Moving Picture World (May - Jun 1918)

vlay 11, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD *,/) Universale Program for May 13 Has No Long Subjects i v ii I...I il ,1... t. t . t»y _ BUD DUNCAN, Appearing in Clover Comedies. rwenty-Seven Features The Tourneur Record l/t AURICE TOURNEUR, who has just VJ. launched his own independent producing corporation, has established n unusual directorial record during his our years in America. Mr. Tourneur's irst independent production, "Sporting ..ife," based on the Cecil Raleigh and Seynour Hicks' famous Drury Lane meloJrama, will be his twenty-eighth Amercan production. Mr. Tourneur came to this country on May 1, 1914, after a distinguished career is a screen director in France with Eclair ind other big Parisian organizations. He Oegan producing late in May for the Vorld Film Company and has been steadily occupied with World Film and ParamountArtcraft ever since. In his forty-six months in America Mr. Tourneur has made twenty-seven productions. This is an average of one production every seven weeks since May, 1914. At the same time Mr. Tourneur's offerings have in no sense been unimportant program offerings or minor photoplays. Univkks \i. branch exchanges throu ..ut the country arc making a drive to reestablish, the popularity of one an. i two-reel subjects as drawing box office attractions. As an experiment as to the propriety of such a move the company in Us releases for tin week of -May 18 has railed t<> list a single long feature. The entire program consist i episodes, comedies, and the usual split reel releases. Several months ago President Laemmle sent out letters to numerous exhibitors throughout "the country to obtain opinion as to tlic value of short subjects as against the costly features. The answers Bhowed a wide diversity of opinion. While ail exhibitors acknowledged that no theater program would be complete without at Last one short subject few of them were willing to admit that any program would be complete without a five-reel feature. Scattered throughout the replies were a few letters from exhibitors who felt that their audiences would be just as well pleased with a program consisting of a one-reel subject, a two-reel subject, a three-reel picture, and a split news reel. President Laemmle feels that the Universal bookings for presentation during the week of May 13 will give some sort of an answer to the short reel question. No matter what the an.-wer may he, Q.OW ever, Universal will continue to peli its spe.ial at I i a.t lo tWO B I The releases for the week of May i:t i ,,t episodes ol ' hi ee ei lala now running. The fifth "Treat I a of "Boj Bcouts to I he ■ ■• has been shipped to all i ' m \ ersal exchanges. The Boston territory is us\uk ten prints of each episode, and are asking toi a resull "t the man ner Hi which the national organization Of the Boy Bcouts has got behind the n mini "The nulls Bye," n 1th Eddie Polo, is in its fifteenth episode entitled "The stained Pace." This serial has but three more weeks to run. Marie Walcamp Is appearing In the seventh episode of "The Lion's Claw." The comedy releases for the week consist of a two-reel L-Ko, a one-reel Nestor entitled "By Heck," featuring Hy Mayer, and a one-reel Star with ESddie Lyons and Lee Moran entitled "The Dodgers," a laugh maker showing how the nimble wits of two young men allowed them to live without any apparent means of support. The remainder of the releases for the week consist of the split-reel subject, the Universal Animated Weekly, Universal Current Events, and Universal Screen Magazine. During his four years in America Mr. Tourneur has been the creator of a number of noteworthy photodramas. Mr. Tourneur produced "The Whip," which has become one of the most important box office attractions of the year, and he is also responsible for Maeterlinck's "The Blue Bird" for Artcraft. He produced "The Rise of Jenny Cushing," "Rose of the World" and "A Doll's House" with Elsie Ferguson. He directed Mary Pickford in several of her biggest successes. Work is now well underway on "Sporting Life." Principal roles will be played by the Binney Sisters, Constance and Freddy; Ralph Graves, Warren Richmond, and others. Constance Binney is now appearing in "Oh, Lady, Lady." Mr. Tourneur has had his company at Lakewood, N. J., for several days, shooting a crosscountry hunt for "Sporting Life." be released through its worldwide distributing company an important statement this week carries the news that Pathe has acquired from the Graphic Film Corporation rights calling for the