Moving Picture World (Jul 1919)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 231 July 12, 1919 BRUNET FORECASTS PATHE’S SEASON Announcement of Plays and Stars Promises Profitable Season for Picture-Showmen Using Pathe Productions — Men and Women of Prominence Numbered Among Stars I HAVE been queried regarding what has been styled our new feature policy,” says Paul Brunet, vice-president and general manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc., “and I would reply that the plan in operation, and that to which we are holding, is not new. In fact, the feature policy requires no changing. It is impossible to make it more flexible than it has been for years. Pathe Practices Open Booking. “Exhibitors know that they can book any Pathe subject at any time without regard to any other Pathe subject or service. It is our aim to work with strict impartiality for the interests of both producer and exhibitor, and we are succeeding to the fullest measure. Pathe has always recognized the perfect right of the exhibitor to make his own selection of entertainment for his patrons. Thus it is that we have open bookings, with absolutely no strings attached to it. “ ‘Oh, Boy,’ with Creighton Hale and June Caprice, the booking would indicate, will duplicate its stage success and, with it, Capellani makes a new record. ‘The Thirteenth Chair,’ also a feature made from the spoken drama and produced by Leonce Perret. is another special, which promises to be one of the season’s great box office attractions. The plan is to issue one ‘special’ each month. Specials Made from Stage Plays. “Dolores Cassinelli has completed the first of her pictures. ‘The Virtuous Model,’ from ‘Le Ruisseau.’ the Parisian stage play and the productions to follow (along with the Hale-Caprice plays) are to be offered singly, each on its merits. August 24 is the release date of ‘The Love Cheat,’ Capellani’s most recent production, with Creighton Hale and June Caprice. Also there will be special features starring Mae Murray, Blanche Sweet and Marjorie Rambeau. Eight Features in Series. “We are building up a strong array of features which at this time include Frank Keenan, Virginia Pearson and Alma Rubens. They are offered one picture at a time on individual merits, or in a series of eight, with one picture cancellation privilege. Frank Keenan’s first two (of his series) are giving a splendid account of themselves — ‘The Master Man’ and ‘The Gates of Brass.’ “The third, ‘The World Aflame,” has been referred to as an epochal play. It treats of a modern problem from a point never approached before. ‘The World Aflame’ I am assured on competent authority, promises to be as timely to the universal social unrest as ‘The Battle Cry of Peace’ was to its day of military unpreparedness. And there are others to follow in this series, all of them big of theme. M iss Pearson and Miss Rubens Starred. “Virginia Pearson’s first production, ‘The Bishop’s Emeralds,’ at once established this favorite in a place of fine dramatic achievement. The second picture is nearing completion. In ‘Impossible Catherine’ Miss Pearson swings to a character extreme that sweeps her into the air on an aeroplane flight and sends her across a pole field in a grueling contest. The story has been described in a combination of ‘The Cave Man’ and ‘The Spoilers’ idea of modern shrew-taming, but done with an originality and quality of surprise that make it both good comedy and drama. “Alma Rubens, starred in twenty odd Triangle pictures, has just completed ‘Paradise Annie,’ by Dr. Daniel Carson Goodman, the author of the much discussed novel of American life, ‘Hagar Revelly.’ The picture story is modern in theme, has a big thought behind it and is especially strong in its appeal to women. In it, Miss Rubens finds the best role of her entire career. Blanche Sweet’s Offerings. “Blanche Sweet, as already announced, will appear in her own productions and Jesse D. Hampton promises that the stories, their interpretation, investiture and setting will reach the mark of new achievement. Miss Sweet has an enormous following, which has been increased by her splendid work in ‘The Unpardonable Sin.’ She possesses the gift of pathos and of tears; smiles and sunshine. And what more can be said of such an artist? Marjorie Rambeau Joins Pathe. “Marjorie Rambeau’s remarkable series of stage successes has created for her a following, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and her appearance in pictures, under the direction of Albert Capellani, makes a noteworthy conjunction of emotional art and skilled technical direction. Miss Rambeau has a charm of personality that has endeared her to theatregoers; and she will be recalled, with appreciation, for her work in ‘The Eyes of Youth,’ a poem of a play in which she fully realized every shading of its sentiment.” Priscilla Dean Honored by Aerial Club. Priscilla Dean, Universal’s star, was “Queen of the Air” for two weeks at Vancouver, Canada, where a two weeks’ peace celebration was held. Miss Dean was selected by the Aerial Club of Canada to be the honored person and according to advices received from the West Coast she flew from Seattle, Wash, to Vancouver with Aviator Hoy, an army officer. The peace celebration started July 1 and Miss Dean made personal appearances at the motion picture theatres in Vancouver during the following 'two weeks. Creighton Hale Dolores Cassinelli, Blanche Sweet and Frank Keenan, Who Will Star in Special Pathe Productions. The plans for the coming year call for special features. These are four of the stars who will be called upon for the big parts.