The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

872 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 7, 1920 Baron Daue Brings French Films, "Call of the Blood" and "Alsace 9i THE first of the big French films to reach this country since the outbreak of the war has arrived from Paris and will be distributed here shortly. These subjects were brought over by Baron R. C. de Daue, a special representative of M. Louis Mercanton, managing director of the Societe des Films Mercanton, who is generally recognized as the foremost film producer of France. Baron de Daue will spend some time in this country. He has established an affiliation with Guy Croswell Smith, Ltd., the American exporting company recently organized by J. J. McCarthy, Theodore Mitchell and Guy C. Smith, by which the Mercanton interests in America are looked after, in association with the Mercanton interests in the American film subjects which Guy Croswell Smith, Ltd., handles for the world outside of the United States and Canada. Baron de Daue is a veteran of the film industry in France and has been interested in the development of the cinematographic art for the past twentyfive years. He is a great friend of American films in France and continental Europe and his present visit is to establish reciprocal relations between the leaders of the French and American film industries, or rather those branches of the business devoted to the presentation of the big feature specials. Has Two of the Best. His services were of great value in establishing "Intolerance," "The Birth of a Nation" and "Broken Blossoms" in the European markets. The last named picture, made by America's D. W. Grif Smiiiimiminriiiiiii 1 Just Read the First ! | THE article on page 877 from 1 Watterson R. Rothacker, presi | dent of the Rothacker Film | Company of Chicago, inaugurates a | series of feature stories to be pub i lished by MOVING PICTURE | WORLD on novel and practical uses 1 of the motion picture. | As Mr. Rothacker himself has said, | "The best advertisement will never | be written" because the motion pic | ture, more powerful than the written | word, has entered the field of selling 1 to the public. I And, too, the growth of the non | theatrical lines of the moving picture 1 has been one of the most stable de | velopments of the industry. The | making of pictures serving church, | school and industry at large has | taken on proportions so large that in | many cases the plants catering to | these lines have not been able to | keep pace with the demand. The series of articles inaugurated by this story of Mr. Rothacker's is therefore particularly timely. It will be followed by others, dealing not in generalities, but as here with specific cases where the motion picture has served novel and at the same time practical ends. Good reading! fith. Baron de Daue unconditionally pronounces the finest cinema ever presented upon the screen, and he predicts that its European vogue will exceed that of any motion picture that has yet been presented upon the screen throughout the civilized world. Two Good French Pictures. Baron de Daue brings with him two of the best pictures made in France since hostilities ceased. Foremost of these is M. Louis Mercanton's production of "The Call of the Blood," a picturization of Robert Hichens' novel of that title. The scenes were taken in Rome, Sicily and Africa, where the action of the story takes place. It follows the Hichens narrative closely. The scenes are said to be realistic and beautiful and the direction to be faultless. The surroundings and background are actual glimpses of aristocratic life in Rome, with a pastoral charm of Sicilian exteriors. The picture's value is further enhanced by a cast including the stunningly handsome Phyllis Neilson Terry, M. LeBargy, one of the foremost actors of the Comedie Francais in Paris, and Ivor Novello, De Gravone, Desdemona Mazza and Lo Turco. Scenes of Alsace. The other picture Baron de Daue brings over is "In Old Alsace," a charming and whimsical study in photographic action of the Erckmann-Chatrian operetta, "L'Ami Fritz," which Jack Mason and Marion Manola did in this country some years ago, and which was subsequently used as a vehicle by young J. K. Emmett. It is a semi-human fairy story of the rural life of a town in Alsace when men had to be coaxed into marriage under the ever watchful eye of the storks and a few busy humans who made the assisting of courtships a vocation. With the original music synchronized to the action of the picture, it is said to be irresistibly charming. "In Old Alsace" was taken in that regained province of France under the direction of Rene Rervil, who was aided by Mme. Devorod, of the Moliere Films Societe, an associate of the Comedie Francais, from which institution the cast was recruited. It includes such distinguished artists as M. Max, M. Mathot and Mile. Duflos, one of the most beautiful women ever presented to the screen. During his stay in America, Baron de Daue is making his office with Guy Croswell Smith, Ltd., at 807 Longacre Building, New York City. he last visited New York's Main Street. He echoed the general complaint that there was nothing to take that made the lights seem brighter and frequenter, but kicking against the Eighteenth Amendment gets nobody anywhere — and Pat admitted it. Hopping from Christie exchange to Christie exchange has been a pastime with Pat in his trip from coast to coast. He was willing to talk but no one would listen te his "statement." "The year 1920 will be the greatest in the history of an infant industry for comedy films" was as far as he ever got. Repeatedly he tried to deliver to the tradepapers a verbal translation of the fat bundle of mimeograph copy he carried under his arm. For President: "Christie." Asked about his views of the forthcoming Presidential marathon, Pat said he had only two candidates for vicepresident and virtue president, to wit : The Christies, Al and Charlie. He didn't say which office should be filled by whom — just so they each got one of the two chairs to be offered as prizes next election. During the course of fifteen minutes' conversation in the office of Moving Picture World Dowling mentioned the name of either Al or Charlie Christie just eighty-six times. He said Fay Tincher would make Broadway "sit up and look" if she came along in one of her Christie Comedy costumes. "Charlie Christie gave me an awful big wad of money when I left the Christie Comedy lot," said Dowling as he handed in this terrible piece of copy, "and I must do SOMETHING to earn it. Try and slip this through, will you, kid?" Taken utterly aback by such conversation— here's the result. Dowling will be here for ten days or so — if he doesn't break through into the "singles" he is using as the core of a roll of pretty large sheets of money. Pat Dowling Turns Round and Looks Toward California P\T DOWLING reached the eastern limit of his tour of North America in the interest of Christie Comedies, early in the week ending January 3L He sailed around Broadway in his hightop rubbers and said he was satisfied that all he had heard about the improvement in our city was correct. He found some faults and discovered more to praise, striking an average of approval for what has happened since Much Activity Reported from Selznick Studios A REPORT from the Selznick Fort Lee and Bronx studios states that some excellent interior scenes are being made for three of the Selznick productions now in the making of the studios. 'The Woman Game," said to be a powerful drama, and which was written for Elaine Hammerstein by Leighton Osmun and Frank Dazey, is Hearing completion under the direction of William P. S. Earle. The production abounds with a variety of sets of more than usual magnificence. "Glorious Youth," by John Lynch, is the sixth starring subject of Olive Thomas. The opening scenes of the pictures were made in New Orleans and the first reel is concerned almost entirely with the lovely, fast vanishing, old-fashioned southern life, actually made in the country where the story is laid. Alan Crosland is directing, assisted by William J. Scully. In the Selznick studio, Sophie Irene Loeb's big melodrama, "The Woman God Sent," is taking form under the direction of Larry Trimble, who adapted the story to the screen. The cast includes Zena Keefe, Joe King and John Wade.