Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2038 Motion Picture News Pathe Has Augmented Program <j>roqram Glanced " A Japanese Nightingale," the First of the " Extra Selected Star Photoplays," Heads This Week's Program THE Pathe program for the week beginning September 22 is headed by the first of the Extra Selected Star Photoplays, " A Japanese Nightingale," from the popular romance of Onata Watana. Miss Ward's artistic work in this play has earned her enthusiastic praise from many sources, and there is said to be a sure appeal in her big dramatic moments. With skilled direction, George Fitzmaurice has placed the story in some of the most exquisite settings, and for sheer beauty, it is declared that some of the scenes have never been equalled. * The sixth episode of the swift moving Western serial, " Hands Up," featuring Ruth Roland, is called " Flames of Vengeance." Echo, the heroine, is saved from the blazing Inca sacrificial pit by the timely arrival of her cowboy friends. Toto, the clown-comedian, is in one of his funniest acrobatic moods in going through his adventures in " The Great Water Peril," a characteristic Rolin creation. " For the Freedom of DETZWOOD FILM COMPANY'S big new propaganda melodrama, "For the Freedom of the East," with Lady Tsen Mei, the screen's first and only Chinese star, will have its first pre-lease presentation at the Stanley theatre, Philadelphia, for the week beginning September 30. This is said to be the first big independent special production ever booked or played in the Stanley Theatre, and Managing Director Frank W. Buhler has given both Betzwood and Goldwyn assurance that greater showmanship preparations are being made for the presentation of this picture than he has made for any other production since his connection with the Stanley Company. "For the Freedom of the East" was conceived and directed by Ira M. Lowry, whose last season production, "For the Freedom of the World," is declared to be one of the biggest money-makers that exhibitors are able to find anywhere. This new production is said to be a big actionromance, with a thrilling and exciting story of the foiling of Germany's plot to control China and turn her four hundred million people against the Allies. Among the big episodes of "For the Freedom of the East" are: 1. — The rise of the Secret Societies to save imperiled civilization. 2. — The bitter contest between a Chinese prince and a handsome American diplomat for the affections of a beautiful Chinese princess. 3. — A battle in the Secretary of State's home in Washington between German agents and an American diplomtic agent and the foiling of the German ambassadors by the jiu-jitsu feats of the frail Chinese heroine. No. 15 of the Post Travel Series is an excursion into the Dutch West Indies and one beholds the complete transportation of a bit of Holland into the tropics. To those who find poetry in the taste of that delicious liquor, the settlement of Curacao will have a peculiar interest. It is a unique part of the Caribbean which is full of odd and unusual places as these little journeys show. No. 4 of the " Far Flung Battle Line " will appeal to the patriotic interest of everyone who sees the pictures, for they show the American troops on furlough in France — one of the lighter sides of the great war in which there are smiles, good humor, good fellowship and sight seeing. No. 13 of the Official War Review, for variety of scene and information, is said to be one of the most interesting of the scries thus far. It shows many points of the great struggle and is a comprehensive lesson in pictures. The popularity of this feature is growing enormously and Pathe expects that soon it will not only be shown in the 3,000 vaudeville houses where it was booked in a single contract, but in nearly every one of the 15,000 picture houses of all classes, which means practically every home in this country. the East," — Goldwyn 4. — A desperate poison plot on board a Pacific liner to gain possession of the photographs of Germany's secret treaty. 5. — The corruption of a greedy viceroy to unloose a Mongolian horde upon Europe. 6. — The departure of the allied troops from Tokio and Yokohoma, from the Philippines and Hawaii and Pekin ; the soldierladen transports battling a hurricane in the Sea of Japan and their triumphant landing in Siberia. Goldwyn announces that the nation-wide release of "For the Freedom of the East" will be made the second week in October. " My Cousin " Is Caruso's First Photoplay In deference to the insistent demand of exhibitors, reflecting the keen interest of their patrons in the forthcoming appearance of Enrico Caruso in Artcraft pictures, The Famous Players-Lasky Corporation announces the release of " My Cousin," the operatic star's first photoplay production, October 20. The writing of the scenario was entrusted to Margaret