Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

762 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 16. Church Paper Praises "The Cross Bearer' Catholic News Describes World Picture as "Thrilling, Entertaining," and "A Splendid Spectacular Photoplay" THE CATHOLIC NEWS, a weekly magazine closely affiliated with the clergy of the Catholic church, under issue of March 30 devotes a half column to a description of "The Cross Bearer," which is remarkable for its tone of superlative praise. The picture, which is distributed by World, is described as "thrilling, entertaining, a splendid spectacular photoplay of timely interest." This is one of the first times recorded that a church organ has given spontaneous praise to a motion picture. Under caption of an "Impressive Film Play," the Catholic News says: "Thrilling, entertaining, a splendid spectacular photoplay of timely interest is 'The Cross Bearer,' with Montagu Love in the role of Cardinal Mercier. Belgium's heroic churchman and the world's idol. The production has aroused the enthusiastic admiration of audiences wherever it has been given. The background is Belgium shortly after the outbreak of the war. The miseries of his afflicted country, complicated with the romance of a young Belgian officer and his sweetheart, the latter the Cardinal's pretty ward, supply material for |he connection of a clever plot that holds the spectator's interest through the succession of intensely dramatic scenes and episodes leading up to a gratifying •climax. "Mr. Love plays the role of the emi nent churchman with dignity, passion, brilliancy and power that reveal in convincing manner his ability. Jeanne Eagels impersonates 'Liane de Merode,' the heroine, with winsome grace and charm, and the remainder of the cast is excellent. No expense has been spared in staging the production, which has been adapted to the screen by Anne Maxwell and photographed by Philip Hatkine, directed by George Archinbaud. "Some of the scenes are magnificent, reproducing for instance the interior of the Louvain cathedral, of the Vatican and the Cardinal's palace, and the street scenes are also on an elaborate scale. There are no battle scenes proper, but many tensely dramatic military episodes give the chief figure fine opportunity for splendid acting. "As a film play, 'The Cross Bearer' ranks among the best present-day war dramas, and is well worth seeing." Star Goes Up in Airplane Hedda Nova, Vitagraph's young Russian actress and heroine in Albert E. Smith and Cyrus Townsend Brady's forthcoming serial, "The Woman In the Web," has fractured the rule prohibiting women from flying in army airplanes. It happened outside San Diego at the Aviation School of California, where by special permission from the United States government, several flights were made for the eighth episode, where an automobile is wrecked by bombs dropped from an airplane. Otto Lederer had gone up several times when Miss Nova, who had never been aloft, began to beg the army officers to let her go up "just once." The officers had seen her driving her racing motor car and riding cowboy's horses and sized her up as a woman with iron nerve and not at all likely to get squeamish. So they said she might go up and no more delighted woman ever climbed in behind a pilot. Ten thousand feet above the field the Vitagraph star soared and then spiralled safely, but all too quickly for her, to earth. She immediately wanted to go up again, but as one permit only had been signed she had to be content. "Mary Had a Little Lamb" In Mary Miles Minter's American-Mutual production, "The Greater Call," now being produced, the little star appears in a ravishing Bo-Peep costume. A flock of sheep were driven across the stage in one scene and a tiny lamb made its professional debut with its mother. The owner of the sheep christened the lamb Mary Miles Minter and at the end of the day's work presented Mary with her namesake. Mary Miles Minter the Second has now joined the Minter menagerie and true to the ancient legend, Mary's little lamb follows her to work each day. Crane Makes First World Film Frank Crane is directing Madge Evens and Johnny Hines in a new World photoplay bearing the working titles of "Clarissa." Mr. Crane is a new accession to the directorial staff of World. His last picture before joining World was "Thais," with Mary Garden. Adolfi Back in Gotham John Adolfi, the director whose first World picture will be "The Heart of A Girl," written by Maravene Thompson, has returned to New York with his company after taking numerous scenes at Washington. Barbara Castleton and Irving Cummings are starred in this production. A strong moment in "Journey's End," a World picture starring Ethel Clayton. Work on "Beloved Blackmailer" Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn Greeley of World are actively engaged under the direction of Dell Henderson in a new picture -which bears the working title of "The Beloved Blackmailer." This picture was written by Harry C. Hoyt, one of the new members of the World scenario staff.