New York Clipper (Nov 1915)

42 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER November SiO ESfiLISH COHDITIONS HOT SO BAD. VaSBCS FILM sun REVIEWS SIHIA- non in onoms Tic veih. EHGLISH CONDITIONS HOT SO BAD AS PAimrED, SAYS LONDON FIUI BIAN. A repnoentatlTe or the Enerlish film flrai of C H. Hauff, Limited, of 62 Gt. Russell Street, Lon- don, tfas la tcwn last week. HI« Tialt was occa- •ione<1 by a contract made for the Krlterlon pro- - sin Sot the Briash lales. The emlBaary from the Sa <\r Johnny Ball was qolte lo<iuacIoiu, and Vft ydce 'o several pertlneot utterances. Among '«tllcrT'1tilnK8, he said: "Bnslnesa Is better than ever- In 'aplte o( the war. This Is due to the fact that -there Is more than enough work for every- body, at salaries greater than ordinary, and as a result, more working people fieqnent tbe moTlnjc pictnre thi>atre8. It is also dne to the fact that many women are receiving the pay of their soldier husbands, and-have more money to spend and more . freedom to spend it. "Tbe arrangements of the renters and Importers lia-ve also helped .to ir.ake. the sltnatlon better all around. Tbe annonncement of tbe new tariff that went Into effect on Sept, 29 of one penny (two , cents) a foot -on : positives and half penny (one cent) per foot on raw stock.eanscd conalderable . Alstarbance In selling conditions, which was finally «mi««t-by tbe agreement of tbe various film Inter- ests'to'enarge uve pence Instead of .four pence as Toimcrly." FEATURES ADD SHORT SCBJECTS BOTH IN BIG DEMAND. ' "Both features and . small stuff sell well, al- though two reelers are hard to sell. Edncatlonals and comics In one reel are the best sellers. It la very dlffleolt to sell films over foor thousand feet. ' "Tbe Ove and six reelers are not popular unless they arc exceptionally good. "American-pictures go very well-at present.--we like the cle^r pbotognipby and clever direction. Of course, tbe situation la aided, too, by tbe fa<:t that we are not getting Continental pictures. Italian pictures are not liked so well becaase of tbplr different school of acting and their over- eBoUonaUsm." XJUSBICAN PICTURES GOOD, BUT rOST- BRS NOT VP TO STANDARD. "Althouf;h your American plctnrea are excep- tionally good, yonr pobters are not of tbe quality nsed by many of tne Alms here. One firm here baa paid as much as 100 pounds for tbe work of well known srtlstu. Of course, we sell onr post- ers, while yon give yours away generally. Onr film Is changed once or twice a week. That probably helps. But we hope to see better post- ers coming soon." •I EN THOUSAND DOLL.t.R9 INVOLTED Df WORLD.FROUSI.l\ SETTLEMENT. There Is tbe unprecedented situation In regard to tbe new picture drama "Body and Soul," that tb(- maUers of this photoplay have paid a largo SCBi Oit money to one of the dlstrlbattng companies CO turn the drama back In order that it may be released by another corporation holding tbe prior right. - -~Ilody and Sonl" was made by the Ftvbman Amnsement Company, wlilcb bed a contract to Itleoae Ita product tbroai;b the World Fihn Cor- poration. The latter retained the right to reject any pictures supplied by tbe Frobman Company, and old decline to handle one such picture. Tbe Frohman Company, assuming that its agree- ment with the World Film Corporation was autu- mallcally canceled ay this action, made a new contract with Pathe, and arranged for "Body and iSoul" to be released throuRb that concern. At this point tbe World Film Corporation as- serted Its rlghti. and the Frohman Company •woke to tbe Knowledge that It bad executed two fmfMtly bindlDf contracts for tbe dlstribntlon of njT'Sdille fihn. Tbe priority of the Wrtrld Film Litrporatlon's agreement suggested that a cash consideration he offered Patne, but the offer was mt first refused. Kor a time bitter and costly lltlj,-atIou appeared to be unavoidable, but this was finally averted, and yesterday tbe Frobman Company paid to tbe Pathe concern the very considerable amount of $10,000 In satisfaction of all claims npon the play in which Fiorr ice UockwcU has