Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2030 M o t i o n Picture News Three Red Cross Films Form Initial Group WITH the forecast of another American Red Cross picture, called "Of No Use to Germany," three war subjects, each of one reel, form the initial group of releases from the organization's Bureau of Pictures. W. E. Waddell, director, announces the latest subject is entitled "Of No Use to Germany." It deals with the human wreckage that came out of Belgium, citizens too old or too ill or too young to toil at tasks set by the invader. How they are taken care of by the American Red Cross is graphically shown, with many scenes that are claimed to discount the attempted realism of imaginative war photoplays. This release will follow "Soothing the Heart of Italy," which is already being routed to the public through General Film exchanges, which are cooperating with the Bureau of Pictures by physical distribution of the film. Headed by the initial release, "The Historic Fourth of July in Paris," which opened with a pre-release run at the Rivoli in New York and at hundreds of Keith, Proctor and affiliated U. C. O. houses outside of New York, the American Red Cross has at this time three single reel subjects at the exchanges, or ready for release, with posters and slides. The Bureau of Pictures is preparing, with J. T. Kelly as editor, a sheet descriptive of these releases, which will be available to exhibitors to guide them in heralding the pictures. These sheets will be sent to the exchanges. The current release, "Soothing the Heart of Italy," presents scenes from the timely dash of American relief to the homeless people driven before the big enemy advance which occurred about the time America declared war against Austria. Food was scarce and the people were in a panic, not knowing how far south the invaders would come. It was an hour of fear and Italy was actually prostrate. It was at this moment that the blessed processions of Red Cross trucks began rolling into the country with food, medicine and warm clothing, and the people were inspired to new hope. A touching evidence of its effect was the tribute paid to Henry P. Davison by children in the villages during his tour of inspection of the work done. A complete story is told of this period of the war in Italy by the film it is announced by General Film Company. Changed Attitude Seen on Foreign Films IT is the belief of President Paul H. Cromelin, of Inter-Ocean Film, that English and French photoplays, really worth while, will find a different reception from the American public than Jias heretofore been the case. Mr. Cromelin feels that the millions of "letters home " from the American millions in France has created a new, direct interest in the lands the latter have temporarily adopted. " If there is one letter that finds first welcome in American households, it is the one from England or France," said Mr. Cromelin ; " it is the letter from the boy of the family, who is now ' Over There ' training for, or participating in, the great struggle for human freedom. There should be magic for that household in the very invitation to view the things their boy sees. I am sure all that American exhibitors have to do to put Franco-British films over is to advertise the seat of production enough." President Cromelin states that dramatic features from "Over There" should come as " dessert " on the bill-of-fare of American official war film being served in the picture houses of the country. Audiences will like the war movies better, in Mr. Cromelin's opinion, for the change to films that, while still from the favored locales, are of the straight story type. The Inter-Ocean announces the placement of " Inside the Lines," featuring Lewis S. Stone, in England, France. Spain, Italy, Mexico, Chile. Brazil, India, Straits Settlements, Dutch East Indies and South Africa. This successful campaign was conducted by Louis Brock and Gus Schlesingcr, of the sales department. Ricardo Castro, of the same branch, has placed Paralta Plays for the West Indies and Porto Rico. E. H. Kaufman's principal Speer item of the week was the closing of an exclusive contract with Japan, guaranteeing the minimum consumption of 350,000 carbons yearly and commencing with a shipment of 50,000. " American " Employees Are All American Living up to its name, the " American Film Company " has received orders from its president, S. S. Hutchinson, that all applicants for positions, stars, extras, " Bits " or even technical employees, must show a clean bill as to citizenship and draft registration. The result is that a number of the employees at the Santa Barbara studios declared their intention of becoming citizens and thousands of those who have their names and photographs registered at the employment exchanges at Los Angeles and Santa Barbara made a rush for first or second papers. In the picture " Hobbs in a Hurry," featuring William Russell, there were two scenes where several unnaturalized foreigners appeared and these scenes were retaken with an " all-American " cast. Program News on Pase 2037 This Chinese Beauty is Norma Talmadge, Select Star, in " A Tale of the Forbidden City " " Wolves of Kultur " to Have Ad-Helps In addition to the country-wide poster campaign, announced by Pathe, for the exploitation of the patriotic serial, " Wolves of Kultur," made by the Western Photoplay Company, the serial will have the most extensive advertising helps that Pathe has ever given to a similar feature. Pathe's Publicity Department has been busy at work for the last two months on the preparation of helps of all descriptions. Every exhibitor in the United States will receive an attractive booklet to which he may turn for information and direction concerning every angle of the serial. It will be composed of thirty pages with a complete cover design in five colors, a reproduction of the splendid 24-sheet by Burton Rice, whose previous work for Pathe has evoked commendation from all over the country. Vitagraph Companies Busy on Two Serials With two companies working simultaneously, Vitagraph's serial production is at] the present moment running at top speed. Antonio Moreno and Carol Holloway are now in the latter stages of " The Iron Test," scheduled for release on October 21, while William Duncan is already under full headway with "The Man of Might." the next chapter play in which he will appear, supported by an all-star cast including Edith Johnson and Joe Ryan. " The Iron Test," which will be the second release on Vitagraph's newly-anannounced four-serial-a-year plan, will be completed before its release date, according to reports received from the Vitagraph Western Studio and the Moreno-Holloway Company will then start on their second fifteen-episode production. nd uiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiniuiiiniiiiiiiiiiiw iiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiniiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiim iiiiiiii^tiiii'iiiimi^iiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiinniiiiiinininniOT Additional Producers' News on Page 2035 tmiimninmiiiillltir Willi i ; ; t ; 1 1 1 iiiiuinif ill lillim nil 1 1 > i : < ■v-i'-'-'i'TinrinnmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiw^ ' :