The Film Daily (1919)

iM% DAILY IN THE COURTS Arthur Ziehm, formerly a member of the United States Cavalry, now engaged in the exportation of films and moving picture paraphernalia to South America and the Orient, has filed suit in the Supreme Court for $50,000 damages from William R. Hearst and the San Francisco Examiner, and because his attorney has been unable to serve the papers on Mr. Hearst personally Justice Hendrick gave permission for the papers to be left at his residence, 137 Riverside Drive. The plaintiff alleges that he has always borne a good reputation here and in London, Paris, Manila, San Francisco and elsewhere and with the War Department, and that in the fall of 1916 he was honorably discharged from the army at Manila and got transportation to this country on the transport Logan as was his right. He came to Xew York to enter the motion picture business and while engaged in an important negotiation with a large film manufacturer the San Francisco Examiner published an article stating that he was one of a number of Germans who had got transportation from Manila to this country on transports in an improper manner. Ziehm alleges that he has always been loyal to this country, and that' the article did irreparable damage. The Octagon Films Inc. has filed suit in the Supreme Court against Harry Grossman to restrain him from se'ling, assigning or otherwise disposing of 300 shares of the Octagon company's stock. Supreme Court Justice Hendrick has granted a temporary injunction restraining Grossman from disposing of the stock pending a decision in the case. Albany, N. Y.— The Court of Appeals has reversed judgment and granted a new trial in the case of Celie G. Turner a motion picture actress against the Crystal Film Corp. This was an appeal from a judgment of the First Appellate Division reversing a judgment of the New York Trial Term of $4,000 and dismissing the complaint. The action was brought to recover damages for an accident April 4, 1914. while performing as a motion picture actress near Mount Vernon. Preparing Bill (Special to WW'S DAILY) Albany, N. Y. — Representatives of the motion picture interests have arrived at the Capitol and are expending their efforts to secure the passage of a bill at this session of the Legislature providing for the legalizing of motion picture exhibitions on Sundays. According to reports the bill will be in form for introduction in both branches of the Legislature about Feb. 1. Make haste slowly. — Ben]. Franklin. Friday, January 10, 1919 Weak Comedy Doesn't Register, Star Ha.* Conventional Role Vivian Martin in "JANE GOES a-WOOING" Paran.ount DIRECTOR weorge Melford AUTHOR Ed.tn Kennedy SCENARIO BY Edith Kennedy CAMERAMAN Paul Perry AS A WHOLE Doesn't impress; too artificial to get oiT. of class of convention -.1 "movie" stuff. STORY Makes stab at humor and pathos, but is generally weak and unconvincing. DIRECTION Crrrect enough without bringing much inspiration to bear on difficult material. PHOTOGRAPHY Poor in spots; a number of scenes hazy. LIGHTINGS Frequently too uniform, or chalky on players' faces. CAMERA WORK Passable. STAR Rather colorless in role that has marked limitations. SUPPORT Niles Welch lack'ng in emotional expression; Spcttiswoode Ai':ken pives conventional interpretation of crotchety old millionaire. EXTERTORS None to speak of. INTERIORS Properly furnished. DETAIL A few good bits showing the McKenzis twms; httle to attract special attention. CHARACTER OF STORY ......It may bore, but it can't offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4383 ft. This is such a spineless sort of story that it doesn't register anything in particular. It's iust flabby "movie'' stuff, with nothing really new in the way of plot or characterization, and lacks the little touches that sometimes put across a picture which is deficient in substance. The treatment isn't expert enough to lift the story out of the rut. For a basic theme, the author took the familiar situation of a wealthy, irritaMe o'd codger w^o hasn't much use for bis money-spending nephew. Before he dies he is determined »o wri'e a play and to assist him in this be advertises for a hard-working stenographer. Vivian Martin gets the job. . The one unusual feature of the plot concerns Vivian's adopting twins whose father has deserted them. Be l^lZr \ ,:Cd fun,ds ??"'' Permit increasing her I ousel od expenses, the girl places the children in an orphan asylum] rejecting the offer of marriage froK Casson berguscn, a humble but persistent suitor. With her first week r. pay V.vian gets the kids out of the asylum and gn*s