The Moving picture world (April 1921)

April 2, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 481 "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" Premiere at Capitol During Week of April 3 THE Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" will have its American premiere at the Capitol Theatre during the week of April 3. This is the photoplay which, because of its unusual theme and extraordinary atmospheric treatment, created a European sensation. It was secured by Goldwyn Pictures Corporation for presentation at the Capitol. It is said to be the "first' radical departure in motion pictures." The picture has been called "cubistic" but actually it is an intense and enthralling story in which the scenic artists have used the impressionistic as well as naturalistic form and have attempted to convey in the sets the moods of the story. The theme, which is one of madness and terror, lends itself completely to this atmospheric treatment. The story of Dr. Caligari is told in part by a motion picture man who saw the picture abroad and who is quoted in the New York Times as saying : The Story "Dr. Caligari, who embodies sheer wickedness, is a masterly conception, and the work of Mr. Krauss in the title role will undoubtedly arouse as much comment and enthusiasm in America as it did in Europe. The doctor is an elderly man who wears a cape and a battered top hat, while behind his eyeglasses are strange roving eyes. In the conception of the man who is telling the tale he does evil for the sheer delight that it affords him. This monster reaches the town when the fair is being held and solicits from the town clerk permission to exhibit a somnambulist on the ground. The permission is granted, but not without rudeness on the part of the clerk. That night the unfortunate man is murdered in his bed. "This is the beginning of a mysterious sequence of crimes. The hero — the storyteller— tells of how he visited the doctor's booth with a friend when the doctor, opening a huge standing cabinet, revealed an immensely tall and skinny man, fast asleep. This creature is completely under the domination of the doctor. He sleeps until awakened by Dr. Caligari, and when awake obeys his master implicity. "It is obvious that a synopsis of such a story cannot convey the flavor of the actual vehicle. 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' represents to me something very real and terrible. Do you remember the fear that you felt when you were a guest in 'The House of Usher?' The story of Caligari is entirely dissimilar, yet awakens the same kind of fear — that fear of things having no reason and loving evil instinctively. Briggs Now President of Publishing Company G. N. Briggs, for more than two years publicity director for Finkelstein & Ruben, of Minneapolis, has resigned that position to become editor and president of the Pandect Publishing Company, an organization recently formed to issue a group of trade journals and other publications of particular interest in the Northwest. Mr. Briggs has had considerable editorial and publicity experience. He was formerly Sunday editor of the St. Paul PioneerPress, and prior to that was connected with several Chicago newspapers. Charles J. Bradley, former managing editor of the Minneapolis Daily News, succeeded Mr. Briggs as publicity director for Finkelstein & Ruben. Teaching New Citizens In order that foreign born residents of Albany, N. Y., may have a clearer conception of what American institutions ready stand for, motion pictures are being used in connection with six community entertainments in that city. These films cover the field of civics, history, safety-first and health, with travelogues, current events and dramatic features giving an added interest. Spector to Rest Hal Spector, Hodkinson representative in the Newark territory, has been compelled, under orders from his physician, to resign his position in order to take an absolute rest cure away from New York. Mr. Spector, since his affiliation with Hodkinson, has broken all sales records for the Newark territory and has led the entire selling force in sales consistently week after week. Furst in South Dakota Nate Furst has associated himself with Midland Films, Inc., and is now in South Dakota on a trip to introduce the latest pictures of that exchange. William Fox to Produce Abroad WILLIAM FOX has decided to produce abroad and J. Gordon Edwards, one of his best directors, will head a Fox company in Europe which will begin producing, it is expected, in England. For two years, it is said, Mr. Fox has been secretly working on a spectacular production of "Mary, Queen of Scots," and this will be his first foreign production. It is promised .that it will exceed in appeal his most pretentious productions of the past. The story of the ill-fated queen of the Scots and Queen Elizabeth is one of the most fascinating in all history, and Mr. Edwards can be depended upon to make a striking picture of it, with the wealth of beautiful locations in England and Scotland, the old castles and towers, at his disposal. The Fox Film Corporation has not yet seen fit to make a definite announcement of its foreign plans; but it is rumored that Betty Blythe, who has the leading role in "The Queen of Sheba," will be Mr. Edwards' leading woman. It is .assumed that if the expedition turns out to be a complete success despite British fogs and other photographic difficulties, other Fox companies will be sent abroad later on. This apparently contradicts a recent rumor that Fox will import a company of British players to work in his New York studio. 1 "• ALFRED WEISS Vice-President, Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, who has just celebrated his twentyfifth wedding anniversary Order Emlay and Johnson to Answer the Referee Justice Joseph Newburger of the New York Supreme Court has signed an order requiring Earle Emlay and Walter L. Johnson to answer certain questions to be propounded to them before Referee William Allen, in an action brought by the Novograph Film Corporation against them, Earle R. Hopkins, the Stereospeed Productions, Inc., and the Motion Picture Producing Company of America. The action is brought to restrain the defendents from manufacturing a secret device for highspeed cameras known as "highspeed production films," which when projected displays pictures known as "slow movement or movement analyzing pictures," and for damages and an accounting. It is alleged that Emlay was in the employ of the plaintiff's under contract, and that he left the planitiffs and associated himself with the defendents, for the purpose of producing a high speed camera with the secret device which they claim the sole rights to. There have been several hearings before Referee Allen, at which Emlay and Johnson refused to answer questions, and the matter was referred to Justice Newburger, who decided they must answer the questions objected to. Arthur Hill Dies Arthur J. Hill, a Chicago exhibitor for ten years, died on March 12 after several weeks' illness. He had been a resident of this city for the past forty-five years, and previous to his connection with the motion picture industry was an employe of the Chicago post-office. At the time of his death, Mr. Hill was manager of the Glen Theatre at 2852 Armitage avenue. Changes Location Walter Ainsworth, formerly of the Pittsburgh territory and for the past year on the selling force of the Cleveland Pathe exchange, is now at the Pittsburgh branch of the same company in a similar capacity.