Motion Picture Mail (October 28, 1916)

"CT0BER 28, 1916. MOROSCO-PALLAS SIGNS BEBAN AND CRISP George Beban, the character actor, has signed a long term contract with Morosco-Pallas and left New York last week for the studios of these companies in Los Angeles. The engagement of Mr. Beban was eftected by Jesse L. Lasky, vice-presi- dent of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, and marks the first stel- lar addition to the Famous Piay- ers-Lasky-Morosco-Palias companies since their combination announced re- cently. Since Mr. Beban’s last appearance on the screen in the Oliver Morosco subject “Pasquale,” many requests have been received from Paramount exhibitors and patrons throughout the country for his reappearance on the program. The initial Beban production under the new contract will be an Italian cnaracter subject written by himself in collaboration with Lawrence Mc- Closkey. Other subjects of different Latin types will follow. Shortly after Mr. Beban signed his name on the dotted line, Donald Crisp, who has been connected with D. W. Griffith in an advisory capac- ity for many years, was engaged to supervise the production of all the Beban photoplays. Mr. Crisp is prominently known as director of many big subjects, including "Ra- mona.” Accompanying the star on his transcontinental trip is John Clymer the photoplay author, who has been engaged to collaborate exclusively with Mr. beban on all his future productions. Just before departing Mr. Beban lowered the blinds of his drawing room windows and advised his friends that there would be no scenery gazing during the trip, as he and Mr. Clymer would immediately commence to work on ideas for his forthcoming plays for the Paramount Program. A big gathering of motion picture and theatrical celebrities was at the Grand Central depot to see him off including Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Pierce, Lawrence McCloskey. J. Parker Reed, Jr., and a delegation from the Friars’ Club, who sang the Friars’ anthem as the train pulled out. Mrs. Beban accompanied her husband. THEODORE MARSTON DIRECTS “GREED” Having completed his direction of the McClure play, “Sloth,” of which Charlotte Walker is the star, Theo- dore Marston is now directing "Greed,” another play of the McClure series, “Seven Deadly Sins,” in which Nance O’Neill is starring. Mr. Marston, in his previous con- nections with Pathe Freres, Kinema- color and Vitagraph, was unusually successful in photographing the curb market without having his scenes marred by those curb brokers who take special delight in causing a di- rector trouble. His experience in such scenes is being utilized by him in the filming of ‘‘Greed,” in which crowds are depicted pursuing their passion for wealth in the atmosphere of metropolitan financial circles. ART ACORD WITH FOX. Art Acord, the cowboy hero of the “Buck Parvin Series” of photoplays, has signed with William Fox. The man who holds championships in almost everything in which a cow- boy competes, is at work in one of the Fox studios in New Jersey, play- ing opposite Gladys Coburn in the latter’s second photoplay. Mr. Acord has won paraphernalia enough in various competitions through the west to stock a caravan load. At the Stampede, recently held at Sheepshead Bay, he took six firsts and one second out of the eight events in which he was entered. His prizes totaled four belts, a loving cup and $ 1 , 800 . SELZNICK^j>PICTURES i NEXT RELEASE HERBERT BRENON Presents NAZIMOVA IN “WAR BRIDES” By MARION CRAIG WENTWORTH MOTION PICTURE MAIL. Norma Talmadge in “Pantkea” “Panthea,” the drama presented some time ago by Mme. Olga Petrova, has been chosen as the vehicle for Norma Talmadge in the first of her Selznick-Picture productions. It bad been announced that Miss Talmadge would be presented at.the head of her own producing company in a film version of David Graham Phillips's novel, “The Price She Paid,” but Joseph M. Schenck, president of the Norma Talmadge Film Corpora- tion, succeeded last week in obtaining motion picture rights to "Panthea,” and at once decided to use this drama for his initial presentation of the young film star. In "Panthea,” Miss Talmadge will be presented in a role different from anything she has heretofore attempt- ed. The central character in this drama is that of a young Russian singer who escapes to England under the surveillance of Russian secret po- lice and an accusation charging her with being a nihilist. She marries an unknown but ambitious composer and, for his sake, enters into a liaison with an elderly roue who has great influence in musical circles. The great climax of the story comes when Panthea’s lover refuses to live up to his agreement with her and she kills him. The story closes with Panthea’s arrest and extradition to Russia, where she is sentenced to Siberia. Allan Dwan will direct the produc- tion. The play was written by Monck- ton Hoffe. Tile rights to “The Price She Paid” were purchased by Lewis J. Selznick from the Phillips estate for Miss Talmadge and this story will prob- ably be her second Selznick picture production. Miss Talmadge will begin work on “Panthea” next week. Director Dwan has already engaged the greater part of the cast. Miss Talmadge was with the Vita- graph Company for five years. Re- cently she has been appearing in Tri- angle productions. None of the younger directors in the Page 13. motion picture industry has attained a more enviable reputation than Allan Dwan, who will have complete charge of all of Miss Talmadge’s future pro- ductions. Mr. Dwan was the director of four of the most successful Doug- las Fairbanks pictures, namely, “Man- hattan Madness,” “The Habit of Hap- piness,” “The Half Breed” and “The Good Bad Man.” WORKING FOR WAR PICTURES. An active committee to exploit the Triangle film, “Our American Boys in the European War,” was formed this week while Capt. A. Piatt Andrew, head of the American Ambulance Field Service was in the city. Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt is chairman. Anne Morgan brings with her the efficient corps of “The Amer- ican Fund for French Wounded,” Elizabeth Marbury is general director, and Nanon Toby, publicity manager. Working with the committee are Henry Sleeper, of Boston; Joseph B. Thomas and M. M. Palmer, represen- tatives of the field service. Winnifred Greenwood, the Mutual (American) star, is writing a book on “Temperament.” INTERN A TIO NAL am a In the “Adven- tures of Dorothy Dare” the motion picture world has something absolute- ly new. It is a high-class fashion show, the season’s latest modes, with a plot, a story, a vivid drama com- bined in one rich, classy reel of beauty and action. Released Nov. 14. >!*««* >♦»«* «:sf! IflilS