Moving Picture World (Dec 1917)

December 8, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1491 and here weakness, error and sometimes positive wrong has crept in. Let the time be forever past in which private and educational exhibitors shall have to be ashamed of the language of the screen, remembering that the screen not only represents Art and Science but also Literature, remembring this, perfect pictures are secured. W. H. J. CTjgjcMiMfiMfeMiilJii^^ Australian Notes ^MMiMMMMiMMMMMMIiMMsiJl By Thomas S. Imrie. Sydney, N. S. W., Australia, October 16, 1917. AN AMUSEMENT tax will take effect in New Zealand as from 1st November next. Six-penny tickets will not be subject to taxation, but shilling admissions will be charged one penny tax, and pro ratio for higher admissions. * * * The Daylight Saving Bill has been repealed, and the measure has been done away with as far as Australia is concerned. Showmen are therefore much relieved, as last summer was most disastrous to them because of the long evenings. * * * H. Roland Chisholm, a recent arrival in this country, has gone into partnership with J. F. Gavin, and will be associated with him in the future productions of the Australian Famous Feature Company. Mr. Gavin has many subjects in view, chiefly dealing with early-day episodes of Australian bush life. He intends to cater not only for the Australian market with these features, but also to make them of interest to Americans. Mr. Gavin intends to appoint a representative for his productions in New York very shortly. His next picture is to be a four or five-reel subject, and will be entitled "For the Term of Her Natural Life," from an original scenario by an Australian writer. Beaumont Smith has completed the third of his feature comedies, known as the "Hayseed" series, which will be entitled "Their Back-Blocks Show." The first two of the series have met with tremendous success wherever shown, as they are something out of the ortniiary. The "Hayseeds" are supposed to represent an Australian bush farmer and his family. Of course their actions are most improbable, but played in the spirit of burlesque, make very acceptable subjects. * * * G. L. Gouday is preparing for production a four-reel scenario said to be dealing with a vital topical subject, details of which will not be made public till the presentation of the picture. * * * Two Australian productions were released this week, bearing very similar titles. The first is a six-part adaptation of a play which is said to have had considerable success in America and England, called "The Monk and the Woman." The play was shown in Sydney a number of years ago. After a private presentation of the picture the Catholic Federation entered a vigorous protest against the screening of the picture, and much correspondence was received by the Censor Board asking that it be banned. The board had already given permission for the film to be screened, and did not see why it should go against that ruling. Much newspaper publicity was given to the production because of the Catholic protest, and as a result the picture has drawn big business, and has .been given an extra week's run at the Strand theatre, a first-release house. As a production "The Monk and the Woman" stands as being the most ambitious home-made picture yet. The only fault to be found with it is that the story does not carry the sympathy of the spectator sufficiently. No. doubt the ordinary picture-goer would consider it an average production. The direction and photography, however, are very fine indeed, and will easily bear comparison with the best imported article. Illustrated subtitles also beautify the picture. Franklin Barrett and Rock Phillips are the producers. The other production is a five-reel feature entitled "The Church and the Woman," and deals with a delicate subject — that of mixed marriages. This is a theme that I do not remember having seen on the screen before, and it is to be supposed that the average producer has kept right away from it owing to the likelihood of rousing feeling between Catholics and Protestants. The subject is dealt with very well in "The Church and the Woman," however, and no one, no matter what his religion, could take offense at anything in the picture. H. R. Roberts, a prominent Australian character actor, sustains the leading role. Union Theatres, Ltd., have added to their already long list of picture theatres in Sydney, the Theatre Royal, of which they have taken a lease till after the New Year. The first attraction will .be Sarah Bernhardt in "Mothers of France," which will open October 20th, to be followed later by the Australian Repatriation Films (series 2), showing the Australians on the battlefield in Flanders. * * * The producers of "The Flame of the Yukon" may be pleased to hear that this production is unanimously acclaimed to be the best drawing card on the Triangle program ever shown in Sydney or suburbs. So many showmen have told me of their success with the picture that I cannot let it pass without mentioning it. By the way, "The Flame" was screened at three city theatres (three weeks altogether) before being transferred to any suburban theatre.. * * * The present lease of the Lyceum theater (Sydney) held by Union Theatres, Ltd., expires in February, 1918. A lease of the building as from that date has been secured by G. Spencer, late managing director of Spencer's Pictures, Ltd. Union Theatres, Ltd., proceeded against Mr. Spencer in the Equity Court during the month with a view to preventing him from getting the lease in question. The contention of the company was that they had an undertaking by Mr. Spencer that he would not become identified with any picture venture. Further, it was set out that Union Theatres, Ltd., itself wanted an extension of the Lyceum lease. The court decided in favor of Mr. Spencer. The view taken was that it had yet to be seen if Mr. Spencer intended to use the Lyceum for picture purposes. As matters stood he had merely acquired the lease of the building, and this much he was at perfect liberty to do. In expressing himself the judge added that it would be a subject for further inquiry if Mr. Spencer sought to use the building in any manner contrary to the arrangement declared to have been entered into between him and Union Theatres, Ltd. ^q^MEKfcMQMl^ British Notes aeMiMfeMcM&feM^^ By J. B. Sutcliffe. THE name of E. Wertheimer, the well known art collector, is mentioned in association with the purchase of the British and Colonial rights of the two Griffith features, "The Birth of a Nation" and "Intolerance." The price is within the region of half a million dollars. * * * The "Uncle Sam Gets Ready" series of recruiting films have already found the way to London, and were received with gusto at a trade show last week. It carries every prospect of extensive booking. * * * African Film Productions, Ltd., of Johannesburg, South Africa, for whom Harold Shaw is principal producer, have already shown to the trade an ambitious initial production in "Winning a Continent." Copies of a second and more pretentious effort are now in their way to London. It is a kinematographic reconstruction of the Zulu war of a decade or two ago, and apart from a strong interwoven story possesses scenic and historical interest. A member of the studio staff of the African company tells me that the Johannesburg plant is modeled on the latest American lines, covering several acres, possessing its own town, residences, parks, a zoo and a private tramway system, apart from the studios and laboratories. * * * Sir Thomas Beecham has been indulging in a little mud