Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

255^ M O T I O N P I C T U R E N E W S Vol. 14. No. 16 "SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE" (Triangle-Ince — Five Reels) REVIEWED BY PETER MILNE WRITTEN by the late Richard Harding Davis, " Somewhere in France" possesses a certain air of adventure, mystery and fascination that is not often found in five-reel subjects. We should say offhand, merely for the sake of comparison, that it equals the previous Ince war picture, " Shell-43," in every way. If we remember correctly, " Shell 43 " was unanimously acclaimed one of the best of the Triangle-Ince releases. And as in that previous release, " Somewhere in France " contains no shrieking, tearing battle scenes. It is about spies— the spies furnish all the fight that is necessary. Mr. Davis' story has been given a very good production. J. G. Hawkes did the scenario, and did a good one. The story moves swiftly from start to finish, is developed clearly, and brings to a close with a good surprise. Charles Giblyn in the directing has provided convincingly realistic foreign scenes, and the types presented in the cast are excellent. The camera work is Dal Clawson's, and as such needs no further comment. Marie Chaumontel, a German spy, steals valuable papers from her lover, Henry Ravignac of the French army, with the result that he is disgraced. Sooner than suffer years of imprisonment, he takes his own life. His brother, Charles Ravignac, resolves to avenge his downfall. So he enters the German secret service and works hand in hand with Marie, at the same time informing his own side of the German movements. In the end, of course, he causes the arrest of Marie and receives all sorts of honors for his own clever work. There is something of a tendency to keep the identity of Charles Ravignac a secret after he has become a spy by covering the face of the actor who plays the role, Hoard Hickman, with a green eyeshade. This does not, however, fool the observer much. Mr. Hickman gives a likable performance in this role, while Louise Glaum as the adventuress-spy plays well, although accentuating the former qualities of her role sometimes at the expense of the latter. Jerome Storm does a fine bit as Henry Ravignac, and others are Joseph J. Dowling, Fanny Midgley, George Fisher and Carl Ullman. "THE WAR BRIDE'S SECRET" (Fox— Six Reels) REVIEWED BY E. DRAW THIS picture has an exceptionally strong dramatic story, with a wide appeal. It depicts the secret marriage of a young Scotch lass to her soldier lover, who is about to leave for the front. Later news reaches the villages that her husband has been killed in action, and Jean, who has shared the secret of her marriage with her mother, realizes that the babe must have a father, she therefore marries Robin, an old farmer. Later news is received that Jean's husband has not been killed but is just recovering from his wounds. When Colin returns home it becomes very obvious to Robin that Jean has not forgotten her old love, so he decides to go away and leave her in peace and happiness with Colin. Virginia Pearson, as Jean, will please, as her acting is strong and convincing. Walter Law is excellent, rendering quite the best interpretation of his career. His make-up was perfect and one could feel that he was indeed a Scotchman. Glen White, as Colin, and Stuart Sage, as Jean's brother, were both were good in their respective roles. No small praise is due to Kenean Buel, who directed the production. He succeeded in securing the correct atmosphere, color and touch of human nature. There is a wealth of detail and comedy in this picture which will be highly appreciated by any audience. JUAN LAHOUD BUYS FOURTH CAMERAGRAPH SENOR JUAN LAHOUD, of Caracas, Venezuela, son of the most prominent motion picture exhibitor in that country, has just purchased his fourth Powers' Cameragraph, to be installed in one of his father's theatres in that country. Mr. Lahoud is a large purchaser of films, and other motion picture accessories, and has recently made shipment of a number of the latest American features and of one of the large serials. Mr. Lahoud is himself an actor of ability, and at the present time is endeavoring to arrange a test with a large producing com pany here with a view of appearing on the screen in this country. Aside from speaking Spanish perfectly, he speaks English and French fluently, and is the author of several scenarios of merit, which he has been successful in placing. Arthur J. Lang, of the Nicholas Power Company, is the live wire who helped Mr. Lahoud in securing the films and accessories he recently purchased. ARROW CAMERAMAN OLD HAND IN BUSINESS HENRY CRONJAGER, chief camera man of the Arrow Film Corporation, is one of the real veterans of the motion picture business. For the last twenty years photography has been his profession. In Cronjager's early days in New York he worked for noted portrait photographers, which gave him a thorough practical knowledge in the various branches of his profession. When the Edison company built its Bronx studio, Frank L. Dyer, then president of the company, engaged Cronjager as Edison's first cameraman. He stayed with that company five years, working and traveling with their best directors throughout the United States, Cuba and Canada. After his Edison engagement Cronjager went to Biograph, where he photographed the big Klaw & Erlanger six-reel productions, such as " Lord Chumley " and "The Road to Yesterday." Two years after Cronjager joined the Biograph staff, he was engaged by C. J. Hite of Thanhouser. He remained with Mr. Hite until W. H. Shallenberger, president of the Arrow company, secured his services. WELL-KNOWN CRITIC VISITS METRO-YORKE STUDIO GRACE KINGSLEY, the Pacific Coast critic, who has become almost as well known as Alan Dale, for her frank reviews, which appear in the Los Angeles Times, visited the studio last week, accompanied by Seymour Tally, owner of the large theatre, bearing the same name. The two visitors were guests of Harold Lockwood and May Allison, who were at that time appearing in scenes from " Big Tremaine," the Yorke adaptation of Marie Van Vorst's novel. After the sightseeing tour of the studio was over, General Manager Fred J. Balshofer and Director Henry Otto invited them into the Metro projection room, where completed scenes of "Big Tremaine " were exhibited. In these scenes appeared Harold Lockwood, May Allison, Lester Cuneo, Lillian Hayward and the balance of the supporting cast. BIG CROWD AT OPEMNG OF NEW THEATRE ON PARK ROW ON Saturday, September 30, at twelve o'clock noon, the doors of the "City Hall" theatre. 31 Park Row. New York, were opened to the public. The building cost sixty thousand dollars, and is built on property valued at sixty thousand dollars. The Reliable Contracting Company, of 230 Grand street. New York City, are the owners. Louis Sheinert was the architect, and the building was built by M. Shat^ero &: Son. The house contains a Kimball organ, costing eight thousand dollars. The theatre is in the financial section of the citj', and thousands of people pass the place daily. The date set for the official opening for film men is October 9. The house was filled to capacity the opening day and the Triangle picture, " Diane of the Follies," was the feature attraction. " Her Sailor Lover," another Triangle picture, was also shown. It was just one continual laugh. Fifteen cents admission is charged at the " City Hall." Mr. M. Weinstack, the managing director, says he intends to follow the policy of the Strand. REPRESENTATIVES OF BARTOLA ORGAN BUSY TD. WAISS, special representative for the Bartola, spent last • week in Omaha, Neb. The object of his visit was the superintending of a Bartola Orchestra in the Boulevard theatre. While in Omaha he closed with Eric Hallgren, owner of the Suburban theatre, for the installing of a Bartola. Chas. C. Pyle, general sales agent of the Bartola Musical Instrument Company, spent the first part of the week in Cleveland, Ohio, where he sold instruments to two theatres. One of these was the Yale theatre, owned by the Yale Reality Company. The other sale was made to the firm of Bark & Greenwald, owners of the Market Square theatre. Harvey E. Hanson, whose Palace theatre in Antigo, Wis., has just been completed, has been spending a few weeks in Chicago visiting the film exchanges.