Moving Picture World (Sep 1916)

1852 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 16, 1916 close. H will probably have considerable appeal for a production of the •VI"'. THE TIMBER WOLF (Big U), Sept. 15.— A story of the big timber country, by Helen .lonas, featuring Molly Malone, Jack Nelson, Helen Galvin and Burton C. Law. It tells of a city girl who longs to return to civilization, but falls in love and is content to remain in the woods. T.m plot is very simple. The settings are quite picturesque. SPEEDING (Nestor), Sept. l.r>. — On his afternoon off, a soda fountain Clerk takes a girl for an automobile ride and incurs her anger by at ooptlng to kiss her. The irate young woman and her chum more than ,jet even with the youth when they accompany him on another ride and jiake off with the machine while he is picking flowers by the roadside. His difficulties in getting back to town are numerous and quite amusing. A fair comedy number acted with spirit. IX ONIONS THERE IS STREXGTH (Joker), Sept. 10. — At a meeting of the Anti-Sin League, it is decided to investigate a prison. The deacon enters the cell of a convict whose escape is being planned by a feminine confederate on the outside. The convict appropriates the deacon's clerical garb, walks out of jail and leaves the reformer in a sorry predicament. As a crowning insult, the deacon is arrested for assisting a prisone. to escape. The picture is filled with good bits of comedy business and the laughs are as wholesome as they are numerous. LENORE ULRICH AT HER BEST IN "THE INTRIGUE." Closely following Lenore Ulrieh's return to New York from the Pallas Pictures studios, Los Angeles, an advance print of her new photoplay, "The Intrigue," arrived at the New York offices of the company last Friday. Immediately upon its arrival the film was viewed by several New York film men who enthused over its exceptional qualities. Presenting a gripping story of present international conditions, "The Intrigue" displays delicate treatment of a difficult subject. Partly staged in Europe and partly in the United States, it tells of a young American inventor and his perfected X-ray gun that would revolutionize modern warfare. Foreign powers are brought into the story, but handled in such a manner as not to offend even the most sensitive, a strong humane element giving the story great sympathetic appeal. As the beautiful Countess Sonia Varnli, a secret service spy, Lenore Ulrich appears in the stellar role and evidences even more than in her other screen endeavors her natural screen talent and charm. Supporting her are Cecil Van Auker, Howard Davies, Herbert Standing, Florence Victor and Paul Weigel. The production will be released on the Paramount Program. October 2. V-L-S-E, Inc. PHANTOM FORTUNE (Vitagraph), Sept. i. — An excellent five-part comedy-drama featuring Barney Bernard of "Potash and Perlmutter" fame. This is undoubtedly one of the best comedy-dramas of the season, of which a full review will be found elsewhere. World-Pictures. THE VELVET PAW (Paragon — World)), Sept. 11. — A very well produced story of political life in Washington, produced by Maurice Tourneur with House Peters, Gail Kane, Ned Burton and Frank Goldsmith in the cast. Besides being convincingly acted, the picture profits by many appropriate backgrounds photographed in Washington. A reviewmay be found elsewhere in this issue. VIVIAN MARTIN STARTS ON NEW SUBJECT. Vivian Martin, who has just made her debut on the Paramount program in the Oliver Morosco photoplay, "The Stronger Love," has commenced activities on a new vehicle to be released under the Pallas brand. "The Right Direction," a touching drama by Julia Crawford Ivers, is the title of the latest Vivian Martin subject in which the star appears as a waif of the tenements. As Polly Eccles, Miss Martin will portray the "Little Mother" of the Slums of a big Eastern city who starts out to tramp to California where she expects to find a bright future for herself as well as for her baby brother Billy Boy. Many different difficulties and dangers are encountered on the way which lead up to a most surprising climax. Playing opposite Miss Martin is Colin Chase, the handsome leading man who has just signed a long term contract with the Pallas Pictures, following his appearance in "David Garrick" and other Pallas productions. This is Mr. Chase's initial subject as leading man for Miss Martin. Other well-known players in the cast are Herbert Standing, Alfred Hollingsworth, Billy Mason and Baby Jack White. E. Mason Hopper, who also has just become affiliated with these producers, is chief director, while Homer Scott will supervise the photography. "THE SEX LURE" NEXT IVAN PRODUCTION. "Her Surrender" having been completed, the Ivan Film Productions are already preparing for the next production, "The Sex Lure," to