Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1918)

1226 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD March 2, 1918 Gerard Sees "My Four Years In Germany' Luncheon Given for Trade Paper Representatives by "My Four Years in Germany, Inc." at Hotel Astor, February 9, When Ambassador James W. Gerard Explained His Reasons for Picturizing His Experience With the Imperial Government. IT IS difficult to realize from the dignified bearing and unfurrowed brow of Ambassador James W. Gerard the harrowing scenes of which he has been an eyewitness and the strain under which he worked in the interests of America in the hotbed of German diplomacy. It is only the realization that he is about to undergo a dangerous operation, due to an infection caught in a German prison camp, that one begins to realize the personal hazards through which he has passed. Mr. Gerard is intensely interested in the forthcoming production from his book and, realizing the dangers of the surgeon's knife, he expressed a desire to see the picture even though Director William Nigh has not quite completed the titling and assembling. "I was impressed," said Mr. Gerard, in a recent talk to a gathering of film representatives," by the eagerness shown by the thousands of people who flocked to hear my lectures, to learn about the inside history of this gigantic struggle of nations, and my interest in this film production is so great, because I realize the vastness of the audiences reached in the motion picture theater and the thoroughness and reality with which the story is told in this film. If there be any American in whose mind there is still a question of the necessity of America's entry into this war, the production will settle that question forever." It shows Prussianism as it really is — the Kaiser, whose oath is worth nothing whether he pledges himself as monarch or man; Tirpitz, Hindenburg and the Imperial ring, who toasted Gerard and lauded America while they were sinking neutral vessels and sending American citizens to watery graves and fabricating lies, plots and conspiracies to sow among Americans here. It shows the iron hold of Prussianism on the German people, the outrages of women and children in Belgium and France, the systematic starvation and mistreatment of prisoners, the deportation and enslaving of noncombatants, the deliberate ravaging of towns and countries, the sinking of neutral vessels and the attitude of the Emperor and his clique toward America before war was dreamed of here. You will be amazed at what Gern any intended to do to us. You will see the Emperor tell Gerard why Germany invaded Belgium, the many insults and indignities to which America was subjected, facts and incidents that Germany never intended to see the light of day. Lust Reports Good Business with Ivans. Sidney B. Lust, president of Super-Film Attractions, is going right ahead with his usual good work. Troublesome times, Garfield orders, zero weather only urge him to more effective work. It is, therefore, that the Ivan Publicity Department, which is initiating a publicity campaign throughout the country, is pleased to be able to quote Mr. Lust: "I am handling your productions, 'Babbling Tongues' and 'Married in Name I inly.' Both subjects are giving satisfaction, and are of good construction and photography. The exhibitors have shown their approval of the first named subject, but the latter is only starting off. Tom Moore played 'Babbling Tongues' to a wonderful business; also the Hippodrome, Baltimore; and as a result of the advertising from these engagement we enjoyed a -number of good bookings throughout the State of Maryland." Ivan Film Productions again urge all handling their productions to co-operate with their publicity department, so as to produce the best possible results for all concerned. of the Frank A. Keeney Pictures Corporation. It is the intention to handle New York State, New Jersey and New England direct, and probably to state right other territory. Frank A. Keeney is president of the new concern; Ray C. Owens, secretarytreasurer and general manager, and Mayer C. Goldman, general counsel. The headquarters will be in the Putnam Building. Broadway and 43d street, New York, where Mr. Keeney's general executive offices are located. There will also be offices in Boston, Philadelphia. Chicago and other cities. "A Romance of the Underworld," which is to be the first release of the producing company, promises to be an interesting picture, not only because of the fact that it stars Catherine Calvert, but also because of the intrinsic interest of the story and because of the talented cast with which her director, James Kirkwood, has surrounded her, including David Powell, Eugene O'Brien, Edwin Forsberg and Sybil Carmen. Keeney Forms Distributing Corporation. The Frank A. Keeney Distributing Corporation has been organized for the purpose of marketing the feature photoplays Sterling Secures "The Natural Law." Under the terms of a deal just concluded France Films, who have been handling "The Natural Law," featuring Marguerite Courtot, dispose of the entire rights to this picture for the United States and Canada, with the exception of greater New York, to the Sterling Pictures Corporation. SALES OF THE WEEK. Activities in the State Right Market During Past Seven Days. General Enterprises announce the sale of New York state rights to "Mother" to the Modern Feature Film Company, and advise that the entire territory for "The Warrior" has been sold. * * * Frank J. Seng advises that Fred D. Murphy of the United Film Service, Inc., who is already handling "Parentage" for New England, will also have change of the distribution of this picture for New York State, from his office at 86 Exchange street, Buffalo. * * * General Enterprises announce that the rights to "The Crucible of Life" for Australia and New Zealand have been sold to George Meyer, an English buyer, and that other foreign territory has been secured by J. Frank Brockliss. * * * Following sales of Jester comedies have been made by the Jester Comedy Company: to R. M. Savini, 63 Walton street, Atlanta, Ga., for North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee; to Foursquare Pictures Inc., 1911% Commerce street, Dallas, Texas, for Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas; to Foursquare Pictures, Inc., New Orleans, for Louisiana and Mississippi; to R. D. Marson Attraction Company, 26 Peidmont street, Boston, for the New England states. * * * Fun-Art Films, Inc., have sold the rights to "A Rag, a Bone and a Hank of Hair" to Harry I. Garson, for Ohio; to Southern Metro Pictures Corporation, for the Southern States, and Western Feature Film Co., San Francisco, for California, Arizona and Nevada. Foursquare Reports Interest in "Eagle's Eye." Foursquare Exchange managers, at meeting held in the offices of the Wharton Releasing Corporation during the past week, made glowing reports of the interest aroused among exhibitors by the Flynn serial, "The Eagle's Eye," stating that a satisfactory number of contracts had already been obtained, and that great interest was being manifested in this expose of the German government's intrigues, through its spy system, against the United States, while we were maintaining an attitude of strict neutrality. Carlton Begins Nation-wide Tour. Carle E. Carlton, president of Crest Pictures, recently left New York City for a trip that will take him to the Pacific Coast to learn at first hand trade conditions as they apply to exhibitors, in order that the product of Crest Pictures may be so priced that theaters will be assured of an equitable share of the profits resulting from the booking of that product. Mr. Carlton says: "With conflicting reports about conditions, it is difficult to sit in New York and decide what is fair and what is not. There is nothing to do, if a producer wants to deal equitably by all concerned, but for him to go into the field and make his own conclusions. Where I find that exhibitors cannot afford to pay the prices that are being asked I will accept bookings direct from them at prices which I believe to be equitable, and guarantee that our distributors will honor such bookings. In a great many cases, I believe that exhibitors are not making the money they should be, because many of them fail to exploit special productions in a manner that their money-making possibilities justify. "We have engaged several field promotion managers — practical exhibitors. They will meet me, and where exhibitors are willing to be shown what can be done, these men will be sent to their cities without charge." Mr. Carlton will first stop at Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and thence go to the Coast.