Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

September z i . i o 1 8 1915 "THE LAW OF THE NORTH"— PARAMOUNT Charles Ray in a " Bing, Bang, Blood " Melodrama LITERARILY speaking, tliis is a carnival of blood. It is based cbiefly on raping, murdering, killing and then some more murdering, of human beings as well as of dumb animals. There is enough blood spilled lo make one dream it for several nights. The villain rapes a young Indian girl. Later he murders the Commandante of the fort and induces his daughter to run awa\ with him. The Commanda nte's son returns and discovers the body, from the blood that is dripping on the floor below. In the battle at the abandoned fort, where other outcasts are shown revelling in orgies, the hero's sister is shot and several others killed. One of them is shown lying dead on the stockade wall with the blood dripping. The murderer escapes and while he is racing away on a dog team is surrounded by a pack of wolves. In order to check the pursuit, he kills the dogs, one at a time. Part of the act of killing one is shown. The story relates that the villain is devoured by the wolves, but we have been spared the actual sight of such a horrible ending. This picture is fit to show only in the Fiji Islands. — Release date not yet announced. — Length, 5 reels. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Alain de Montcalm, the " Eaglet ". . .Charles Ray Therese Le Noir, daughter of Le Noir. .Doris Lee Caesar Le Noir, "The Wolf" Robert McKim Virginie de Montcalm, Alain's Sister. .Gloria Hope Michel de Montcalm, Post Commandante Charles K. French Numa, an Indian Manuel Ojeda Author: Ella Stuart Carson. Director: Irving V. Willat. Supervision of Thomas H. Ince. Photographer: Chester Lyons. AD TALK Charles Ray, the popular young star of InceParamount pictures, makes another appearance on the screen of the theatre on of week when " The Law of the North " is presented for the first time. While Mr. Ray has gained his present reputation through the interpretation of a totally different type of role than that which he carries in this picture, patrons of the theatre are assured of a distinctly high-class entertainment in this, his latest screen effort. Instead of playing the country boy or the " rube," Mr. Ray is here seen as Alain, the son of a French-Canadian trapper. The story is one of love and vengeance in the snows of the far Northwest and is fashioned in a strictly dramatic manner with the result that there is not a dull moment in the entire five reels. The picture was produced under the direction of Irvin Willat, one of Thomas H. Ince's most capable men. Mr. Willat has secured some of the most beautiful snow scenes ever flashed on the screen. Whole fields of snow and ice greet the eye, giving a most realistic atmosphere to the story. The photography, a most difficult angle of the picture under these circumstances, because of the brilliance of the sun's reflected rays, is of the highest order. Mr. Ray is surrounded by a most capable cast of screen players in " The Law of the North," including Doris Lee, Gloria Hope, Robert McKim, Charles K. French and Manuel Ojeda. The story was prepared for him by Ella Stuart Carson, one of the prominent members of the Ince scenario staff. THE STORY Alain is the son of the commandante of a French trading station in the far North. One day he is sent by his father to another trading station at St. Felician, some distance away, on business. Caesar Le Noir, assistant to Montcalm, the commandante, watches him bid good-bye to his sister. Virginie, with a cynical smile. After his departure an Indian appears with a beautiful young girl, Therese, to tell the commandante that Le Noir is her father. Montcalm is furious at this news and suggests that Le Noir marry the Indian. He, however, refuses Later he tells Virginie that he has only accepted the blame to shield Alain. Montcalm, furious at this, thrashes Le Noir. In the dead of the night Le Noir enters the commandante's home and stabs him to death, then making off with Virginie. Alain has met Therese at St. Felician and brings her back with him, promising to see that her father will take care of her. He learns of the tragedy and in a burst of rage, tells Therese that she must marry an Indian, Numa, to atone for Le Noir's misdeeds. Then he goes in pursuit of the murderer. With his followers, Alain traps Le Noir in an abandoned fort. A battle ensues. Le Noir finally sends word that unless Alain quit the fight he will kill his sister. Le Noir and Virginie struggle for the gun. It is discharged and the girl falls to the floor. Believing her dead Alain gives pursuit to the villain, now more furious than ever. On his trial he discovers Therese, who has escaped from the Indian. He takes her on his sled, though aware that the added weight to his dogs diminishes his chance of catching his man. And he does fail in this attempt, but instead, Le Noir meets a horrible fate from the merciless wolves. Returning, Alain discovers that his sister is only slightly wounded. Therese's helplessness creates a love for her in Alain's breast and she forgives him CATCH LINES Charles Ray, the inimitable young Paramount star, in an entirely new characterization. A thrilling drama of primitive passions produced in the frozen snow fields of the North. In the far North every man carries his " court of appeals " around in his holster. See how justice is meted out in " The Law of the North." They say that it is a bad thing for stars to become " typed," that is, appear in the same sort of part in one picture after another. Here Charles Ray reverts to the exact opposite of his past roles — he is the strong, hardy trapper of the great Northwest. Taken in the snow and ice fields of the north — a background of superb beauty for a story of mighty force. If you're at all too warm come in and see " The Law of the North " and be transported to the arctic country. ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER: — Two one-sheets; two three-sheets; one six-sheet; 24-sheet stock poster of star. One-sheet shows star in trapper's garb crouching in the snow as if ready to spring on his enemy. One-sheet shows star kneeling beside the bed of his sister. Three-sheet shows star standing erect in a dimly lighted cabin. Three-sheet shows star and Doris Lee. Six-sheet is an attractive scene from the picture. On a background of snow, star discovers Doris Lee unconscious in the foreground. PHOTOS:— Eight 8x10 black and white; eight 11 x 14 sepia; one 22 x 28 sepia 8 x 10 photos of star. CUTS AND MATS ON PRODUCTION :— Five one-column; three two-column; two threecolumn. STOCK CUTS AND MATS OF STAR:— Five one-column; three two-column; two threecolumn. SERIES OF ADVERTISING LAYOUTS:— Mats. SLIDES AND MUSIC CUES. SUGGESTIONS Charles Ray's is a name to be boosted to the limit. Let it be known that in " The Law of the North " he plays quite a different type of role than he has ever essayed before — that of a strong, young Canadian trapper. In stories say that the versatility of Ray prevents him from remaining altogether in the " boob " type of role. If you employ lobby decorations a few fir boughs or evergreen branches would be suitable, with furs or snow shoes, if procurable. The picture can be well advertised as sensational or thrilling if your audiences like this type of stuff It contains a variety of fighting, the villain performs dastardly deeds and meets a terrible fate. Or if on the other hand, your audience is attracted by the more subdued announcement, the fact that it is laid in vastly pretty snow fields of the North would be a good line to play on. The Frozen North Is the Keynote of the Posters on " The Law of the North." Above Is One of the Three Sheets