Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2246 Motion Picture News "COME ON IN"— PARAMOUNT Halfs a Scream and the Other Halfs a Thriller THE first half of this picture could safely be called a scream, the balance, a thriller. The comedy element will be found in the clever construction of the sub-titles, by Anita Loos, while the thrills, in the situations, towards the close of the picture, where the hero is rescuing the colonel, kidnapped lay German spies. The story has been written by John Emerson and Anita Loos. It makes a rare contribution, due to intelligent directing. It is bound to please all. You should give it an extended engagement, thus automatically helping shelve some unworthy one. The work of the principals is excellent. An extensive review was given in last week's issue, on page 2093. Released Sept. 23. — Length, 5 reels. — P. S. Harrison. THE CAST Emmy Little, a Stenographer Shirley Mason Eddie Short Ernest Truex Count von Bumstuff Charles De Planta Prof. G. Wottan Orphul-Schmell ... Joseph Burke A. Schlobb, Emmy's Boss Renault Tourneur Otto B. Schott Bernard Randall Mrs. Schroeder Blanche Craig Office Boy Meyer Berenson The Colonel Richie Ling German Spy Louis Henrick Authors: John Emerson and Anita Loos. Director: Mr. Emerson. CATCH LINES Shirley Mason, popular star of the films, and Ernest Truex, one of the best comedians of the stage, in their first co-starring venture. Come and see how one lone sergeant in the American army puts it over Count von Bumstuff, Prof. G. Wotta Orphul-Schmell, A. Schlobb, Otto B. Schott and a few other gentlemen (?) with many gutteral sounds in their names. A spy picture given just the right seasoning by a generous sprinkling of comedy. Written by John Emerson and Anita Loos, who were two of Douglas Fairbanks' prime aides when he started his climb to fame. AD TALK An unusual combination of talent, both literary and histrionic, is responsible for " Come On In," the Paramount feature to be presented at the theatre on of week. To begin with, it marks the first joint appearance of Shirley Mason, a popular star of the films and Ernest Truex, one of the best known light comedians on the stage. Miss Mason is one of the new stars added to the Paramount constellation, while Mr. Truex, as her partner in pictures, has proven himself so adaptable to camera work that it is not undue optimism to say that he will be extensively heard from in this line of endeavor, in the near future. Aside from the debut of this combination, an event in itself, the story for " Come On In " was prepared by John Emerson and Anita Loos, a team that was responsible for many of the earlier Artcraft pictures featuring Douglas Fairbanks. The picture was directed by Mr. Emerson. It is not stretching the point to state that seldom, if ever, has such an array of talent ever bended its collective efforts to the production of a single feature. As a result, " Come On In " is one of the most entertaining five-reel numbers that it has been our pleasure to screen at the theatre. We are not going to tell you much about the story, except for the fact that it has to do with a romance and spies — Germans too. But wait! You're all wrong. It's not the usual type of spy picture — far from it. To begin with, it starts off with some of the best comedy you have ever witnessed. Miss Loos' subtitles are known far and wide for their original and genuine humor. She has gone the limit in " Come On In." There is comedy in the romance, in the training camp activities of the rival Romeos and then, before you know it, you are whirled into the midst of real, tense action. "Come On In" is as different from the typical spy picture as night from day. It is not filled with foolish and blundering agents of one secret service or another or with a beer drinking bunch that continually clink steins and toast " Der Tag." It is a real human comedy that starts off amusing you and then thrills you. Fact is, it's modeled similar to the Fairbanks pictures; and why shouldn't it be? Consider the Emerson-Loos combination that made it. THE STORY Emmy Little is a stenographer and a patriotic one. Her patriotism is rubbed the wrong way by her employer, A. Schlobb, and his frequent visitor, Professor G. Wottan Orphul-Schmell. Suspicious of the professor, she rents a room in the boarding house at which he resides. One of Emmy's suitors, Eddie Short, is a sergeant in the army, having enlisted the day war was declared. Another, and the more favored