Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

TORONTO, CANADA. Page Seven Rejane’s Artistry Winning Praise Vitagraph’s “Gypsy Passion” Tee matchless artistry of the immortal Rejane and the exceptional camera technique of Louis Mercanton are winning much favorable comment for “Gypsy Passion,” the production which recently closed a most successful engagement at Mark Strand Theatre, New York City. Not only has the picture been praised by the New York newspaper reviewers, but word of this unique film has reached the printed page in cities in which it has not already been shown publicly. Newspaper writers, also, concerned with more general comment on the arts than specific criticisms of motion pictures, have written eulogistically upon this subject. In his column, “It Seems to Me,” Heywood Broun, mentor of books and plays for the readers of the New York World, writes of Madame Rejane’s portrayal of the role of “Romany Kate” in this colorful gypsy story: “When Rejane smiles her great crooked smile it seems important. There is in it an emphasis beyond the range of pretty women. Something has happened. We have seen more than a smile. A mask has been lit and vitalized by an emotion. The latest comment on “Gypsy Passion” which was not made by a motion picture specialist, but by a writer on general topics, was in the column of the New York news and views written by James Whittaker. In a column in which he discusses the battle between certain New York theatrical producers and the Rev. John Roach Straton and other subjects current along New York’s rialto, Mr. Whittaker writes: Actual Work Has Started On “The Man From Glengarry” William Colvin has taken charge of various activities in connection with the production of “The Man From Glengarry” in Ottawa, Ontario, under the supervision of Henry Shipman. Announcement is made that the cast for this picture will include Pauline Garon, who recently finished “Reported Missing,” Marion Swain, Ralph Falconer, Anders Randolph, Harlan Knight and others. The director is Henry McRae and the continuity writer is Kenneth O’Hara. Actual work on the picture started on May 4th. “My Boy” which was shown at the Allen theatre, Winnipeg, for a week, drew the largest crowds of the season at that house. '@ oe “The experts—with whom I wish humbly to disagree—agreed that the acting of the late Mme. Rejane is impressive as recorded by one film in which it is chemically preserved for posterity, but lacking in a quality known as camera technique. The film is called ‘Gypsy Passion’ for the American trade. It is from Jean Richepin’s masterpiece of French narrative, ‘Miarka, La Fille a L’Ourse,’ and in France this French film was respectfully titled with the author’s choice.” Writing further of Rejane’s flawless portrayal, Mr. Whittaker says: “Most of the views of Madame Rejane in ‘Gypsy Passion’ are full length. When she acts, she acts all over. And in one scene of the French film there was, for me, a choking thrill which comes rarely from either play or movie house. Mme. Rejane was Old Kate, the gypsy dowager of the story of nomad hearts and habits. The film ends with her death at the shrine of a miracle-working saint in Brittany. She dies with her boots on, and the boots are on the film. As the great veteran actress sank in a moral ecstasy of religious fervor (passionate in every inch of her body, and not in one foot of face alone) a sob rose in my throat. If this bit of master pantomine is to be rejected for a technicality by the movies, it can be accepted gratefully for the permanent files of the theatre, which is not dead from the neck down.” Mr. Whittaker’s views are syndicated to the Chicago Tribune and others of the country’s greatest newspapers. F. G. Spencer Rebuilds Destroyed Residence F. G. Spencer is rebuilding his residence at Ononette which was destroyed in the frightful fire which took place last summer. Mr. Spencer had one of the most beautiful homes in this vicinity and his new house will be an improvement even on the first. There is a very fine garage in connection with the property and the grounds are being beautified as before. The havoc wrought by the fire is being cleared away. . Another Canadian Exhibitor Goes To The United States Charles Perry, former manager of the Capitol, Winnipeg, has been appointed manager of the Capitol, St. ers Minn., one of the most beauti f@l theatres in America. Camera Classics Keeping Up | Quality of Early Releases HE, Dicest called at the Filmeraft studios one morning and had the privilege of meeting Miss Margaret Sturch, who has complete charge of the assembling department. Miss Sturch is the only girl in Canada on this very intricate work — and the speed and efficiency displayed in her work which she maintained even while she was being interviewed, showed why she is considered one of Filmcraft’s most valuable assets. This young film editor was busy assembl . ing a print of Camera Classics, when the writer sought her out at the assembling table. As she flew through the scenes, in a final inspection she explained the fascinating details in the process of cutting and assembling a picture from the time that the original negative first comes off the drying drum until the film is shipped for distribution. Cutting and assembling are often confused, it was explained, the cutting being the choosing of footage from the negative which has been taken by the cameraman. This work is done on a test print taken from the original negative, the latter being left intact until the film editor is satisfied that he has discarded unnecessary footage and retained only the scenes that will contribute merit to the picture. When the cutting has been finished satisfactorily on the test print, the negative is cut, and then the prints made. ‘These arrive in the lab. for assembling —an_ interesting process full of detail and variety but requiring the most accurate handling through every stage. “Mr. Irish personally does the cutting on the Camera Classics,” explained Miss Sturch. “He holds himself responsible for every subject incorporated in these features, and does the cutting work exclusively on them. He arranges his continuity on the test print and after he has run and rerun the test and is thoroughly satisfied with the subject he sends it on to me to be conformed to the negative.” “Camera Classics” are meeting with splendid success throughout Canada and the releases now in preparation are not only keeping up the standard quality of the first four issues, but introducing many novelties and surprises. ‘\ test film made of Miss Gladys Leonard of Winnipeg, who won the second prize in the Paramount all Canada Beauty Contest, has been taken at a local studio and forwarded to New York by Mr. Doolittle, publicity commissioner of the Famous Lasky, whe sesides at Minneapolis.