them a hone in her litt e flat. Scenes introducing the youngsters provide some of the few rca'ly human r ck'ents in th* picture The other angle of the p' ., with Niies Welch as the hero, traces scniewhat SKCtchily his luke-warm love affair with a young society woman who wants to marry him and share in the fortune which she believes Niles is due to receie. This element of the story is never made to carry cenvic'ion and duri"g the first reels the chief interest centers in the characterization of Fpottiswood Aitken who. between outbursts of rage, dictates his play to the little stenographer. Before it is completed be die=, having left a will givall of his fort"ne to Vivian, wi'h the stipu'ation t^at whatever is nces=ary shall be devoted to the completion a"d p-od ction of the play. It happens that the surprisingly unselfish young woman has taken a fancy to the ''ejected nephew and, continuing to live her life quite as though she had not suddenly acquired millions, Viviai puts through a scheme by which the youth becomes a tenant of t''e bouse she occupies. Niles finds a jcb and is getting along quite contentedly in his humble quarters when it develops that there is still a chance pf his rega:nhg the fortune, which ii reason enough (or his society sweetheart to return and st that they marry as originally p'anned. attempt at pathos which doesn't get over very successfully, c^o"-s the Fttle steno •ra-^rr's erief at t1'"* nrn;pe-t of losing the man who has come to typify her ideal of romance. Of course in the end, the play having been produced ?-,\ \,Pr rj-rbt to the fortu " ^a'-jigr been esr-'-'i-hed. Vivian makes the heroic sacri'ice to be expected of t. r>erfectly po~d sh°ro, by destroying tue will and al lowing Ni'es to have his uncle's money. She a'^o de cides that be isn't very much of a man after all */*£« that for life companionship she prefers the good nata ed crudity of Casson Ferguson. In the cast arc Herbert Standing, Helen Dunbar, and Byrdine Zuber. Pass it Through Quietly For There Isn't Anything to Brag About Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor. You've got to expect a weak one now and then and if you're tied up to a regular program there is little to do but snvle and make the best of it, figuring on getting something particularly good on succeeding days in order to keep up the reputation of your house. If you're catering to regulars and don't feel that you can afford to make promises that won't be earned out. I'd go very easy on this ore and trust to the loyalty of Vivian Martin admirers, who may be satisfied with her even if there's nothing in the story to arouse any enthusiasm. , , Although Edith Kennedy has written a number of scenarios for Miss Martin, Lila Lee and others, her name can't be expected to signify much to the average fan who remembers players but doen't bother much about the others concerned in a production. > As long as yon can't bank on the reputation of the uthor, or the publicity attaching to an adaptation of a authc well known book or stage play, there's nothing to\ boost except the star's name linked up with the titles of photoplays in which she has gained a reputation. Miss Martin's list inclines "Lifle Miss Optimist, "The Sunset T;ai'," " The Trouble Buster," "Molly^ Entangled" and "The Fair Barbarian." Niles Welch doesn't appear to particular advantage in this, but he is recognized as a more than ordinarily popular leading man and -on that account it would b< wise to give him liberal mention in your publicity. Possible catch'ines might read: "She looked for ro-| mance and fount it in a flat. If you don't believe that] wealth may be a poor substitute for happiness. «ee Vivian Martin in 'Jane Goes aWooing.*" Another one. "Don't iudge a man by his manners. Vivian Martin tried it in 'Jane Goes aWooing* and almoat^ got fooled." Look Out For This Man. Harry Rapf calls attention to the fact that a "Mr. Ferguson" is offering for sale, a five reel feature entitled "Wanted For Murder." This p cture which ran at the Broadway is being handled by Mr. Rapf and he is taking steps to stop the deception. Adopt Resolutions. New York State Local No. 1, Motic: Picture Exhibitors League of Amciic. have forwarded resolutions of condolence to the widow of Col. Theodor. Roosevelt and have ordered the flag a half mast on all their theaters. Joe Merrick, has been promoted from Pacific Coast supervisor for exhibitors' Mutual to assistant sales manager with headquarters in New York. The first thing he did when promoted was to go to Pittsburgh to see how the film exchange fire had affected Exhibitors" Mutual. — _