one, is Otto B. Schott, Schlobb's assistant. Otto B. is drafted and is trained under Eddie. There is, to be frank, no love lost between the two soldiers. Emmy says she will marry the one who will do something " big " for his country. Otto, who is, in reality, a German spy, decides to win the girl and at the same time put over a score for HIS country. He invites Emmy to the home of his " dear old aunt " and there shows her many German spies trussed up, supposedly awaiting the arrival of the police. Emmy is so tickled that she immediately arranges to marry her hero. Colonel Little, her uncle, is invited and so is Eddie Short, who acts as if he were attending the last rites. After the ceremony, Emmy and Otto depart. The Colonel is called back to the 'phone, imprisoned by the spies and placed in a fine way to be asphyxiated. Eddie and the Colonel's orderly smell a rat and search for the Colonel. The spies attempt to escape, but are caught. Eddie, using his gas mask like a regular habitue of the trenches, saves his Colonel's life and by so doing, steps in line for a lieutenant's commission. Then there are Emmy and Otto to be considered, specially Emmy. As luck would have it, the train which was to carry the couple on the first lap of their honeymoon is late, and before Otto knows it, he has been arrested and apprehended in his true colors, a German spy. Otto, incidentally, has two wives in Berlin, so his marriage is null and void and Emmy becomes a Mrs. Lieutenant. SUGGESTIONS Here is a picture that has a variety of angles to boost from. Consider the stars — Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex. The one well known in pictures, the other equally as well known on the stage. Play up the combination. Let the people know that Truex was the original star of such successful plays as " Very Good Eddie," " The Very Idea," " The Dummy " and others. Folks in big towns will surely remember these shows. Miss Mason's appearances on the screen are numerous. Don't forget the John Emerson and Anita Loos angle. These two have had an enormous amount of publicity and it has been deserved. Mention that they have written many of Douglas Fairbanks' most popular plays, such as " His Picture in the Papers," " Down to Earth," " Wild and Woolly " and " Reaching for the Moon." This will certainly create interest in their work along this line. The picture itself deserves commendation from start to finish. As much of it is comedy, let the people know that it is a spy story pictured from the comedy viewpoint. To make it emphatic, mention some of the German character names seen in the cast. So if your public is tired of the spy story in melodramatic form it will surely grasp the opportunity to see it done humorously. If some other angle is desired, take up this one. Say that many books and plays have been adapted for the screen, but the best pictures of all are written for the screen by screen authors. " Come On In " is one of the best pictures in quite a while and it never appeared in any other form. Of course, if your patrons hanker for the spy stuff, play up this side of the picture. There are so many other more refreshing angles, however, that it seems a shame to waste them. ADVERTISING AIDS PAPER: — Two one-sheets, two three-sheets, one six-sheet, rotogravure one-sheet. The majority of the paper supplied accentuates the humorous side of the production. A three-sheet has Miss Mason and Truex apparently worried over some knitting. The other shows Miss Mason in the arms of the man she first selects to marry. Six-sheet shows Truex struggling for wooden gun with heavily bearded stranger, Miss Mason at desk. This has the comedy angle. One of the one-sheets is on the same order. The other one-sheet is an attractive head of Miss Mason. CUTS AND MATS ON PRODUCTION :— Five one-column, three two-column, two threecolumn. All these cuts are illustrative of the light character of the production. Miss Mason appearing in all of them, in a few instances, by herself. Stock cuts of Miss Mason issued in same numbers and sizes are also procurable. SERIES OF ADVERTISING MATS: — These in one, two and three-column style are dressed in the usual Paramount style. All contain poses of stars in foreground. AOOLPH ZUKOR PRESENTS A JOHN EMERSON AND ANITA LOOS PRODUCTION! Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex (paramount Cpicture By JOHN EMERSON and ANITA LOOS Directed by M r. EMERSON One-Column Ad Cut. Similar Cuts Provided in All Sizes