release of "Moral Suicide," the sensational special picture which has caused much comment. "Moral Suicide" is Ivan Abramson'a dramatic depiction of a life problem, with a cast including John Mason, Leah Baird, Anne Luther, Hazel Washburn, Sidney Mason, Alan Hale, Jack McLean, Claire Whitney, and William Lampe. The release date for "Moral Suicide" has not yet been set. Pathe to Release "Moral Suicide." Following the announcement that under Pathe's new feature policy big productions made by independent concerns would World Pictures Employs 1500 Men in Building Big Set THAT is claimed to be the largest set ever built in West Fort Lee, N. J., was erected there, in record time, in the World Film studios when on Sunday, April 14, working the entire day and until 4 o'clock in the morning, it almost continuously employed 1,500 persons, working with Director Jack Adolfi and a full company for the important forthcoming World production, "The Heart of a Girl." It is scheduled for release July 1. The set occupied the entire indoor stage of World's West Fort Lee studios. Seven hundred chairs, on the ground floor of the set, these roped in in tiers of one hundred each, seated as many persons. The tiered balconies seated a like number. The fluted columns, supporting the balconies, were each made for this particular set in the World studio carpenter shop, where extra help was employed for the occasion. Following the new rule of Studio Manager Mclntyre, no plaster of paris was used in the construction of any of the parts or detail of the set. Every piece was of solid wood, hand carved. All the doors were made solid, so that no vibration was registered in opening, closing or slamming. Five hundred flags were used In decorating the balconies, and seven thousand pieces of literature in the finale of the court scene. Working from 9.30 o'clock Sunday morn ing until 4 o'clock Monday morning, Director Jack Adolfi and his cameraman and captains achieved an unparalleled record in the filming of sixty-one scenes so as to turn over the studio to the various working directors at 9.30 o'clock Monday morning. Irene Vanbrugh in "Masks and Faces." With the appearance of Irene Vanbrugh in "Masks and Faces," a World release set for May 6, all barriers in England between the spoken drama and that of the screen are broken down. It has long been said in England when announcements were made that a famous theatrical star had been engaged for "the cinema," "they will never get Irene Vanbrugh." When all the great stars of England volunteered to make "Masks and Faces" to raise funds for the orphans of actors who died "fighting out there" Miss Vanbrugh did not wait to be asked but hurried a message to the committee telling them "no part was too small, just please let her do her share in the great work." She was given the role opposite Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson, and when the famous picture of fifty stars is seen in this country one will readily understand why Irene Vanbrugh is regarded as the greatest actress in England. Bessie Love Leads Pathe For the Week of May 5 BESSIE LOVE in a delightful comedydrama, "How Could You, Caroline?" the ninth episode of "The House of Hate," "Our Fighting Ally — the Tank," a war thriller, and another laughgetter featuring Harold Lloyd are the headliners of Pathe's program for May 5. Bessie Love is more captivating than ever in her latest comedy drama, "How Could You, Caroline?" adapted from the story by Izola Forrester and Mann Page by Agnes C. Johnston. The story deals with the exciting and amusing adventures of Caroline Rogers, an ultra-romantic school girl at the caramel and noveldevouring age. "Poisoned Darts" is the title of the ninth episode of the exciting and highly successful Pathe serial, "The House of Hate," featuring Pearl White and Antonio Moreno, with a fine supporting cast. "Our Fighting Ally — the Tank" is an interesting war special in line with the numerous other features of this character released by Pathe. The pictures were taken by the Official Government Pictures, Inc., and show the tank "Britannia" being used by the boys of the National Army in their intensive training. "Kicked Out" is the title of Harold Lloyd's new one-reel comedy produced for Pathe by Rolin. In it the inimitable comedian performs a "Julian Eltinge," and appears as a buxom, blithe and debonnair young woman. The comedy woven about the new role is sidesplitting, especially when the "he-hussy" is being wooed by the father of his sweetheart. Hearst-Pathe News Nos. 38 and 39 are released on this program.