Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1916)

3822 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 24 Driscoll Has Canadian Rights on " Robinson Crusoe " George Driscoll has purchased the sole Canadian rights for Henry W. Savage's production of " Robinson Crusoe." The deal was arranged through the Warner Brothers, who are handling all business on this feature. Mr. Driscoll has heretofore only been interested in vaudeville and stock in Canada, but he believes " Robinson Crusoe " will mark his successful advent into the motion picture field. Heavy, tragic plays, he says, are not welcomed by the Canadian public. They have enough tragedy reading the bulletin boards. " Robinson Crusoe " is such a novelty and has such world-wide appeal that its character immediately appealed to Mr. Driscoll as being suited to the Canadian temperament at the present time. He has established offices in the Godfrey Building, New York, although he still maintains his headquarters in Montreal, Can., at His Majesty's theatre. Eight-Reel Drama Begun by Selig in West Director Colin Campbell has begun the production of an eight-reel feature drama at the Los Angeles studios of the Selig Company. Gilson Willets is the author of the play, and the theme centers about the inner workings of a perfectly organized syndicate of criminals, whose members live in luxury and move in the highest social circles while preying upon their wealthy victims. The cast includes Fritzi Brunette, Edward Coxen, Vivian Rich, Bessie Eyton, Tom Santschi, Eugenie Besserer, Jack Richardson, Harry Lonsdale, Frank Clark and Al W. Filson. Phax Pictures Handling " Race Suicide " The Phax Pictures Company, 220 West Forty-second street. New York City, which is handling the production " Race Suicide " for Greater New York and New York state, has received so many bookings that Samuel Cummins, general manager of the company, has decided to use ten prints. " Race Suicide " was released in other parts of the country over a year ago, and has done very good business. The license bureau proved a stumbling block for the New York territory, but matters have been smoothed over now. Scenes from Big V. Comedies, Released from Vitagraph, V-L-S-E What to Expect from TOPPING the program of releases of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company for the week of December 11, is the Red Feather five-act drama, "The Morals of Hilda," in which Lois Wilson is the star. This was written by H. C. Warnack, scenarioized by A. W. Coleway and produced by Lloyd B. Carleton. In the cast of players supporting Miss Wilson are L. C. Shumway, Gretchen Lederer, Richard Morris, Adele Farrington and others. On December 11 will appear the one-act Nestor comedy, " Two Small Town Romeos," with Eddie Lyons, Lee Moran and Priscilla Dean in the leading roles. This is from the pen of Virginia Kirtley, and produced by L. W. Chaudet. Scheduled for release on December 12 is the Gold Seal three-act melodrama, " The Two Roads," with Douglas Monroe and Edna Flugrath as the featured players. The story is by Ben Landeck, and was directed by Harold Shaw. Under the Victor brand the one-act comedy " Billy the Bandit," with Billy Mason will appear on the same date. On Wednesday will appear the Universal Animated Weekly; the Laemmle one-act drama " Green Eyes," with George Chesboro, and the L-Ko two-act comedy, " Murdered by Mistake." The Victor Comedy in one act " It Didn't Work Out Right," written and produced by Robert F. Hill, and played by Stanley Walpole, Helen Slosson, Joseph Granby and Helen Marten will be released on Thursday, December 14. The same day finds the two-reel drama " The La^vyer's Secret," under the Rex brand, with Jack Nelson and Molly Malone and the Powers educational reel " In the Land of King Cotton," scheduled for release. Universal In December " Scratched," a two reel melodrama will be released December 15. " I Am Your Husband," a one-act Nestor comedy written and produced by Capt. Leslie T. Peacocke, with Al McKinnon and Peggy Coudray and the Big U drama "The Wrong Heart," featuring Wallace Reid and Dorothy Davenport are other releases for this date. " The Taint of Fear," a two-act modern military drama under the Bison brand will appear on Saturday, December 16. It was written and produced by Allen Holubar, who plays the leading role supported by Lydia Titus, Joseph Girard, Charles Oelze and George Pearce. Other releases of this date are the Joker comedy, " Their Dark Secret," with Gale Henry and William Franey and the Laemmle one-act drama, " Mother's Guiding Hand," featuring Jane Fearnley. On Sunday, December 17 tlie Powers split-reel, " Sammie Johnsin and the Wonderful Lamp," a comedy cartoon, and Majestic Ceylon as seen by Dr. Dorsey,. will be released. " Love or an Empire," a two-act Rex drama with William Shay and Leah Baird is another Sunday release. Sharing honors with the Red Feather feature will appear the eighteenth episode of the Universal Special serial " Liberty." First Child to Do Wild Animal Thrillers Back Baby Lillian Wade, one of the first screen children to become famous, and probably the first child to appear in animal pictures, has again joined the Selig Polyscope Company. Her absence from the screen and application to her studies seems only to have broadened her art, and she is today a finished little artist. Tense Situations Pictured in "The Human Tiger" (15th Episode of "The Crimson Stain Mystery") Starring Ethel Grandin and Maurice Costello