The Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 59 Lois Weber in "Until Death.' At the Sign of the Flaming Arcs By George Blaisdell. THE work of Phillips Smalley and Lois Weber of the Rex Company, is attracting attention. In the first place, there is behind their acting always a story; and it is of the peculiar quality that first gave the Rex Company fame among screen followers. The reason for this is simple. The source of their stories now finding favor is the same as was the source of the earlier ones — in other words, in the fertile brain of Lois Weber. The author in this instance has no occasion to complain of an unappreciative director, of a script so mauled and mangled as to make the finished picture unrecognizable to the eye of its creator. Mr. Smalley and Miss Weber not only portray the leading characters; they direct the work of the entire cast. These two players are giving much attention to two-reel subjects, and with marked success. Miss Weber is at her best in the role of the young matron — the womanly woman who makes the home. She radiates domesticity. In one of her plays, shortly to be released, there is a striking instance of this. 'Bobbie's Baby" is the title. The mother has lost her only child. The empty cradle stands in its old place of honor. The husband and wife, driving in an automobile through the suburbs, leave the machine for a stroll. They hear the cry of an infant; the wail comes from a barn. The little one is taken home; it is bathed and cared for. Sitting in the lap of the nurse of the baby that is gone is the new-comer, sans clothes. The wife is looking into its face, laughing, crooning. The same cradle, now about to have another occupant, is hard by. The sunlight floods a scene that will strike home to every one who has ever loved a baby. The filming of Miss Weber's latest story, a double tragedy, "Until Death." in two reels, very nearly resulted in the death of Harry Pollard, playing one of the three principal parts. In making a fall over a cliff Mr. Pollard received a blow over the heart. Development of the film indicated the necessity of a retake. Following this scene Mr. Pollard had to be buried in a supposed landslide, with only a hand and arm above ground. When he was lifted out, after a rehearsal and the taking of four scenes, he was more dead than alive. If one may judge from a synopsis of the picture, the climax will be as thrilling as it is dramatic. * * * "Billy" Garwood has left the Thanhouser forces to play the leads in Farrell McDonald's Powers company. * * * Did you see Florence Lawrence in Kinemacolor? To be sure, it was only for a minute, but it was worth while. The popular screen girl was cornered by the cameraman during the great suffragette parade in Washington on March 3. The fact that she was mounted on a high-spirited charger did not in the least diminish the force and extent of the old familiar, ever charming smile. * * * In a letter to a friend in this city Edwin August says he is hard at work at the Vitagraph studio at Santa Monica. He is under the direction of Rollin S. Sturgeon. It is no hazard to say that the combination of these two men will result in really fine stuff. * * * The decision of the Vitagraph company to put Robert Thornby, of the Western studio, at the head of a comedy crew is a cause for congratulation. Those who have seen Mr. Thornby in comedy will understand why. His recent appearance in the guise of a tramp was a fine bit of character portrayal. The action of the Biograph company in supplying to licensed exhibitors the grouped and identified photographs of its principal players will be heartily appreciated by thousands of picture followers. It is to be regretted that in the center of this group there could not have been placed the likeness of the one man to whom not only is due whatever individual distinction Biograph pictures possess, but to whom also,, for his splendid and artistic services to the silent drama, present and coming generations of picturegoers will have cause for gratitude — Director Griffith. * * * Now that the newspapers of the country are devoting space to motion picture "news" we may expect to find statements that really are new. The Omaha World-Herald of March 2 in a sketch of "Jean" Fearnley, says that from the stage she "graduated to the motion picture platform, beginning with the Reliance company, where for the past year she has been playing leads with King baggot." Miss Jane Fearnley is playing leads with William Shay in Mr. Brenon's Imp company. Aside from these minor inaccuracies the item seems to be nearly right. On the same page G. M. Anderson is described as a cow-puncher and horseman on the Western ranges in mere boyhood. There are men in the East who are under the impression that "Broncho Billy" acquired his knowledge of horsemanship after he had attained to man's estate. Some of the syndicated "bunk" that is being spread broadcast will stand trimming. * * * The admirers of "Little Mary" received a pleasant surprise in the Biograph release of March 15 — "The Unwelcome Guest" — in which this popular actress appeared. It is said tiiat this picture, which was made last summer, has been withheld from the market in the hope that it might be used as the first of a series. The success of Miss Pickford in "The Good Little Devil" has been so marked, however, that it has practically precluded the possibility of her return to the screen. * * * Siegmund Lubin, of Lubinville, a life Screener by the way, paid a visit to the Screen Club on the 2ist. He was entertained by President Baggot. * * * Met up with Shannon Fife on Good Friday at the City Theater. Mr. Fife has written many of the Lubin scenarios, and is going strong. When not otherwise engaged he is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, where for more than a year he has been taking a special course. Mr. Fife hails from Dallas, Texas, and has behind him five years' newspaper experience. * * * President King Baggot of the Screen Club has received the following message: "Have seen London, Paris, and am now seeing Rome. Always turn toward Forty-fifth and Broadway when I take my nightcap. Love to all the boys. James Slevin, American Express Company, Rome." * * * Jay Hunt, the well-known director, is out on the Pacific Coast working with Thomas Ince in Kay-Bee pictures. Mr. Hunt has had a long and varied experience in stage and theatrical affairs as well as in directing the making of pictures. His hailing town is Boston, but he confesses to a liking for the metropolis. * * * Marcus Loew has added another theater to his Xew York string— this time the biggest of the lot. It is the Broadway, at Forty-first Street, for years the home of big dramatic productions. Five and six reels of first run pictures will be shown daily. There will be three singers — good ones. An orchestra under the direction of Ernest Luz will pay particular attention to "playing the pictures," beginning at 1.30 p m. The prices of admission will be 10 and 15 cents in the daytime, advancing to 25 cents as the maximum in the evening. There are 1.900 seats. Joe S. Engel, an old theatrical man and showman, is the manager. He has been with Mr. Loew for several years. It was in 1899 that Mr. Engel showed the first moving pictures in Cuba — and under a tent. In those days when traveling in smaller communities, Mr. Engel said on Monday, it was necessary to carry 4,000 pounds of baggage in order to project a twelve-foot picture. The Broadway will show its first picture at io o'clock each forenoon. There was a good attendance on its opening day. And still the old line theaters continue to come into the kinematographic fold! * * * Joe Engel of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company is in Los Angeles on a business trip. * * * Harold Shaw, formerly of the Edison Company and later of the World's Best Film Company, is now at the Imp studio, directing the company of which King Baggot is the head.