Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1916)

March 11, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1627 Red Feathers for March Universal Announces Four Subjects, Featuring Messrs. DowIan, Bosworth and Kerrigan and Miss Mersereau. THE Universal Company will issue during the month of March four high class Red Feather Photo Plays, in which William Dowlan, Hobart Bos<vorth, J. Warran Kerrigan and Violet Mersereau will be featured. "The Target" will be the release for March 6, this being a fine western picture in which Hobart Bosworth and Jane Novak are featured. The story carries a big moral and plays on the heartstrings at all times. It is predicted it will prove one of the strongest western film dramas in recent years. For March 13 J. Warren Kerrigan will be seen in "The Pool of Flame," being one of those intensely interesting mystery stories in which a jewel gets your interest when the picture opens and holds it until the end of the picture. In this five-reel feature Mr. Kerrigan is very ably supported by Lois Wilson. The photography is especially fine in this picture, while the scenery and scenic effects is up to the usual high standard for which the Universal is well known. William Dowlan will make his initial bow on the Red Feather program on March 20 with "Drugged Waters," a drama that will please the most fastidious. Mr. Dowlan will be remembered for the e-xcellent western features he has contributed to the Universal program. In "Drugged Waters" he has a play that will be vastly appreciated by his many followers as one of the most captivating mystery dramas. The plot is deep but well worked out. It makes a strange vehicle in which to introduce Mr. Dowlan to Red Feather audiences. Violet Mersereau will be featured with Lieutenant Percy Richards (The Man in V/hite), in the release scheduled for March 27. The title is "Autumn," having been written and produced by Oscar Lund. In order to get the proper atmosphere Director Lund took his company to Port Kent, N. Y., where most of the scenes were filmed in and around Ausable Chasm. Paul Panzer also takes an important part in this picture, as does Clara Byers. "Autumn" is one of those stories in which Miss Mersereau is at her best, and that is saying a great deal. The critics who have reviewed this picture have spoken highly of it for its acting, its plot, scenery and effects. The supporting company is especially well balanced. BLANCHE SWEET IN "THE SOWERS." After a series of productions in which she has appeared as a ragamuffin, an anarchist, an addict to drugs, a mesmerist's subject and other characters, Miss Blanche Sweet, the popular star of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company, is to act in the role of "a lady" in the elaborate picturization of Henry Seton Merriman's novel, "The Sowers." "The Sowers," which is a Russian political drama of novel and unusual theme, is being produced for the Lasky company by William C. De Mille, and will be released through Paramount Pictures Corporation in the LTnited States on March 30th, and on the same date in Canada by the Famous Players' Film Service, Ltd. Mr. De Mille and Marion Fairfax made the screen adaptation, by arrangement with Harper & Bros. Last autumn, when Miss Sweet made a trip to New York and on her return to Hollywood, California, revealed to her friends a most elaborate wardrobe, at the same time telling them that she would give the natives of the continent a treat when her next photoplay was produced. It happened, however, that instead of silks and satins. Miss Sweet wore a second-hand boy's suit in her next photoplay, which was "The Ragamuffin." But now the time has come for her to appear in her beautiful frocks. One of the finest supporting casts Miss Sweet has ever had will appear in "The Sowers," including the inimitable Theodore Roberts, Thomas Meighan, Ernest Joy, Dick Le Strange, Camille Astor and Horace B. Carpenter. Peacocke With California Co. THE California Motion Picture Corporation has just "put over another one." Ale.x E. Beyfuss, vice-president and general manager, arrived in New York on Monday morning at ten o'clock. At noon he had signed a contract with Captain Leslie T. Peacocke for his exclusive services and the next day Captain Peacocke was on his way to the studios of the California concern, in San Rafael. Captain Peacocke is not only one of the most experienced, but one of the most successful writers and scenario editors. A cosmopolitan, free-lance journalist, as well as a fiction writer of recognized ability, he was early attracted to the field of moving pictures, and began to study the game of the camera from all sides, at a time when it was given little serious consideration by seriousminded people. As a matter of course, when the importance of moving pictures was recognized Captain Peacocke had already enjoyed several years of vigorous tuition in the fundamentals of the great art-industry. He has had more than 400 photoplays produced, some of which were adaptations, but, for the most part, were his own original stories. Among his most successful originals are the famous Kellerman feature, "Neptune's Daughter," "Married by Telephone," "The Closed Door," "The Nauch Girl and the Tiger," "You, I and It," "Traffic in Souls." ".-V Mexico Mix," "The Polo Champions" and "A Girl and Her Money." His adaptations number several of the country's greatest dramatic successes, including "What Happened to Jones," "As Ye Sow," "The Coward," "Salvation Nell" and "Old Dutch," Lew Fields' first feature film, just released. MARIE DORO LEAVING FOR LASKY STUDIOS. With the completion of her last production for the Famous Players Film Company, — a picturization of "Diplomacy" — Miss Marie Doro, one of the most popular stars of the screen, will leave New York soon to begin her long engagement as a star of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company. As both of these large producing companies release through the same distributing organization — Paramount Pictures Corporation— Miss Doro will still be seen and enjoyed by the thousands who have come to admire and appreciate her extraordinary screen work. Capt. Leslie T. Peacocke. BELL RETURNS TO CHICAGO. William H. Bell, president of the W. H. Bell Feature Film Corporation and of Popular Features, Inc., Chicago, 111., left New York City February 19 for home, after spending two weeks here. Mr. Bell attended many trade, as well as private, showings of pictures while here and made arrangements for a number of productions. Mr. Bell's interests are becoming quite extensive. He has found it necessary in order to take care of his business in the northwest to organize a new enterprise. This is Favorite Features, Inc., with headquarters in Minneapolis, of which he is general manager. Mr. M. Gottlieb is resident manager. For this new office Mr. Bell secured an attractive line of subjects and as a leader he bought from Arthur S. Kane, 220 West 42nd street, the rights for Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota of "Somewhere in France." This is the five-reel French war picture obtained by Donald C. Thompson which now has been placed in nearly all territories of the country. GARRICK RELEASES REINHARD IN "ACCORDING TO LAW." As it was originally planned, John Reinhard was to play the part of William Proctor, the importunate lover in the Gaumont five-reel feature, "According to Law," which is tobe releaesd as a Mutual Masterpicture, de Luxe Edition, March 6. However, his work in the Marguerite Courtot feature, "Feathertop," conflicted, and Director Henry J. Vernot was unable to release him from that Gaumont production. Although Supervising Director Richard Garrick, who is directing Miss Mildred Gregory in "According to Law,"" had announced with great emphasis that he would not himself appear on the screen in this feature, he found that it was necessary to take the part of Proctor at the last minute. Although the part is not of great length, it requires great acting ability.