Moving Picture World (July-Dec 1909)

878 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Mount Erebus, they made their records and observations, they went so far and they got back again. And here are the records of what they did — the records in pure moving picture photography. Those of us who have never been to the Arctic regions and who never mean to go there will no doubt be interested in seeing these pictures. * * * They are good photographs of the hinter land. The lecture which I heard is in the hands of an accomplished traveler and educated journalist. He had to talk to an almost empty house. But he had been through part of the work himself and spoke with evidence and sincerity. He knew his business, in fact. It is the intention of those having charge of these films to release them amongst the moving picture theaters of the United States and I should think, as records of what men have done — I mean scientific records of work accomplished — they will be enormously popular with the American public. Coming Feature Films, and Remarks About the Christmas Picture. Vitagraph Activity — A Notable Reel Early next year the Vitagraph Company will send a company to Jamaica and the other islands of the West Indies to get local color for a series of stories which will be instructive as well as entertaining. Such enterprise helps to maintain the motion picture as the most educational development of the century. * * * Immediately after the departure of the Vitagraph Southern company another troupe of experts will be got in readiness to proceed to Nevada and Southern California. A. E. Smith, of the Vitagraph Company, travelled through this section last Spring and took notes of many ideal spots for moving picture scenery. * * * The Vitagraph producers are engaged in collaboration with the Rev. Madison Peters, D.D., in arranging another series of Biblical illustrations. Following "Moses" will come "The Life of Joseph," followed by "King David." It is proposed to continue the series indefinitely according to the demand. THE LIFE OF MOSES— PART I. (Vitagraph.) This is a graphic reproduction of the main events in the early life of Moses, corresponding closely to the conception which has been inculcated in the minds of people who have attended church and Sunday school. That it is the first of a series which will deal with the whole life of tins great Biblical character is not clearly indicated in the title of the film. The skeleton of the story is gathered from the first two chapters of the Book of Exodus, and it has been elaborated upon with considerable fidelity to the customs and costumes of ancient Egypt, as handed down to us through the long ages. In many respects this is the most noteworthy film of the year. It presages a series of Biblical illustrations that has been a much-felt want in the library of moving picture subjects. It will entail no small effort and expense on the part of the Vitagraph Company to live up to the standard they have set themselves in this first of the series. Sumptuous in production, the staging is evidently the result of long study and pains. While the main dramatic features of the Biblical narrative have been seized upon, there is nothing "stagey" — nothing out of keeping with the character of the subject or that unfits it for exhibition in Sunday school or church gatherings. Yet it is handled with a fine dramatic spirit that will win the approval of any audience. While the stage management is entitled to praise, the costuming and setting mainly consistent and the action, never lagging, is more than merely good in some cases, yet there are two characters that are seemingly misinterpreted. We refer to King Pharaoh and his chief minister. There is a lack of dignity and balance in their action which was the only jarring note. This is only our opinion and even to us was a trifling blemish in a picture that is deserving of the greatest praise and commendation as a whole. We hope to be able to say the same of the others of the series. The moving picture is never better employed than in portraying great events and great men in the history of mankind. The dramatic element abounds in the life of Moses, the first great liberator, leader and lawgiver. To make such films useful to the exhibitor and instructive to the audience an explanation or lecture, running easily and naturally with the pictures is almost a necessity. For the benefit of exhibitors such an explanation or "picture reading" is given on another page of this paper. If the standard set in this first reel is maintained, or improved upon, the exhibitor and lecturer will soon have a very fine library of religious subjects to draw from — subjects that will never grow old. Numbers of the film makers have already advertised their Christmas week releases, pictures bearing on the glad yuletide, and more will probably be announced next week. Just how many of the firms contemplate releasing strictly Christmas Day pictures has not been ascertained, but it is hardly probable that there will be as many this year as in the past. The subject of seasonable or topical pictures has been threshed out before and the general opinion of the film exchanges, buying licensed pictures, is: "We don't want them," or, at least, a surfeit of them. Why? Perhaps it is for the same reason that holly decorations grow tiresome to the eye a week or two after festive days. They invariably come down the second week or so in January and are relegated to the ash can or the musty garret. We don't want them, nobody does. They invariably remind us of the things we didn't get or the cost of the things we did get. Seasonable or topical films are not popular with the film exchanges because of this same peculiar whim of the people who want to be amused. The popularity of a Christmas picture lasts through the holidays and not much longer. The film man finds little profit in the Christmas picture; indeed, when so many are thrust upon him it requires some months to get over the blow. Now, why there should be a prejudice against a strong Christmas picture is not clear, nor is it reasonable. In the subject of yule-tide there is inspiration for innumerable dainty little episodes, merry comedies and strong human dramas. It does not seem fair that all thisgood material should go to waste. Let us say, however, that the Christmas picture, as a feature, should be dispensed with and let us suggest that all the film makers reserve for their Christmas release "their masterpiece," the one great film of months, the very best product of their studios. Make the Christmas picture not a seasonable picture but each one the "most notable film" and "the real sensation of the year" (with any other appellations their ad. writers may have in mind) and let Christmas week represent all that is best from the licensed manufacturers and give opportunity for the public to note what giant strides have been made in the film world since the year began. In discussing this with Mr. George K. Spoor, president of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, he remarked that it was a good suggestion and should be utilized. "We are not releasing: a Christmas picture," said Mr. Spoor, "but we have reserved for Christmas Day one of our best Western pictures. I would suggest that all film makersespecially reserve for their Christmas week releases the very best subjects they have on hand. Make Christmas week notable in the film world for its number of art films, a fitting summary of a successful year. This, I feel, will prove in^ finitely more satisfactory to the film exchanges." The Essanay Company's Christmas picture is a Western drama, entitled "The Heart of a Cowboy." The story is an exceptionally strong one, the photography is distinctly clear and the acting is thoroughly convincing. It is released Saturday, December 25 — Christmas Day. * * * A CORNER IN WHEAT (Biograph). Calling at the Biograph Studio one day a few weeks ago. we found the office entrance almost barricaded by sacks of wheat — tons of it — stacked up almost to the ceiling and filling the spacious hallway. We jokingly inquired if the Biograph Company were trying to corner the wheat market as well as the film market. We were told that they had not only tried, but had succeeded in cornering all the available grain in the New York market at that time. Not the visionary options that are juggled in Wall Street, but the actual commodity. It did not require a Sherlock Holmes intuition to arrive at the conclusion that this car-load of the "staff of life" was destined to appear as one of the "props" in a coming Biograph drama. On December 13 the picture-loving public will see how the Biograph Company utilized this great mass of grain as the setting for a dramatic climax to what is perhaps the most impressive of any of their soul-stirring dramas. Back to Nature, to the honest toil and simple life of the farmer we go for the beginning of this story, every scene of which is a picture. The sowers at work in the field, the care and the gathering of the grain, the wearied and anxious farmer who has to accept whatever price is offered him by the great Wheat King. We are shown this demon of moderntimes gambling in the Exchange with options representing this product of honest labor. We are shown glimpses of the misery of the poor who cannot afford the prices asked for bread. The price of flour is held to the top notch while