Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

f J. 22 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS Real War Pictures Will Be Rarities Correspondent of English Paper Declares That Difficulties Confronting Camera Men are Practically Insurmountable — Might Trail After Armies Later DE MILLE WINS SCREEN REPUTATION Cecil B. De IMille who, since its organization, has been director-general of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company, was one of the first recruits from the "legitimate" to the CECIL B. DE MILLE screen world. Mr. De Mille began about two years ago studying the field of motography, and last December left for Hollywood, Cal., where, in co-operation with Oscar Apfel, he produced "The Squaw Man" for the Lasky Company. J\Ir. De Mille progressed so rapidly that his work on "The Call of the North," the recent Lasky production, stamps him as one of the foremost motion picture directors. RADICAL changes which occurred suddenly and immediately following an interview granted a representative of The Motion Picture News by Charles L. Kiewert, vicepresident of the Charles L. Kiewert Company, importers of the Bio brand, Milwaukee, on the carbon situation, appearing in the issue of August 32, invalidated the statements contained in the report of the correspondent, resulting in considerable regrettable misunderstanding over prices in many ciuarters of the trade. It was stated that the war would not affect prices. On the other hand, the price of carbons has advanced. The conditions governing the increase in the case of the Kiewert Company are due to consignments from the other side being held up at the last minute. The Kiewert Company states that THE difficulties of obtaining pictures of actual scenes in the Belgian zone of hostilities, on account of suspicion of the military authorities, who are in constant fear of spies, have been set forth in a recent article in the "Bioscope." A correspondent of that publication writes that at the outbreak of the war it was worth a man's life to carry a camera. In relating his own experiences in Belgium he said that if his credentials were passed on favorably by the Brussels' authorities, there was still danger from mobs. In the first few days following the declaration of war, to take a picture meant risking death. A camera was looked upon as the outward and visible signs of a spy, and anyone so unfortunate as to be caught far from the protection of the guards was apt to be torn limb from limb. And this "protection consisted of arrest, which might lead later to a quick court martial and execution. A friend of the correspondent was placed under arrest twelve times in one day, regardless of the fact that he had left his apparatus at home. After the panicky feeling of the inhabitants subsided somewhat, permits began to be issued to photographers, but they were not allowed to go beyond the city limits. This was the extent to which the most venturesome and eager cameraman was allowed to go "to the front." three large shipments, which the company expected would help steady the market for some time, at the time the interview was given out, could not be delivered because two steamers were recalled to Hamburg by wireless. The third consignment was shipped on the steamer "President Lincoln," according to advices the company received from the manufacturers in German^', but it was later learned that the steamship arrived in New York without bringing the carbons. Disappointed in not receiving any of the large importations expected by the company, the Kiewert people distributed the supply on hand with equal impartiality, and issued a statement to their customers to the effect that further orders would be filled as soon as any delivery of the three consignments are made by the steamship companies. The correspondent also stated that the English and French authorities were dead set against admitting photographers to the battle lines. Thus pictures of actual fighting are out of the question, but he thinks that eventually camera men might be allowed to trail in the rear of the successful armies. This, however, is only a supposition. Even if a man could slide through the lines, he further declares, expecting to take pictures unnoticed, his bulky apparatus would make it impossible to carry out the plan. His difficulties are greater than the ordinary siill-picture photographer, who with a box small enough for quick concealrnent, might be able to escape undetected. FILM PATIN BON VOYAGE Over one hundred people bid Claude Patin "bon voyage" when he sailed on the S.S. "France," which left New York Wednesday, August 36, for Havre. A motion picture was made of Mr. Patin, bidding good-bye to his friends, which was shown at the Stiand Theatre later. The pilot who escorted the "France" safely out of the harbor was Frank T. Egan; a brother of Agnes Egan Cobb, and he stated the S. L, ROTHAPFEL BIDDING PATIN FAREWELL colors would be dipped for Mr. Patin in his honor. As the "France" pulled out from her dock the crew of an English boat lying alongside cheered the vessel on its way and waved English flags until the steamship was out of sight. Carbon Prices Advanced by War Situation Radical Changes Following "News" Interview with Bio Importer Invalidated the Facts Published in Issue of August 22