The Moving Picture Weekly (1917-1919)

-THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY -17 THE RED ACE ' Mr. Jaccard was informed that every episode of the serial should have at least two punches, and, three, if possible, and that the ending of each episode, like a successful serial story in a magazine, should come at the most interesting point. Miss Walcamp was in New York at the same time, and did all of her shopping for the serial in the metropolis, sat for abundant photographs, and made a few appearances and speeches in New York houses in connection with second and third runs of "Liberty." When Mr. Jaccard and his star returned to the Coast, he had a thorough and comprehensive idea of all that the home office required to put oyer a serial properly, and every requirement has been skilfully and completely followed. Several episodes of the serial are already in the factory, and every one of them ends in the manner required, has more than the number of punches specified, contains an unusual amount of suspense, and is far superior in every way to the outline of the story, which Mr. Jaccard read to the heads of departments in New York City. There is every of the new Universal serial. prospect that "The Red Ace" will hang up the record among Universal serials, and it will have to be a tremendous winner to do that. There isn't a more daring woman on the screen to-day than Marie Walcamp. She is fully entitled to the appellation, "the dare-devil of the screen." Mr. Jaccard has written "The Red Ace" in such a way as to give her unusual opportunity to , perform feats of daring and stunts which require the firmest of wills and a resolution which will flinch at nothing. Jumping from a racing automobile to the back platform of a swiftly moving train is easy for Marie, and hanging by one hand from a rope bridge over a chasm a hundred and twenty-three feet deep, and firing her revolver on an adversary with the other hand, looks like a very easy matter as one sees it on the screen. A dive from a 60-foot rock into Lost Lake is accomplished with the grace of an Annette Kellerman. Almost any horse is like a rocking-chair to Marie, but in "The Red Ace" she. has an opportunity for the display of horsemanship which has never been offered to her before, and she takes full advantage of it. Marie Walcamp is incomparable in "The Red Ace." The advertising book on "The Red Ace" has already been written, and is off the press, ready for delivery to the exchanges. It contains the full and complete methods for advertising the serial, and putting it over to the best advantage in every kind of house. Any exhibitor can obtain this book by writing to the nearest Universal exchange. Here is a brief idea of the story. This synopsis does not attempt to tell the story completely, but gives only the rough outline to show you the different factors, places and situations that enter into this serial. In a moment's notice you can visualize the romantic, adventurous and thrilling possibilities of "The Red Ace": While Virginia Lee, daughter of an American mining man, is attending a fashionable bazaar given for the benefit of the American Red Cross, Doctor Hirtzman, of a foreign Secret Service, is smilingly Jacques Jaccard author and director. telling his associates that the "Black Eagle" has sailed to the fatherland with six hundred ounces of much needed platinum. But the Doctor does not know that, while he is speaking, American ships overtake the "Black Eagle" and sink her. Patrick Kelly, travel worn and weary, forces himself into the bazaar and gives Virginia a letter from her brother Richard, who is at the "Red Ace" Mine, telling her that since taking a contract to supply the government with platinum, every shipment has been stolen — messengers killed — and Virginia's father has disappeared. Virginia, very much worried, makes a thrilling and suspensesustaining race for the Canadian train. Inspector Thornton, of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, receives orders to arrest Virginia's father and brother on a charge of treason for aiding and abetting the enemy. The Inspector instructs Private Winthrop to carry out the orders. Meanwhile, Virginia's brother is attacked by a mysterious shape, and is left for dead but survives just long (Continued on page 39)