Turnbull, and Mr. Caruso plays dual roles. Elinor Field Versatile in Her Latest Comedy Elinor Field, girl star of Strand-Mutual comedies, is called upon to play a great variety of characters in her latest production, " All Kinds of a Girl," which will be released by Mutual on September 17. She interprets the demure, quiet little girl knitting for the Red Cross; the little domestic girl who loves to potter about with pots and pans; and the vampire. In changing the title of " The Bargain True " to " The Lure of Luxury," Universal plays up a big idea in the Bluebird picture. The film was adapted by Fred Myton, from a story by Nalbro Bartley. Elsie Jane Wilson is the director. The picture will be released October 7. William S. Hart's next Artcraft appearance will i be in " The Border Wireless," which is announced for release October 6. This picture is an adaptation of a story by Howard E. Morton, and the task of fitting the picturesque Ince star and his Western rig into a strictly modern tale, one which requires no little ingenuity, was entrusted to C. Gardner Sullivan. Louise Glaum, who has done nothing but heavy dramatic roles, will surprise her admirers when they see her light comedy acting in " The Goddess of Lost Lake," her next picture, a Robert Brunton production to be distributed by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. The first of the " Winning the War " series, showing the activities in America directed toward assisting in victory of democracy on the battlefields of Europe will be released by Pathe the week of October 20. It is called " The United States Boys' Working Reserve Solves the Great Farm Problem." Montagu Love and June Elvidge are being costarred by World Pictures in " The Quickening Flame." Work is now progressing on this picture which will be released during the winter. It is being directed by Travers Vale. " Treason," the Edna Goodrich special production, which will be released by Mutual on September 29, was written especially for her by Harry R. Durant. Together with Miss Goefrich he drafted the high spots of the story, covering the various situations and developing tVplot along lines that would permit this gifted actress the widest latitude. " Three Mounted Men," the Special Attraction featuring Harry Carey, Universal's ace among Western actors, which will be released October 7, presents an unusual twist in dramatic action. The spectacle is given of a prisoner being rescued from a posse by the same outfit which previously had captured the man and turned him over. Madame Rose Dione, late of the Theatre Odeon of Paris and one of the foremost actresses of the French stage, will make her first appearance in motion pictures in this country in Lila Lee's Paramount starring vehicle, " The Secret Garden," now being produced at the Hollywood studios of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation under the direction of G. Butler Clonbough. It is a grim, thrilling picture that is shown in the thirteenth issue of Pathe of the " Official War Review " — the rain of bursting shells that fall just in front of the advancing men. Here, indeed, one sees the spirit and feels the throb and vibration of the great conflict and realizes the enormous sacrifices in flesh and blood. One of the most important parts in " The Woman Who Gave," the first of a series of Standard Pictures which Evelyn Nesbit is making for William Fox, is taken by Russell Thaw, the star's seven-year-old son, and one of the most discussed boys in the world. Marie Walcamp, the Universal star who has figured in thrilling serials, is playing the lead in a big feature photodrama that Colin Campbell is directing. The feature is adopted from Bret Harte's story, " In the Carquinex Woods." Lanier Bartlett prepared the screen script. A real soldier, one who has done his bit at Ypres, Loos and along the Somme, is one of the principals supporting Jane and Katherine Lee, the Fox baby grands, in the production of their new picture, " Swat the Spy ! " This soldier is James Reardon, a New York boy, who, until he was gassed and otherwise disabled on the Western front, was a member of the Royal Welsh Fusileers. Authorities on wrestling will see much to make their eyes sparkle in the big fight scene of " The Velvet Hand." the Bluebird schedule for September 30. The players who enact the struggle were carefully trained for the scene, and some unusual tricks of attack and defense are revealed. The first John Emerson-Anita Loos production for Paramount. " Come On In," in which Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex will make their first appearance as co-stars in Paramount pictures, has been scheduled for release September 22. The play, which was directed by John Emerson, was written especially for the diminutive stars by Mr. Emerson and Miss Loos and is said to be perfectly suited to their distinctive talents.