Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1912)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD "59 situation is set up that requires both heroism and ingenuity to solve. Lieutenant Growblewsky is the man of the hour. While carrying a message from Parlow to the Princess, he comes upon her dazed coachman and learns of her abduction. He sets off on horse like one of those romantic heroes of old to fight his way single-handed. He hears from a peddler in a tavern what gives him a clue and has no trouble in enlisting the peddler's services. The latter has been beaten by Rocowitz and is anxious to get even with his proud young assailant. These ill-assorted adventurers swim the moat of the castle and come upon a veritable secret entrance, whose existence became known to the peddler through his intrigue with a housemaid. They descend beneath the lofty walls and creep through an underground passage for a long distance, finally emerging in a room that has no apparent exit. They grope about the walls until they come upon a spring, which throws open a door leading directly into the room where the Princess is confined. The action becomes more animated every moment. Rocowitz learns of the daring invasion of his castle and gathers his retainers to cut off all avenues of escape, but the heroic young friend of the groom has foreseen all contingencies — he has sent a message to the revived groom himself. When rescuers and rescued come out of the castle gates, fighting every inch of the way with swords and pistols, they meet a supporting force from without. A hot conflict ensues, but a carriage is in waiting and the persecuted Princess is carried away to a final triumph. Her people have been aroused at last to the infamy of the Black Chancellor, and even the troops are in such a state of insubordination that the cavalry — a fine body ot men and horses — appears on the outskirts of town and acts as escort for the now-triumphant Princess. As she passes under gate after gate, the people acclaim her return with joy. She is as much beloved as the Black Chancellor is hated. What of him? He seeks refuge with the Prince Zoba, but is coldly received as a failure. While he struggling to re-establish himself in high favor with the Prince he exhibits the suffering of a man in the last stages of fatal disease. His time has come. This is emphasized by a message from his most faithful officer. Rocowitz has cast his die and lost, but he saves himself and leaves the country with a message to the Chancellor advising the latter to kill himself. Destiny settles his fate. He recoils under this last blow and dies in the chambers of Prince Zoba. The costumes of officers and ladies in this royal play are of striking brilliancy, but still more interesting and beautiful are the exterior scenes. These are chosen with high artistic taste. The story itself is clean in motive. Love is powerful enough to overcome the evil designs of the Black Chancellor, and the types are so admirably chosen that our sympathies are enlisted on the right side. Princess Flavia in the "Prisoner of Zenda" says, "If love were all!" Princess Irene responds, in the "Black Chancellor," "Love is all!" GROWTH IN MORAL PERFECTION AND STRENGTH. It is now more than a year since any criticism of moral weakness or obliquity in the picture has been expressed in these pages. This growth out of those occasions for such criticism was expected and predicted. A higher grade of picture, feature films, educational topics and an improved personnel, are each in part responsible for this improvement. The writer has never been able to give credit to censorship for any advance towards perfection. A watch-dog has nothing to dp with the increased value of the contents of the house; neither is a policeman responsible for the moral and intellectual advancement of the community. Higher aims, culture and educational progress alone are the causes for this commendable condition. The old saying that "water rises to the height of its source" is often verified. The organ of inspiration to any body of people has large responsibilities, in that it often becomes the source from which many draw their own standard of morals or efficiency. When that source is carefully and thoroughly prepared, it must follow that its example and precepts will tell upon those dependent upon it. That the moving picture has had high ideals always placed before it, with large possibilities anticipated consequent thereupon; it is no longer surprising it should grow in moral strength and protection. Having arrived at this stage it must without any pride, yet with justifiable self-respect, prepare to take its place as a teacher of those same principles which have brought it to its present standing, with the added powers in other and large fields of its unlimited curriculum. WARNER GETTING IN RIGHT. Announcement is made that Mr. A. Warner, who has been trading under the title "Warner's Features," has secured control of a modern and fully equipped studio and manufacturing plant in New York City, which will be used in the production of feature pictures to be handled exclusively by his concern. On the strength of that acquisition Mr. Warner has caused his interests to be incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. The incorporated company will be known as Warner's Feature Film Company and is capitalized for $100,000. 1 1 h 1 L^X Pv ^to>% mm mmS^k H i I ¥ MR. A. WARNER. Through the acquisition of a New York studio and factory, working in conjunction with the St. Louis Motion Picture Company, now under contract to turn out one western subject each month, the Warner Feature Film Company is now assured of two features every month. In addition to this output Mr. Warner has contracted for the product of a foreign manufacturer of merit. The first release for September appeared on the 16th, entitled "Peril of the Plains" and is reviewed at length on page 1167 — this issue. Arrangements have been made with the Gaumont Company, through its representative, A. C. Bromhead, now in New York, to place all Warner's features through that company's exchanges in Canada. LOTH BUILDING THEATER CHANGES OWNERS. The Loth Building Theater, 1828 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, was purchased recently by Gilbert R. Waterbury from Mr. Charles R. Letts. The Loth Building Theater was the first moving picture house on Washington Heights, and did a long and prosperous business under the Letts regime. The policy of the house will remain the same as heretofore, and the same staff of employees will continue, including Mr. Jack Tonkins, chief operator. TO STOP THE PIRATES. Legitimate feature film concerns all over the country are making a concerted effort to stop the pirating of their films by resorting to the courts. The Feature and Educational Film Company of Cleveland, the Universal Features of New York, the Century Film Company of Springfield, Mass. ; the Tournament Film Company of Toledo, and the Mutual Film Corporation have started in the work. Attorneys for all of these companies are busy gathering evidence and starting suits. The F. & E. Company is now fighting two suits, one in Milwaukee and one in Cleveland, and two concerns in Chicago and one in New York, it is reported, will shortly find themselves defendants in copyright law suits. The F. & E. Company has issued a warning to all concerns claiming to sell and book films which it controls and an affidavit has been sent with the \varning.