Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

24 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 1. Buys "The Knife" For Screen Presentation Select Will Star Alice Brady in One of the Season's Broadway Successes — Written by Eugene Walter. SELECT PICTURES has acquired another big Broadway success for one of its stars. "The Knife," which was one of the past season's greatest hits and which was the attraction chosen to open the New Bijou Theater, has been purchased for Miss Alice Brady and will be her next production. As in the case of "The House of Glass," bought a couple of weeks ago for Clara Kimball Young, competition was exceedingly brisk among the film companies for motion picture rights. Select's acquisition of the picture rights to this play represents lavish expenditure. "The Knife" is another tremendously gripping play from the pen of Eugene Walter, author of "The Easiest Way" and "Paid in Full." Production has already been started on "The Knife" and the star with her director, Robert G. Vignola, and part of her company have just returned from a flying trip to Florida where the opening scenes of the story were filmed. Aside from Mr. Vignola and his assistant, William J. Scully, Miss Brady was accom "Broadway Love" Shows Lightless Street With Broadway going dark and the nation headed for prohibition, there will probably be several changes in the plans for photoplay plots before long. The Bluebird people have anticipated one phase of the changed conditions in producing "Broadway Love," the release set for Jan. 21 with Dorothy Phillips the star. This story of W. Carey Wonderly's will be shown in its many scenes of night life on New York's Main street to reflect the gloomy conditions of a lightless Broadway. It will be either Sunday or Thursday evening in all of the street and cabaret scenes that abound throughout the progress of the story. It is believed that "Broadway Love" will be the first photoplay produced especially to show night life in New York under the latest conditions of coal economy. Want to Go to Africa? High class motion picture directors are wanted for production work in South Africa. The information is given out by Max Schlesinger, the American representative of the African Films Production, Limited. Mr. Schlesinger's offices are at 10 Wall street, New York City, and personal applications should be made to him at that address. panied South by her leading man, Frank Morgan, Johnnie Walker, who plays the juvenile role, Anne Cornwall, Helen Lackaye, Myra Brook and the photographer, H. L. Physioc. Alice Brady, star of Select's "The Knife." Title Is Changed A change has been made in the title of Jewel Carmen's first starring vehicle for William Fox. The drama will be called "The Kingdom of Love." Frank Lloyd is directing it. Essanay Pictures Are Making Good Essanay's latest pictures are proving popular with both exhibitors and patrons, according to reports from throughout the country, and have been especially well treated by critics in newspapers and trade journals. Little Mary McAlister again has lived up to her box office drawing power in "The Kill-Joy" and continues a stellar attraction in "Young Mother Hubbard" and "Pants." Taylor Holmes' latest picture, a comedy drama, "The Small Town Guy," in which he portrays the role of a rube, has been received with favor by patrons, exhibitors say, and the famous comedian is gaining new friends with each picture. Demands also are numerous for Mr. Holmes' earlier releases, "Efficiency Edgar's Courtship," "Fools for Luck" and "Two Bit Seats." "Gift o' Gab," a comedy drama of college life, featuring Jack Gardner and Helen Ferguson, has proved a success. Open New "School for Acting" Jane and Katherine Lee, William Fox's "Baby Grand" stars, have started a school of acting, in which the color line is not drawn. Already they have thirty pupils, of whom four are girls of jet hue. Just how long the school will last and what will be accomplished is problematic. The idea of launching out as teachers of historionism came during the filming of a new picture, just after the Lees finished "Troublemakers." About forty children were hired to act as foundlings. The youngsters caused more or less trouble and confusion and it was to remedy these difficulties that Jane and Katherine began their institution. Jane vows that she has made a star of Edna May Peterson, four years old and the color of chocolate. Edna May is willing to take her word for it. Russell at Work on "Polo Jack" William Russell will soon start work on the final of his present series of six pictures, entitled "Polo Jack," another Charles Turner Dazey story which promises to excel "The Sea Master," and "New York Luck," also by Mr. Dazey and recently produced under Edward Sloman's direction. The screen adaptation of "Polo Jack" is the work of James E. Hungerford, well-known author engaged recently by the American Film Company. Miss Francelia Billington will again play the leading feminine role opposite Mr. Russell, but the remainder of the supporting cast is yet to be selected.