be released in October. The new play which will be put into work is based on an original story especially conceived for tin screen by L. V. Jefferson, one of .our foremost dramatists. Because of the difficulty of its treatment and the wonderful possibilities it affords both the cast and the direetor, the scenario department of the Ivan Company has concentrated its entire efforts since last June to make the workin;; script worthy of treatment by a master director. There arc six parts, each almost equally strong, and the Ivan Companj has closed contracts with several stars ami is ,ii present negotiating with other stellar lights of both the silent and spoken stage to enact various roles in their next play. Immediately the cast is completed a further full announcement will be made. Work will commence almost immediately, and "The Sex Lure" is expected to be completed early in October so that it may be the regular scheduled Ivan release for that month. DISPATCH FILM CORPORATION. Half a floor at II"' West Forty-fifth street. New York, is novi being put into shape for the quarters of a new tilm rental concern known as the Dispatch Film Corporation. This concern has been incorporated for over two months. and during this time General Manager Walter Scheuer has busied himself preparing to make a bid for his share of thf rental business of Greater New York and environs. "WAR BRIDES" WELL UNDER WAY. Herbert Brenon has completed a sufficient number of consecutive scenes of "War Brides" to give a definite idea of the nature and power of the picture, and this week he invited Lewis J. Selznick, who controls the release, and Mitchell Mark, president of the Mark Strand Theater Company, to the projection room at the studio on Hudson Heights for a private view. Mr. Mark, as a disinterested spectator, was particularly impressed, and said: "This is a superb production of a wonderful picture. I was thrilled as I have seldom been thrilled by a photoplay. It is simply a masterpiece. It reveals the combination of two unusual geniuses: Brenon, the director; Nazimova. the actress. It is difficult to decide which has contributed mor-j to the results, the man who has reconstructed the drama from its original form or the tragedienne whose art shines out here with all the clearness that it has in her presentations of spoken drama." "BEATRICE FAIRFAX" IN MANY NEW YORK THEATERS. "The Missing Watchman," the first episode of "Beatrice Fairfax," the new photoplay of the International Film Service, Inc., was shown for the first time in New York yesterday (Monday), in more than two score theaters. Before the week is out it will be seen in 150 New York theaters and approximately 1,500 theaters throughout the United States. The new series was most enthusiastically received. Harry Fox, famous as a Broadway comedian, makes his film debut in "Beatrice Fairfax" as "Jimmy Barton." a newspaper reporter. His work is of the highest order and there is every indication that he will achieve as great success on the screen as he has as a comedian. Grace Darling, who appears in the title role, is smart and shows marked dramatic ability. The photography and lighting of the picture is exceptionally good. EAGLE FILM CO. REORGANIZES. Reorganization of the directorate of the Eagle Film Manufacturing & Producing Company. Chicago, bringing the control of the company into the hands of thoroughly practical men in the motion picture field, is announced by that companj. At a meeting of stockholders held recently William J. Dunn, Frank Zambreno, J. .T. Asian, Howard A. Brundage. J. Leitch. N. Salopoulos. Charles M. Rose, J. B. Enders. Frank G. MoClure, Theodore Hochstetter and Thomas F. Fleming were chosen directors and given full power to direct the affairs of the company according to their ideas of the best interests of the stockholders. Subsequently these directors chose Mr. Dunn, who was largely instrumental in the organization of the company and who has occupied the position of general manager and director from the first, president of the company, "BLACK FRIDAY" TO BE RELEASED BY THE UNIVERSAL. The Universal announces for release on September IS "Black Friday," featuring Dorothy Davenport and Emory Johnson. a five-reel society drama adapted by E. J. Clawson from the novel written by Frederick S. lsham and produced by arrangement with the publishers, the Bobbs-Merrill Company. The picture was directed by Lloyd B. Carleton and scenarioized by Mrs. E. N. Engleton, In addition to the featured players', the cast includes Gretehen Lederer, Richard Morris. Mark Kenton. Virginia Southern and Wilfred Rogers. The Universal Film Manufacturing Company has purchased the photoplay rights to ills. Harriet Beeclier Stowe's novel. "The Pearl of Orr's Island." The scenario has been prepare! by S. C. Spalding, a new name among photoplay wri'ers.