The Bioscope (May-Jun 1915)

THE Bioscope, May 20, 1915. 73% When the Famous Players Company conimenced their wonderful career they may be said to have placed the business of film production on a new basis in some respects. Their policy from the first has been quality as opposed to quantity. Beyond mapping out for themselves an approximate programme, they have never made any attempt to produce ‘‘ by the clock.”’ In the same way that they have avoided all restrictions of time with the faults of haste and carelessness inseparable from the latter, they have also avoided all limitations as to subject matter. They know that a company which collects a band of stock players and a repertoire of stock scenery with the intention of specialising in one suitable type of film must sooner or later fall on that dead level of dullness and mediocrity which is so fatal to truly original and creative art. With every new picture they produce, therefore, they may be said to start afresh. They do not seek plays to suit their own circumstances, but change their circumstances to suit their plays. Thus it is that a Famous Players film always impresses one as having been done in the very best possible manner—acted by plavers chosen specially for their particular parts and staged in settings specially built or selected for that particular plav alone. Regarded from a narrow point ot view, it may not be an economical method, but then the Famous Plavers Company have learned that cheap productions can only be expected to earn small profits for exhibitors as well as for their makers. Wasteful extravagance 1s obviously undesirable, but it is particularly true of film production that to make money you must spend money-—with intelligence. This, perhaps, ts one of the secrets of the Famous Players vreat success. Possessed of vast resources, both financial and artistic, they can afford to lavish upon their work the very best of everything.’ They buy the best plots. they employ the best plavers, and they use the best properties and scenic requisites. Thev are, in fact, limited only by their own ambitions and those, as we know, are boundless. Having enlarged rather unduly upon the general principles of the Famous Players Company, we shall be compelled to compress our remarks upon the latest practical result of those principles as found in their very attractive adaptation of W. J. Locke’s popular play and Google Two More Films from Mr. J. D. Walker. novel, ‘‘ The Morals of Marcus.’ We shall also have to treat with undeserved brevity the delightful Californian romance, ** The Rose ot the Rancho,” by the Jesse L. Lasky Company. to whom, by the way, our introductory remarks may be taken as applying equally. The Morals of Marcus introduces us to the art of a charming young actress who, if she is unlikely to outshine a certain. other youthful leading lady, a very Famous Vlayer, 1s certainly a welcome newcomer to the ranks of screen artists. Marie Doro is as clever as she is beautiful, and as beautiful as she is well suited to the part of Carlotta. the delightful Anglo-Turkish heroine of this fanciful and engaging comedy. The plot of the film deals with the adventures of the said Carlotta who is the forcibly adopted daughter of a polygamous Turk, and who escapes from her Oriental home to England. Where she arrives without money or friends and with only a vague conceptton of English manners and conventions. Needless to say, Fate and the playwright introduce her to a desirable young man who happens at the time to be harassed by the distressing attentions of a professional husband-hunter. As can be imagined this excellent situation, skilfully developed, affords a basis for a great deal of delightful comedy with a dash or two of drama to lend it body. It is all admirably done by a verv clever company of plavers, whilst the settings and photography leave nothing to be desired. Truly an excellent film. The Rose of the Rancho. Perhaps the most notable feature of — this very charming romantic drama is the vivid picture it presents of life in California in T&s50 when the United States Government were engaged in enforcing their annexation of that State despite the protests of its proud Spanish inhabitants. The «Americans have no reason to complain that their land lacks a past when a film producer can discover so romantic and unusual a historical episode as that which forms the bas:s of this plav. Better material for a picture drama would be hard to find, and the Lasky Company, working as one imagines on the original ground, have made the very most of it. The film is admirably acted and beautifully staved. It is full of exciting situations. worked up with a great deal of vigour by the producer, and it conta‘ns, in addition, a very pretty love interest. What more could anv public want ?