Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

February 23, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 373 Gladys Brockzvell in "The Moral Law." A William Fox production. Shows Perfect Double Exposure Kiss "The Moral Law," Fox Special Feature, Filmed Twice in Many Places, Stars Taking Dual Role of Half Sisters PHOTOGRAPHY of a decidedly unusual nature, a feature of which is a perfect double exposure kiss, is claimed for "The Moral Law," starring Gladys Brockwell. The production will be the William Fox Special Features release for February 17. From a dramatic standpoint, the drama is declared to be specially interesting because Miss Brockwell has the role of half-sisters of very dissimilar dispositions. One of the girls has been raised in an atmosphere of refinement in New York and the other has been reared in a gambling house conducted by her mother in South America. One is American through and through; the other has considerable "bad blood" in her veins. The two meet when their father dies. As the action centers about the two young women, the director was called upon constantly to resort to double exposure. The two appear on the screen at the same time on numerous occasions and in no instance, it is claimed, is there even a suggestion of a division in the film. The kissing occurs at the time the two girls meet in South America and is declared to be done with such exactness as to register perfectly and realistically. Those in the cast besides Miss Brockwell are Rosita Marstini, Cora Rankin Drew, Colin Chase, Bertram Grassby and Joseph Singleton. The story was written by E. Lloyd Sheldon and the scenario is by Charles Kenyon, author of "Kindling," who recently has joined the Fox organization in the west. Bertram Bracken directed the production. Mutual Picks Camera Chief for Screen Telegram The appointment of Harold P. Brown as chief of the camera staff of Screen Telegram, the Mutual Film Corporation's twice a week news reel, is announced by John R. Freuler, president of the corporation. Mr. Brown is a news camera operator of several years experience. He started turning a crank on news subjects in Minneapolis after he had worked on many of the large newspapers of the middle west. He was for a time the editor of the Northwest Weekly, a moving picture news reel, distributed throughout the northwestern states. He joined the forces of the Hearst In ternational Film Service two years ago in Chicago and during that period contributed negative of excellent quality. Some of Mr. Brown's most notable work was done along the Mexican border and in the interior of Mexico at the time of the Pershing expedition. He "scooped" all news cameramen on the return of the expedition, getting his negative to New York twenty-four hours ahead of his competitors. Mr. Brown will assist Blaine McGrath, editor of the Screen Telegram, in the direction of the staff cameramen. Several Points to This Story Anna Q. Nilsson will tell you, if you approach the subject with proper regard for her feelings, that the common or Texas variety of cactus has approximately 3,500 needles. She sat on one recently, and is reasonably sure that these figures are correct, though they may vary a needle or two either way. Miss Nilsson came into contact with the cactus in her capacity of featured feminine player in Rex Beach's new film play, "Heart of the Sunset," which was picturized in and around Eagle Pass, Tex., for distribution by Goldwyn. A skittish horse and a setting sun which threw ' alarming shadows were responsible. As Alaire Austin, heroine of the story, Miss Nilsson was required by Director Frank Powell to ride her horse headlong for the camera, turning sharply at the proper moment to one side. The scene had been duly rehearsed and the camera was being loaded preparatory to photographing it when her mount took fright at the long shadow of camera and tripod cast by the disappearing sun and whirled off for a run in his own behalf. Miss Nilsson is a good horsewoman, but her horse's unexpected bolt jerked her feet from the stirrups, and when the beast veered suddenly on a dead run the actress left the saddle and arranged herself plump on top of an extra mean cactus. She intended, she said afterward, to miss the cactus, but in the stress of the moment was unable to arrange it. When Director Powell and his assistants reached Miss Nilsson she was on her feet, but only partly erect. "Pick me!" she begged piteously. "Pick me!" Every man present did his best, but it was several hours before her riding breeches were sufficiently free of needles to permit her to sit down in the sand and several more before she was again able to rest her weight in the saddle.