The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1913)

THE Bioscope, NOVEMBER 6, 1913. a 505 PARISIAN NOTES. By JOHN CHER. A Trade exhibition of a film entitled “The Romance of Carpentier ’’ was given last week, at ihe Cinemax. As may be gleaned from the title, the picture, which is in three reels, depicts the life story of Georges Carpentier, the celebrated French boy boxer. Carpentier started work in a coal mine, and one of the scenes shows the pugilist dancing the gas de l’ours at Maxim’s night restaurant, so that it will be seen that the production does not fail on the point of variety. Carpentier was present at the show, and, at she conclusion, was warmly congratulated by the spectators on his new dédut in the moving picture world, or, perhaps 1 should say, first appearance as a picture actor, for the young F renchman’s face is, of course, familiar to picture theatre goers all the world over. A law case of paramount interest to exhibitors in general is that of the Universal Cinema Company v. Continental Edison Company. For a long time past, showmen have attempted to obtain their electricity at industrial rates. The action in question will settle whether electricity for cinematograph projections is to be classed as “industrial ’’ or “ lighting,’’ and charged accordingly. Daily, weekly, monthly, the cinematograph is “boosted ’”’ gratuitously by French journalists. In wonderful picture plays journalists have found a new and crisp topic for discussion. The Lectures pour Tous magazine, in its last issue, printed an eulozy on “D’Artagnan on the Cinema,’’ illustrated with half a dozen photographs representing the most striking incidents in the Film d’Art’s masterpiece, “ The Three Musketeers.’’ Though in the midst of a great aggregation of amusements, the picture theatre at Magic City is a popular side show. Dropping in the other night, I found a large audience enjoying a good all-round programme, including a fine Vitagraph comedy, with the inimitable John Bunny, and a thrilling Selig railway feature. Mr. Robert Schwabthaler’s sensational actuality film, “ With the Greeks in the Firing Line,’”’ is being featured at the Cinema Palace this week. A number of distinguished people were present at the first performance, including members of the Greek Legation in Paris. Messrs. Pathé Fréres are giving a special Trade exhiibtion of “Joan of Arc,’’ at the Pathé Journal hall, on November 4th. That thrilling A.B. drama, “The Battle of Elder Bush Gulch,” is featured as an exclusive this week at the Electric Palace. Messrs. Pathé Fréres—according to Comedia—have notified exhibitors that they cannot guarantee to supply the films they are asked for to clients who take less than 3,000 ft. of film per week. I hear that Mr. Charles Urban’s Kinemacolor house will not be ready before the 25th of this month. The work at the Theatre Edward VII. is well advanced now. From the glimpse I have had of the stage and auditorium, this will be a cosy theatre. Messrs. Gaumont took a bold and wise step when they substituted men in the place of women to act as attendants at the Gaumont Palace Hippodrome. Such an immense audience as gathers in this place requires looking after, and the wisdom of employing as many men, likely to be of use in the case of emergency, as possible, is at once apparent. At the Hippodrome, in addition to the staff, quite a battalion of Garde Republicaines is on duty at each perform. ance. I learn that Monsieur Gemier’s great success “Le Procureur Hallers,’’ has been presented in moving pictures in Germany for something like twelve years. It appears that the remarkable film, from which the play is drawn, has been “touring”? the German Empire continuously since its first presentation. The picture has not, curiously enough, yet been seen ere. The pictures of the Scott Polar Expedition are to be exhibited at the Sorbonne. President Poincaré, it 1s expected, will be present at the exhibition. Monsieur Paul Deschanel, the President of the French Chamber, accompanied by his wife, visited a well-known Paris studio last week, in order to watch the filming of a play. Many talented actresses played before the illustrious politician, who, however, politely refused the invitation to take a part in the scene. Louis Aubert is now in Brussels arranging for the opening of an office for the renting of his exclusive features in Belgium. English firms specialising in “sound’’ apparatus may be interested to learn that a reader of Le Journal is anxious to know the name of the manufacturers of an effect machine described in that paper some weeks ago. Communications should be addressed “‘ Vavin,’”’ “Cinemas,’’ Le Journal, rue de Richelieu, Paris. Effect machines are not greatly employed in Parisian picture theatres. Messrs. Artistic Cinema Negatives of San Remo, Italy, announce a two-reel film, “Un Drame sur la Cote d’Azur.”’ Monsieur Leopold Bellan, the active president of the Société d’Enseignement Moderne, has just started his Thursday educational cinematograph matinées, at the Salle Villiers. Monsieur Gauly, a professor of the Ecole Normale, lectures on the pictures as they are projected. Thursday is, of course, the school children’s half-holiday in Paris, and there is little doubt that this most praiseworthy project will meet with success. It is my opinion that an educational picture theatre for the “grown ups” would likewise draw the people. Go ogle | |