Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

August 26, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 1219 Three-Reel Episodes in a Five-Release Serial from Gaumont Through Mutual, Beginning September 7 THE Gaumont Company is to release a series of five " Fantomas " episodes through Mutual. Each is in three reels, making this the first three-reel series ever put out in America. Beginning September 7, one will be released each week. As the stories have already had wide publicity this summer through their publication in a number of leading Sunday newspapers, the Gaumont Company has chosen the most profitable moment possible for their release. The ■■ Fantoma " series is one of thirtytwo book-length novels. Those stories which have appeared this summer have been read by millions in such metropolitan newspapers as the New York World, Pittsburgh Press, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and many others. " Fantomas " has also been a " best seller " in book form. Fantomas, the fantom crook, is the creation of two masters of popular French fiction, Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain. In these photoplays the majesty of the law is represented by one of the greatest detectives ever imagined. Inspector Juve. Some of the greatest artists of France have been called upon to interpret roles in this series. Since it has been some time since _ Gaumont has released any French film in America, exhibitors will welcome the return of such popular artists as Victor Navarre, James Breon, Louis Melchior. Madame Renee Carl and Mile Jeanne Faber from the Comedie Francaise. The pictures will be released in the following order: "The Phantom Crook," "The Man in Black," " The Mysterious Fingerprints," " The Crook Detective," " The False Magistrate." SELIG ANNOUNCES LATE AUGUST RELEASES William N. Selig has announced the releases in General Film Company regular service for the last of August and early September. " Out of the Mist " is a three-part Diamond Special. The players include Fritzi Brunette, Guy Oliver, William Scott, Frank Clark and others. Released Jilonday, August 28. " Tom's Strategy," released Saturday, September 2, is another of the Selig comedy Western series featuring Tom Mix. A real live bear figured in this action and falls a victim of a bullet. " His Brother's Keeper," written by I. K. Friedman, will be released as a three part drama by the Selig Company in General Film regular service on Monday, September 4. The cast includes such sterling players as Leo Pierson, Edward J. Piel, Eugenie Besserer, Fritzi Brunette, and Harry Lonsdale. " Taming Grouchy Bill " will be released Saturday, September 9, in the Tom Mix Western comedy series. BLANCHE SWEET HAS NEW KIND OF ROLE IN LASKY PICTURE Blanche Sweet in " Public Opinion " will be a Laskj' release on the Paramount Program, August 17. Written especially for the star by Margaret Turnbull, the photoplay, among its novelties, contains a visionary character almost throughout its entiret}'. Miss Sweet has been seen in Lasky productions as a ragamuffin, a member of a royal Russian household, a maid-of-all-work, and anarchist and now in " Public Opinion " she appears as a profession nurse on trial for murder. How a sensational newspaper report prejudices the mind of the public against this young woman w'ho is absolutely innocent of all wrong, and how her whole future happiness is jeopardized by what is supposed to have been one false step, is shown in a gripping and entertaining manner. Miss Sweet is surrounded by a cast including such plavers as Earle Foxe, Edythe Ch apman, Elliott Dexter, Tom Forman and Raymond Hatton. NOVELTY AND COMEDY FROM VITAGRAPH STUDIO During the week of August 21 Vitagraph will release two one-part photoplays on the General Film Program. A comedy from the Bay Shore studio called " Did He or Did He Not?" and a decorative playlet from the Coast Division entitled " The Yellow Girl." are the pictures listed. In "Did He or Did He Not?" William Lytell, Jr., plays the part of Adam Bluffer, an office clerk, with whom work is as agreeable as a visit from a bill collector. Besides Mr. Lytell, Director Frank furrier employed the services of Shirley Moore, Dorothy Lang, Florence Natol and Ralph Vvhiting in the production of the picture. " The Yellow Girl " was designed and produced by Edgar Keller with a cast of Vvestern Vitagraphers that includes Webster Campbell, Carmen Phillips, Corinne Griffith, Florence Vidor and Alva D. Blake. "HER FATHER'S SON" IS VIVIAN MARTIN PICTURE TO FOLLOW "STRONGER LOVE" Immediately following the release of " The Stronger Love," Vivian jNIartin's initial production under the Morosco banner on the Paramount Program, the West coast producers announce that work has been commenced on Miss Martin's new subject, entitled " Her Father's Son." The second vehicle is a drama of heart interest by Anna Fielder Brand and deals with the period in the south just prior to the civil war. William D. Taylor, director of " Pasquale," " The American Beauty," " Davy Crockett " and many other Paramount successes, is staging the new IMartin subject. Supporting Miss Martin is another typical Morosco cast including such players as Herbert Standing, Alfred Vosburgh, Helen Jerome Eddy, Joe ]\Iassey, Jack Lawton, Lucille Ward and Tom Bates. Homer Scott is supervising the camera work. Lonesome Luke anH Bebe Daniels in a Rolin Comedy GAUMONT HAS THREE SINGLES FOR AUGUST 27 No photodrama will be released from the Gaumont studios the week of August 27, since "The Mystery of the Riviera" will be shown August 24, and the "Fantomas " series does not begin until September 7. However, there will be three Gaumont single-reels which will see the screen this week as Mutual pictures. The first will be " Reel Life," the Mutual Magazine in Film, with an entertaining series of views of Boy Scout life. This is called " The Oath of a Boy Scout." There is also a Gaumont tabloid photodrama from an episode taken from " Life," the national humorous magazine. It features Miss Iva Shepard and John Hopkins; m one of the " What Would You Do If—"' scries. This one asks the question, " What would you do if you had prepared for a dozen dinner guests and then discovered that you had not sent out invitations ? " ■' See America First " for August 30 will take _ spectators "North of Boston." The previous week there were views of quaint Cape Cod, and now the Gaumont cameraman has visited interesting spots along tlie coast north of the Hub. There are pictures of Lynn, Salem, Gloucester, and many other places. On the same reel is one of Flarry Palmer's ludicrous Gaumont Kartoon Komics. The third reel of the week is The Mutual Weekly. NEW MILITARY STORY FOR WESTERN VITAGRAPH William Wolbert has just started a fivereel picture of another of James Oliver Curwood's stories. This one calls for military settings in Arizona and the Philippines. Corinne Griffith, who has played lead in many recent Vitagraph pictures, has been prevailed upon to break in on her honeymoon to take an important part in Mr. Wolbert's new feature and gives the finishing touch to the following cast: Mary Anderson, William Duncan, Otto Lederer, Corinne Griffith, Jack Mower and George Kunkel.