Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

252 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14, No. 2 —Ml Jill Film News From Foreign Parts Censorship from Synopses Is Plan in Australia special to Motion Picture News. Sydney, N. S. N., June 1. ON Tuesday evening 24th of May, the Williamson Photoplay house, Theater Royal, was unable to accommodate half of the crowds that were waiting for admission, to view the " Birth of a Nation." On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it was repeated. Under the circumstances therefore the management decided to extend the season for an indefinite period. This was accomplished by taking another copy of the feature out of bond. The people of this city have just begun to realize what a " great " picture they almost missed. The cut in prices of admission had a great deal to do with the falling off in attendance, most people believing that the film was not as good as it was " cracked up to be." Another belief that the J. C. Williamson publicity experts had to fight, was the fact that with perhaps one exception, every picture that has been presented at high prices in the city, has eventually found its way to the smaller suburban houses where the public have witnessed it for less than half the original prices. Apparently they thought the " Nation " would be treated similarly. But as the J. C. W. firm made the definite announcement that the features would not be exhibited in any other theatre in Sydney, the picturegoers thought that they had better get there in a hurry. This probably accounts for the enormous rush on the intended last nights. The picture will now be continued for an indefinite period. " The Chalice of Courage," by Cyrus Townsend Brady, has been widely read in this country, and the appearance of Vitagraph's Blue Ribbon Feature of the same name scored heavily in consequence. This picture, by the way, is the first Blue Ribbon to be screened for a considerable period, but Australasian Films Limited announces that it will be releasing several in the near future, the next being the " Island of Regeneration." " The Two Orphans," a Fox feature with Theda Bara and Jean Sothern, which was orginally intended to re-open the Royal as a continuous theatre on conclusion of the " Nation," was screened at Waddington's Globe and King's Cross recently. Other features include " Fatherhood," Universal, " The Bridge," Metro, " The Golden Lotus," which features Regina Badet, and " Chimmie Fadden out West," Lasky. Fraser Films Limited, which has the sole rights for all Universal-Trans-Atlantic Features, announce that it will shortly be releasing the following pictures : " The White Scar " with Hobart Bosworth, the first Red Feather Feature to appear in Sydney ; " Landon's Legacy " with Warren Kerrigan " ; and also in the near future Anna Pavlowa in " The Dumb Girl of Portici." Pictures featuring Louise Lovely, known in this city as Louise Carbasse, have also been secured by the above exchange. All of the above productions will be screened at the Fraser's own theatre, the Haymarket, which is the only first-run Universal Feature house in Sydney. The " Supreme Test," with Henrietta Crosman, is to be screened shortly at the Haymarket. Triangle Program The Triangle Program once more consists of two Ince-Kay-bee subjects, namely, " Aloha Oe " and " Matrimony." Keystone re-introduces two comedians who were popular here some years ago— Weber and Fields in " The Best of Enemies." It is a curious co-incidence that the trial scene in " Aloha Oe " is almost a replica of the one appearing in a current legitimate attraction "On Trial." Willard Mack will soon be answering a number of letters from Australian " fans " if he appears so regularly in pictures shown here, three in succession, and the above remark is fully justified by the writer having overheard some very complimentary opinions of Mr. Mack. Enid Markey is not the success here — as far as public opinion goes — as she apparently is in America. The Co-Operative Film Exchange of Sydney, following the release of such successful serials as " The Black Box " and " Broken Coin " has announced the release of " The Purple Iris "—which I believe flourished in America as "Under the Purple Crescent." Ola Jane Humphrey, the star of this series, is well-known here, having appeared a few years ago in support of Charles Waldron in " The Squaw Man." Two leading city theatres, the Australian and the Piccadilly, have already booked this short serial, which goes to show that pictures of the kind are still in favor. Chaplin's " Burlesque on Carmen " has been secured by the Clement Mason Company, and will be released very soon. So far no Essanay features have been exhibited in Sydney, in fact there has been a total absence of this brand of pictures for some months back. The increased demand for local subjects has forced the Willoughby Photoplay Company to make extra prints of two subjects, " The Jean D'Arc of Loos " and " The Woman in the Case." The former picture has been given a revival at a city theatre. George Willoughby and a company of players will shortly sail for an adjacent island, where they will make scenes necessary for their pext feature, which is a five reeler by Randolph Bedford, entitled "Pearl of the Pacific." Over 100 will be used in the picture, exclusive of a number of natives. Jean Robertson will play the title role of Pearl. Anyone who has witnessed the " Lily and the Rose," Fine Arts, will soon see that there is nothing of an objectionable nature in this picture, and will therefore be surprised to hear that this feat^ire was recently prohibited from continuing its season at a leading Sydney theatre, by several members of the proposed Board of Censorship. Their act in this direction only goes to show that those responsible for the movement, are not broadminded enough to fulfill the position of regulating the morals of the picturegoing public. Triangle pictures are appearing at no less than five leading city theatres this week. "The Bright Lights," with Mabel, Fatty and Al St. John, is one of the successful comedies at the Empress. This theatre will screen " The Island of Regeneration " next week, and following the conclusion of that feature will be closed down for a thorough overhauling. Australasian Films Limited announces that it will be re-opened at a later date as a first-class feature house, showing only first-run pictures of the best quality. The first of the Paramount-Bray Cartoons, Colonel Heeza Liar in " Colonel Heeza Liar and the Pirates " was screened at the King's Cross theatre. Rivalry for first place in public approval is keen between the " little colonel " (not Henry Walthall) and " Mutt and Jeff." Williams Associated With Crick and Jones J. D. Williams has once more become associated with the picture business in Australia, this time with Crick and Jones. This firm, which released " The Nigger," " Martyrdom of Nurse Cavell " and " Ambition " with Charles Chaplin, announces that it has secured some fine features from prominent producers. The latest of J. C. Williamson's stage successes, " Seven Keys to Baldpate," has been converted into a screen play by that firm. It has not been announced if Fred Niblo has retained his original part. The only member of the cast receiving publicity in connection with the picture is Miss Dorothy Brunton. This young lady^s appearance in pictures will no doubt be hailed with delight, for within the last two years she has made rapid strides in musical comedy, from small parts in the chorus to leads in "High Jinks," "Gipsy Love" and "So ■