Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2054 The Directors of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit Visited the Rothacker Studio in Chicago During the Recent Convention. In the Picture Are Abe and Harry Warner, E. H. Hulsey, William Sievers, J. D. Williams, Count de Rocco, W. R. Rothacker, T. L. Tally, Harry Schwalbe, Robert Lieber, Emanuel Mandelbaum, John Hayes, George Trendle and Edgar Rice Burroughs Robertson-Cole Company Notes Achievement WITH a prestige and systematized representation in the foreign markets in every corner of the globe, long established by the house of Robertson-Cole in other lines, it is said that when this company decided to enter the film field, a little more than six months ago, they accomplished in this short space of time what it has taken other institutions years to establish. W. H. Seeley, representing the company's film buying and export department, does not believe in announcing a transaction until it has been definitely closed and the contracts signed. To illustrate his point, he called attention to the following important deals closed by his office during the past week. The three latest J. Warren Kerrigan productions, " A Dollar Bid," " Burglar for a Night," and " Prisoners of the Pines " have been chosen for Great Britain and Scandinavia, the latter territory through Chester Beecroft, and the subsequent five releases from the same producer will be distributed through the same channels upon their completion at the studios. Pathe's special production, " Her Man," and the Brady special, " Stolen Orders," was also closed for Scandinavia through Chester Beecroft during the past week, . simultaneously with the sale of the Great Britain rights for the first named. One of the most colossal transactions of the week was the closing of " The Fringe of Society " for great Britain, all of South America, India, Burma, Ceylon, China, Japan, Egypt and Scandinavia. The rights for the Griffith production, " Intolerance," was also sold for Egypt and Holland while the Wharton serial, " The Eagle's Eye " was closed for France, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Other important transactions for the Jester comedies for all of South America and Central America, France, Italy, Spain. Portugal, Japan, China, India, Burma and Ceylon. The Lillian Walker production, " A Grain of Dust," has been sold for Great Britain and the following four special productions. " The Cast-Off," " Men," " The Finger of Justice " and " Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman," for Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. " Those Who Pay " has been sold for India, Burma, Ceylon, Greece and Egypt ; " The Accidental Honeymoon " for Great Britain, and " The Lust of the Ages," another Lillian Walker production, for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Select Releases Second Davies Feature " The Burden of Proof," the second Marion Davies picture made by the Select Pictures Corp., and announced by that company as its first release in September, was shown to a favored few during the past week, and it is the opinion of the few aforesaid " favord few " that they had the pleasure of anticipating what is destined to be a universal photoplay treat. Other artists in the cast are Eloise Clement, Mary Richards, John Merkyl, L. Rogers Lytton, Fred Hearn and Willard Cooley. Horner Leaves Ebony It was reported from Chicago last week that Bob Horner, the writer, has severed his affiliations with the Ebony Film Corporation, where he was serving as scenario editor and continuity writer. Mr. Horner, it is said, has joined the ColoredPlayers Film Company, a new organization, which week just closed include the sale of twelveintends to release through state rights. Motion Picture Newt, Work Begins on " Shepherd of the Hills " Active work on filming Harold Bell Wright's famous novel, " Shepherd of the Hills," has begun at the Yerduga gardens near Glendale. according to announcement from Mr. Wright's studio^ this week. The < scenario was prepared by Mr. Wright, and the subject will be filmed under his direction. His previous experience in this line, however, was gained when " The Eyes of the World," another book of his, was filmed under the direction of Donald Crisp. Louis Gottschalk is the art and technical director, while Homer Scott is the camaraman. There is an interesting story connected with the selection of some of the outdoor scenes. Mr. Wright and five people went to the Ozark Mountains, where scenes in the story are laid, to locate the proper settings for the screen version. W hen the company arrived in the Ozarks, it is understood, the progress of civilization had crept over the hills so rapidly during the past few years that all the places haunted by Mr. Wright's characters had been converted into lumber camps or farming zones. The company returned to Hollywood and work was begun in converting the Yerdugo gardens and other foothill sections near Glendale into a miniature representation of the Ozarks. Hackett's Second Picture Is " Ashes of Love " " Ashes of Love," the latest production of the Graphic Film Corporation, had a private showing on the Xew York theatre roof during the past week and the demonstrative approval with which it was received by the large audience present, was taken to indicate that a big success is to be enjoyed by this producing company. This is an Ivan Abramson production and it marks the return of James K. Hackett to the screen in the second picture he has ever appeared in. His first screen appearance happened a good many years ago. in a picturization of his famous play, " The Prisoner of Zenda." Co-starring with Mr. Hackett in this production are Effie Shannon and Mabel Juliene Scott, while the cast of associate players includes Ruby de Remer. Paula Shay. Hugh Thompson, William B. Davidson, Dora Mills Adams, Thea Talbott and William Bechtel. Affiliated Distributors Simplify Distributing Affiliated Distributors' Corporation's recent announcement to the effect that its productions would be physically distributed by the exchanges of the Mutual Film Corporation is indicative of the Affiliated's policy to minimize overhead and cut down waste. The preliminary arrangement, covering the progress of Affiliated's initial release, "Lafayette. We Come!" (Pershing, '17), indicates that the exhibitor-members have also accepted the Affiliated policy. It is said to afford increased opportunities for cooperation between exhibitor, producer and distributor.