Motography (Apr-Jun 1916)

May 6, 1916. MOTOGRAPHY 1029 Play Features Submarines AMERICAN-MUTUAL RELEASES BIG MYSTERY DRAMA JUST at this time of an international crisis risen from complications in submarine warfare, a photodrama dealing in a powerful and vivid manner with under-sea vessels and their mysteries is of keen interest to the public. Realizing this fact the American company has for some months been engaged in the production of a chaptered photoplay which capitalizes this tremendous wave of interest and provides a uniquely thrilling mystery story. Its title is "The Secret of the Submarine." The real basis of the plot was found in this idea expressed by Thomas A. Edison ; that it is possible to construct submarine vessels equipped with fish gilllike structures capable of absorbing direct from the water the oxygen necessary for the life of the crew. "The Secret of the Submarine" not only works out this theory in mechanical detail, but clusters about it adventures which have never been rivaled for tense interest. The cast features the charming blonde, Juanita Hansen, the capable Thomas Chatterton, the clever character man William Tedmarsh and the captivating Hylda Hollis. Following are some personal things of interest concerning the play and its players : To see Thomas Chatterton, the "Lieut. Jarvis Hope" in "The Secret of the Submarine" dive from a pier in order to rescue "Hook" Barnacle, no one would believe that it was practically the first time Mr. Chatterton has done "water stuff." The dive was a long one and the actor was weighted by his uniform and shoes, but there was no hesitation when the camera began turning, on the action. William Tedmarsh, as Satsuma, the Japanese spy in "The Secret of the Submarine," actually took his life in his hands in order to put one of the most intense scenes ever filmed, into the first chapter of the new big feature. A hard hearted scenario writer called for the actor to make his escape from a sinking submarine, after the conning tower was under water. Tedmarsh took his place in the submarine, the camera was set up in another boat and the signal given. The submarine settled swiftly and Director Sargent shouted to Tedmarsh to make his escape. There was no movement aboard the submarine. Sargent called again and still there was no response. The submarine was now almost out of sight. Just as the director and his assistants were beginning to believe an accident imminent, the trap in the almost "down" submarine was thrown quickly open and the head of Tedmarsh appeared. It could not have been timed better with scores of rehearsals. It is evident on the film that the spy actually comes from the submarine, showing beyond all peradventure that there was nothing of the fake order in the filming of the scene. Character Work Explained by Tedmarsh Perhaps no actor on the screen has made such tremendous strides in his chosen profession in such a brief space of time as has William Tedmarsh. Mr. Tedmarsh created the role of Quabba, the hunch-back organ grinder in "The Diamond From the Sky," and competent critics declare his work to have marked an important advance in screen characterizations. "Many persons imagine that make-up so called is an indifferent operation as long as the actor strikes somewhere near the character he is to portray," said Mr. Tedmarsh recently. "The fact is, that the actor playing character parts must do a vast amount of study not only of his character in the story but of the character outside the story. When I was cast to create the role of Quabba, an Italian hunch back, I went down to the Italian section in Los Angeles and remained a week. I mingled with the people I was to portray and watched their habits, their eccentricities, their joys and sorrows. "I have been afforded unusual opportunities to study the Japanese people, a race I admire very much. There is a certain crafty expression which flits across the Oriental face that is very hard to reflect. I practiced for hours at a time before I could 'get' it and you who see 'The Secret of the Submarine,' may note whether I succeed in my interpretation of the role of Satsuma." A "Submarine" Thriller Bound to a post in the cellar of a bomb-maker's house when a bomb tossed within a few feet of her explodes, is one of the thrills recently "enjoyed" by Miss Juanita Hansen, who as Cleo Burke in "The Three good examples of the powerfully striking scenes in the American-Mutual chaptered drama, "The Secret of the Submarine."