Motography (Jul - Dec 1915)

1062 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIV, No. 21. subtitle. We view every film released several times, holding weekly conferences, when we carefully review the productions with an endeavor toward improvement. Lists of all subtitles for every photoplay are made out and these are carefully gone over and edited by three or four individuals and the approved result appears on the screen. "In comedy productions the subtitle is of even more importance. I have known many a comedy film to be saved by original, cleverly written subtitles. Comedy subtitles should be in the vernacular — that is, in the atmosphere of the play. If the comedy is of rural atmosphere, the spoken subtitles should be in rural dialect. This is an art not easily attained, and only comes from close study and application." Hal Forde in Gaumont Comedy The announcement that Hal Forde, of musical comedy and picture fame, had left for Jacksonville, Fla., to take the lead in a Rialto Star feature of the Gaumont Company brought prominently to the front in a news way the continuous development of this company's policy of having a new star in each of these multiple reel releases. One deviation is to be noted. Whereas the majority of these releases on the Mutual's new $8,000,000 program are photodramas, Mr. Forde's well-known and enjoyable gifts for comedy determined the management to star him in a light and joyous production. The scenario chosen to exploit Mr. Forde's charming light comedy is entitled "Lessons in Love." It has been written by Paul M. Bryan with this particular star in mind. Mr. Forde has many friends in Jacksonville, as his first work in pictures was done at a studio in that city. He enjoys picture work exceedingly, and has confessed that his ambition is to direct his own pictures. "Lessons in Love" is being directed by Richard Garrick, who went south with the comforting feeling that he had just completed a brilliant piece of work — according to the encomiums of those who have seen his "The New Adam and Eve," which will be released November 17. Hal Forde is fond of athletics, and in this picture will have opportunities to show the results of his early training. Mystery Puzzled Players Bryant Washburn, John Cossar, Ruth Stonehouse, Anne Leigh and other members of the cast in "The Alster Case," Essanay's five act release through the V. L. S. E., worked through the entire production without knowing who committed the murder of Cornelia Alster, around which the story centers, until it developed naturally in the course of the play. The play, written by Rufus Gillmore, author of "The Opal Pin" and other well known detective novels, is a story of mystery which is not divulged until the end. J. Charles Haydon, who directed the play, believed that the players would carry out their parts better and add to the mystery if they themselves did not know who committed the crime. Consequently, while they studied their parts thoroughly, they were not permitted to study the denouement until they came to it. Thus throughout the production of the piece they did not know whether they themselves committed the crime or some one of the other players. In the photoplay there is not an indication by the slightest expression of features as to who the criminal could be. John Cossar, the detective assigned to the case, follows out his clews just as would a real detective who is hunting for a murderer, unconscious as to where they will lead. He goes on the wrong scent several times before the real slayer is discovered. This is one of the strong features of the play, that the interest is keyed up to the highest pitch to discover the murderer until the very end. As the play unfolded the actors became intensely interested in the outcome, and wagered gloves, candy and cigars on who killed Cornelia Alster. Only the timely arrival and the heroic efforts of the cowboys at Universal City saved that film company from a staggering loss when a fire of unknown origin started in the company's western street set Saturday evening, October 23, and, running before the wind, threatened to sweep on to other and more expensive sets nearby. Farnum Takes Short Vacation Dustin Farnum, the popular Pallas Pictures star, has temporarily discontinued his activities on the west coast and arrived in New York City Friday evening en route to his home in Bucksport, Me. Mr. Farnum came east to take a few weeks' vacation in the Maine woods where he will enjoy a hunting trip. "Dusty" has just completed his second production for the new Pallas Pictures-Paramount organization, "The Call of the Cumberlands," Charles Neville Buck's well known romantic drama, whichthe former thinks is even a bigger production than his first subject for this company, Booth Tarkington's "The Gentleman From Indiana," the photoplay that is expected to score one of the biggest hits of the season. A strange coincidence occurred when Mr. Farnum arrived in New York. He had just left the Grand Central Station when the first friend that he met was Charles Neville Buck, himself, the author of the book of which he had just finished a screen adaptation. At the New York offices of the Pallas Pictures, the matinee and screen idol related many interesting experiences in connection with his work during the production of his first two subjects under the new banner, and recited several exciting incidents in which he took part. Mr. Farnum is under a long term contract with Pallas Pictures and is most enthusiastic with regard to the outlook of this newcomer in the producing field. Immediately upon the termination of his short vacation he will return to the Pallas Pictures studios to commence work on "Davy Crockett."