The New York Clipper (July 1917)

34 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER July 4, 1917 RUSSIAN FILMS GET FIRST SHOWING WELCOMED BY OFFICIALS Washington, D. C, June 27.—Accom- panied by more than twenty-five news- paper men whom be brought from New York, in a special car on the Congres- sional ' Limited, Nathan S. Kaplan to- night gave the first showing anywhere in the world of the Russian Art films which he bas brought to this country. The oc- casion was the reception given by the Na- tional Press Club to the Special Russian Commission to this country at the Willard Hotel. Although Mr. Kaplan has fifty of these films, the one chosen as the most fitting and suitable for introducing the series to America was "The Queen of Spades," taken from the great Russian opera "Pikovaya Dama," by Pushkin, the Shakespeare of all the Russians. It is an artistic presentation of an interesting story and the members of the foreign com- mission found themselves, although in a strange land, so closely linked to their own homes that they forgot, at times, that they were without the great Russian empire. Some remarkably quick work was ac- complished by Mr. Kaplan in getting the film here. Forty-eight hours before the film was unwound before the audience that greeted it in the Willard, the film was without a title and still needed much cutting. As soon as the request came from the club, however, Mr. Kaplan set to work with vigor. Calling in Shep- pard and Van Loan, the expert title writers, he set them to work and, al- though it took all of one night to go through the six reels, the feat was ac- complished, and when the film was thrown on the screen all were found to be singu- larly appropriate, translating into English the peculiar naivette and intensity of the Russian language, with remarkable effec- tiveness. After receiving the congratulations of the members of the Russian Commission upon the excellence of the film Mr. Kaplan and his guests returned to New York on the midnight train. If all Mr. Kaplan's films are as well presented and as splendidly directed, acted and costumed as is "The Queen of Spades," they will prove a most welcome addition to the highest class feature films to be seen in the country to-day. FEATURE FILM REPORTS MAYFAIR COMPLETES ITS FIRST Mayfair's first production. "Persuasive Peggy," is completed and M. A. Schles- inger, president of the company, is so impressed with the work that he has se- lected Director Charles J. Brabin to col- laborate with Peggy Hyland and the au- thoress. Miss Maravene Thompson, to do the cutting and titling, believing that they can obtain the best results because of their intimate knowledge of the story. Mr. Schlesinger is preparing to announce the first "trade showing." LEWIS PRODUCES ANOTHER With the announcement of the opening by Frank Hall of Edgar Lewis' special production. "The Bar Sinister,'" at the Pitt Theatre, Pittsburgh, for a Summer run come rumors of big preparations well under way for a new Edgar Lewis picture which promises to be ready for release in a few weeks. FIRST PERSHING FILMS SHOWN Motion pictures showing the arrival of General Pershing and staff in France, which were brought to this country by the Universal Film Co., reached New York last Sunday morning and were shown at a number of theatres in the city in the after- noon. "THE PUBLIC BE DAMNED" Public Rights Film Corp. Five Reels. Released, State Right*. Cast. Marion Fernley Mary Fuller John Block. Charles Riohman Robert Merritt Chester Barnett Bill Garvin Joe Smiley David Higgins Russell Bassett Story—Drama. Woven about food con- trol in the United States. Featuring Mary Fuller and Charles Richman. Action—Interesting throughout and in places, gripping. Continuity—Inconsistent. Suspense—Sustained. Detail—Above average. Atmosphere—Good. Photography—Excellent. Remarks With a timely theme from which to weave a story, at times inconsistent, and with Mary Fuller and Charles Richman to play the leads, it would have been a difficult task for the Public Rights Film Corporation to go wrong on this screen feature, which strikes a direct blow at the powers that control the food situation in this country. Additional interest is added, which should exert a powerful drawing in- fluence over the public, by using cot ins of Herbert Hoover, food administrator of the U. S.i and extracts from his speeches advo- cating government food control. The old love theme in which the re- jected suitor goes to the city to forget, and eventually becomes a controlling influence, is made new by its connection with the food situation as it confronts the Ameri- can public to-day. Chester Barnett, the accepted suitor, marries the girl (Mary Fuller), and tbey settle down on a farm, only to discover there is no market for