Motion Picture News (Oct 1913 - Jan 1914)

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THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 27 LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA FILMED A CAST of eight thousand people, of whom eight hundred appear in one scene ; eight thousand two hundred costumes, of which many were specially designed; five months devoted to the writing of the scenario alone ; one hundred thousand dollars expended in production — here are some reasons why the picture "Sixty Years a Queen'' takes rank with the most remarkable ever made, and in many ways stands alone as a film masterpiece. ~~ The well-known English producer, William Barker, delighted a large audience in the^north ballroom of the Hotel Astor, New York, last Sunday-afternoon* with the first exhibition of the picture in this countryrT" 4 Mr. Barker explained, for the benefit of those present having a technical knowledge of projection, that the pictures. THE GIVING OF THE FIRST VICTORIA CROSS fifteen feet in size, were projected on only fifteen amperes of electric current. This was due, he said, to the use of a "Day and Night" screen. The projection was perfect — soft and clear. It was a triumph from a mechanical point of view as well as from the artistic. Vigorous Search for "Types" Later Mr. Barker talked interestingly of the picture and its making, in particular of how its wonderful realism was accomplished. In all nine months were required to complete the picture — this by the energetic Mr. Barker, who says we produce too slowly in this country. Three writers spent five months on the scenario. A great deal of time ; but it must be said that if such time is required to produce a picture so finished in every detail, so faithful in reproduction, then the time is assuredly well spent. A good deal of delay was occasioned by the difficulty in securing characters. Over six hundred persons were interviewed for the leads. These were secured by liberal advertising in the British press, offering fifty dollars for twenty minutes' work. In order to secure a character for the part of King Edward— who appears but once in the picture — the portrait of the late King was published in the " Daily Sketch " for eleven consecutive days. Four thousand replies were had, one from a woman who covered four pages of note-paper with proofs of her husband's likeness in every way to the King and closed by stating that unfortunately the subject was dead. Two hundred and fifty dollars were offered for this character for three minutes' work. Three actresses depicted the life of Queen Victoria from young womanhood to old age. The small stature of the late Queen, her facial characteristics, and the high order of acting required made the selection of these characters extremely dif ficult. It proved impossible to find in England a young woman for the part and Mr. Barker had to go to Austria for her. She could not speak English and the excellent acting she does was the result of Mr. Barker's instructions through gestures. The part of the middle-aged Queen was taken by Miss Heath and the elderly Queen by Mrs. Lytton, wife of the well-known English actor, Harry Lytton. In both instances, as well as with the young Queen, the utmost fidelity in appearance and queenly dignity was achieved. Accuracy the Keynote An idea of the fidelity of characterization throughout the picture may be had from the frontispiece illustration in this issue. Disraeli was splendid. The part of Lord Salisbury was taken by the well-known English novelist, Arthur Shirley. In this group the goatee of Disraeli and the side-whiskers of John Bright were the only make-up used. Not a single wig was used in the entire picture. Charles Dickens was found by Mr. Barker one morning in the Bakerloo tube. And so he diligently acquired his characters. Many notables appeared with the request only that their identity remain unknown. . Accuracy was made the keynote of the picture. Hidebound facts must be observed. So Mr. Barker started his work by securing, through the Lord Chamberlain, access to all the engravings, paintings and other records in possession of the Royal family. Even some of these proved inaccurate in the light of the rigid investigation made. For instance, in the well-known painting by Sir David Wilkie of the Queen at her council meeting, the latter appears in a white dress. A white dress was made for the scene, only to be discarded, when there was found in the Queen's diary her own statement that she appeared in mourning. The costuming was the most important undertaking of all. Eight thousand two hundred costumes, supplied by the London costumer, William Clarkson, were used. Most of these were original creations, perfected only after a deal of study in every instance. All the dresses in the jubilee of '87, with their odd bustles, panniers, and leg-of-mutton sleeves, had to be created. • In the Queen's diary she notes that her dress of gold at the coronation weighed over two hundred pounds and that she was unable to move without the aid of the pages. To secure the desired realism, Mr. Barker had built a dress of brass, weighing one hundred and fifty pounds, for use in this picture. At the exhibition of the picture much favorable comment was caused by the realistic snow scene at the siege of Sebastopol, and many were curious to know how the effect was secured. The snow flakes were shavings of kid gloves, which have the CHRISTENING OF KING EDWARD VII