Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

September 21, 1918 1889 Harry Edwards, Dorothy Dane and Charles French Leave Bobby Vernon in a Disturbed State of Mind in Al Christie's " Some Cave Man " " Mickey " Gets More Words of W. H. Praise critics, and the people who have already seen ' Mickey.' Every element that has ever been put into pictures is co-ordinated into a perfect continuity in ' Mickey ' and these elements arc humor, pathos, adventure, romance, sensationalism and love. There is a little bit of everything to appeal to everybody. One of the prominent features, however, in ' Mickey ' is that it is big in its simplicity and cleanliness. " Of course another question that crops up is why did it take so long and why did it cost so much money? This is also easily answered. It is an acknowledged fact that Mack Scnnett, as a producer and director, ranks as one of the greatest in the industry. Mr. Sennett's first feature picture was ' Tillic's Punctured Romance,' and it was one of the two biggest motion picture successes. He had been dreaming of a picture like ' Mickey ' for some time, as a second big feature, and his dream evolved into a reality," concluded the W. H. official. << A FEW years from now when the his*V tory of the motion picture industry is written," says an official of W. H. Productions Co., " ' Mickey ' will be given a prominent place, because it will stand for the creation of a new era in motion picture production. ' Mickey ' now stands as a monument for the best, the finest, the most artistic and most interesting in motion pictures. It has a universal appeal, and by that we mean that ' Mickey ' has something in it to interest and entertain every distinct type of nationality, both male and female ; the office worker, the laborer, the artisan, the lawyer, the banker, the teacher, and from the youngest child to the oldest person that attends motion picture theatres. 'Mickey' will create new motion picture fans. " Of course the natural question arising in the minds of people hearing about ' Mickey ' is, what makes it so unusual and what gives it a universal appeal? This is readily answered by the reviews of the Judge Revises Feature as Propaganda Under the supervision of Federal Judge Benjamin Bledsoe of the U. S. District Court, the nine-reel film, " The Spirit of 76," which caused the arrest and conviction of Robert Goldstein, the producer, and his sentence to ten years in Federal prison, has been remade and will be used for propaganda purposes. In most instances, it was found the sections of a pro-German nature could be eliminated, and by the addition of new subtitles, a good continuity could be secured The film originally cost $160,000, and the producing company owes $40,000 with the film as the only asset. When the Continental Producing Company went into the hands of the receiver, the referee in bankruptcy, Force Parker, sought permission of Federal court, and by the aid of Harry C. Pearce and H. C. McClung, a cameramar, the picture was remade. It is believed the referee will receive more than enough money to pay all the indebtedness of the company by the sale of this subject. Brunton Directs Gordon United Film United Picture Theatres of America announces that the forthcoming Kitty Gordon super-features in which the multi-robed United star will be seen exclusively in the theatres of its exhibitor-members, will be under the producing direction of Robert Brunton, the well known and talented head of the Brunton studios in Los Angeles. Mr. Brunton made a special journey from the Coast city to confer with President Berst in New York on the details of the productions and immediately returned !o take up the Kitty Gordon direction in Los Angeles for the United. Shipbuilding Shown in Gaumont News The success of our shipbuilding program is again illustrated in the current Gaumont News, No. 24, which was released Sept. 3. Many interesting pictures of yards of both sides of the United States are shown. A New Jersey yard has set its pace at two ships a week, and a California yard shows the first camouflaged specimen of the big fleet it has contracted to build. Pictures from France show how the Salvation Army, with its oil-stores, coffee pots and doughtnut kettles, is carrying comfort and happiness to our fighters. Lesser Reports " Topics " Going Big According to reports received in the local office of "Topics of the Day" Films, Sol Lesser's exchanges in 'Frisco and Los Angeles are now showing in thirty-four theatres in this territory. This is considered very good results owing to the nature of this novelty. "Topics of the Day" can only be shown in the first-class theatres changing weekly and not more than twice a week. The film is a short one but it creates enthusiasm and amusement wherever shown. The Strand theatre in New York has been showing this novelty. Garrett Keeps Up the Sales Drive President Sidney Garrett of J. Frank Brockliss, Inc., is still hammering at the high altitude sales mark. Recent deals include the entire Billy W'est rights for Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania to the Co-operative Film Exchanges of Sydney, Australia. The rights to the Rita Jolivet super-production, " Lest We Forget," wee acquired by the North American Motion Pictures, Inc., of Buenos Aires, Argentine, for the territory of Porto Rico, Venezuela and Santo -Domingo. The same firm acquired the Billy West comedies for the Argentine, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile. Baird Serial Sold for Two Territories President Sidney Garrett, of J. Frank Brockliss, announces a big week preceding Labor Day. The Leah Baird Serial, " Wolves of Kultur," was sold for two foreign territories. The Co-operative Film Corporation of Sydney, Australia, purchased the Australasian rights which include Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. One of the biggest deals of the year was the purchase by the African Film Trust of Cape Town, South Africa, to the rights for the entire Far East, including Japan, China, India, Strait Settlements, the Philippines, Java, Ceylon, Burmah and the entire South African territory.