Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

X H I B O R H R D "THE EAGLE'S EYE" STARRING KING BAGGOT AND MARGUERITE SNOW NOW BEING FILMED Serial Written by Wm. J. Flynn of the Secret Service to Be Produced by the Whartons and Distributed by Hoffman — Foursquare During the past ten days the Whartons have been busily engaged in filming the opening episodes of their new serial, "The Eagle's Eye," written by William J. Flynn, chief of the United States Secret Service, starring King Baggot and Marguerite Snow, which will be distributed through M. H. Hoffman, Inc., Foursquare Exchanges. Scenes about New York city, in which the representatives of the Imperial German government figure socially, have been taken, including the reproduction of the famous U. S. Naval Ball, which was held at the Hotel Ansonia in 1915, just prior to President Wilson's review of the Atlantic fleet. This big affair was staged in the ball room of the Ansonia between 12:30 and 4 a. m., and was declared by several of the guests who had attended the original festivities to be an exact duplicate of the scene am;d which the Kaiser's agents added the finishing touches to one of their most ambitious and daring conspiracies. The cast of "The Eagle's Eye" is now practically complete, and in addition to King Baggot and Miss Snow, who will appear as the hero and heroine, Harrison Grant, Dixie Mason, John P. Wade. William N. Bailey, Paul Everton and Bertram Marburgh have been signed to fill important roles. George A. Lessey, well known as a stage and motion picture director, is handling the preliminary work under the personal supervision of Theodore W. Wharton. Through the influence of Chief Flynn, access has been secured to locations that are now absolutely closed to other picture concerns, while excellent discretion is being used in the filming of scenes showing shipping and other activities of vital import in the conduct of the war. ''No type of stage or fiction hero has proven more popular than the adventurous, polished figure about whom radiates the suggestion of law-breaking requiring daring and composure," said L. Lawrence Weber, president of the newly formed L. Lawrence Weber Photodramas, to a Herald representative, speaking of his recently completed "Raffles" film play featuring John Barrymore. "Two of the biggest moneymaking plays of the past generation, plays that netted greater box office receipts than any plays of their time were 'Captain Swift' and 'Jim, the Penman.' Two of the greatest stage successes of this generation, evidenced by box office receipts transcending those of any plays paralleling their period, were 'Alias Jimmy Valentine' and 'Raffles,' the latter, the E. W. Hornung social highwayman whom Eugene Presbrey transplanted to the Exhibitors who book "The Eagle's Eye" can be assured of several thousand feet of film containing news interest that will not be duplicated by any other production on the market, it is said. Courtney Ryley Cooper, one of the MARGUERITE SNOW Star of Wharton Serial most successful of contemporary short story writers, is making the screen version of Chief Flynn's expose of the Imperial German government's propaganda and espionage in the United States. stage and that Kyrle Bellew so fascinatingly depicted. "It is the fact that this type of hero is irresistible to the average reader and playhouse patron and that 'Raffles' was the one big stage success of the type that hadn't been screened that induced me to make it the initial production of the new screen corporation that my name standards. "I selected John Barrymore for the title role because of his intense quality and his personal reflection of the intensity that the part requires. I was further moved in making young Barrymore the hero because of the fact that his father in a similar role, 'Captain Swift,' was the rage of a former generation. "Every one is telling me it is the best detective and criminal film play of the year. Personally I feel it is the most gripping social highwayman drama so far screened and I have seen them all." FOX ENDS BIG YEAR (Continued from page j6) Some Important Productions One of the most important of Mr. Fox's achievements during the year was the inauguration of the series of photodramatic spectacles, such as "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Aladdin," with Francis Carpenter and Virginia Le Corbin. These plays were of a type new to the cinema world and their advent was well received. Twenty-seven stars were on the William Fox lists in the last twelve months. Of those still with the organization, George Walsh and Virginia Pearson appeared in the most features — eight each. June Caprice had the leading role in seven, William Farnum and Gladys Brockwell in six each, and the others range from five down to one for Sonia Markova and Jewel Carmen, whose initial starring vehicle, "The Kingdom of Love," is to be published on December 23. "The Honor System," the second of the Standard Pictures, is said to have been one of the most successful Fox productions of the year. "Melting Millions," a Fox Special Feature, introduced George Walsh in "stunt" capacities and "Two Little Imps" was the beginning of the fame of Jane and Katherine Lee. Pictures to Come Theda Bara, under the direction of J. Gordon Edwards, was seen in seven productions during the year, and also one picture, "Cleopatra." which has not been published, but which has had a long run at the Lyric Theatre in New York. This is generally conceded by critics to be the most spectacular feature in which Miss Bara has been seen, as well as the masterpiece of Director Edwards' career. William Farnum in "Les Miserables," directed by Frank Lloyd, is another completed production wh'ch has not been publ'shed, but which is to be shown at the Lyric. The addition of this picture and "Cleopatra" to the Fox productions which have had public showings this year would bring the total to 108 and make the average output one picture every eighty-one hours. DIRECTORS TO HOLD BALL ON JANUARY 26 At a meeting of the Motion Picture Directors' Association it was decided to hold their ball at the Biltmore Hotel on January 26. It is to be strictly an invitation affair. Wally Van has been chosen chairman of the entertainment committee and Maurice Tourneur is in charge of the decorations. At the next Directors' Association meeting, December 18, S. L. Rothapfel is to read an article on "The Exhibiting of Pictures." Arrow Film to Sell "Eyes of the World" W. E. Shallenberger, president of the Arrow Film Corporation, has completed a deal with W. H. Chine of the Clune Productions, Los Angeles, for the marketing of "The Eyes of the World" and "Ramona" in all unsold territory. Robt. W. Priest, who is associated with Mr. Shallenberger in the state rights business, is laying out the sales and advertising campaign. "Raffles," Greatest of Stage Crook Plays Makes Ideal Film Declares Producer Weber 38