Moving Picture World (Apr-May 1918)

264 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 13, 1918 Scene from "Heart of the Sunset" (Goldwyn). Capellani Stages Big Interiors in ''Social Hypocrites' THE setting used for the staging of "Social Hypocrites," May Allison's first Metro starring vehicle in her own right, are most elaborate and spaclous. Albert Capellani directed this screen version of Alicia Ramsey's stage play, "Bridge," and planned and designed the sets in co-operation with Technical Director Edward J. Shulter. "Social Hypocrites" is a story of English society life, and most of the action takes place in a large English mansion. The majority of the big situations occur in the parlor of the residence of Lady Mountstephen. In all over 150 scenes were taken in the big room. The settings occupied half the floor space of the studio, and was as massive as it was striking. The big fireplace gave forth a cheering atmosphere, with four-foot logs blazing merrily. The set was furnished and dressed with antiques mainly of the Elizabethan period. Director Capellani spent many days browsing in New York shops until he found just the properties that would give the rich settings the proper tone. On the walls were hung coats of arms and suits of steel armor, while valuable tapestries and portieres adorned the doorways. An idea of the sumptuousness Miss Pickford Speeding Up. Mary Pickford is speeding up work on her newest Artcraft picture, which follows "M'liss," in order to be in readiness for the Third Liberty Loan campaign, which begins April 6. In order to be on the ground in time Miss Pickford will probably leave California about the first of April. She will have five of the largest Eastern cities to cover and will be gone probably a month on the drive for the Government, in which a number of the other greatest stars in the film firmament also will take part. The new picture, under direction of William D. Taylor, is "How Could You, Jean?" a story by Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd. The scenario is by Frances Marion. A strong cast will support the star, with Casson Ferguson in th§ juvenile of the furnishings may be gained from the following extracts from the prop list: Elizabethan armchairs, bronze Charles I, English oak consol, one spinnet, Elizabethan inlaid mother of pearl cabinet, etc. Tlie rugs used also give an excellent idea of the character of the mountings. The largest w^as an old rose rug 19 by 51. The library of the mansion was in keeping with the parlor. Well filled book shelves lined the walls, and required the addition of several hundred volumes to the Metro property department. The hall was furnished in Italian marble with a magnificent fireplace as a prominent feature of the room. For the baccarat gambling scenes a typical parlor of chance was built, recalling in its appointments the Casino at Monte Carlo. In order to present exteriors in keeping with the interiors the magnificent residence and estate of George McKesson Brown, a Wall Street broker, at Huntington, Long Island, were used. EliminaUng Inconsistencies World Film Appoints Board of Five to Get After Anachronisms. FOR the purpose of eliminating all the inconsistencies which wise film fans spot at once and which in many instances have marred big productions, put out by some of the country's biggest producers, all World-Pictures are now being checked up by a staff of five people before work on a picture is commenced. It is realized by the World-Pictures executives that with the elimination of inconsistencies from all pictures — no matter by whom they are produced — that the entire industry will immediately assume a higher level in the eyes of the public. It is largely because of anachronisms and inconsistencies that the silent drama has not been received on the same high plane as the spoken drama and in blazing the trail in this particular line, World-Pictures is doing its bit in raising the standard of appreciation in which the public holds pictures. Bach little detail in a ^scenario is checked up by this board of four men and one woman before production is started, and as the scenes are taken and developed they are flashed on the screen in the World's private projection room for further checking up by the board. Judge Browns Go in Montreal. Exhibitors catering to children and young people are finding the Judge Brown Stories distributed by General Film Company a profltable and well worth while series, to judge by the experience of Proprietor Conover of the Imperial theater of Montreal. As the result of a request from the women of the city Exhibitor Conover has arranged to give a series of Saturday picture entertainments for children, the stories written and produced by Judge Willis Brown being given a place of prominence on these weekly programs. "The Broke (Triangle). New York's Bohemia has been picturized for "The Love Brokers," new Triangle drama, the second release on the Triangle March 31 schedule. This was formerly announced as the first feature of the week of April 7. Alma Rubens has the stellar role. Bryant Park, known as the Beaux Arts section of New York, provides the locale for this story, a screen adaptation of "Another Foolish Virgin," by W. Carey Wonderley, author of the recent Triangle social satire, "The Marriage Bubble." 'The Lion's Claws'' Opened April 1 to Large Bookings lead. THE latest Universal serial, "The Lion's Claws," featuring Marie Walcamp, opened on April 1 with bookings to a larger percentage of theaters than ever have booked a "U" serial in the past. Universal's latest serial consists of eighteen episodes of two reels each, or thirty-six reels in all. In promoting the sales campaign on "The Lion's Claws" the argument of constructive film rental has been used extensively by Universal salesmen, with the result that numerous houses which have been pushing the "double feature" program to attract business have decided to drop the extra feature and stick to serials instead. Another assistance to the Universal salesmen was the fact that exhibitors throughout the country had an opporunity to see the first six reels of "The Lion's Claws" before being approached on a booking. This was made possible through the policy of the Universal Company deciding not to limit trade showings to exchange cities alone, but screening the first six reels whenever and wherever an exhibitor expressed a' desire to see them. In "The Lion's Claws" the work of Director Harvey has been favorably coriimented upon. Miss Walcamp in the leading role of "The Lion's Claws" is surrounded by a well-balanced cast. This includes Edwin August, Ray Hanford, Thomas Lingham, Nigel De Bruilliere, Henry Von Meter, Rex De Roselli, Gertrude Astor, Alfred Allen, Frank Lanning, Charles Brindley, Sam Polo, Leonard Clapham, and Sam Appel. The scenes of the serial are placed in wildest Africa. Critics Praise "The Floor Below." Mabel Normand's country-wide success in "Dodging a Million," which marked her first screen appearance after an absence from the cinema field of nearly two years, has been succeeded by another, newspaper critics everywhere agree. It is "The Floor Below," made by Goldwyn from the story by Elaine Sterne and directed by Clarence G. Badger. Without dissent the newspaper reviewers praise the work of the star and the excellence of the story.