Moving Picture Age (Jan-Dec 1921)

January, 1921 MOVING PICTURE AGE 21 Bringing the English Classics to America Goldsmith's, Dickens' and other classics filmed with English backgrounds are being distributed in the United States T HE works of great writers, which for some reason or other, have not heretofore received much consideration as film material, are coming into their own at last; Wild west desperadoes, ogling vampires, sex plays, lurid melodramas have had their day. Today motion picture directors are dipping into the classics for their finest productions. Dickens, Thackeray and their contemporaries are helping to create a new standard of motion picture charm and possibility. One of the best and most successful efforts to transfer the delightful atmosphere of English fiction to the screen is illustrated in the recent production of "Vicar of Wakefield," that world beloved story from the pen of Oliver Goldsmith. The picture itself is an English production, filmed on the spots about which Goldsmith built this story of tears and laughter. No expense was spared and the finest English actors have lent their hearts and brains to make this initial venture into the field of literature worthy of further effort. The picture is at present in America. It is owned by the International Church Film Corporation, an organization of churchmen who are producing and acquiring pictures of real literary merit, for distribution throughout the churches of the country. The whole story of the "Vicar of Wakefield" from its inception to this final triumph is purest romance. At the age of 33 Oliver Goldsmith found himself in debt to his landlady who gave him the choice of three courses, to pay his bill, go to prison or marry her. Goldsmith applied to Dr. Johnson to extricate him from this predicament and put in his hand a bundle of manuscript. Sir John Hare, the celebrated English actor, as the Vicar The Doctor took the manuscript, sold it to a bookseller, and handed the money to Goldsmith. That is how the novel came to be published. Not so long ago, a noted English motion picture director, S. Hopkins Hadley, decided to film a classic. It was to be an experiment based on his belief that the public was satiated with films that are banal, insipid, suggestive, purposeless. After examining a number of classics, Mr. Hadley selected the "Vicar of Wakefield" for his first effort. The lovable old Vicar, his interesting family, the two beautiful daughters, the family's sudden fall from riches to poverty, romance, tragedy ; all the ingredients of a film masterpiece are present in this novel. With such a foundation upon which to build, with the original settings adding all the charm of an old English atmosphere to the picture, and with a cast of eminent English actors, including the distinguished Sir John Hare as the Vicar, the result is a screen version of the beloved book that would please Goldsmith himself, could he see it. Another English production which this concern has purchased outright is "Dombey & Son," a picture founded on the book by that name by Charles Dickens. It has not been possible to go into great detail in developing this picture, but by keeping closely to the salient thought of the story, its producers have really managed to capture a bit of true Dickens' atmosphere and introduced it into the film. These two pictures represent the type which the International Church Film Corporation is now collecting to test the attitude of the American people. Such pictures have met with warm approval in England. There can be no doubt that America, too, will be heartily glad to see on the film, the characters it has met on the printed page. And to those who have not read widely, this new screen venture will be a revelation of unsuspected interests. The "Vicar of Wakefield," and other pictures of this kind, are to be released to churches, clubs, schools and other non-theatrical organizations. "My children, the offspring of temperance, as they were educated without softness, so they were at once well formed and healthy; my sons hardy and active, my daughters beautiful and blooming." "His (Jenkinson the scroundrel's) locks of silver grey venerably shaded his temples, and his green old age seemed to be the result of health and benevolence."