Moving Picture World (Dec 1917)

December 22, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1769 raja'EJS'ZMMSMMSJSMSMSiaiMSMMfflMMSElLM^ Australian Notes GEJcMiiMi^ By Thomas S. Imrie. Sydney, N. S. W., Australia, Oct. 30, 1917. THE Clement Mason Super Films announce that they have secured the Australian rights to all Essanay subjects, and beginning next month will release one feature weekly. The first production will be "The Misleading Lady," featuring Henry B. Walthall. The series "Do Children Count?" is also scheduled for early release. * * * The anouncement that Goldwyn Pictures are shortly to be presented to the public here has caused much interest in film circles. J. A. Lipman, who represents Goldwyn in Australia, says that the first release will be made during the next few weeks at one of the biggest Sydney houses. * * * A new arrival in the picture producing field in Australia is G. L. Gouday, who starts on a four-part feature next month. The theme of this subject has not been disclosed, but it is understood that it is of topical interest, though not dealing with the war. * * * Australian Feature Films, Ltd., distributors of Paramount and Artcraft productions, have secured very commodious premises in Pitt street, Sydney, and will move into them next week. Practically nothing was saved from the disastrous fire that gutted their offices about six weeks ago, and so the future home will be entirely fitted up with new stock. * * * A new series of Repatriation War Films has been completed, and will be presented by Australasian Films at the Sydney Theater Royal on Saturday next. A unique advertising stunt has been arranged in connection with their presentation. The Governor-General will view the film.; on a special screening in the morning, and a Sydney aviator will fly over Sydney dropping circulars advertising the film and also the Liberty Loan. The pictures are about ten thousand feet in length, and deal chiefly with the work of the Australian forces in the battle line in Flanders. * * * The Progressive Film Service, distributors in this country of Mutual films, have within the last few days extended their operations t • ~ur Northern state, Queensland. A branch has been opened in Brisbane, with H. J. Hawkins in charge. Mr. Hawkins is a very well-known figure in Brisbane film circles, having been one of the "heads" with the General Film Company of Brisbane, and later with Birch Carroll of the same burg. It is a noticeable fact that J. A. Lipman, now handling Goldwyn productions here, was, in conjunction with O. G. Sudholz, responsible for the presentation of Paramount pictures in Australia, and later introduced the Mutual Program, which is being exploited by Mr. Sudholz through the Progressive Service. Lipman and Sudholz have probably a more extensive knowledge of film conditions in Australia than any other men engaged in the business. Starting out years back with a Kalem production, "From the Manger to the Cross," they traversed the whole of the continent with the subject. Following this they exploited individual features until the Famous Players and Lasky Productions became available when they contracted for the entire output to those companies, continuing to handle them until a year ago when they sold the controlling interest in their company to the producers, and started the Progressive exchanges. * * * John F. Gavin is now busy on the filming of "For the Term of Her Natural Life," a story of early convict days. It is ■expected that when finished the film will run about six reels. A cast of well known screen and stage artists has been secured, and includes Ethel Bashford and Charles Villiers, who had prominent parts in "The Martyrdom of Nurse Cavell," shown in America about a year ago. Villiers has appeared in almost every Australian picture made, usually in "heavy" roles. "For the Term of Her Natural Life" is to be presented in America during the beginning of next year, and Mr. Gavin is making every effort to produce a picture that will compare favorably with the best American features. John F. Gavin is one of the pioneer Australian picture producers, having been in the business for over eight years. His first picture was a dramatic story of the life of the bushranger Thunderbolt, in which he played the lead. After eight years this picture is still being screened in the backblocks. At this time the average dramatic film was about 800 or 900 feet in length, while the usual comedy was seldom more than 400 feet. Gavin decided that he would make nothing but features, and when the firm of Cricks, Findlay & Gavin came into existence shortly after, a series of features were made, including "Benn Hall and His Gang," "Keane of Kalgoor lie," "Frank Gardiner," and also a mining drama of the early convict days, "His Assigned Servant." The success of these pictures was so great that it was decided to change the partnership into a company, and so the Australian Photoplay Company was formed, with a capital of £20,000. Under this brand many features were produced, in spite of active opposition from other concerns. Gavin later drew out his interests from the company, and since then has been working on his own. His latest production is a drama from an original scenario entitled "For the Term of Her Natural Life," a story of the early convict days, and this film will probably be in five reels. Gavin intends this to be the best he has ever done, as present arrangements are to sell the American rights. He says that the picture will compete with the best American productions. • * * The Fox Film Corporation announce that their big feature, "Jack and the Beanstalk," will be released in Svdney at the Theater Royal during December, and will in all probability be the Christmas attraction there. The same company's production "A Tale of Two Cities," which was released at the same theater some time ago, is playing a very successful return visit at the Strand theater this week. John F. Gavin. MANUFACTURERS, ATTENTION! Wells Hawks, formerly special publicity man for Mary Pickford, as well as for Artcraft, but now an enlisted lieutenant in the navy, writes the following letter, which deserves the attention of every manufacturer: "Subject: Navy Recruiting and Motion Pictures. "It has been suggested to this bureau that a fine advertisement can be given United States Navy recruiting by the use of posters in scenes of moving pictures. "In many film productions there are street scenes where posters appear in the reproduction. If in making up these scenes United States Navy posters are used their display would be of great advantage to the service and add to the realism of the scene. "If this meets with your approval we will be glad if you will forward to your director. "Suitable posters will be mailed on application. The United States Navy posters are artistic and effective, and are the work of the best known American artists." WILLIAM HARVEY WEARING SERGEANT'S STRIPES. The actor who recently finished a part as a German spy in "Draft 258" will go after Boches with specially fervent jabs when he gets a chance. He is serving with Company F, 305 Infantry, at Camp Upton. He received an invitation as guest of honor at the recent Screen Club ball, held at the Astor, Saturday, November 17.