The New York Clipper (March 1916)

36 I THE NEW YORK CLIPPER MOTION PICTURES Mdreh 4 HARRY ENSIS, MOTION PICTURE EDITOR. CHAPLIN SIGNS YEAR'S CONTRACT WITH JOHN R. FREULER, MUTUAL EXECUTIVE. INIMITABLE PICTURE COMEDIAN WILL RECEIVE UNPRECEDENTED SUM OF $670,0 00 FOR S ERVICES. CHAPLIN COMEDIES TO BE MANUFA CTURE D BY SPECIAL ORGANIZATION AND RELEASED ON MUTUAL PROGRAM. Broadway and its inhabitants are breathing freelj again and the suspense la over. On Satur- day last Charlie Chaplin, the much discussed film comic, entered Into a one year's agreement with John H. Frenler, president of the Mutual Film Corporation, whereby be will appear In a series of . comedy pictures for a new film concern. The amount of the contract calls for a sum In the neighborhood of 1670,000, of which $150,000 Is said to be a bonus. Little did the mustached comedian think a few years back when he appeared on the Loew Circuit in • "double act" for eighty dollars weekly for the team, that he would some day be the most dis- cussed personality In fllmdom. The new Chaplin pictures will be released on the Matnal program, and It Is expected that one of the biggest commercial battles In the history of the movies will occur when the first release la announced, owing to tie fact that the Essanay Co., Charlie's former employer, has a comber of Chaplin pictures hitherto unseen by the public. The closing of the contract ends a war of nego- tiations Involving conferences and diplomatic ex- changes covering weeks. In tills time five or six motion picture concerns have claimed Chaplin. A week ago J. B. Frenler put Chaplin under a tenta- tive contract on option pending the completion of arrangements for the organization of a special producing company. Saturday night an agreement wm reached by the interested parties, and a twenty thousand word contract was "fountain penned" by both Frenler and Chaplin. Consequently, for a period of one year, Chaplin and his accessories will cavort before the Mutual camera. "It may be that the movies reach more people than the stage, but the audience does not know Its film favorites as It does its stage favorites. The film actress does not get Into touch with her audi- ence. There is none of the Inspiration which we, on the stage, may give or receive from faces across the footlights." J. Hartley Manners made the first "ou-" by roundly condemning the realism that the movies have perfected. . Then the game was called on account of darkness. Notwithstanding the analytical discussion. It Is quite likely that the twenty-five thousand odd pic- ture houses In America will still continue to do business "as usual." CONDEMNS REALISM OF SCREEN. Before a gathering which Included Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, Borough President Marks and two hun- dred personages of prominence' at the Bepnbllcan Clob, West Fortieth Street, New York, last wee*, Lanrette Taylor championed the drams. It was ladies' day at the dob, and fair women and brave men were in attendance.. J. Stuart Blackton, president of the Yltagrapb, stepped to bat and landed on the pellet for a corking single when he maintained that the photodrama had ad- vanced more rapidly than the spoken drama, and maintained further that the photodrama was the "visualization of inspiration." 'Twas then "Peg o' My Heart" sauntered to the plate and put the ball over the right field wall with the following: "The movies can take our features and our actions, but they cannot take our voices. For any play to succeed, the greatest qualification is personality. MUTUAL C0HPANY SEIZ ES FI LMS. , INSTITUTES ACTION AGAINST FILM PIRATES . Last week the Mutual Film Corporation seized one hundred and twenty-five thousand feet of its films found In an "exchange" operated at Bdln- bnrg, Va., by A. Ik Httner, formerly an exhibitor of Hacfcenstown, X. J. In making the seizure the fact that the stock of films was attached by a local bank, with which Hltner had had a check controversy, enabled the sheriff to gain possession easily. The films discovered were uncovered as a result of the efforts of a group of men to sell a stock of pictures made up largely of Mutnal releases. In the past few months the company has re- covered hundreds of thousands of feet of "pirated" Alms doe to the activities of Arthur F. Beck, manager of the New York office. A corps of detectives has been at work securing evidence which leads to the belief that the most elaborate system of film piracy operations ever dreamed of la In existence. In addition it has bee discovered that there are facilities for the rental and sale of stolen films throughout the United States and South America. In the Edinburgh stock one hundred and twenty five Mutual releases of various dates were found, and seventy-fire releases of the General and Uni- versal concerns, but the latter are not listed in the Inventory, as the action In Virginia extends only to tile Mutnal films involved. Han Caine's masterpiece, "The Bondman," pro- duced by Edgar Lewis, for the films, has been the subject of much, pleasing comment. Win. Farntm Is starred In this feature, and Is ably supported by an excellent cast. T0URNEUR HAS WORD . TO SAY REGARDING CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF CLARA KIMBALL YOUNG. PARAGON'S DIRECTOR-GENERAL ISSUES STATEMENT. Maurice Tourneur. director-general of Paragon Films, Inc. sends ns the appended communication which is self-explanatory: ' Movrxo Pictvsb Editob New Tobk Cuffes: "May I Issue from the serenity of the Palisades for the first time since I arrived In America two years ago, to correct an impression that has gone abroad as to the Paragon Corporation's relations with Clara wtmh.ii Young? "Miss Young Is now, and will be until August next, appearing exclusively in the feature films of the Paragon Company, we are Just about to re- lease The Feast of Life,* a new subject. In five reels, recently finished In Cuba. "What Miss Young's plans may be after the ex- gdntion of her contract with ns at the time Indi- cated, we do not know beyond the information contained in the printed advertisements. "It will be recalled, doubtless, by your readers familiar with the film career of Miss Young, that It was the Peerless Company, then under the ex- ecutive control of the same entitles now directing the fortunes of the Paragon Co, that first brought out the emotional quQlties that, combined with Miss Young's unusual comeliness, have made her appearances in screen plays so super-attractive. Prior to that time her appearances had been ex- clusively In Ingenue roles. 'Lola,' which we pro- duced, was the first drama In which her greatest talents were afforded free play. "Before the expiration of our contract with Miss Young we shall present her successively In a num- ber of big dramas now on our stocks, for Iter further exploitation and profit and oar own. "I trust yon will not deem ma intrusive In re- questing you to acquaint your trade readers with the conditions as they are. 'Thanking you cordially for any concession you may accord this communication, I am, "Yonrs truly, Macbics Tounweua, ''Paragon Film Corporation, Fort Lee, K. J., Feb. «, 'It." STOLE ACTRESS' AUTO. Gertrude McCoy, who admits that she Is a mo- tion picture actress, appeared before Magistrate ^Joenig In the West Farms Court, N". Y., hut week against John Mastraccblo, of 534 Fordbam Road, ■whom she charged with theft of her automobile. Gertrude testified that John had taken her 31,600 machine out of the garage without her permission, and after endeavoring to climb count- less telegraph poles had returned the car In a ■wrecked condition. Mastraccblo was held to await the action of the Grand Jury. THI8 18 WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! AT THE FRONT WITH THE ALLIES The Picture That Shows War AS IT IS I DISTRIBUTED BY h. s. cubic, staMftr Room 501, IIO West 40th St., New York City Toi»ph*M ■ryut 8125