the principal zolo. The World Film CorporaUon •will release "Body and Soul''.late in Novtmber. Tynan, Frank Sheridan, Molly Mclntjre. Emmett Corrlgan, Ilenry Kolker and Gall Kane are . to begin work at once, and at one of the three Equit- able produdjDS headquarters. FAMOUS WRITERS WILL FURNISH SCBEBN STORIES. Another tremendous leap to tbe front is prom- ised by Equitable, tbroagn an arrangement now being made, wherein twelve o( the most noted writers of tbe day are to devote their time to writing material for the Bqnitable screen. Eugene Walters, author of "laid In Full," "The Wolf," "Tbe Easiest Way,' "Tbe Wife" and "Homeward Bonnd." is about to conclude arrangements with the Equitable, to furnish them with six original and virile stories a year; Bache* Ciothcrs, whose numerois play£ and novels have established her as a factor in flctlondom; Har- riet Ford, author of "'I'be Argyle Case," "The Dummy" and other plays: Edwin' Milton Boylc^ author of a large nnmbcl: of big stories and plays, in.:lndlng "The Squaw Man," and eight other noted writers, are under' arrangement with Equitable to produce a certain nnmber of stories and plots, end it is thought that work will begin on this material within a few weeks. William Stoermer, until reccDtly studio manager for Thomas Ince, with Triangle, has assumed a ' similar- position at Equitable's Fifty-second .Street etudlo. and under the general direction of Isldbr Bernstein, will handle tne material side of all pro- dnctloDs at that place. The fact that William Courtney's picture. "Sealed Lips," based on "Tbe Silence of Dean Maltland," Id whicb Mr. Courtney was supported by Mary Cbarleson, formerly of Lubln. and Ar- thur Ashley, formerly of Metro and. Thanbonser, two purely screen actors, turned out so generaOy ' excollent, leads Equitable to adhere to the palley of blending stage and screen stars In each of .tne ' forthcoming plays. For Frank Sheridan's production of "The Man nigher Up," a mixed cast of players has been as- ' sembled. The cast is tbe result of Equitable's new policy of endowing each of its. proauctlons with. . the very , best talent obtainable, without conaidera- tlon of.prlmai7 cost. In' addition to Mr. ' Sheridan tbe cast' of "Tbe mC'IU'UB OH TBE SCBBBIT VBAH WE with QEO. KLEifll^B Man Higher Up" will Include: Clara Whipple and ~i^TBry' CbSrleson, two regular screen pla'ycts, who are members of the Rqultable regular stock cast; Charles Gleason, Frank lleamlsh, Henry Splngler. GK>rge Arblne and William H. Tooker. all of whom have appeared In principal parti) In feature productions, and have proven their worth, will ha-e Important roles la Sheridan's picture. Marie Cootb, Myitis Coney and Mary Weston will handle the lesEe>- feminine parts. With tbeacqulsItloBof the n«w directors. Equita- ble expects' to be quite busy during. Qie holiday season. «NATION» FINISHES NEW TORK RUN. The final two weeks of D. W. OrlSth's spectacle. "The Birth of a Nation," is in sight at tbe Lib- erty Theatre, where this work Is approaching the end of the most sensatlonnl. mn ever known to the local stage. It bas been seen by over 700,000 people In Kew Tork wbl-'Ji Is far In excess of any attendance ever establldbed during a° contlnnoos run in this city. This record Is the more anusaol when It Is understood that ten companies ai^e pre- stutlng the. big attraction in other sections of the coustiy. KANSAS EDITOR RAPS CBNSOR8HIF. "There was a need, for censorship of motion pictures and vaudeville acts, for the lewd and vul- gar was creeping into the performances," remarks tbe editor of the Plttsbarg. Ean., /Sun. "Tbe National Board of (Jensorsblp, composed of fift>-one broadmindcd men and women,'should.be EUfllclent however, to guarantee dean pictures, and local censors have shown them'aelves capable of cleansing the vaudeville. But the Kansas board, Trhlch Is composed of a preacher, a.sebool.teacher and an old maid, hos'shownlfself entirely "Incapa- ble of judging the good from the had. Their tiooeheads have become tbe Jest of tbe press and public in tbe