Moving Picture News (Jul-Oct 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS 29 The Art of Scenario tOriting By WILLIAM LORD WRIGHT And 1 Year's Subscription to Mo-Vin^ "Piciure J^etvs for $2.00 to the charms of a sweet country maid. Then the rich woman realizes that she loves him. She goes to the country, hoping to rekindle the old flame in his bosom, but too late; for love triumphs and he prefers his little country bride to the rich woman, who thought to play with his affections. On the same reel : SHOULD WOMEN WOKK?— Mr. Proudfoot is suddenly convinced of the fact that there are many, many women in the world working very hard for a living, and he decides that henceforth he will never let a woman work. He goes out and assists every female he meets, but returns later in a different frame of mind, having made up his mind that the answer to the question is YES ! EDISON HIS GREATEST VICTORY (Aug. 8).— Jane Doone has told Lieut. John Blake that she will marry him, and a reception is held by the girl's relatives to announce the happy event. In the midst of the merrymaking a soldier suddenly enters with dispatches ordering Blake to the front. A hasty wedding is performed between Blake and Jane, immediately after which Blake, accompanied by Crane, who has acted as his best man, departs for the war. In his first engagement, Blake behaves like a hero and saves the colors from the enemy. He is severely wounded in the course of the fight and left for dead on the battlefield. When he regains consciousness, he gives his coat to one of his comrades and picks up a canteen on which the name of John Stokes is printed, thinking it to be his own. He then drags himself to a sentry outpost. After a six weeks' struggle between life and death in the hospital, he at length emerges sound in body, but with his mind a perfect blank with regard to every detail in his past life. The canteen bearing the name of John Stokes seems to him to be the most plausible clue to his own identity, and he re-enlists tinder that name. Meanwhile, the name of Lieut. John Blake has been reported among the missing after the battle. To Jane Doone, the first poignant sorrow of her loss is gradually softened and mellowed by the hand of time. Two years later the war is over. Crane, now a colonel, is an ardent suitor for Jane's hand. She at last consents and journeys out to the army post of which Crane is in command. Blake, still bearing the name of John Stokes, is one of a detachment of soldiers which arrives at the post shortly before Jane. Crane recognizes him and, like the officer and gentleman that he is, and although it means sacrificing himself, succeeds in clearing Blake's muddled brain by bringing up old recollections. Thus the long separated husband and wife are reunited. No opportunities for strong dramatic action have been overlooked in the staging of this exciting play of love, war and sacrifice. GREAT NORTHERN A SHOT IN THE DARK (Aug. 2).— This dramatic offering has an appealing touch and in it are seen Miss Thomson and Mr. Psilander in roles which are entirely suited to their personalities. And in order that honors may be fairly divided "Little Sunbeam" Frederickson, of the Great Northern staff, has been assigned to an important part and plays it with her accustomed chic and intelligence. According to the story depicted on the screen, Johnson, a young solicitor, _meets a former sweetheart during the absence of his wife and baby girl on a vacation trip. Upon the return of the latter, Eva, the wife grows suspicious because of her husband's conduct and gains from him a confession of his wrongding. Eva leaves him and with Jane, an old servant, and little Dorothy, makes her abode elsewhere. The child is overtaken by illness and old Jane hastens to the father to notify him. It is agreed between them that he shall make a secret visit to his former home at eleven o'clock at night. While kneeling at the bedside of his baby the mother is aroused and, hearing a sound in the sickroom, supposes that a burglar has entered the house. The shot that she fires in the dark at the intruder results in a superficial wound and is the means of bringing about a reconciliation. The play is well acted and is a most interesting offering. ITALA THE WAR CORRESPONDENTS.