Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1178 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX. No. 25 "Stolen Orders" Has Successful Premiere Crowd Packs Park Theatre in New York and Picture Holds Everyone Until the Last Scene THE premiere of the picturized version of the Drury Lane melodrama, "Stolen Orders," took place at the Park Theatre in New York on Sunday evening, June 2. Notwithstanding the intense heat, with the thermometer dancing in the nineties and with a theatre packed to capacity, William A. Brady's masterly hand in contriving suspense and thrills was evident from the fact that not a single person in the audience left until after the picture was finished and accorded a fitting tribute by unrestrained applause. The cast is headed by four stars — Kitty Gordon, Carlyle Blackwell, Montagu Love and June Elvidge, with scores of other prominent actors in minor roles and big scenes employing thousands. Every accessory necessary in the making of a patriotic picture was placed at the disposal of Mr. Brady — who, by the way, is a member of the National Council of Defense — by the government. Battleships, naval launches, hydroaeroplanes, anti-aircraft guns, sailors, marines and not forgetting commissioned naval officers, participate. President Wilson, in sympathy with the purpose of the picture, permitted himself to be shown on the screen while delivering a speech in which he hurled an indictment against the enemies within our gates. The Italian government tendered to Mr. Brady the use of war scenes taken on the Italian front, which are cleverly introduced and lend great zest to a succession of thrills seldom seen on the screen. In the filming of "Stolen Orders" it became necessary for Mr. Brady to construct a dirgible balloon, which is destroyed by anti-aircraft guns. The very places where the anti-aircraft guns successfully did their work by a strange freak of events are the selfsame locale where the German submarines have been operating. Kitty Gordon wears gorgeous clothes in "Stolen Orders." It is to pay for these clothes that — in the picture — she finds it necessary to raise more money than is given her by her husband, Admiral Gaveston. So Miss Gordon, in the role of the admiral's wife, steals sealed orders given him by the navy department which he is to open after his fleet has gone to sea; but it is only after John Le Page, played by Montagu Love, has persuaded her that he is a member of a peace society and that she will help him end the war. Le Page is really a German spy. Le Page has a daughter, Ruth, played by June Elvidge. Ruth meets and falls in love with Lieutenant Gaveston, played by Carlyle Blackwell, who is Mrs. Gaveston's brother-in-law. Admiral Gaveston discovers the loss of the sealed orders while a party is in progress on board his flagship. He orders everyone searched. He starts with his brother, Lieutenant Gaveston. But young Gaveston carries in his pocket an incriminating letter which a German count has written Mrs. Gaveston, so, rather than be searched, he leaps overboard. The honor of both Admiral Gaveston and the young lieutenant is put in jeopardy. The search for the papers is started by Lieutenant Gaveston and he is aided by Ruth. Ruth discovers that her father has the orders. Le Page attempts to escape to sea in a dirigible balloon, taking his daughter with him. While they are in the air, the pilot of the balloon turns on Le Page. The pilot is a man who has been terribly wronged by Le Page years before and has been waiting his chance to get even. Ruth gets the sealed orders from her father. In a terrific fight the two men fall from the balloon into the sea. The American anti-aircraft guns set the balloon on fire. Ruth falls into the water, but is rescued by Lieutenant Gaveston, who has been pursuing in a hydro-aeroplane. New Fox Exchange at Buffalo. Busy at New Fox Exchange The office staff of the new exchange of the Fox Film Corporation at 209-211 Franklin street, Buffalo, are busy making arrangements for the formal opening of the exchange the latter part of this month. The manager, Thomas A. Brady, and his force will then be settled in their new building after moving from Syracuse. New methods, 'better equipment and additional employes have made it possible to reorganize the office on a more efficient basis. This is especially true in the inspection room, where six young women are busy taking care of films. The correspondence department also has been strengthened through the addition of extra help, and special racks have been installed by an efficiency expert in the shipping and paper department. Exhibitors will find it particularly easy to get prints of their films, as two or three prints of each picture will be on hand all the time. Manager Brady is also working on an arrangement to make all shipments by special delivery parcel post, as it has been found that express service is too slow. Daily motor service between Buffalo and Rochester also will give added speed to shipments to communities between those two places. A private telephone exchange will make it possible for exhibitors to get into touch with any department of the exchange. Another feature of the plant, which by the way occupies a whole building by itself, is the largest fireproof vault in the city. A large projection room, with entirely new equipment, is another facility placed at the service of exhibitors. In all, it is estimated that it cost the Fox Film Corporation more than $4,000 to move from Syracuse and equip its Buffalo office, but the change was made imperative, it is said, by the tremendous growth in the Fox business in the territory served by Buffalo.