State. They have passed a photoplay where a nude woman cavorts through a thousand feet or. more of film, and bar such masterpieces as "Carmen." Could Geraldlne Farrar. a bur. clean, fine woman, and one of tbe world's greatest grand opera stars, afford to risk her reputation with a film that was not presentable? The Mayor of Boston and other prominent men snt by her side w.hen she-viewed the first presentation of her work, and Bostonlans, TTho are famed for their intellectuality and Purl- tanlsnt, made the event a holiday." tncbetf to. the Twentieth Centniy Limited, at the Gxomd Ceotral; New Tork. and' set forth for. Lor: Angeles, where tbe French comedienne will make- be'r screen debut at Ibe Morosco^Paramount studies. Just before boarding her car. Miss Held said : "I . can hardly wait until I get to the studios. 1 have' beard so much about these'wonderful motion picture"Btudjoii. and. have 'seem such marvelous, things on tbe screen that now it really surprises me'when I think that I. hare kept away .from this new' field*so long. I bare brought over a collectluu of'my new gowns, wbli'!i I.will wear la the motion .pictures,-and which represents an outrny of a for- tune.- 'Besides my new go-vns I have brought over a' $25,0(X> Bussinn sable coat and a. $20,000 .ermine cloak Outside of Its otHer qualities I think you will.flsd^my.fllm a,fashion bazaar, .as those clotbes which I have brought to this. countr;;: cannot be duplicated here, and are Just fresh from' my 'mod- Iste'ln Paris." It'ls no dltncqlt mattsr to undcr- atan'd'why .Miss Held'csn afford a queen's werd robe, when one conaldem her income. For one .icoUon' picture -Oliver Morosco' will pay Iier Jro.OOO.' -If you don't believe this Just'-ask Fete cbmid, the Teutonic Tale Teller, and be'a swosr :_to.'lL ~ • ARDEN AN ARDENT ANTIQUE COLKjECTOR. Edwin Arden, the actor, who Is working at 'present in'the world Film Corporation's produc- . tlon of Charles WadswOrth Camp's story, '.'The Oray. Mask,"'has a'wonderful collection of nn- ' tlqnes In bis'home at Forest IIIUs Long Island.' .Mr, Arden has.an old grandfather clock which '. Is two. centuries old. lie has andirons tables, ' prints and chairs which descended from the Purl- ' tan 'days. Mr. Arden'e home was built after his own heart, wlrt'evcrytBln'tf'planned'for comfort and co'nvenl- ence.. It is surrounavd by an English garden. THANHOUSER DENIES STRENUOUSLT AO- ■ VOCACV OF THE NUDE IN PICl'URES. '.The following letter, which refers to an appar- ently incorrectly captioned article carried by sev- eral trade pap<?ra recently, in which Kdwln Than- honser was evidently-misquoted regarding his atti< tude toward sensationalism on tbe screen, was re- ceived: last week at this ofllre. InrldentAlly, while we gladly print Mr, ■Thanhouser's disavowal. It:might be well to mention that this pnper did not 'print tbe article in question. Mr. Thanhouser's letter: - "Mb. 'Babbt Ennis, :. "M. P. Kditob N. Y. Clippeb, N. T. Cim. "Dear Bir —There has .appeared in several of tbe trade' papers an interview with me, which interview has 'l>een wrongly captioned. Insomuch -as'^lt conveys the impreaslun that I advocate the. . nude in' moving pictures. The original caption of this. Interview, as submitted by our publfclty do- 'Pkrtment, was 'Inspiration, a Study In Thanhouscr Ideals.' and any change that tends to create the Impression that I advocate the nude In moving pictures is wrong and should be corrected.' "I ivlBb to state-that I do not advocate tbe nude la moving pictures. I am absolutely opposed to the nude in moving pictures unless it is employed to serve a definite-and unquestioned purpose of artistic end cdurational value: unless It Is em- tilojed In a picture which can properly be c.