Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

October 21, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 2551 FIRST TWEEDLEDUM RELEASE OCTOBER 9 The title of the first " Tweeledum " release, set for the week of October 9th, is called " Torpedoed by Cupid," a one-reeler, which offers " Tweedledum " a full opportunity to display his powers. Playing the role of a country sweetheart who sees his best girls made love to by two intruding rivals, Tweedledum proceeds to play all manner of tricks upon them and his sweetheart's parents, which' is not a very safe thing to do as the story shows. After climbing a few trees in an automobile, in their wild efforts to elope. Tweedledum and the girls finally take refuge on an outgoing ship, which the fond parents and the disappointed rivals blow up. The lovers, however, are impervious to all such discomforts and drift into shore, wrapped in each other's arms and sitting on a non-sinkable box. Tweedledum is supported by Babette, his wife, known as " Tweedledee," Louise Carver, in character parts, Tom Murray, Rex Adams and Billy Slade. October 16 Is Date Set by Lasky for Its Prize Play 'Witchcraft" Is from Pen of a Physician, WLo, Though Not a Professional Scenario Writer, Prepared Script Which Won Award in Contest HENRY OTTO BOTH ACTOR AND DIRECTOR In addition to preparing the screen adaptation and directing " Big Tremaine," Henry Otto is playing an acting part, which is small, but yet important to the story. It is through his persistency as a money lender, that David is led to steal money from Big Tremaine's money bag, which makes possible the entire story. Before assuming the duties of a director, Henry Otto was considered a good villain. This was while he was with the Selig Company. He played the heavy roles in a numof Harold Lockwood's Selig pictures, and was later promoted to the producing ranks. Before entering the portals of filmland, the Metro-Yorke director was indentified with the speaking stage for nine years. He studied for the priesthood in St. Bernard College in Cullman, Alabama, but gave up his studies to take up a course on the stage. For two seasons he played with Richard Mansfield, was in the original company that produced " The Devil," and appeared in vaudeville with Minnie Seligman in " The Drums of Doom." ONE of the unusual features about the Lasky production, " Witchcraft," which will be released on the Paramount Program on October 16 with its captivating Eannie Ward in the stellar role, is the fact that this is the photodrama which won the prize contest held at Columbia University under the auspices of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company. The author of this intense and unusual drama is Dr. R. Ralston Reed, a physician of Morriston, N. J., and one of the members of the new class in photodramatic at Columbia. Dr. Reed is not a professional writer of scenarios, but his story was held by the judges to be the best example of photodramatic technique among the scores of plays submitted. Professor V. O. Freeburg at Columbia started the class last winter and the cooperation of the Lasky Company was offered in conducting a contest for the best photoplay written during the initial year of the class. William C. De Mille, the celebrated Lasky director, also a Columbia alumnus, who has been actively identified with the picture production, acted as the principal judge and read all the manuscripts submitted. In addition to receiving a substantial sum for the photodrama, Dr. Reed was given a trip to the Lasky studio at Hollywood, at the expense of the company, where he met Fannie Ward, the charming star, and also saw the play in the process of making. The story concerns Suzette and her mother. Huguenot refugees, who take up their residences in one of the New England colonies in 1692 during the frightful' witchcraft reign of terror. The mother falls ill and Suzette enlists the services of Nokomis, an Indian, to assist her. Nokomis is considered a witch and Suzette's mother's delirium strengthens the suspicion. Suzette meets Richard Wayne, ward of the town minister, Makepeace Struble. He accompanies her to her home and is seen by old Struble, who is very angry, as he desires the girl for himself. Struble sends Wayne out of the village ostensibly to join the Governor's staff, but in reality to get him out of the way that he may marry Suzette. He succeeds in convincing Suzette that the only way she can save her mother from persecution as a witch is to marry him. Just after the wedding ceremony, Suzette's mother dies. Nokomis gives the girl a talisman telling her it will make her every wish come true. Upon his return Captain Wayne is thunderstruck that Struble has married Suzette and decides to go away. Struble is brutal to his young wife, and with the talisman in her hand, she tells him he were better dead. Shortly afterwards Struble is taken ill. Suzette learns from Nokomis that the Indians are planning a mutiny and hurries to obtain the assistance of Captain Wayne. In the meantime the old man dies accusing Suzette of having cursed him, and when Suzette returns she is found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to be hanged. Wayne and his men save the colony and he succeeds in reaching the Governor, who arrives in time to save the innocent girl, and puts an end once and for all to the folly of witchcraft. STRONG IS A GRADUATE FROM THE ► SPEAKING STAGE Eugene Strong, who is cast as Robert Clayton, the artist, in the sixteen episode super-serial, " The Crimson Stain Mystery," by Consolidated Film Corporation, was for six years in stock in the West, and then appeared for two years in the leading role of " The Virginian." He appeared in the Paul Armstrong sketch, " To Save One Girl," on a forty weeks' vaudeville tour, supporting Catherine Calvert, Mr. Armstrong's wife. His first big success in motion pictures was as the juvenile in " The Man Inside," in which he supported Edwin Stevens. Olga Olonova is cast for a Russian Vampire in " The Crimson Stain." Birthday Dinner Recently Given in Los Angeles by Douglas Gerrard, Universal Director