Moving Picture World (May 1919)

674 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 3. 1919 ROTHAPFEL'S UNIT IDEA PROGRESSING Distinctiveness in Every Detail His Goal — Announces Some Features of First Program r^ AMUEL L. ROTHAPFEL'S first obUnited States District Court by Patrick ^ jective, foilowing quality of produc J.Casey. ■^-^ tion and detailed artistry in his Unit Program, is distinctiveness in product and personnel of characters. The very foundation upon which his Unit Program rests, the idea— and the realization of this idea— both are distinctive. But distinction in the idea alone, is far from satisfying Mr. Rothapfel's aim. Distinction in every detail is his goal. The Rothapfel idea of art in motion pictures has been impressed upon the millions, particular in his manner of exhibiting, and standing head and shoulders above everything, the Rothapfel idea of musical accompaniment has sounded a note new to the art of giving soulful expression to the silent drama. These attributes are not air-castles. They have been realized. They stand on their merits. They have been expected. They have been approved. In entering the producing field, Mr. Rothapfel is incorporating all these ideas, the fruition of years of experimentation and success, into his Unit Prograrn. The public has yet to pass on its merits. He onlv asks that he be given consideration; that the public wait and judge for itself. , , . Massenet's "Elegie" is used as a basis for a very interesting number. With the music as a background, a short allegory on life and happiness is presented. It is entitled "The Final Hour. This, in a way, symbolizes the theme of the main feature, "False Gods," which follows. Comedy Written by Hobart. The comedy was written by George V. Hobart, one of America's best known playwrights. Mr. Hobart wrote the script from a suggestion offered by Mr. Rothapfel. In the cast are Helen Weir, Yvonne Sheldon, Templar Saxe, Walter McEwan, A. J. Herbert and Eugene Acker. The feature number on the program is a screen version of a play by a well known author. Mr. Rothapfel personally supervised these productions. The players are decidedly popular and have by their many appearances in the silent drama proved that they are entitled to the name of star. The magazine number on the first program has been assembled and contains subjects including scenes taken by Sergt. Owens, U. S. Marine Corps, exclusively for Mr. Rothapfel. These scenes show the veterans of the battle of Chateau Thierry and the famous trench scene with Sergt. Dan Daly in person, said to be the most decorated hero of the war. One of the magazine numbers gives a description by the editor of "Everybody's Magazine" of the Marines at Belleau Wood. This magazine number is entirely away from the conventional news reel and is novel in everj' respect. "Japanese Nightingale" Answer Filed. The sale of the motion pictue rights to the play entitled "A Japanese Nightingale" to Darcey & Wolford, Inc., was made with the kowledge and consent of the Protective Amusement Company, according to an answer filed in the The Protective Amusement Company, which was organized by Klaw & Erlanger to buy and sell the film rights to theatrical productions, is seeking to enjoin Pathe Exchange, Inc., Darcey & Wolford, Inc., and Mr. Casey, who is vicepresident of the Protective Amusement Company, from exhibiting the photoplaj^ on the ground that the defendant Casey was not duly authorized to dispose of the film rights. Pathe Exchange, Inc., filed an answer to the complaint recently setting up the purchase of the motion picture rights to the play from Darcey & Wolford, Inc. M. Porter Plans Western Trip. M. Porter, general manager of the Company, E. E. Precision Machine Company, builders of Simplex Projectors, is planning an extensive trip this week which will carry him far westward, and in swinging around the circle will bring him in contact with many of the Simplex distributors who are awaiting the newest Simplex improvement. Samuel L. Rothapfel. Not ill a Fighting Attitude, But in a Directorial Pose as He Supervises Work on the feature of His Unit Program. "Women Who Win" Gets Another Royal Player WOMEN WHO WIN," the great six-reel photoplay in which Her Majesty Queen Mary, Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Sweden and Princess Patricia of Connaught took a definite part, has a further interest. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra consented to take a part in this drama and the scene was photographed in the conservatory of Marlborough House, April 4. The artistes who appeared before Her Majesty Queen Alexandra were Phyllis Villiers and Mary Dibley. Also included in this scene was Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria, who took a great interest in it. Also included in this picture with Her Majesty was Miss K. Belt, the organizer from Women's Service, who has done so much to make this picture a success. This picture will soon be shown to the trade. The story was written by Almaz Stout, the chairman of the Society of Lady Journalists. The producers are Percy Nash, and Fred Durrant. The selling rights for the world are owned by T. H. Davidson, 171 Wardour street, London, W. I. Ernest Shipman to Manage Shipman Curwood Pictures ERNEST SHIPMAN has signed a two years' contract with Canadian Photoplays, Limited, of Calgary, as business manager of the film productions of James Oliver Curwood. Nell Shipman will be the star of the company. James Oliver Curwood has given the Canadian company a two years' option on all his published and unpublished stories. The first production founded upon Curwood's "Wapi, the Walrus," which ran serially in a popular monthly magazine, is now nearing completion at the Brunton studios. The snow scenes were "shot" on Lesser Slave Lake, eighty miles north of the fifty-fifth parallel, and at thirty degrees below zero. David Hartford is the director, and in a long cast of notables are Ronald Byron, Wheeler Oakman, Wellington Playter, Charles Arling. Dal Clawson and Joseph Walker stand sponsors for the photography. Mr. Curwood spent a month "on location" supervising the correctness of the scenes. A whaler frozen in the ice, a great fighting dane, the North West Royal Mounted, and over a third of the picture shown in the long Arctic night are some of the features. The project demands such concentration of management that Ernest Shipman has disposed of all other picture interests and will devote his exclusive time to Canadian Photoplays, Limited. The offices established at 17 West Forty-fourth street. New York, will be retained for the use of the Canadian company. Changes in Universal Press Staff. John W. Krafft, formerly connected with the Indianapolis Star, is the latest addition to the publicity forces in the New York home offices. Mr. Krafft, a feature writer in Indianapolis, will take charge of the Universal Bulletin, a weekly publicity service, and the exhibitors press book service. M. Lowell Cash, also a former Indianapolis newspaperman, and for the past eight weeks publicity representative of the New York Universal Exchange, has been selected to succeed J. L. Johnston, in the home office publicity department. Mr. Johnston recently resigned to take over publicity and advertising work for the Finkelstein & Rubin theatrical circuit of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Fred E. Baer has been selected to succeed Mr. Cash at the New York Universal exchange. Carey Film at the Broadway. Following a week of big business with Mae Murray's recent Universal Special Attraction, "The Delicious Little Devil," the Broadway Theatre, New York, began a week's showing of Harry Carey's latest Universal release "Bare Fists" on Sunday, April 20.