\- hlbltvd before any audience with perfect propriety. "The fact that our five reel Mutual masterpiece, 'Inspli'atlon,* 'was' viewed and passed on by the National Board of Censorslilp without a single alteration will indicate that it Is an example of the kind I stand sponsor for, and that must speak for itself. Yours very truly, "(Signed) EDWiy Tbaxhouseb." EDMUNDS, KLEINE'S NEW K. C. • - - M.lNAftEU. W. O. Edmunds, formerly manager of George . KIclne's.Los Angeles office, has been sent to Kan- sas City, whcre'he'will assume management of tne Kleisc brtncli In that city. Mr. Edmunds <s one of ^be oldest and best known film salesmen '.n the bilslnws. Me has been associated with Mr, Klelne more . or. less since .1908. .at which time he w:;s manager of tbe Klelne office at Winnipeg, Can. EftUITABLE'S N'EW TORK STUDIO ■ 1 COMPLETED. General Jtanager FelU F. Feist, of tbe Equitable Motldta'IMctares Corporation, this week announced the'Completion of all equipment at the Elqultable's Fllty-second Street studio, and the commencement of work there by three Equitable directors. When Frank Powell, Charles Seay- and -John Ince begin on their productions. Equitable hopes and anticipates optimistically that by Feb. 1 tney will bave at least fifteen flnlahed productions on the shelf and thereby be enabled to diversify their peleapefl. In addition to Powell. Ince, S. E. '7. Taylor and Seay, E. Mason Hopper, Webster CulllsOD, Rdmand Lnm«Bco, Jn<vpli Ciolden and Harrv rallard are bn«(ry engaged on productions at Flashing, Long lolAAd, or nt the Triumph studios In the Bronx. ."■ "rafte permanent .-itare. Muriel Ostriche, Gail {Pane "and Margarita Fischer are either nt work or awaltinir their next vehicle. Miss Kane baa fin- ished 'iTlip LnhyrlRth." Marearlta Fischer Is in the final scenes of "Tbe Dragon," and Marlel O.itrlcbe has Just completed her flr^t Equitable release, "A Daughter of tbe S^>" Now Brandon ROSENTHAL 'WITH ALL FE.4.TURE AGENCY. After fseren years of activity in tbe motion pic- ture affairs of Cbtcngo, Al. Rosenthal has yielded to the call of Broadway and Joined the forces of the All Fe.itiire Rooking Agency, at 71 West Twenty-third Street Starting with tbe 'VirttiniA Amusement Co., of Chicago, in 1908, Mr. Rosenthal was connected vrith tbe socresSsful establishment of the Jefferson, Arch and Virginia Theatres, later managing the Apollo -Theatre for tbe Louise Amusement: Com-, pnn.v. When Warner's Features came into being ne joined forces with tbe Chicago branch of that orcnnizatlon, being one of tbe first feature road men to cover the tcri-ltory of t''e Middle West. From the Wnmer Exchange Al. Rosenthal mbrM to the World ICilm, later becoming identified With' >fetro. He is now receiving a royal welcome from his many Iriends in New York, and meeting f»r the flmt time scores of business aasoclates with whom he has had a phone, wire abd mail acquain- tance for many years. .\NN.4. HELD OFF FOR LOS .INOELES. With a farewell kiss wafted toward Broadway, motion picture and ncwspojitr phototrraphers raaT>- plng her picture, and a host nf friends bidding her. good-bye, -Anna Held boarded her special car, at- LEWIS 'WILL WAKE THINGS UP A BIT IN GAWGAH. ' DlreetoF Edgar Lewis, of the Lubln Company, wl«-h- tats camera men. asslBtants and principal cbarartem of bis "The Great Divide" company, have-left for Georgia, where olotures of a ginnt landslide will -be' taken for thr completion of hlfl picture. A charge of more .'-.hnn seven hundred pounds of-dynamite win be Disced in the side of mountain and exploded for the purpose of re- cording this latest of motion picture thrillers. SEL1G PICTURE- .tCTITITIES TO BE CON- ..FINED TO C.^LIFOnNIA IN FUTURE. - A.'Sellir director, and several star players left Chicago this week for Los Angeles. Cal., where they -will hereafter bo employed at Ibe Sell; Jungle-Zoo. The'party Included T. N. Heffron nnn family,'(Srace D&rmond. and James Bradbury. Mr. Heffron has been producing at the Belig Chi- cago Btadlo. Ml«!< Dannnnd, a Chicago girl, hns achieved a wonrtertul re.:ord during tbe past two years aa a movie star, while Mr.- Bradbnr.v. the comedian. Joined the.Scllg.Company following the closing of "Mollle and I,'' n th».<itrlcal prbtlucHon in Chlcaga' Tbe Chicago btudlos have l>een fem- forarily dosed, and It is the intention of th* cJIb Comp.my to center motion picture proouction in California.