Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1918)

December 28, 1918 Nesbitt Supplies Rhodes Picture The story of Billie Rhodes' first feature, The Girl of My Dreams," which is controlled by the Robertson-Cole Company and will be released through the Exhibitors' Mutual Distributing Corporation, was written by Wilbur Nesbit. " The Girl of My Dreams " is an adaptation of Mr. Nesbit's story of the same name which has been widely read throughout the country. It's construction is such that it readily adapted itself to motion picture form, and in its leading part it gives Miss Rhodes opportunity to display her charms and ability as a full-fledged star. A cast has been supplied Miss Rhodes which includes Jack McDonald, Lamar Johnson, Golda Mawden, Jane Keckley, Frank McQuarrie, Benjamin Suslow and Leo Pierson. Goldwyn Shows Faith in Bennison The prediction that Louis Bennison will be a highly successful screen star and repeat his stage successes received verification this week when Goldwyn managers in every branch office of the company held exhibitor trade showings of " Oh, Johnny ! " the first Betzwood Film Company production in which Bennison is to greet the motion picture public. "Oh, Johnny!" is the first of six Louis Bennison Star Series productions which are to be released exclusively through Goldwyn and on which contract bookings are reported as being very large. This first production will have its premiere throughout America on December 22d. Universal Films Wilds of Kentucky Mountains Harry Levey, manager of the Industrial Department of the Universal, will shortly head a motion picture expedition into the wilds of the Kentucky mountains where Alice Spencer Geddens Lloyd has built a community center at Caney Creek, in Knott County, and the surrounding illiterate mountaineers live in windowless cabins. How these uncouth men, women and children -who did not know the country was at war are being educated is a story of such surpassing interest as to once again bring home with added force that truth outrivals fiction. Dembow Returns to Fox Exchange Honorably discharged from the army after having won a commission as second lieutenant, George F. Dembow, formerly manager of the Philadelphia exchange of the Fox Film Corporation, returned last week to his former duties, succeeding Jack Levy, who has severed connection with the William Fox organization. Lieutenant Dembow entered the army early last summer. He soon was recognized as officer material, and was sent to an officers' training school. He was commissioned seconud lieutenant just before the armistice was signed. Ruth Clifford, Bluebird Star, and Mae Murray. Also a Universal Stellar Light. Presented in New Productions Both Are "Woman" Cites Showmanship of 'Tourneur THE remarkable way in which the various territories are selling for Maurice Tourneur's epic production, " Woman," suggests an interesting angle upon the producer. Maurice Tourneur is„first of all a showman. This, of course, is the chief essential of the successful man of the theatre or the screen. Maurice Tourneur productions possessing this quality, are pictures that appeal to that other showman — the imaginative and successful exhibitor. There is always some one element that stands out of them, gripping and holding the interest. This has been apparent from the first in Tourneur offerings. His famous production of the Drury Lane melodrama, " The Whip," for instance, has a sensational railroad collision, which was the biggest sort of thing in the way of gripping the interest. In a word, it had the punch of the showman. Step by step, this has been clear in every Tourneur film. His exquisite production of the Maeterlinck symbolical fantasy, " The Blue Bird," introduced to the screen the new impressionistic art of the theatre. Here again was the big thing to appeal to the showman. " Sporting Life," Mr. Tourneur's adapted Drury Lane melodrama, possessed some remarkable fog scenes in the London streets. Aside from their striking atmospheric beauty, they started everyone talking. How did Tourneur get the startling fog effect in a studio, for the street scenes were built in his Fort Lee studio? Even experts have been puzzled — and the showman's art is once more apparent. But in " Woman," most of all, is this quality manifest. " Woman " makes the biggest appeal of all the Tourneur productions to the innate sense of the showman. For " Woman " is absolutely unique, unlike anything ever done in the films. Indeed, it completely defies classification. "Woman " is neither a spectacle, a drama or a melodrama. It is something radically new to the celluloid drama and there is no one word to describe it. Cecil B. DeMille Arrives in New York City CECIL B. DE MILLE, director general of the Famous Players-Lasky West Coast studios, arrived in New York from California on his annual business trip, to discuss production plans of the western organization for the coming year. He was accompanied on his transcontinental trip by his brother, William C, also of the Paramount-Artcraft producing organization. While in New York, it is reported that Mr. De Mille will also consummate a deal with a famous playwright for an original story which he will produce for Artcraft release on his return to California in the near future. The story is said to be of a particularly interesting theme, disclosing an idea unlike anything ever presented on the motion picture screen. William C. De Mille, in collaboration with the dramatist from whom the story will be purchased, will adapt it to the screen. " I am here purely on business but hope to see a good showr or two before I get back," said Mr. De Mille. " My stay here will only be of short duration and there is much to be attended to. " We are planning greater activities for our West Coast studios than ever before. Things there when I left were resuming their former busy aspect before the epidemic closing order went into effect. At present I am negotiating on a new type of story which I will stage as soon as I get back to the studios. It has always been my ambition to produce pictures that get out of the beaten path both as to story and technique in production." Gerald C. Duffy Engaged By Bessie Love Bessie Love, the star who recently became affiliated with Vitagraph productions, has just engaged Gerald C. Duffy, magazine writer and editor, as her personal representative.