Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

632 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 22, 1916 "Who's Guilty?" Coming in May Stories of Social Significance in Pathe's Series Comprising Fourteen Two-Reel Dramas. ON MAY 8 the Pathe exchange will release throughout the country the first of the fourteen two-reel photonovels which comprise Pathe's newest series, "Who's Guilty?" These photo-novels are, in every case, complete in themselves. They have no plot connection one with another, yet all are based on the one major theme of "Who's Guilty?" Necessarily, this theme is broad and intensely human. It concerns the biggest problems that beset the American people today. It portrays those questions — domestic, sociological, political and psychological — which enter into the lives of all Americans and which must be answered from day to day by every individual. "Who's Guilty?" series is produced by the Arrow Film Corporation for Pathe with a most careful regard for the demands of the ultra-modern photoplay. Under the personal guidance of W. E. Shallenberger, president of the Arrow Company, no item of plot, acting, direction, setting or other detail of successful motion picture production has been overlooked. There has been no stinting of cost — whether of money or brain — to make this series in at least one way the most remarkable succession of two-reel photoplays ever placed on the market. Co-starred in the "Who's Guilty?" series are Anna Q. Nilsson and Tom Moore, both of whom have long been prime favorites of American motion picture patrons. All of Miss Nilsson's gowns in the "Who's Guilty?" series were made especially for her by Hickson, the ultra-smart Fifth avenue modiste. Staging and directing these fourteen photonovels are two of America's premier directors, Howell Hansel and Lawrence B. McGill. Mr. Hansel made a name for himself as the director of "The Million Dollar Mystery," "The Twenty Million Dollar Mystery," and a number of other Thanhouser photoplays. Mr. McGill is one of the small number of directors who made good pictures in the early days of the screen play and still is a highly successful producer. Mrs. Wilson Woodrow, one of the foremost women writers of the day, is turning each "Who's Guilty?" photo-novel into a fiction story that will appear in a large number of newspapers throughout the country simultaneously with the release of each two-reel screen play. The actual scenarios of the series have been written in their entirety or else reedited by E. A. Bingham, long the head of the Metro scenario department, and for many years editor of the I'aris edition of the New Y"rk Herald. Collaborating with Mr. Bingham on the scenarios is Albert S. Le Vino, 01 the Arrow Company, who dramatized "The Woman's Law" for the screen and is the author of more than a hundred photoplays. Principals of Pathe's "Who's Guilty?" Left to right, Anna Nilsson. Howell Hansel, Mrs. Wilson Woodrow. Lawn-nee B. McGill, Tom Moore. Distribution of the pictures is under the direct supervision of George A. Smith, serial director of Pathe Exchange, Inc. Prior to his present work, Mr. Smith was on the staff of the New York Journal, and he brought to his present work the same zeal and efficiency which stamped his previous career. He has had charge of the newspaper arrangements for the appearance of the "Who's Guilty?" series, which will be published simultaneously in the Detroit Times, Detroit, Mich.; Providence Tribune, Providence, R. I.; Buffalo Eve ning News, Buffalo, N. Y.; Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Ind.; Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa.; Philadelphia North American, Philadelphia, Pa.; Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pa.; New York Evening World, New York City; Cincinnati Times-Star, Cincinnati, O.; Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, O.; Dallas News, Dallas, Tex.; Los Angeles Record, Los Angeles, Cal.; San Francisco Call, San Francisco, Cal.; Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago Herald, Chicago, 111.; New Orleans Item, New Orleans, La.; St. Louis Times, St. Louis, Mo.; Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, Neb.; Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Mo., and many others. The titles thus far selected for some of the photo-novels of the "Who's Guilty?" series are: "The Stroke of the Scalpel, "Sowing the Wind," "The Tight Rein," "The Tangled Web," "The Second Offense," "The Silent Shame," "The Moral Coward" and "Sold Out." History of Indiana Unique Productions Being Made by the Selig Company — Director Beal in Charge. ACTIVE work on the production of "The History of Indiana," the feature picture approved by the Indiana Historical Commission, lias started at the Selig Polyscope Company studios, in Chicago, Director Frank Beal was summoned from the Pacific Coast by William N. Selig to assume active charge of production and he has selected an all-star cast of players. The scenario, written by Gilson Willi!-, the noted novelist and photoplaywright, has been approved by the Indiana Historical Commission and by the Governor of the state. It provides for a seven-reel production, the first two reels of which will be in the nature of a prologue_ covering the periods between the arrival of La Salle in 1679, and the admission of Indiana into statehood in 1816. Herbert C. Hoagland. general manager of the Selig Company, has returned from Indianapolis. Ind., where he conferred with the members of the commission. "It may be interesting to the citizens of Indiana to know that this is the first state to attempt to embody its great historical events and personages in film production," he stated. The Selig Company will take motion pictures on the very ground where the historical event actually occurred, with the costumes and the enviroment of the times accurately produced. Director Beal, in charge of the Indiana production, has had a noteworthy career as a motion picture producer. He produced the Selig Red Seal Flay "I'm Glad My Boy Grew Up to Be a Soldier," "The Gold Ship," "The Woman Who Did Not Can He is enthusiastic over the possibilities of the historical picture-play. Citizens in many sections of Indiana will soon have opportunities of seeing motion pictures in the making, for many historical localities in Indiana will be vi-ited by the Selig Company of players. A SCENARIO BY LAWSON. The World Film Corporation announces that it has secured a scenario on the subject, "Friday, the 13th," written by Thomas W. Lawson, the noted financier and author of Boston, who. Beveral years ago, turned the money world up-side down with his vivid exposures and sensational accusations in the various magazines and papers and who later turned his pi 'ion. Mr. Lawson was prevailed upon to write "Friday, the 13th," for the World Film Corporation by William A. Brady, who recently took over the art direction of that organization and when it was written and sent to the New York offices for first reading a letter accompanied it in which Mr. Lawson requested of Mr Brady that either Mr. Holhrook Blinn or Robert Warwick be cast for the leading role. The story, so tremendous that its very reading created a suspense, even in its technical form, was allotted to Holbrook Blinn, for Robert Warwick is busily engaged playing opposite Grace George and spending his spare moments at the Peerless studio where "Sudden Riches" is being completed. Mr. Blinn is completing "The Way of the World" at Baltimore, where many of the scenes were laid by the author and where permission was granted by Dr. Isaac E. Emerson for the use of his wonderful villa on Eutaw Place. Immediately "The Way of the World" is completed work will begin with a strong cast on "Friday, the 13th." "Friday, the 13th" in its book form has sold into the millions and is still one of the strongest sellers. It is a Wall street story of the different sort, blending more of the romantic than the practical and the original story as submitted by Mr. Lawson has been strengthened by a series of situations suggested and written by Harvey Thew of local scenario fame.