Moving Picture World (Jan - Feb 1919)

1070 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Scene from "Under Four Flags" (Official). Obtains Much Material from Current Magazines THE filming of popular stories appear ing in the fiction magazines has recently become a marked feature of the production activities of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. In fact, including five productions released during the last few weeks, the list of Paramount and Artcraft pictures recently completed or now in course of production includes no less than sixteen which were adapted from short stories or serials which have appeared in magazines. Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, in charge of production, in commenting upon the matter said: "This policy, or tendency if you will, on the part of our company, pronounced as it is, is the result of much careful deliberation on the part of our scenario and production departments. We have given it a thorough tryout, and in no case that I can recall has such an adaptation failed to register a conspicuous success when it has been released. "The safety of the policy is, you might say, inherent, Mr. MacAlarney, our scenario editor, has so systematized his department that all the magazines of importance are assigned to expert members of his staff for careful reading. "Among recent successes of adaptations of magazine fiction I might cite Wallace Reid's last two Paramount pictures, 'Too Many Millions,' adapted by Gardner Huntingfrom Porter Emerson Browne's Magazine story, 'Someone and Somebody,' and 'The Dub,' adapted by Will M. Ritchey from the magazine story by Edgar Franklin; Bryant Washburn's 'The Way of a Man Witli a Maid,' Ida M. Evans' magazine story which Edith M. Kennedy scenarioized, and the same Paramount star's 'Venus in the East,' which Wallace Irwin contributed to the same periodical and which Gardner Hunting adapted; also Dorothy Gish's Paramount picture, 'The Hope Chest,' which M. M. Stearns adapted from Mark Lee Luther's story which first ran serially in a woman's magazine. "Elsie Ferguson's Artcraft picture, 'The Marriage Price,' tentatively scheduled for March release, is an adaptation by Eve Unsell of Grisfold Wheeler's 'For Sale,' and the same star has just finished the production of 'Eyes of the Soul,' which George Weston wrote under the title 'The Bait of the Earth,' and which Miss Unsell also scenarioized." the "service." In order that they may be properly projected, there has been installed in the Knight of Columbus Hut, Broadway and Forty-sixth street, New York, a Power's 6B Cameragraph, through the United Theatre Equipment Corporation of New York. First Pictures of Dardanelles Surrender. The Pathe News No. 11 scored an "exclusive" on the occupation of Constantinople by the Allied force's — the first pictures of the surrender of the Dardanelles. The proceedings of the great Peace Conference give to even the casual reader the vital significance of the fact that the Gateway of the East is open to the world and the cause of centuries of war is forever removed. How terrific was the bombardment of the Allied fleets is shown by the wreck made of Sedul-Bahr by British long range guns. An excellent view is given of the historical landing of General D'Esperey and staff at the city of the Sultans to complete the plans of occupation. Then the Goeben, Germany's famous warship, again changes hands. It was turned over to Turkey in 1914, and the Pathe News shows it going into the possession of the Allies, Plays Heavy Role in "Island of Intrigrue." Hector C. Sarno is playing the heavy role of Count Pellessier in "The Island of Intrigue," May Allison's newest starring vehicle now under production at the Metro studios. Sarno has been in pictures nine years. He has been with Vitagraph, Biograph and Fox, among other companies. His engagement for "The Island of Intrigue" is his first work for Metro. Sarno prefaced his advent on the screen with long experience in the legitimate drama here and abroad. For four years he was in the support of the eminent Italian actor,' Ermete Novelli, playing throughout Italy. Power's Supplying the Service. In no line of endeavor have motion pictures become of such vital necessity as in "Molly of the Follies'' Completed. The screening of "Molly of the Follies" has been completed. This is the fourth of a series of pictures starring Miss Margarita Fisher. The film is described as being different from anything as yet attempted by Miss Fisher, and is a play that gives her excellent opportunities. Edward Sloman is the director. Jack Mower plays opposite Miss Fisher. The picture is to be released through Pathe Exchanges, February 16. February 22, 1919 Prominent Authors Supply New Material for Hayakawa THE Haworth Pictures Corporation, one of the producing units of the Exhibitors' Mutual, filming features starring Sessue Hayakawa, has mapped out a series of pictures for the Oriental actor for which the material has been supplied by E. Philips Oppenheim, Thomas J. Geraghty, L. V. Jefferson, Clifford Howard and Mary McNeil Fenollosa. Among the stories which Hayakawa will produce during the year is "The Illustrious Prince," by E. Philips Oppenheim, which offers splendid screen possibilities. Tom Geraghty has contributed "The Courageous Coward" to the Hayakawa repertoire. L. V. Jefferson's offering to the Japanese series will be "The Debt," another strong drama of the type Hayakawa prefers. "The Gray Horizon," by Clifford Howard, and "The Dragon Painter," by Mary McNeil Fenollosa, are others on the schedule for the coming season. Strong Role for Karle Williams. Complete "stills" of a forthcoming Earle Williams feature, "A Gentleman of Quality," just received from Vitagraph's West Coast studios, are reported to be particularly promising in point of action as well as pictorially. Concurrent with the arrival of the photographs came the report that the picture is ready for final critical unreeling. Earle Williams in "A Gentlemam of Quality" is provided a role that gives him full scope for the exercise of his delineative powers. This role presents him as the beneficiary of an overly exacting foster-father, whose despotism forces him to flee the home provided for him. Katherine Adams is Mr. Williams' leading woman. Others in the cast are Joyce Moore, James Carpenter, Robert Bolder, George Pierce and Donald Byram. The picture was directed by James Young. It is set for mid-March release. Buys Rights to Another Norris Novel. Bessie Barriscale, starring in her own productions released through Exhibitors' Mutual, is to be a Kathleen Norris heroine again. Announcement is made that the B. B. Features have just purchased the rights to Miss Norris' novel, "Josselyn's Wife." This will be the star's second appearance as a Norris heroine. Maie B. Havey, head of the scenario department of B. B. Features, will prepare "Josselyn's Wife" for the screen. Director Howard Hickman has chosen his technical staff, which will include Fred Crift, assistant director; Guy Wilkie, cameraman; George Nogle, assistant cameraman. Swift Action in "Toto's Troubles." Toto, formerly ckwn at the New York Hippodrome, deserting the footlights for the screen, has more than made good as a movie funmaker. In "Toto's Troubles," the Rolin comedy, released by Pathe on Feb. 16, he has one of the best vehicles for his peculiar art. His work is different from' that of any other droll in the pictures in that it combines the distinct Individuality of the clown with that of swift, modern farce comedy. In "Toto's Troubles" the action is a swift succession of laughs and Toto does some of his most strenuous stunts. tloss Engages Gertrude Berkley. Everybody remembers "War Brides" on the screen and Gertrude Berkley's portrayal of the mother, which paves the way to announce that Miss Berkley has been engaged by B. S. Moss to play a mother role in the forthcoming "Break the News to Mother." The middle of March will see the release of the picture. The direction is by Julius Steger.