Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1919)

September 6 , 191'^ Jane Novak, playing opposite Hobart Bosworth in Paramount-Artcraft pictures Tribute to Dintenfass Organization When the United States Government wants soinething done well, it proceeds to engage the services of the best experts it can obtain. Consequently, its recent action in selecting the photographers and electricians of his studios in Jacksonville, for a particularly important and difficult task, is regarded by Mr. Dintenfass as something in the nature of a citation for merit. .\bout two weeks ago the United States Shipping Board launched a new 7000-ton steel ship sideways at Jacksonville, Florida. As every one knows the customary method of launching ships is stern foremost. The launching of a large ship sideways is a very difficult and risky undertaking, and was resorted to in this instance only because conditions peculiar to the shipyard made it advisable. Owing to the uniqueness of the per■forniance, the shipping board desired motion pictures taken of the entire operation in all its details, in order that other shipyards might be able to see how it was accomplished. It was essential that only the most expert motion picture photographers should be employed, to avoid failure, as a retake would be out of the question. The shipping board authorities canvassed the field and selected the staff of Mark M. Dintenfass for the job. An Industrial on Making Milk Products A staff of directors and cameramen has been sent to Harriman, N. Y., by Harry Levey, general manager of the Universal Educational and Industrial Departments, to photograph a story in which the production of milk products, the manufacture of cream separators, and other operations included in the management of the modern dairy, are to be featured. Mr. Levey said his department had received several requests for an educational series of this sort. F. P. — Lasky Inaugurates Season INAUGURATING its season of 1919-20 under the policy of Selective Booking, the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation will release on .\ugust 31 the first two Paramount -Artcraft pictures to be distributed under the new plan. These are Elsie Ferguson in " The Witness for the Defense" and VNallace Reid in "The N'allcy of the Giants." ■' The W itness for the Defense," it is stated by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, is one of the most elaborate as well as one of the most dramatic productions in which Miss Ferguson has yet been starred. George Fitzmaurice, the director, and Ouida Bergere, who wrote the scenario, collaborated with the result that the picture is said to be fully worthy of the honor accorded it in being selected to open the new Paramount-Artcraft year. Based upon the novel and play of the same name which was produced a few seasons ago with marked success with Maragret Anglin in the leading role, " The Witness for the Defense " Two Big Plays Will Open the Trade Year; Aug. 31 Release is said to present a most interesting and thrilling story. Permeating the entire play is the atmosphere of India — an atmosphere filled with mystery and tragedy — and this atmosphere is claimed to be so ingeniously and completely reflected from the screen as to be fairly felt, it is said, by everybody who sees the picture. In Miss Ferguson's support are Vernon Steel, Warner Oland, who has appeared with Irene Castle, Pearl White and other well-known stars; and W'yndham Standing, who has been Miss Ferguson's leading man in several of her recent Artcraft pictures. " The Valley of the Giants," in which Wallace Reid is starred, is a picturization of Peter B. Kyne's story which attracted wide attention when published in the Red Book. Marion Fairfa.x wrote the scenario and James Cruze directed. The scenes are laid in the great Redwood forest of California and the natural grandeur of the surroundings, it is said, leaves nothing to be desired in the matter of hackgrounds, a situation of which F"rank I'rson, the cameraman, is declared to have taken the fullest advantage. The story is said to be thrilling in the extreme, and in the cast are seen Grace Darinond, who was specially engaged to play the leading feminine role; Kay Laurel, noted beaut\ of Ziegfeld's Follies; William Brunlon, Charles Ogle, Ralph Lewis, Hart Hoxie, Noah Beery, Guy Oliver, W. H. Brown, Richard Cummings and Ogden Crane. Both these pictures were produced with all the care in preparation of scenario, selection of cast, direction and attention to the minutest detail which, according to Famous PlayersLasky, that Corporation purposes shall characterize all the Paramount-Artcraft releases under the Selective Booking Plan. Select Opens Branch in England SELECT Pictures Corporation will establish next month a branch in England to be known as Select Pictures, Ltd. This branch will be conducted by Maxwell Milder as president and Miss Edith Kotch as ; reasurer. Mr. Miller has been for several years manager of the Select branch in Philadelphia and Miss Kotch has been secretary to Lewis J. Selznick, president of the Select Pictures Corporation. They will sail for England, September 6th on the Celtic. The first work of the president and treasurer of the London corporation will be confined to a general investigation of conditions in London and England, after which it is probable that several branch offices will be established in the important cities of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. As soon as headquarters are established in London, the office will arrange for a series of private showings on every Selznick subject which is available at that time. Prints of the first three OUve Thomas attractions, "Upstairs and Down," "The Spite Bride " and " The Glorious Lady " w ill be carried to London by the ship on which Mr. Milder and Miss Kotch make their trip. Prints will also be taken of Elaine Hammerstein's first picture, " The Country Cousin," Eugene O'Brien's first picture, " The Perfect Lover," and Elsie Janis' forthcoming production, " A Regular Girl." One of the first steps after arriving in London will be the engagement of an exploitation man. Other Offices Abroad May Open After an Investigation and as soon as the London office is opened, the work of exploiting Selznick pictures in the European capital will then commence. Max Milder, president of Select Pictures, Ltd., will remain permanently in London, and as the various branches in other cities of Great Britain are established he will automatically assume the general management of them. Miss Kotch will also remain ii; London indefinitely, but as soon as the affairs of the office will permi'. she will proceed to Paris for the pur pose of investigating the motion pic ture market in France. If the result of Miss Kotch's investigation sho>v> the practicability of the establishment of an office in France, one will be opened. It may develop, however, that it is more practical to dispose of the rights to Selznick Pictures than to establish separate headquarters, and if this is the case, steps will at once be made to open negotiations with prominent distributors in Paris. The appointment of Mr. Milder to the important post of President 01 Select Pictures, Ltd., in London is one which will receive instant approval from his many friends in this countrw Mr. Milder has distinguished himself as a capable executive, and the manner in which he has handled the affairs of the Philadelphia office left no doubt in the mind of Mr. Selznick as to who should merit the appointment of the London position. The promotion of Miss Kotch and Mr. Milder are still further illustrations of Mr. Selznick's policy of advancement from the ranks. Carey Starts New One "The Gilt of the Desert," adapted from a well known Saturday Evening Post story by Peter B. Kyne, has been put into production at Universal City as Harry Carey's newest Western drama. It is being directed by Jack Ford. Guy Empey, featured in " The Undercurrent," a Select picture