Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

April 13, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 725 France to Distribute Through Sterling Producer of "The Natural Law" Concludes Beck Organization Is Best for Both Himself and Exchange Men CHAS. H. FRANCE, producer and director of "The Natural Law," the famous play that he picturized immediately after its tour of the first-class theatres with the same cast that played at the Republic Theatre, New York, for eight months, has decided, after careful consideration, that the "Sterling System" offers the best means of country-wide distribution as well as the most equitable arrangement for the independent man of each territory. After several talks with Arthur F. Beck, president of the "Sterling System," Mr. France concluded to place all his future productions with the Sterling Pictures Corporation. Mr. France has had conferences with all the prominent independent exchange men of the country and they have placed their approval on the deal. H. R. Ebenstein, manager of sales for the Sterling Pictures Corporation, had an important conference with Mr. France before leaving on a ten weeks' trip, regarding the arrangements on which "The Natural Law" was to be sold. Gets U. S. Exhibitors' Features One of the most important transactions of the year in the motion picture industry has just been concluded between Foursquare Pictures and the U. S. Exhibitors Booking Corporation. By the terms of the contract, Foursquare will now sell the features acquired by the U. E. Exhibitors in addition to attend ing to all other details pertaining to their distribution. Most of the U. S. Exhibitors salesmen in the various territories have now become Foursquare representatives, and part of the selling organization of this company. The move was made in the interests of a more intensive development of the growing U. S. Exhibitors business and to prepare for the greatest possible efficiency in the distribution of its product. The plans now completed by Frank G. Hall of the U. S. Exhibitors provide for the acquiring of features of exceptional pretentiousness and quality. Dilemma Turned into Comedy While being filmed in "The Claim," her latest Metro picture, Edith Storey and her director, Frank Reicher, were confronted with a problem in infant management. Miss Storey was playing the part of a gambler's wife. Suddenly the temperamental infant set up a howl, in total disregard of dramatic technique. It was hungry. Both the star and her director had trouble enough and were too busy to humor the child. "There ought to be some way to keep it quiet," said Mr. Reicher. Miss Storey thought a moment. "There is," she exclaimed, "and I have found it!" The property man furnished a bit of twine, which Miss Storey had him fasten to a rafter in the set. At the other end Miss Storey made a loop, which she fastened about the baby's bottle. The young hopeful, placed on its back on a table, grasped the neck of the bottle in a chubby fist and was soon contentedly absorbing a meal. The effect was so novel, with its genuine comedy touch, that the camera man shot it, and it was incorporated in the film. This is not a picture from "Naughty, Naughty," the new Paramount release. It is a pose of Vera Steadman and Roxana McGowan as they appeared recently in a comedy filmed at the Mack Sennett studios. Gaumont to Produce Features Fulfilling its promise to independent exhibitors, the Gaumont Company intends to produce a number of big motion picture dramas in the near future. Prominent stars will be featured in strong stories written by famous authors and produced in the most attractive manner possible. Two of the stories call for hundreds of girls of exceptional beauty. To secure the proper types, the^ Gaumont Company has inaugurated a beauty contest which is being conducted by the leading daily paper in each of the United States. Pictures of the most attractive of *he contestants will be run during the contest in the two Gaumont news-reels, the Gaumont News and Gaumont Graphic.