— Bretton, furnished with credentials to Balkan officers, obtains a personal letter from the Minister of War, charging his subordinates to give the young newspaperman every assistance. On the train Bretton meets Clark, correspondent of a rival newspaper. While passing through the customs, Clark catches sight of Bretton's letters of recommendation. Not having any himself, he resolves to steal thern. The story jumps to the scene of warfare where Sonia and her father are tending their she' p. The old man is killed by a stray bullet and is buried by his mourning daughter. The two correspondents proceed on foot to headquarters and notice, from tlie edge of a precipice, a skirmish between the contending forces. In order to more clearly observe the fight, Bretton throws down his knapsack. Approaching too near the edge, be makes a false step and falls. His cries are heard by Sonia, who, in going to his rescue, risks her life. Clark cuts open his rival's knapsack and steals the coveted papers. Bearing these he goes to headquarters, where he is warmly received. Bretton recovers from his fall and is somewhat smitten by his rescuer. Found by the soldiers, without credentials, he is arrested as a spy. He escapes from the guard tent and gallops away on a horse, untouched by the sentry's pursuing bullets. A battle is in progress and both correspondents have their stories ready. Clark, tricked by Sonia, is detained in his attempt to reach the telegraph oflice and so Bretton's telepram goes through. When Clark finally arrives the wires are congested. Disgruntled, he visits a neighboring theatre, but the enemy are within range and a well-directed shell crashes through the building and sends the audience and performers fleeing for their lives. Clark, among others, is rendered unconscious. Bretton hearing of an impending battle on the sea, journeys there and, by climbing a tree, sees the demolition of a majestic war vessel by a hidden mine. Again the correspondents hasten to the telegraph office and Sonia, aiding Bretton, again foils Clark. Bretton, to obtain a better view of a land conflict, goes aloft in an aeroplane. It is shattered by a shell and falls earthward with a sickening crash. Sonia, who has been captured by the Turks after being wounded, has escaped from a hospital mosque and is want'ering around when she sees the aeroplane descend. She saves Bretton from being burned to death. Again Bretton is triumphant in getting his story over the wires ahead of Clark. He asks Sonia to return home with him as his wife. The young people on the conclusion of hostilities arrive in Bretton's home town and are congratulated warmly on their work by the newspaper proprietors. Bretton and Sonia meet Clark, their former enemy, and all differences are ended in a warm handshake and the declaration that "all is fair in war and love." There is a rapid succession of big and thrilling scenes. A bridge is exploded and the train plunges through the opening into the river. There is much burning of gunpowder, a theatre is destroyed by a bursting shell, and there are the active manoeuvres of artillery, cavalry and foot soldiers. FREE! FREE!! TO DEMONSTRATE THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR LABORATORY WE WILL DEVELOP FREE THE FIRST 500 FEET OF EACH NEW ORDER. PRICES: — On Guaranteed Eastman Stock Printing 4 cts. Title 5 cts. Developing one cent per foot. COMMERCIAL NEGATIVE MADE AT 15 CTS, PER FOOT. Capacity of 50,000 daily. The Pan-American Laboratories. Offices, Seventh Floor Candler Bldg., 230 West 43nd. Bryant 6S86. SIMPLEX NOTES The following installations have been made this last week by Hallberg : 2 complete machines for the Scenario Co. of Newark, N. J. ; 1 complete machine for St. Johnsville, N. Y. Through B. F. Porter : 1 complete machine for Winter Garden, New York City ; 1 complete machine for True Feature Film, New York City ; 1 complete machine for Ninetyninth street Park West Theatre, New York City; and the following^ for the Jake Wells Circuit : 1 complete machine for the Bijou Theatre, Richmond, Va. ; l complete machine for Grand Opera House, Atlanta, Ga. ; 1 complete machine for Majestic Theatre, Birmingham, Ala.; and 1 in Bronx by the Emergency Machine Co., New York City. Fifteen machines were shipped to the Kineto Co., of London, England, by the Precision Machine Co. The Simplex Service Bureau booklets are being eagerly sought for by all operators and exhibitors. The factory is still three hundred machines behind on orders, due to a large and increasing demand for this famous projector by the particular exhibitors. J. E. Robin, special representative of the Precision Machine Co. for the past two years and who traveled more than 40,000 miles in the interest of the Simplex, has recently been appointed sales manager, due to the overburdening work on General Manager H. B. Coles. KINEMACOLOR NEWS Edward Frieberger, lecturer-at-large on Kinemacolor pictures, who has been touring the Chautauqua circuits with great success this summer, finds the audiences not only appreciative but anxious for more. Many wait after the show to ask questions, and some "speak out in meetin'." During the solemn Coronation scene a little boy piped up with the query: "Mister, why does the King wear that fur rug?" During the Durbar scene, a lady sent up a request that Mr. Freiberger "make the elephants go slower," explaining that her daughter was an art student who wanted to sketch some of the designs on the state robes.