Moving Picture News (Jul-Oct 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS 13 reached his destination on time and is now working hard in Western productions with the determination to secure another watch with a burglar-proof attachment. ^ ^ ifi ^ A Dragon feature film possessing excellent photography, acting, and true portrayal — the three essentials points in a feature — are readily recognized in their threereel feature, "The Blindness of Courage" or "Between Two Loves." In producing this feature, no expense has been spared, and the thrilling scene of the complete demolition of an Indian stockade, nearly cost the life of the director, Mr. Jack Noble. The cast, one that is known to every movie fan from coast to coast, is: Glen White, Jane Fearnley, Charles Horan, Julia Bruns, Hal Clarendon, of the Cecil Spooner Stock Company; Rodney Hickok, the famous musical comedy star, and Paul Hagen. ^ * H= * In "The Thirst for Gold," Will E. Sheerer was Convict 220, who is pronounced dead by the military surgeon, otherwise kindly Fred Truesdell. But Fred is strong for realism in films. After he pronounces Convict 220 dead, he is carried into another room for dissection, but comes out of a coma and makes his escape with the greedy surgeon's connivance, on promise of sharing the stolen gold he had hidden. Well, things went all right during rehearsals, but Bill did not like the looks of Doc Fred Truesdell's shiny dissecting knives. When the crank began to turn, Fred sprang forward to carve him up so earnestly, that as the cold steel tickled Bill's ribs, he jumped up with a suddenness that threw the surprised Fred entirely out of the picture. After explanations, and a mutual understanding between the supposed corpse and carver, the picture went on. Bill only wanted to make sure that Fred was not nursing a slight grudge against him. t ^ * * Gene Gauntier, accompanied by Jack J. Clark, Sidney Olcott and Allen Farnham, sailed Thursday on the steamship Adriatic for Europe. Their first stop will be at London; from there the party will journey to the Lakes of Killarney and later their tour may embrace Scotland and other countries abroad. The Gene Gauntier Feature Players were incorporated last December and released their product under the old Warner's Feature Film Company. They spent the winter in Jacksonville, Fla. — the scene of many of their triumphs when their leading members were associated with the Kalem Company. Gene Gauntier, of course, continues as the star -of the organization now gone abroad, with Jack J. Clark as her leading man and Sidney Olcott as managing director. Associated with them also is Allen Farnham, the clever scenic artist and stage manager who was responsible for all the Irish and Egyptian, Scotch and English stage settings which were always a feature of the Kalem's international productions, and that Biblical masterpiece "From the Manger' to the Cross." Miss Gauntier and her associates have been working together for the past four years. During that time they have made three trips to Ireland and have traveled half way around the globe to secure the natural atmosphere for the pictures they have produced with such success. ■fi ^ ^ ^ Elmer Grandon, actor and director, formerly associated with the Imp, has joined the Selig stock forces at Los Angeles, bringing with him Guy Oliver, Stella Rosetta, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Brown of the Kinemacolor, camera man McKenzie, likewise Betty Schade (formerly leading lady with the American), Madeline Post, Ethel Davis and Francis Newberg, leading man with the Kalem and Vitagraph. * * * * In a personal letter, addressed to Miss Vivian Rich, leading lady of the Flying A Stock Company, is contained the advice that the enthusiastic girls of Frankfort, Ind., have organized a social club known as the "American Club." The writer of the letter, Miss Pauline E. Shaffer, adds "and never a play is featured by the American Film Mfg. Co. that we do not see." The crystallized enthusiasm of these ardent American fans will undoubtedly yield incalculable good by the wholesome stimulation and natural development of the mental faculties. LINDA GRIFFITH Linda Griffith, whose portrait is presented on another page, is a Californian, and her most thrilling experience was going through the San Francisco earthquake and fire. Before this she had been doing theatrical work in her native city, but went East after the devastation of San Francisco. She was ingenue with Florence Roberts and also wjth Margaret Anglin, but in those days was known as Linda Arvidson. Miss Griffith is of Swedish descent, and last year spent the summer in Sweden visiting the home of her ancestors. She was one of the first members of the famous Biograph stock, from which many of the pictureplay stars of today graduated. She made her debut in pictures five years ago, playing opposite Arthur Johnson, and going from leads to playing in special productions, such as "Enoch Arden," "The Unchanging Sue," etc.' She was with the Biograph until persuaded by Mr. Miles to become a leading woman with Kinemacolor last September. She has the distinction of having taken part in the great film showing the flight of Miss Quimby, the famous bird woman, across the English Channel, and which was produced in England by Gaumont. Miss Griffith is of a studious turn of mind, and is a writer of no small merit, having contributed articles to Leslie's and other periodicals. In appearance she may be described as petite, a genuine blonde with great, serious eyes. Her acting is of the quiet, restrained, forceful kind, and she has created many striking characters since joining the Kinemacolor, being equally good in emotional roles and comedy parts. Perhaps her favorite part is in "As the Candle Burns," wherein she played an entire life of a woman from childhood to youth, from motherhood to old age. She is an enthusiast on Kinemacolor, as has been shown in various articles she has published lately. In "The Scarlet Letter" — generally considered the finest pictureplay produced by Kinemacolor — Miss Griffith appears as the heroine, Hester Prynne; while in the pictorial adaptation of the old English morality play, "Everyman," she plays the title role and appears in every scene. Her work before the camera is remarkable for the intensity of emotion she expresses with a minimum of movement or gesticulation. ADOLPH ZUKOR TO SAIL Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous Players Film Company, will sail for Europe August 20th on the Mauretania. Mr. Zukor will make a whirlwind tour of the continent in the interests of his company. It is believed that he sails on an important mission, details of which will be forthcoming after his arrival on the other side. A TERRIBLE NIGHT Solax release.