Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1915)

52 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 12. No. 4. 11 of 22 Vitagraph Directors at Work on Features Production of Multiples by the Company Constitutes a Record for Present Season Among Makers of Big Reel Subjects — Range from Woman Suffrage to Plots of Patriotism | HERBERT KELCEY AND EFFIE SHAIT1 NON, TWO OF THE UNIVERSALE LATI EST ACQUISITIONS FROM THE STAGE THE Vitagraph Company of America, has at the present time, more feature pictures under way than any other motion picture producing company in existence. This is a broad statement, but when it is taken into consideration that of the twentytwo regularly employed Vitagraph directors, eleven are working on features, and of the hundred and twenty-five stock members, eighty-five are busily engaged in the enactment of these features, it will be seen the above statement is, if anything, far short of the actual facts. Besides the regular members of the Vitagraph stock company, thousands of extra peopole have been used in the productions at various times and thousands of miles of territory covered to provide distinctive backgrounds for the different pictures. The subjects range in length from threepart Broadway Star Features to the two tremendous features, the biggest and most comprehensive, the Vitagraph company has ever undertaken, "The Goddess," which will be completed in thirty parts and "The Lasky Stages Bullfight in Los Angeles for "Carmen" Company Builds Arena Like Those in "Old Mex" and Imports Professional Matadors for Scene in Subject Featuring Geraldine Farrar IN the presence of 20,000 persons the bull fight for the Lasky production of "Carmen," with Geraldine Farrar as the star, was held at Los Angeles and voted one of. the most elaborate specially planned scenes for a photoplay production in the history of the industry in southern California. Special provision and permits had to be obtained from the city government of Los Angeles for the occasion. An entire bull fighting arena was built, with tier on tier of wooden seats. This was constructed by the Lasky Company under the supervision of the municipal building and amusement bureaus. In every particular was the structure a duplicate of some of the famous bull-fighting rings of Spain. Cecil B. DeMille, director general of the Lasky Company, had the general care of the scene, which is to be one of the features of the forthcoming photoplay production of "Carmen," first of the series of photoplays in which Miss Farrar will star. Ten photographers were engaged at various times and in various places in taking the pictures, and the scenes depicted included every feature of a gala day, including the gatherings at the exterior of the bullring, the march of the matadors, toreadors and picadores, the arrival of Miss Farrar as Carmen and of Pedro de Cordoba as Escammillo. More than a score of professional matadors formerly prominent in the sport in Mexico had been engaged by Mr. DeMille. In the stands the Lasky stars and executives were attired in Spanish costumes and holiday dress. Jesse L. Lasky appeared in the box where Miss Farrar was watching vhe skirmish, while others in the gathering were Fannie Ward, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Gest, Mrs. Samuel Goldfish, Blanche Ring, Laura Hope Crews, Lou Tellegen, Donald Brian, Thomas Meighan, Jack Dean, Theodore Roberts, James Neil, Blanche Sweet, Carlyle Blackwell and others. GERALDINE FARRAR AS CARMEN, PEDRO DE CORDOBA AS ESCARMILLO IN THE BULLFIGHTING ARENA AT HOLLYWOOD On the way to the bullring several hundred children lined the path, strewing roses in front of Miss Farrar. The entire scene was made with the cooperation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Battle Cry of Peace," in eight installments. "The Battle Cry of Peace," was written by Commodore J. Stuart Blackton, who secured many facts from Hudson Maxim's book "Defenseless America," and is being produced by Wilfrid North under the personal supervision of Mr. Blackton. The principal characters are being portrayed by Charles Richman, Ralph W. Ince as President Abraham Lincoln, Joseph Kilgour as General George Washington, Paul Scardon as General Grant, a cast that includes sixteen stock members and nearly eight thousand extras. "The Goddess," whose thirty parts are nearing completion under the direction of Ralph W. Ince, supervised by Albert E. Smith, was written by Gouverneur Morris with Charles W. Goddard in collaboration. Anita Stewart, Earle Williams, twelve of the Vitagraph players and several thousand extra people were used at various times in its production. The popularity of the serial is increasing weekly. Director Theodore Marston and an allstar 'cast have begun work on a picturization of William J. Hurlburt's story "The Patriot," which when completed will be in six parts. Charles Richman, Joseph Kilgour, Arline Pretty, Rose Tapely and Bobby Connelly appearing in the principal roles. Three pictures that will be shown in five parts each, includes "A Night Out," with May Robson and The Big Comedy Four, under the direction of George D. Baker, another of William J. Hurlburt's masterful stories, "The Writing on the Wall," picturized by Marguerite Bertsch and being produced by Tefft Johnson with Joseph Kilgour and Virginia Pearson. "The Island of Surprise," picturized from Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady's story of the same name in which William Courtenay, Charles Kent, Eleanor Woodruff and Julia Swayne Gordon are appearing in the principal characters under the direction of Lorimer Johnston. There are also three four-part features, a picturization of George Ade's "Artie," in which Ernest Truex and Dorothy Kelly heading an all-star cast is now rapidly ap-. proaching concrete form under the direction of Director Harry Handworth. W. P. S. Earle's college story "For the Honor of the Crew," of which he is also the director, introduces James Morrison, Muriel Ostriche and W. B. Davidson of Columbia '09, in the leading characters, and "The Making Over of Geoffrey Manning," by C. T. Dazey and William Addison Lathrop, with Harry Davenport directing a cast headed by Harry Morey and Ned Finley. "The Ruling Power," a three-part Broadway Star Feature advocating Woman Suffrage, which will be completed very shortly is being produced under the direction of Lionel Belmore, with Edith Storey and Leah Baird, and to complete the list, Captain Harry Lambart just begun work on "Youth," Lanier Bartlett's three-part picture story in which Antonio Moreno and Mile. Valkyrien will be seen to distinct advantage.