Moving Picture World (Sep 1916)

1720 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 9, 1916 "SPEEDING" (Universal). The girls at Universal City are becoming more versatile In their accomplishments every day. Not only do they ride bucking bronchos, play tennis and golf, swim, drive their own autos, but here they are dashing along Laemmle boulevard, on the outskirts of Universal City, on high-powered motorcycles. Of course the girls would rather ride in a cushioned RollsRoyce, but the play in which they were cast, "Speeding," required them to mount the cycles, and mount them they did, Scene from "Speeding" (Universal). breezing along the countryside for practice spins before they swept past the camera. "Speeding," as its title implies, is a tale of Fords, RollsRoyces and speeding motorcycles; ice cream parlors, country jails and village constables figure prominently in it. Harry Depp plays the part of the soda fountain clerk; O. C. Jackson, his hard-hearted boss; Tvette Mitchell is cast in the role of Harry's sweetheart, and Ernie. The story of the play written by R. A. Dillon was scenarioized and produced by P. C. Hartigan. "Speeding" will be released under the Nestor brand on September 15. "COL. HEEZA LIAR PLAYS HAMLET" (Paramount). Col. Heeza Liar, having received a letter stating that the Face, Gun, or Bug Powder Co., in which his money is invested/ has blown up, is overcome with shock. His colored nouse keeper summons Dr. Slauter Haus in a hurry. The vigorous way this doctor arrives at his diagnosis of nervous prostration is sure to create many laughs. The Colonel finding life not worth living now decides upon suicide and starts down the street with this in mind. As he is passing a Motion Picture Studio, he is suddenly run down by Charlie Chaplin, wno, after doing a few funny tricks disappears into the studio. The Colonel asks a crows of boys who it was, and is told it is Charlie Chaplin who gets $670,000 a year salary. The Colonel forgets suicide, and rushes into the studio and applies for a job, going through numerous humorous manoeuvres until he is finally signed up at $1,000,000 a week to play the lead in Hamlet, with Charlie Chaplin for support. "What the Colonel and Charlie don't do to Hamlet in the grave yard scene is not worth doing, and they finally drive the director into nervous hysterics and 'wreck the camera, with the result that the Colonel is kicked out of the Studio, ana buried under a pile of furniture, etc., that is thrown out after him. At this point he wakes up to find that it has all been a horrible nightmare, and that he is lying on the floor with his faithful hound licking his face sympathetically. On the same reel with above is an interesting study of the peculiarities of the giraffe and the hippopotamus at feeding time, by Dr. Raymond L. Ditmars, Curator, at the N. Y. Zoological Park. "A MILLION FOR A BABY" (Essanay). This is rather a unique photoplay, based to a certain degree on a Chicago court action which gained nation-wide prominence through the newspapers. The action is fast and the situations intense. The three-act play carries a strong cast, including Bryant Washburn, Marguerite Clayton, John Lorenz and Lillian Drew. The story deals with a wealthy couple who are childless. The woman's father, however, disgusted with the spendthrift habits of his son-in-law, settles practically all his wealth on an heir, if there should be one. The money otherwise goes to charity. The man adopts a baby and persuades his wife to acquiesce in the scheme, although she does not wish to. The man who has been appointed conservator of the fortune is in love with the wife. Neglected by her husband, disgusted at his dissipation, she finally falls in love with the conservator. She gets a divorce from her husband, giving up the fortune altogether to marry the other man. SCENIC FEATURE, "SEEING AMERICA" (International) Edward S. Curtis, famous author and photographer, has returned from the West and Northwest, where he made a series of remarkable photographs for the International Film Service, Inc. These scenic wonders, described as "the greatest miracle of motion picture photography," will shortly be shown by the International as a series of four features under the title, "Seeing America." The first of the scenic features, "Nature's Miracle," will be released throughout the country on September 9th. It is a marvelous screen interpretation of the scenic mysteries of the famous "Yellowstone Park." Following "Nature's Miracle," will be "The Giant at Sunset," showing a series of motion pictures of the animal life of Yellowstone, the canyons and other remarkable scenes in America's wonderland. Next will come "In the Valley of the Yosemite," with the forests of gigantic trees, the unparalleled falls and the entrancing scenery of the nation's most beautiful park. The final features of the series will be "The Canoe Indians of Alaska," showing the life and customs of these picturesque and historic people who are known by Curtis as Remington knew the Indians of the plains. TEXAS MISSIONS FILMED BY GAUMONT. The description of "Reel Life" as the Mutual Magazine in Film is particularly apt when one considers the contents of Number 19, released September 10. Foremost come the picturesque missions of Texas. These stand as monuments to the efforts of the Spanish fathers to civilize the great southwest at a time when the English had not yet begun to fringe the Atlantic coast with colonies. From an historical point of view first place must be given the Alamo, the mission at San Antonio, where the revolutionists intrenched themselves in 1836 and fought to the death for Texas independence. Here perished David Crockett, the celebrated hunter, and Col. James Bowie, from whom the famous hunting knife takes its name. The Great Atlantic Feature Film Company is the style of a new exchange with offices in the Murchison Bank Building, Wilmington, N. C. They will handle features, State Rights and Specials in surrounding territory. Menger & Ring, Inc., the New York manufacturers of lobby display frames, report successful business throughout the South. Among the theaters recently equipped by their Mr. Kornjcker are the Alcazar, Strand, and Rialto in Birmingham, Ala/; also the fine new Rialto in course of construction at West Palm Beach, Fla. / MYSTERY DEEPENS IN "GLORIA'S ROMANCE." Chapters 17 and IS of the George Kleine motion picture novel "Gloria's Romance" seem to bear out all the claims that were made for this tale ere its release, that it would reveal an absorbing mystery ere it was finished. Events happen so thick and fast in Chapter 17 that one is fairly dazed in at tempting to follow the quick turns of the plot. Things that you were almost certain about in the past you will surely doubt after seeing Chapter 17. First one and then another character in the story is thrown under suspicion, and Billie Scene from "Gloria's Romance" (Kleine). Burke, as Gloria Stafford, the heroine of the story, finds herself in a sorry tangle when she attempts to solve the mystery that has surrounded her now for months. The farther she progresses into its mazes, the more confused she becomes. Exhibitors and public the country over have long been convinced that it was Gideon Trask who murdered Freneau, Gloria's fiance. But was it? After viewing Chapter 17, a tremendous doubt will exist in the minds of all, for the evidence uncovered by Gloria seems now all to point toward David Stafford, her own brother, as the murderer.