Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

May 4, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY Sixteen Vitagraphs for Release in May Program Includes Four Blue Ribbons, Four Serial Episodes and Eight Drew and Big V. Comedies ALBERT E. SMITH, president of the Vitagraph Company, announces that the company's releases for the month of May, consisting of four units and sixteen subjects, are complete and ready for exhibitors. The list includes four Blue Ribbon features, four serial episodes, four Big V. Comedies and four Vitagraph Drew Comedies, being made up as follows: Blue Ribbon Features— May 6, "The Little Runaway," starring Gladys Leslie with Edward Earle under direction of William P. S. Earle. An Irish drama by Paul West which was adapted from an original story entitled, "Ann Acushla." May 13— "The Strength of the Weak," starring Alice Joyce under direction of Tom Terriss. This is a sharp-cut drama by Edith Ellis, author of "Mary Jane's Pa" and other plays, and was adapted from the stage play, "My Man." May 20— "The Golden Goal," starring Harry Morey with Florence Deshon, under direction of Paul Scardon. A striking drama in which Morey plays the role of a labor leader who rises to great power. It was written by Lawrence McCloskey. May 27 — "Baree, Son of Kazan," starring Nell Shipman and Alfred Whitman under direction of David Smith. An adaptation of James Oliver Curwood's powerful story of the Canadian North Woods which ran in "The Red Book." Serial— "The Woman in the Web," featuring Hedda Nova and J. Frank Glendon under direction of David Smith and Paul Hurst; May 6, Episode 5, "The Hand of Mystery"; May 13, Episode 6, "Full Speed Ahead"; May 20, Episode 7, "The Crater of Death"; May 27, Episode 8, "The Plunge of Horror." Big V. Comedies — May 6, "Laws and Outlaws," featuring Earle Montgomery and Joe Rock; J. A. Howe, director; May 13, "Spies and Spills," featuring Lawrence Semon; written and directed by Lawrence Semon; May 20, "Love and Lavallieres," featuring Montgomery and Rock; J. A. Howe, director; May 27, "Romans and Rascals," featuring Lawrence Semon; written and directed by Mr. Semon. Vitagraph Drew Comedies — Featuring Air. and Mrs. Sidney Drew; May 6, "The Story of the Glove"; May 13, "Fox Trot Finesse"; May 20, "The Mysterious Mr. Davey"; May 27, "Rooney's Sad Case." These Drew comedies are selected subjects from the Vitagraph library and represent some of the best work that Mr. and Mrs. Drew have done since thev began the making of comedies. They have been re-edited and retitled and new prints sent out. Reports from Vitagraph are to the effect that they are meeting with the same popularity which they enjoyed when first issued a few years ago. The Vitagraph program for May is one of the largest of any single producing company in the industry and the fact that the sixteen subjects listed are already complete is an excellent instance of producing efficiency. Film Will Please Married Folks W'ives who imagine themselves unhappy and those who deplore the fact that romance flits from their lives after the' honeymoon will find much to interest and amuse them in Billie Burke's next picture, released April 29 Under the Paramount trademark, which has been based on "Divorcons," the play by Victorien Sardou, and adapted to the screen by John Emerson and Anita Loos under the title of "Let's Get a Divorce." Divorce statistics have shown that the first few years of married life are the crucial ones, after which husband and wife will have gradually learned to adapt their lives to each other and the good old ship Matrimony will sail on smooth seas. In this satire, Sardou has shown the evil of the easy divorce laws which permit the severing of marriage ties over trivial squalls, and John Emerson 845 and Anita Loos have brought the subject to date and introduced comedy situations particularly adapted to the talents of Miss Burke. The story deals with a romantic girl who, soon after her marriage, imagines herself in love with another man. The husband agrees to his wife's request that he divorce her. but determines to awaken her to a realization of the folly of her infatuation. He invites his rival to share his home as a guest and arranges that his wife shall have an abundance of the man's society. The plan works admirably and the young woman becomes so disgusted with her vain and shallow lover that she flies back to the protecting arms of her husband, with romantic ideas completely knocked out of her head. Billie Rhodes in Double Role Billie Rhodes, the clever, captivating comedienne playing in Mutual-Strand comedies, does a double role in "Spotted," the release for April 30. Begoggled, mustached and in livery, Billie plays the part of chauffeur, and in black dress and white apron she is a most fetching maid. The plot revolves around the desire of a pretty heiress to be "loved for herself alone," who turns her house over to a couple of friends for the entertainment of a handsome young relative, who falls in love with the maid, confesses to her "twin brother," the chauffeur, and finds that he has proposed to a vigorously wooed debutante. «.*fH** ■ JMT A pathetic scene in "Playing the Game,'" a Thomas H. Ince picture for Paramount release, starring Charles Ray.