Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1917)

128 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. April 7, 1917 The Selznick LineUp "The Eternal Sin" Is Now at the Broadway Theater and Other Strong Features Are Coming. THE great spring drive of Selznick-Pictures is on. With four new features ready for release and four more well under way. the assault of the Selznick forces upon the trenches of the program" producers looks more formidable than ever. The next Selznick-Picture to be released on the general market is Herbert Brenon's presentation of Florence Reed in "The Eternal Sin," now playing its second week at the Broadway Theater, New York City, where it is drawing even larger houses than "War Brides." The production to follow "The Eternal Sin" on the Selznick schedule is Norma Talmadge's second feature under the management of Joseph M. Schenck, a drama from the pen of Wilson Mizner, entitled "The Law of Compensation." In April two Selznick productions of extraordinary interest will be released, the first being Robert Warwick in "The Silent Master," a picturization of E. Phillips Oppenheim's novel, "The Court of St. Simon." This marks the American premiere of the famous French director, Leonce Perret, and everyone who has had private glimpses of this picture predicts a real sensation. The second April release will be Clara Kimball Young in Eugene Walter's tremendous play, "The Easiest Way," produced under the direction of Albert Capellani. Meanwhile the Selznick stars and producers are busily engaged on their new production. Herbert Brenon and his company return this "week from New Orleans, where they have been making the exteriors for an adaptation of Louis Joseph Vance's widely read mystery story, "The Lone Wolf." Norma Talmadge and her associate players have already returned from the South to complete the filming of "Poppy." Director Charles Giblyn has finished the scenario adaptation of Virginia Terhune VanDeWater's story, "Why I Left My Husband," for Clara Kimball Young, and Robert Warwick is well advanced in the production of an original story by his director, Mr. Perret, entitled "The Modern Othello." It is expected that the schedule of two productions a month will be maintained throughout the spring and summer. The May releases as planned will be "The Lone Wolf" and "Poppy," and for June the new Clara Kimball Young and Robert Warwick pictures. "THE INEVITABLE" (Art Drama). Intending to avenge her father's death by ruining his enemy's son, and discovering when she has nearly completed her work that she loves the youth, Florence Grey, the heroine of "The Inevitable," an Erbograph Art Drama, is a character of force and distinction. As played by Anna Q. Nilsson, the beautiful "Star of the North," as a countryman — a poet — once called her, the character takes on reality in a surprising degree, and the tense drama woven around her is made into a masterpiece of the shadow art. A brilliant cast, headed by Miss Nilsson, and containing such names as Chester Barnett. Lucile Dorrington, and William Bailey, enacts this notable drama in a way worthy of its unusual story. It will be released April 5. WARREN COMPLETES FIRST SUBJECT. Edward Warren returned from Florida and North Carolina the other day and celebrated the completion of the first production to be released under his own trade mark, "The Warfare Scene from "The Warfare of the Flesh" (Warren). of the Flesh," by making plans for his next feature. The play he has just finished for the state right market has engaged his attention for sixty-nine hours a day since early last January. The interiors were finished a week ago at the Brenon studios and the allegorical prologue was staged and whipped into shape in the warm states of the south. The announcement of the release "The Warfare of the Fesh," heralds Mr. Warren's debut as a producer-director-manufacturer. New Erbograph Company Formed Marion Swayne Will Lead and Joseph Levering Will Direct — Features for Art Drama Program. A SECOND company of players, headed by Marion Swayne and directed by Joseph Levering, has been orgazined by Erbograph to produce features for the Art Dramas program, according to announcement made this week by Ludwig G. B. Erb, president of Erbograph. Work has already been started by this new company on a play written especially for Miss Swayne by the Rev. Clarence J. Harris, the prominent scenario writer. In this story Miss Swayne, long one of the most popular screen stars, is given an opportunity to enact the sort of characterization which has made her such an admired player. Marion Swayne, who will be remembered for her work in "The Adventurer," a recent U. S. Amusement Corporation production on Art Dramas program, and in "The Deemster," the picturization of Hall Caine's story, has been in pictures for four years. She started under Edgar Lewis, and almost immediately attracted attention. From the beginning her rise was rapid. Joseph Levering, who will direct Miss Swayne, is a man with proven genius and long experience. He has been with Solax, Pathe, Edison, and Gaumont, where he was managing director for several years. Among his most successful productions are "The Cup of Chance," with Alice Brady; "The Tides of Time," with Mary Nash, and "Capital Punishment," with Lenore Ulrich. "THE TRUFFLERS" (Essanay). Strong bookings are reported on "The Trufflers," Essanay's picturization of Samuel Merwin's Cosmopolitan Magazine story. This feature, presenting Nell Craig, and an all-star cast, was released through the Kleine-Edison-Selig-Essanay Service April 9. The story proved to be immensely popular through the country. It was read by millions. This fact should provide a juicy bit of free advertising for exhibitors who book the picture. According to reports from advance showings of the film, it presents a more fascinating entertainment, even, than the story. Another attraction which "The Trufflers" is said to hold forth is its cast. Besides Nell Craig, who is a star of nationwide prominence, others appearing in the picture are Sydney Ainsworth, Richard C. Travers, Ernest Maupain and Harry Dunkinson. All of these have a good individual following among photoplay patrons. Fred E. Wright adapted the story to the screen, and directed its production. "The Trufflers" is based on life in New York's colony of artists — Greenwich Village. A gripping love-drama is interwoven into the plot, which has to do with the fascinating Bohemian life led by the artists. The picture has a screen time of 1 hour 10 minutes. "ON TRIAL" NEARLY FINISHED. Half the scenes for "On Trial" have been filmed by Essanay. The picturization of Cohan & Harris' tensely dramatic stage hit is steadily progressing. Its release date will be announced shortly. "On Trial" was one of the most vivid and like-like portrayals of a big murder trial ever put on the stage. It ran a year solid on Broadway, had a run of five months in Chicago, and created an equal sensation throughout the country, from coast to coast. The nation-wide acclaim with which the stage drama was received is counted upon to prove a powerful box> office magnet for the Essanay picturization. Reports from the studio are that the photodrama will hold far more interest, not being hampered by the limitations of the stage. James Young is directing the production. Sydney Ainsworth, who has won popularity throughout the country with his strong character roles in "The Prince of Graustark," "The Chaperon" and other productions, plays the part of the half crazed Strickland. Mr. Young has the role of Trask, Barbara Castleton will be seen as Mrs. Strickland, Corene Uzzell as Mrs. Trask. and little Mary McAlister as Doris Strickland. "On Trial" will have a screen time of approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. "THE TIDES OF BARNEGAT." Scheduled for release by Paramount on April 12 Is F. Hopkinson Smith's "The Tides of Barnegat," a most popular book, adapted by the Lasky company. Mr. Smith's wonderful descriptive powers and his knowledge of the sea, combined with the quaintness of the setting which he chose for his story, make "The Tides of Barnegat" realistic and absorbingly interesting. It is a peculiarly human story of self-sacrifice and sisterly devotion which, in itself, would have a strong appeal vrere it shorn of its fascinating elements. A marine architect by profession, but a painter and writer by inclination, F. Hopkinson Smith had the deft touch and the broad vision of the true artist, as every one who is familiar with his novel already knows. In the cast of this exceptional production are Blanche Sweet, Elliott Dexter, Tom Forman, Harrison Ford, Lillian Leighton. Norman Nichols, Walter Rogers and the ever delightful little Billy Jacobs.