Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

20 EXHIBITORS HERALD D. W. GRIFFITH MAKES FILM FOR U. S. TO BE SHOWN THROUGHOUT RUSSIA Fifty Prints Made for Exhibition in Theatres of New Republic Showing People Earnestness of America in War Through the medium of motion pictures, the 150,000,000 people of Russia are to be taught that the United States is in earnest in the war, and at the same time expose the lies German agents have been spreading throughout Russia. Under the supervision of David Wark Griffith, who placed his organization at the disposal of the government, and at his own expense as a volunteer effort, a film has been prepared and now is on its way to our allies across the water, showing what the United States is doing toward making ready to throw its power and resources into the great conflict. Fifty Prints for Russia Fifty copies of the film have been made, which will be shown in every motion picture theater in Russia, as well as to the millions of soldiers and sailors battling against the German Emperor and his plan to destroy democracy. The scenes of the picture are laid in every part of the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Canada to the Rio Grande. Views of the war resources of the United States are given, from the vast agricultural stretches of the Central States, which the Russian peasant can so readily understand, to the great iron and steel mills and munition plants, our tremendous financial resources, our naval power, and the big armies which are being raised and equipped for the battlefields of Europe. Film Has a Story A story has been woven around an imaginary visit of Ivan, a Russian peasant, to the American republic, as a guest of the people. He sees with his own eyes, all the resources which we are anxious and ready to use in the coming fight with the Russian people against the Empire of Germany. Ivan is shown in the steel mills, munition plants and automobile plants at Detroit, turning out airplanes for the Russian battle front. What the United States has accomplished in the first five months of the war is made clear to him. He sees Secretary of the Treasury signing a loan of $100,000,000 to Russia and views of the subtreasury in New York, where $7,000,000,000 in gold bullion awaits the need of war. Interwoven in the picture is the life of Abraham Lincoln, the most nearly universal of American heroes. "DOING HER BIT" TITLE OF MARGARITA FISCHER'S NEW AMERICAN FILM "Doing Her Bit" is the name of Margarita Fischer's new picture, at which she is hard at work. It was specially written for her and contains many of the artistic locations for which the American company is famous. PARALTA SIGNS DIRECTOR REGINALD BARKER CIRCUIT GETS PETROVA FILMS (Continued from Page 18) result of our previously announced policy of 'Big Pictures for Big Exhibitors.'" On July 15th Superpictures Distributing Corporation made the following statement to exhibitors: "We are going to put our money — just as much as is needed— into big pictures for big exhibitors. And we are going to be satisfied with a fair, moderate profit on each production. We'll deal with you direct — with one of you or several of you — for all the rights to all the pictures we handle. We'll put our money into the pictures you and we believe in. We'll spend our money in publicity. We'll get behind the picture with all the strength our organization can com"mand. To Follow Policy Closely "This is precisely what we have done: On August. 12 we announced that the first of the Big Pictures for Big Exhibitors would be Madame Petrova in a ROBERT T. NALD VhN '-, V,1';,1 KKSI"KNT OI' ' ARAL TA PLAYS, SHAKING HANDS WITH REGIBAKkER, THE DIRECTOR, AFTER THE LATTER SIGNED A CONTRACT TO BECOME BESSIE BARRISCALE'S DIRECTOR (Paralta Plays) MME. OLGA PETROVA (Head of Petrova Pictures Co.) series of special productions produc , by the Petrova Picture Company, tj distribution of which would be in t hands of Superpictures Distributing C j poration. Since that announcement, have been approached by the heads substantially all the leading distribut organizations in this country, and h : received offers for these pictures financial terms that were as flattering^ Madame Petrova as they would hf been tempting to us had it not been our announced policy of dealing, wll ever possible, with the exhibitors dirj "Therefore, the arrangement by wlj the Petrova pictures will be shown in the leading houses through the ctl try and later handled in each sectiorj a man known throughout that sectioj its leading exhibitor is not only a gif fying but an entirely natural outgrcl of the policy announced by us."