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28
THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS
The Fall of Constantinople
Gaumont
T T is safe to say that the history of *■ the world practically dates from the capture and holding of Constantinople by the infidels and the ousting of the Christians. There are certain divisions of the pages of history and this is one, medieval history dating from this period.
This city, the key to the Bosphorus, was at that time. i. e., 1453, held by
Constantine XIII, the last Christian emperor. The Sultan Mohammed IT commenced the siege of the city on April 6th of that year, commencing with the usual religious ceremony. The whole picture, with the religious scenes taken out, would hardly have been worth consideration, but with the realistic ceremonies it is a masterpiece. The mob scenes throughout are beautiful, and the colors wonderful. The last night in Byzantium, where the women are praying in the Church of St. Sophia, while the men are on the walls outside, fighting to keep the Moslem out, is especially mentionable. The city is finally captured, and Constantine, as a common soldier, dies fighting. He is afterwards beheaded in a gruesome manner, and his head is paraded in the streets below. The carrying off by the Turkish troops of the women who had been converted into Christians was marvelous, and the writer has never seen such wonderful placing of colors. Throughout the effect is most dramatic, with the exception of a soldier,
who is supposedly dead, but who insists on talking and smiling. In this one place the effect is spoiled. The captured ladies are right in modern style as far as nudity of costume is concerned, although it is all tasteful, and there is nothing at all that would offend the sensibilities of the most critical audience.
A. M.
MUTUAL TO DO GENERAL PUBLICITY ADVERTISING
Since the formation of the Mutual there has been talk of advertising the program controlled by that certain body in a national way; to use the various national mediums and other means employed by the large advertisers of this country to draw the attention of the public to their product.
The Mutual Film Corporation comes forth, not with big talk of a million-dollar campaign, but with an idea that sounds reasonable and well thought out. The ultimate aim of this campaign they are planning will be national; for the time being, however, it will be confined to Chicago, then spread throughout Illinois, and gradually spread all ways from this central point until the whole of the United States is covered. It has not been definitely announced what mediums of publicity will be used in this advertising, but it is intimated that street cars, painted display signboards and the daily papers will come in for their share of this advertising. Mr. Flaherty, former manager of a local Mutual exchange, will conduct this campaign through the Nicholas Finn advertising agency. One method it is thought they will employ is to call attention to the various theatres in a certain locality using the Mutual program by means of signboards.
In making this step, the Mutual Film Corporation is taking the initiative in an advanced movement that has long been expected. They are demonstrating the courage of their convictions and advancing the art and business of motion pictures.