in the “ See America First ” release of October 4. This is Baltimore, the fine old southern city which contains so many beautiful monuments, parks and squares. MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 14 44 Return of Eve ” Pleases 12 Sons of Adam in Chicago Exhibitors See Advance Showing of Essanav Picture, Featuring Edna Mayo and Set for Release on Oct. 16 Through Kleine-Edison-Selig-Essanay Service AN impromptu showing in Chicago of “ The Return of Eve ” to a dozen exhibitors in advance of the regular trade showing brought approximately fifty bookings, according to advices received from Essanay. Inasmuch as a trade showing was not contemplated and that the exhibitors saw the film when being run for officials of the company, Essanay believes its claims that the picture is far out of the ordinary are substantiated. The release date on this feature has been set for October 16, through Kleine-EdisonSelig-Essanay Service. It was previously announced for release October 2. “ The Return of Eve ” is in five reels, and features Edna Mayo, supported by Eugene O’Brien. It was directed by Arthur Berthelet and taken from the stage play of the same name by Lee Wilson Dodd. It deals with two children brought up in a wilderness by the terms of an eccentric millionaire’s will, and then plunged into civilization to be a part of the life of a colony of ultra-rich. “ The Prince of Graustark ” has been completed by Essanay and will be offered through Kleine-Edison-Selig-Essanay Service following “ The Return of Eve.” It is a rapid piece of high comedy, taken from the novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. Bryant Washburn and Marguerite Clayton take the leading roles and are supported by Ernest Maupain and Sydney Ainsworth. Fred E. Wright, who directed “ Graustark,” also directed the sequel. Two new fivereel features by Directors Wright and Berthelet are now being constructed in the Essanay studios. The latter is filming “ The Chaperon,” Maxine Elliot’s stage hit. Edna Mayo and Eugene O’Brien also appear in the leading parts in this picture. Sydney Ainsworth has the chief supporting part. Director Wright is ready to begin work on “ The Breakers,” taken from the story by Arthur Stringer in The Saturday Evening Post. This will be in five reels, and feature Bryant Washburn and Nell Craig. Ernest Maupain will have a big character part. 44 Woman Who Dared ” in October on State Rights Basis California Motion Picture Corporation Also Announces That “The Passion Flower,” with Beatriz Michelena, Is Nearly Completed Edward Guetlein in Adirondacks for Gaumont’s “ See America First ” Druid Hill Park, Mount Vernon Place, the beautiful new home of The Johns Hopkins University', the inner harbor with its fleet of oyster boats, and the magnificent public buildings are among the more important views recorded by the camera. On the same reel with Baltimore there is a Gaumont Kartoon Komic entitled “ Abe’s Opossum.” In this picture a whimsical pickaninny goes in pursuit of the little marsupial that is the goal of every ebonhued American. Announcement has just been made by the California Motion Picture Corporation, advising that “ The Woman Who Dared,” recently completed with Beatriz Michelena m the leading role, would be immediately distributed on the state rights plan for October release. Meantime, according to the same report, an extensive line of advertising helps has been prepared for the picture and is now ready for prompt delivery. “ The growing number of inquiries concerning our pictures,” writes the sales department of the California organization. " would indicate that the fall amusement season has been opened most auspiciously for the picture trade. It also gives evidence that the independent buyers are alive 44 Pen of Cartoonist Can Do More Than Director ” — Palmer “ While Admitting His Skill, I Cannot Believe He Is Able to Crowd as Many Laughs into Same Number of Feet as Can Pen Humorist,” Says Gaumont Cartoonist <<’ I 'HE pen of the cartoonist can do 1 more wonderful things than can the ablest director,” said Harry Palmer in discussing animated cartoons, that branch of the art in which he is a recognized leader. “ While admitting the skill of the director of comedies, I cannot believe that he can crowd as many laughs into the same number of feet as can the humorist with the pen. “ To illustrate this, let us consider the latest animated cartoon from the Gaumont studios, which I have called ‘ Pigs.’ Now, a pig naturally lends himself to the joyous mood, as witness Ellis Parker Butler’s classic, ‘ Pigs Is Pigs’; but when you come to introduce the porcine actor to the camera you will find that he does not run true to form when considered as the hero of a storv. “ The cartoonist, however, can take any pig from the little pig that went to market to the one that Tom the Piper’s Son stole and get a laugh out of him in a thousand ways. He can be made to climb a tree or swim a river or do some other thing that spectators recognize is quite impossible for a pig. Yet the very' fact that the feat is impossible is a great aid in tickling their risibilities. “ Then the cartoonist who varies his subjects can score a higher percentage of hits than can the brother artist who is bound to a single series. He is not held in any one channel or confined by limitations that hamper his play of fancy. I vary my work by releasing ‘ Estelle ’ one week, perhaps, ‘Nosey Ned’ the next, then switch to something entirely different, and for the fourth week take new tack.” to the new opportunities offered by the open market. The past two or three weeks have accumulated a file full of offers and requests for quotations on “ The Woman Who Dared,” which prompts us in our decision to begin an immediate assignment of territories for the feature.” The California Motion Picture Corporation also announces that another Michelena production, entitled “The Passion Flower,” written by Captain Leslie Peacocke, is nearing completion and will be released for a November date. According to the advices sent out from the studio, “ The Passion Flower ” is a seven-part feature, produced on the same elaborate scale and with the same attempt for scenic grandeur as “ Salomy Jane.” “ ‘ The Passion Flower,’ ” says the advance report, “ is a story of the big out-ofdoors, and utilizes a section of Northern California’s redwood scenery never before touched by the camera. It has a gripping plot with just enough of a problem to put it over with a ‘ smash.’ It is concerned with a woman’s regeneration, but is not the old threadbare story. It has originality and a ‘ punch ’ that is quite distinctly its own. The leading role finds Beatriz Michelena in her element.” Listed in the supporting cast are found the names of Andrew Robson, William Pike, Albert Morrison and Irene Outtriin. “IRON CLAW” BOOKED IN 368 THEATRES IN ST. LOUIS TERRITORY There are 732 theatres in St. Louis territory of the Pathe Exchange. Manager C. S. Edwards has already booked “ The Iron Claw ” to 368, or more than half of them. Eighty-six of these bookings are in St, Louis and East St. Louis alone.