Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

February 16, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 313 Oil Gusher Caught in "Real Folks" Triangle Director, After Waiting Weeks, Hears Well Is Ready, Rushes Company There and Gets Scene Complete A FTER WEEKS OF WAITING, Director Walter Edwards succeeded in filming the bringing in of an oil gusher for Mrs. Kate Corbaley's prize winning story, "Real Folks." a Triangle release for the week of February 10. The story deals with the discovery of oil on. a California farm and Edwards resolved to wait until the desired opportunity should arrive. He learned that the Murphy Oil Company was boring a well in the La Habra fields of Southern California and the company officials agreed to notify the Triangle studio when the well was ready to be brought in. Edwards kept his cast in readiness. When at length a telegram came, "Ready For You to Shoot," the players were rushed to the well, and a scene of tense realism was caught by the camera as the oil came from the gusher. The oil well had been sunk to a depth of 4,200 feet, representing a year and two months' work in drilling, with an outlay of $250,000. The derrick was 114 feet high, the tallest on the field. Every detail of the work before the oil shot into the air, twenty feet higher than the top of the derrick, was pictured. The workmen were photographed in the act of swabbing the well, getting the first "headers" which contained mud and water, then forcing out the gas which belched forth at a pressure of 580 pounds to the square inch, to be followed a moment later by the oil. In this diverting comedy-drama, "Real Folks," the characters are plain people in an unnatural environment which they have created for themselves to "keep up with the Joneses." The story depicts the tribulations of the newly rich, the re bellious younger generation that refuses to be governed by conventions, and the final triumph of love over all social prejudices. J. Barney Sherry is an old Irishman — Pat Dugan, with the true Irish wit and all the determination and obstinacy that are his birthright. Triangle fans who have seen him in his recent plays, "Fanatics" and "Evidence," will welcome Mr. Sherry in a role which offers new opportunity for difficult characterization. Francis McDonald, last seen as a highwayman in "The Gun Woman," is Jimmie Dugan, a "chip of the old block," for whom disinheritance has no terrors. As Mrs. Patrick Dugan, late of County Kearny, but with aspirations for entrance into Long Island society, Alberta Lee is seen in a characteristic role. Marion Skinner portrays Mrs. Omixem, a real "lady" who fulfills democratic ideals. Fritzi Ridgeway, known as the "cowgirl star," and hitherto seen in western thrillers with Roy Stewart, appears in frills and furbelows as Joyce Clifton, a little dancing teacher with real "blue blood" in her veins. Betty Pearce is Margaret Van Arsden and George Pearce is Van Arsden. The story relates how Patrick Dugan of California strikes oil and becomes a millionaire overnight. Cheerfully accepting the responsibilities that wealth has thrust upon him, he decides to break into society. At an exclusive eastern college, Jimmy, his son, despises his luxurious surroundings, objects to the snobbery of the idle rich, and whips two of them, also a policeman who tries to interfere. His speedy exit from college brings his parents east, where they are unable to iocate him. In the Long Island colony, where Mr. and Mrs. Dugan make their home, society proves quite impenetrable, but Mrs. Dugan finds joy in her garden, and in her acquaintance with her neighbor, Mrs. Omixem (Lady Blessington), whose godchild, Joyce Clifton, is a dancing teacher to the smart set. Jimmy, who has gone into the nursery business with a young Italian, comes to Lady Blessington's to deliver shrubs, sees Joyce, and decides .o stay and set them out. When Mrs. Dugan appears there is a happy reunion, with the result that Jimmy returns home. Pat treats his son royally, until he learns of his love for Joyce; then disinheritance impends. An elopement bridges a good many social barriers, and in the scenes that follow everybody makes amusing discoveries and the undaunted Pat claims the credit for happily solving the difficulties. New "Analysis of Motion" Film Pathe has released a new "analysis of motion" color picture in one reel, "The Horse in Action," filmed by the "Ultra-rapid" camera, a Pathe invention. Ordinary motion pictures of course are taken with a camera recording sixteen pictures a second and are projected at the same speed. With the Pathe ultra rapid camera the pictures are taken at the rate of 120 to the second or even more. These pictures are projected at the ordinary rate with the consequence that animate objects in the film move so slowly that the eye can easily follow every phase of muscular action. The effects to be noticed in the case of the horses in "The Horse in Action" are extraordinary. As the horses go over hurdles or gallop every muscular movement is clearly visible. As they jump they seem to float in the air like thistledown. Two scenes from the Triangle play, "Real Folks.1