Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

April 20, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 751 Producers Get Better Line on Public Goldwyn Investigator Says Co-operation Rather Than Technique Has Elevated Pictures to High Plane The motion picture industry owes its present high estate more to the co-operation of the public and exhibitors with the producers than to the remarkable strides made in directorial work or to the advanced science of present-day photography. The public — the motion picture fans — is getting what it wants because it is being given a vote as to its choice of productions. At least that's the way it looks to a Goldwyn publicity representative, recently returned from a trip that took him to almost every section of the country. He cites as proof a batch of suggestions from audiences and exhibitors received in the north, south, east and west, all of which are being given consideration in the Goldwyn offices. Some of these suggestions are practical, others are not; but the fact that they were received and are being sifted in the hope that some of them may prove of assistance in production is ample testimony that there is co-operation of a sort helpful to the public and to the industry as well. That Goldwyn appreciates these suggestions is revealed in the surprising fact that "The Splendid Sinner," "The Floor Below" and "The Danger Game" sprang from them. While the Goldwyn publicity man was in Duluth, Minn., a week before Mary Garden's "Thais" was shown, Thomas Furniss, owner of the Rex Theatre, asked him what Goldwyn intended doing about a second picture for the star. "What will it be; another opera?" Mr. Furniss asked. The Goldwyn man, having been away from the home office a considerable time didn't know, but the exhibitor's question gave him an idea: Why not let the Rex Theatre audience express a choice during the week "Thais" was shown? Two weeks later Goldwyn officials received more than 1,800 slips of paper from the Rex Theatre. The large majority of them contained urgent requests that Miss Garden's second picture be a modern story. Some even suggested a patriotic war drama. The knowledge that Miss Garden had seen valiant service in the hospitals of Serbia and northern France apparently promoted this. At the time the votes were received the Goldwyn organization was considering Kate Jordan's story, "The Splendid Sinner," and the suggestions helped not a little in deciding the issue. The story is a strikingly modern one with a surprise war touch at the close. So it was with Mabel Normand's second picture. Months before the famous comedienne was seen in "Dodging a Million," letters by the hundred poured into the Goldwyn offices urging that Miss Normand try her hand in a mystery play. "The Floor Below" was the result. Madge Kennedy is shortly to be shown in melodrama — in "The Danger Game" — at the request of many of her admirers, who believe she can provoke them to thrills as well as she has made them shout with laughter. All of which proves that "the public be pleased" policy now diligently cultivated by successful exhibitors everywhere ' has brought the motion picture public into close touch with the producers. The result is co-operation. Film fans tell exhibitors what they want and the producers make it for them. "Joan of Plattsburg" Described as Patriotic Comedy-Drama With the release of Mabel Normand's newest production, "Joan of Plattsburg," scheduled for May 5, Goldwyn is offering to exhibitors and the public what it believes to be the first patriotic comedydrama ever screened, with confidence that the combination of this unusual story by Porter Emerson Browne and the artistry of Mabel Normand, "the star who never disappoints," will bring money to box offices everywhere. Retakes of important scenes have just been completed by George Loane Tucker to make the production conform to governmental request for the elimination of certain scenes which have an indirect bearing on training methods pursued at the great Plattsburg military camp, where much of the action of the play transpires. Goldwyn says unhesitatingly that the picture in its new form is a greater, more powerful production than was the original. "Joan of Plattsburg". is notable for its timeliness, and while it is in no sense a war story, nor can it be interpreted as propaganda, the story of the orphan who developed into an inspired soldier-girl is uplifting and thrilling. It is designed to teach the truth that no matter how humble a person may be, he or she can serve America. A scene from "The Face in the Dark'' a new Goldwyn picture -with Mae Marsh. O. Henry Story for Alice Joyce Alice Joyce, who is nearing the completion of "The Strength of the Weak," a Vitagraph Blue Ribbon feature, soon will begin work on "Find the Woman," the famous "Cherchez La Femme" of O. Henry. The story is laid in New Orleans and plans are being made for Miss Joyce and her company to go to the old Creole City to make the picture. Tom Terriss, who has directed Miss Joyce in her last five productions, will direct her in this and he promises that the picture will have in it all of the local color and romance which O. Henry found in New Orleans and which gives his story such a charming background.