Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

November, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 231 Current Educational Releases A Fairyland of Frost and Snow. — Gaumont. A curious and exceptional film aptly described by the title. It introduces the fine winter scenes. Roads, fields and forests are fairly buried in ermine, every twig and bough being outlined in purest white. (163 feet.) The Principality of Monaco. — Gaumont. Scenes in and about the famous gaming place, Monte Carlo. The film is especially beautiful in the portions showing the luxuriant tropical foliage consisting of palms, eucalyptus, lemon-trees and geraniums. (400 feet.) Belgian Cavalry at Exercise.— Gaumont. Daring horsemen in a wonderful display of dangerous riding. Also showing scores of perfectly trained horses in an exhibition of their intelligence. (200 feet.) A Trip On a Dirigible Balloon. — Gaumont. A film remarkable for its fine quality and unique interest, depicting a sensational trip on the French dirigible, the "Adjutant Vincenot." Several views of the ship are given, but the principal section of the film comprises views of Compiegne and the Chateau de Pierrefonds, taken from the vessel itself. (331 feet.) Mauresa, a Spanish Town. — Gaumont. Views of Mauresa, a little village near Barcelona, and its environs. The film affords an excellent idea of the peculiar characteristics of the district, while there is a wild picturesqueness about the neighborhood which adds considerably to the interest. (200 feet.) The Outskirts of Paris. — Gaumont. A delightful series of views taken on the river Marne between Creteil and Saint Maur on the outskirts of Paris. This picturesque stream is strongly interesting, and the exquisite views, rendered as they are in natural colors, make this a charming scenic film. (164 feet.) Opening Flowers. — Gaumont. Another of the flower series which has grown so popular because of the artistic grouping, delicacy of coloring and remarkable photography. (216 feet.) The Ostrich Plume Industry, France. — Gaumont. Particularly clear views taken on an ostrich farm in Nice. It shows the birds at play, how they are fed, how the feathers are secured, the eggs are gathered, the incubators, and the marvelous strength of the birds. (428 feet.) Madeira, Portugal. — Eclipse. A picture of great natural interest and scenic novelty, illustrating the principal beauty spots of this favorite health and tourist resort, showing arrival in the bay, wonderful surf, unloading and transferring baggage on the beach, market and street scenes, showing bullock-drawn vehicles on the cobble stones and the customs house; quaint scenes in the native quarter ; fruit packing and traction. Panorama of the Cintra from the heights. The Rabacal waterfall, one of the principal attractions of Madeira. The largest pine-house in the world is pictured, and the chair industry is fully demonstrated. (385 feet.) The Tobacco Industry. — Lubin. An interesting film, showing tobacco processes from the planting of the seed to the finished cigar. (523 feet.) The Greatest of Engineering Feats. — Kalen. When New York City's new water system is completed, the clear water of the Catskill Mountain streams will flow through the city mains, adding 700,000,000 gallons daily to the present supply. This new system, costing millions of dollars, requires the construction of reservoirs and dams, and an aqueduct 92 miles long. In watching this moving picture, one might think he was standing along the course of the Panama Canal, so gigantic is the undertaking of removing whole townships for the reservoirs and tunnelling through the mountains, preparing a pathway for the aqueduct. The photographers have not overlooked any feature which will interest the public. A Trip Down the Magdapis River. — Pathe. Our party leaves the heights near the source of the river in long dugout canoes. For the first few miles the trip is uneventful except for the magnificent scenery and the wild mountains rearing their magnificent heads into the azure high above. Soon, however, the faint sound of the roaring waters of the first rapids reaches our ears, and with a tremor of fearful expectation we feel ourselves rushing forward faster and faster with the current of the stream. Now we see the white water ahead, and in a moment we find ourselves dashing through the seething mass of foam that splashes over the cruel rocks, which seem to reach from their resting places to catch us in their terrible jaws. In some places the going is very rough and it is necessary for our guides to get out into the water and direct the boat by hand. This is a film full of thrills. (280 feet.) Logging and Milling in Sweden. — Pathe. Showing how the timber is brought from the woods to the mill and cut up. (320 feet.) Funeral in Annam.— Pathe. A fascinating picture of the peculiar ceremonies incident to an Indo-Chinese funeral. (200 feet.) The Story of the Typewriter. — Pathe. This industrial film is an innovation, in that it opens and closes with a story. The opening scenes show the shop in which Mr. Sholes, the inventor of the typewriter, is at work upon his model. They show also how he became discouraged, and how some of his friends deserted him while others came to his aid, and how a promoter kindly introduced him to a great capitalist, who undertakes the manufacture of his machine. Then we go through the factory of a large typewriting concern forty years later, and watch the various complicated machines, each doing its part of the great work of turning out almost innumerable typewriters. We see the parts cast, ground, drilled and finally asembled. The picture closes with the vision of the inventor and capitalist now realized — the typewriter in the public schools. The film is not only highly instructive, but it is interesting and entertaining. (960 feeO