their products owing to the low and pro- hibitive market price set by the food trust, of which the rejected suitor is the head. The wife urges her husband to organize the farmers to fight the trust, and this he begins before developing a yellow Btreak and selling out to the trust because it is "the easiest way." This exposure of his character causes the wife to leave him, tak- ing up the work of organization where he left off, and eventually putting a bill through Congress that puts the food trust out of business. Throughout the action, however, the spnrned suitor retains bis affection for the girl, and helps her in various ways to win her cause, although it injures him finan- cially. The husband also has a change of heart, and redeems himself by rushing in at the last moment to expose a ruse to defeat the bill framed by his wife. The president of the food trust feels better through having his ill-gotten gains swept away, and brings about a reconciliation be- tween husband and wife. Besides the acting and photography, both of which are exceptionally good, the direct- ing is to be commended. It shows a great insight into the desires of the public for red-blooded action and attention to detail. Several scenes are strong enough to bring the audience to the edge of the seat and the inconsistency of the story is lost sight of through these many worthy features of the picture. - ■. Box Office Value. Good for long runs. PARAMOUNT SIGNS CAVALIERI Another important addition has been made to the list of stars in Paramount Pictures by the engagement of Lina Cavalieri, tbe Italian operatic star, who has contracted to appear in productions of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation ex- clusively for a period of one year. Accord- ing to the agreement just entered into, Mme. Cavalieri will star in two Paramount Pictures, one to be staged in September and the other in the Spring. This ar- rangement is made in order that the diva will not have to interrupt her operatic en- gagement with the Chicago Opera Com- pany. "CASTE" Vitagraph, Five Reels. Released July 2 by T-L-S-E. Cast, Esther Eccles Peggy Hyland Eceles Sir John Hare George D'Alroy Roland Pertxoee The Marquise Mary Rorke Polly Eccles..-. Etme Hubbard Sam Gerridge Campbell Gullan Captain Hawtree Dawson Milward Story—Drama by T. W. Robertson. Larry Trimble, director. Action—Trite. Continuity—Consistent. Suspense—Lacking. Detail—O. K. Atmosphere—Good. Photography—Very good. Remarks. In "Caste" is portrayed a most com- monplace story, the theme having served time and time again in novels and pic- tures. The scene is supposed to be laid in England, where the division of classes is not denied. However, the main thread of the story is weakly carried out and were it not for aide stories, tbe film would find it bard to maintain interest. While the acting of' the entire cast was excellent, Sir John Hare, who played the role of Eccles, a vagabond whose sole ob- ject in life is drink, acted with such real- ism as to give the film the one bit of human appeal and his work deserves special com- mendation. The story tells of George D'Alroy, who marries Esther Eccles, a chorus girl, in spite of his aristocratic bringing up. His mother, a proud marquise, is incensed at the marriage. D'Alroy is called' away to Africa with his regiment and is reported killed. His mother, in the meantime, has tried to get possession of their baby, but Esther refuses to part with it. D'Alroy returns home, the report of his death hav- ing been false, and the marquise forgives him. While there are a few scenes that are exaggerated, the atmosphere, as a whole, is consistent. Box Office Value. . i; Full run. SELZNICKWICTURES DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK Clara Kimball Young Film Corporation Plaintiff AGAINST Clara Kimball Young Defendant Notice to Producer's, Distributors and Exhibitors We have commenced suit against Clara Kimball Young in the United States District Court for an injunction to restrain her from violating the contract which binds her to render services exclusively to us until September 1, 1921. We are advised by eminent counsel that our right to such an injunc- tion is clear. We, and we alone, control the exclusive services of Clara Kimball Young. Any one dealing with Clara Kimball Young other than through us or Lewis J. Selznick Enterprises, Inc., the authorized distributor of Clara Kimball Young pictures, will do so at his peril, and will be held strictly liable for so doing. CLARA KIMBALL YOUNG FILM CORPORATION LEWIS J. SELZNICK, President WILLIAM A. BRADY, Director-General. WORLD-PICTURES Present MONTAGU LOVE "The Brand of Satan" All Star Cast Including GERDA HOLMES, EVELYN GREELEY and ALBERT HART Directed by George Archainbaud Story by Jere F. Looney