Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

746 MOTOGRAPHY Vol XIX, No. 16. 'The Woman in the Web" Now Before Public First Episode Replete with Thrills, Among Which Is Heroine's Escape Over a Chain of Human Bodies WALTER W. IRWIN, general manager of the Yitagraph distributing organization, announces that the first episode of "The Woman in the Web" is being shown in all parts of the country following its release April 8. The picture introduces a new serial combination made up of two young players already well known throughout the United States and Canada. They are Hedda Nova, the beautiful young Russian actress, and J. Frank Glendon, star of many O. Henry features. "The Woman in the Web" again presents Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph company, in the role of author, he and Cyrus Townsend Bradyhaving collaborated in the writing. The}' also were the authors of "Vengeance — and the Woman," the sensational sequel to Vitagraph's other great serial, "The Fighting Trail," and the success which has attended their previous effort is a fair guarantee that "The Woman in the Web" will be an extraordinary offering. David Smith, brother of Albert E. Smith, directed the first episode, which bears the title of "Caught in the Web," and on several of the other episodes had Paul Hurst for his aid. The latter part of the serial was made under direction of Mr. Hurst, Mr. Smith having been placed in charge of a big Blue Ribbon feature. As in the other recent Vitagraph serials, the supreme efforts of the authors and directors have been to provide original situations calling for a degree of skill and daring on the part of the players. In this they seem to have succeeded, for in the first episode, which was screened for the trade press in advance, thrills come in rapid sequence and the spectator's interest is gripped from the very opening of the story. Hedda Nova, who scored her greatest success in "The Bar Sinister," "The Sign Invisible" and other independent pictures, is one of the most beautiful girls who have come to the screen. She is an excellent actress and a girl of consummate daring, this being indicated in the very first episode when she flees from the roof of one building to another across a human bridge, formed by half a dozen men linking their bodies together. Some of the riding she does, mounted on a spirited horse, is the most thrilling that has been seen. J. Frank Glendon, remembered for his work in Metro, Fox, Gaumont and the Vitagraph O. Henry series, is a product of the Montana range, a master horseman and a daring athlete. In the first episode he leaps fifty feet from the top of a tower into a tree. "The Woman in the Web" is a "different" serial in theme and treatment from anything which has gone before. It has the world-wide espionage system of Germany as part of its background and it introduces features of many varieties, including a collision at sea in which one boat cuts another in two, and the destruction of a fast-flying train. David Smith to Direct "Baree, Son of Kazan' Vitagraph Picturization of Noted Curwood Story to Feature Nell Shipman and Alfred Whitman A1 SMITH, president of Vitagraph, announces that David Smith, his brother, will direct Nell Shipman and Alfred Whitman in "Baree, the Son of Kazan," a forthcoming Blue Ribbon Feature founded on James Oliver Curwood's famous story, at Vitagraph's western studio in Hollywood. Mr. Smith has been directing Hedda Nova and J. Frank Glendon in "The Woman William Farnum, William Fox star, knitting to quiet his nerves prior to the big fight scene in "Rough and Ready." in the Web," Vitagraph's latest 15-chapter adventure serial. Recognized as one of photoplay's ablest directors, David Smith came to moving pictures with Vitagraph after a successful career as stage manager and business manager in stock. His first connection with Vitagraph was as scenario writer in the Brooklyn studio, next becoming a director and going to the Pacific coast. He has directed a score of Vitagraph's most successful productions, notably "The Dangers of Doris" series, "Her Gethsemane," "Dr. Blinn's Repentance," "Barriers of Prejudice," "Nobody Home," "The Hoyden," "John, Tom, Little Bear" and the O. Henry pictures : "The Enchanted Kiss," "The Law and Order," "A Dollar's Worth," "The Two Renegades" and "The Fourth at Salvador." Mr. Smith is enthusiastic regarding the production of "Baree, the Son of Kazan" and has planned a practical method of portraying his visualization of the story, which differs little from that of the author, who gives such a real and appealing story of Baree, part dog and part wolf. The scenario, adapted by Ronald Bradbury, well-known Vitagraph player, furnishes strong heart interest for the dog and also weaves a powerful and gripping dramatic story around the principals of the cast. Mr. Smith says he will retain much of the atmosphere of the book and will discard little of the story. Five dogs will be used to portray Baree, as he is shown first as a puppy and throughout the stages of development until a grown dog.