Moving Picture World (Oct 1917)

October 20, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD also the biggest importers of film in Australia, holding rights for Triangle, Vitagraph, World, Pathe and Chaplin productions, all of which are released at the company's city theaters. Waddinton's, Ltd., comprises a circuit of five shows, four of which are in the city proper, viz.: the Strand, Globe, Grand and Majestic. Its suburban house, the King's Cross, is of recent construction, and is one of the largest and most elaborate picture theaters in the state. Waddington's, Ltd., does not import any films, but Paramount features are always given first release at its houses. "The Barrier" is having a tremendous success in the suburban theaters of Sydney, after a similar reception in the city, where it ran for three weeks. Union Theaters, Ltd., has taken a long lease of the Theater Royal (Sydney), and will turn it permanently into a picture house, showing full program or special features. The first subject under the new regime is "The Whip," though owing to the strike this feature is not getting the crowds it undoubtedly would draw under normal conditions. Other subjects for early release at this theater are "The Manxman" and "The Deemster" "God's Man" and "Mothers of France." Paramount's open booking policy has been very favorably commented upon by many exhibitors here, and the addition of William S. Hart and Enid Bennett to the Paramount roster of stars is also widely commented upon. Undoubtedly "Bill" is the best male drawing card in the picture business in this part of the world. The first Arbuckle-Paramount comedy, "The Butcher Boy," is a current release. The Progressive Film Service, distributing Mutual productions in Australia, is living up to its name. Since the firm was started a few months ago the staff has been trebled, and other additions are likely to be made shortly. The firm has also built a very comfortable projection room for the service of exhibitors, and trade shows are given every week on Mondays and Thursdays. The projection room seats close on a hundred. A Power's 6B machine has been installed. * * * Some time ago the Police Censor Board prohibited the screening of the Metro film "Vanity" on the grounds that it showed a police inspector as a crook. This picture has now been passed, and is being screened under the title "A Slave to Fashion," the censors having insisted upon the change of name for reasons best known to themselves. A film adaption of the well-known play "The Monk and the Woman" is being made by Rock Phillips for J. C. Williamson, Ltd. The role of "the woman" is taken by Maud Fane a very popular musical comedy star. A two-part burlesque comedy entitled "An Interrupted Divorce" featuring Fred Bluett, the vaudeville artist, was released this month. This picture was directed by John F. Gavin and is very amusing. £JEJBBIEJSraSMEJaM2MaEJ5M^^^ Indian Notes By S. B. Banerjea. IT will be news to the readers of this paper that the majority of educated Indians look upon Rudyard Kipling, the well-known British writer, as a second rate author. Some days ago the proprietor of the Elphinstone Picture Palace screened Kipling's "The Light That Failed." In spite of alluring advertisements the attendance was not up to the Elphinstone mark. Several persons who sat by me openly declared that their money had been wasted. The moral is obvious. "Prahtad Charitra," a Hindu mythological play dear to all Hindus, was screened at the New Cornwallis theater of J. F. Madan, lately. I regret to say that the film was pure rubbish. The acting and posing of the various actors and actresses were disappointing, while the film itself was hazy. Messrs. Patankar & Co., of Bombay, who have produced the film, can not be congratulated upon it. Phadka, who is responsible for "Sabkni Sat Yaban," a Hindu mythological play, was successful so far as produition was concerned. Madan should have sat among his "audience" to hear the unparliamentary language to which expression was being given when "Prahtad Charitra" was being screened. Madan has lately, in competition with the Bioscope theater people, been showing "The Master Key" and "The Black Box." He has also screened "Peg of the Ring" in Meday to big crowds, as may be expected. Madan is to be thanked for screening the following: "The Book Weekly," shown for the first time in India; "Blindness of Virtue"; "Migonette"; "America Prepared" (I regret to say this film was screened for a day only. It should have been screened for at least one week) ; "An American's Home," an excellent film for recruiting purposes; and Chaplin's "Shanghaied." "Luke," "Heine and Louie," "Fatty," and certain other comic actors have become Calcutta's favorites. Chaplin is not liked. His "Recreation" (shown at New Cornwallis) pleased very few. Picture house proprietors have come to understand this, and I am not surprised to find that a Luke, or a Heine, or a Fatty film always figures on a program nowadays. Madan has been showing an all-comic program every Friday during the last three weeks with success. Comics appeal to Indians. I have heard regular theatergoers express the wish to have a 30,000 feet comic film. It is not easy to produce a film of this character; but if some bold producer were to tackle the job he would not regret his act. Cannot Messrs. Pathe or some other house aria: . duce a "Frenchman's Home" on the lines of "An American's Home?" Such a film will help to secure recruits, and incidentally reform the pacifists, The Bijou Grand opera house has proved an instantaneous success. Amongst others it has shown "The Victory of Virtue," a moral play; "God's Witness," .m.l several British successes. It has also shown "A Wife in a Hurry," one of the best comic films ever screened in India. Darjeeling, the summer capital of the Bengal nient, has a bioscope theater, owned by Madan !■ can sec the latest Calcutta successes. There is i two more bioscope theaters at Darjeeling. Sonic day an en terprising Britisher will open an up-to date show and coin big money. Here is i tip for an enterprising American capitalist At the New Alexandra (Bombay) "The incus q{ Death" rccned. Arrangements have been made to show the serial, "The I'm pic Mask." shortly. The Royal opera house has shown "The Devil's Bondswoman." At the Empire 'The Pearl ot the Army" will be screened very shortly. The exhibition k~\ "Who's Guilty" series has been completed. The Globe Cinema I . has shown "So nd in