Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

April 29, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD S27 "DORIAN'S DIVORCE" (Metro). Lionel Barrymore and Grace Valentine are starred in "Dorian's Divorce," a five-part feature produced by the Rolfe Photoplays, Inc., which will be released on the Metro program May 1. This production will serve to introduce Miss Valentine as a full fledged star on the Metro program. She has been featured in several previous Metro productions, including "Black Fear" and "The Blindness of Love." Many of the most interesting scenes in "Dorian's Divorce" were made aboard the revenue cutter Woodbury, which Metro Scene from "Dorian's Divorce" (Metro). bought especially for this production. The company worked on board the vessel as she came down from her home port at Portland, Me., to a new berth in the Hudson River. The story of "Dorian's Divorce" is one of high finance, society and mystery. The supporting cast in "Dorian's Divorce" is unusually strong and includes William Davidson, Edgar L. Davenport, Lindsay Hall, L. R. Wolheim and Buckley Starkey. The feature was written and directed by O. A. C. Lund. "THE OATH OF HATE" (Knickerbocker). A sea story with the sea as one of the leading characters, and not merely a background for the action, is the forthcoming three-reel Knickerbocker Star feature in the General Film Service, featuring Henry King. "The Oath of Hate" is sworn by Mark Stone, a sea captain, when he is jilted by the girl he expected to marry. She is heartless and mercenary, and as the drama progresses It becomes evident that she cares nothing for the man she has married. Yet the oath of hate must work Itself out, and we see Mark Stone, stricken blind, cast overboard on a dark night by a seaman who owed him a grudge. After a strenuous battle with the sea he reaches the shore, and by accident meets a doctor who informs him that the blow on his head has restored not only his sight, but also his normal mind, which has been deranged by another blow sustained while endeavoring to rescue a girl from ruffians. Thus is revealed the fact that Mark Stone is not what he appeared to be, a man of base passions, but a victim of brain pressure. In his right mind, he sets out to find the girl whom he married, not for love, but to be the mother of children who might perpetuate his oath of hate. In the presence of the great miracle of fatherhood; he discovers that it was love which caused their strange mating. Mr. King not only enacts the principal role, but is also responsible for the masterly direction of the picture, 'which is one of the most unusual offerings yet released under the Knickerbocker brand. UNIVERSAL CAMPAIGN BOOKLET. That human dynamo, Nat. G. Rothstein, advertising manager of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, after weeks of preparation has now on the press the most elaborate advertising campaign book for the serial unique, "Adventures of Peg o' the Ring," that has ever been issued for any moving picture — serial or otherwise. Not only is this big book far more elaborate than any other, but it is more helpful to exhibitors, and crammed, jammed full from cover to cover with the most enthusiastic high-pressure sales talks, advertisements and exhibitors' helps. The latter are fully illustrated. Indeed, a portion of the book is a complete catalog of the Universal props furnished by the supply department. Every conceivable form of advertising is not only listed in this mammoth campaign book, but exhibitors are told in plain and simple language just how to use the advertising cuts, the publicity or press matter, the posters, cut-outs, novelties, photo lobby displays, banners, heralds, slides and other live and up-to-date advertising prepared for them and ready to use by even the most inexperienced. CALIFORNIA RUSHING NEW STUDIO. Because of the elaborateness and size of the scenes incident to "The Woman Who Dared," the adaptation from C. N. and A. M. Williamson's novel, in which Beatriz Michelena is now being starred, the California Motion Picture Corporation Is rushing work on a still further extension to the big sunlight stage at its San Rafael plant, and, according to advices, this new improvement will be completed, inclosed in glass for protection from the wind, and otherwise equipped for work before the week's end. By this extension the California firm is more than doubling a stage capacity that in the past has been adequate for the accommodation of such pretentious productions as "Mignon," "The Unwritten Law," etc. Moreover, in addition to this sunlight stage, there Is an Inclosed stage electrically lighted. The combined floor space is said to give the California producers more extensive stage room than any other concern engaging but one Company at a time. "The Woman Who Dared," which is immediately responsible for the enlargement, will, according to advance reports, be distinguished for the expansive wealth of its sets. The story concerns itself with intrigue in the highest court circles in Europe, and consequently must depend on surroundings of ultraelaborateness for much of its atmosphere. An opera house interior with a complete company assembled on the stage is among the big scenes mentioned. This elegance will find an effective contrast In another angle taken by the story, which carries it to the less polite intrigue of thieves and crooks in Rome's underworld. The coincidence by which these two threads, one spun close up to the throne and the other in the gutter, gives the plot much of Its dramatic interest. "DICKSIE" THE GIRL AND "DIXIE" THE HORSE. Helen Holmes and Director J. P. McGowan are now earnestly at work producing "Whispering Smith" in ten reels, which will be released in two five-reel chapters. An interesting fact in connection with this activity is that Miss Holmes will portray the role of "Dicksie," the young owner of a large ranch in the "Crawling Stone" country, throughout the production using as her mount "Dixie," the horse presented to her by the author of the novel, Frank H. Spearman. The "horse was named for the heroine, of the story. The supporting cast includes Leo Maloney, Thomas C. Lingham, Paul C. Hurst, Sam Appel, William Brunton, N. Z. Wood and G. H. Wisschusen. Mr. Lingham has been playing leading parts in important productions of Coast Studios for some time, and was secured by the Signal Company to play the role of sheriff in Medicine Bend in "Whispering Smith." Mr. Hurst will be cast as Sinclair. "HER NAKED SOUL" (Essanay). Two Essanay favorites, Nell Craig and Darwin Karr, are featured in this three-reel piece, which is distinctive for the beauty of its interior settings and the action in its exteriors, as well as giving both leads an opportunity to display the utmost of their dramatic ability. As the cafe set had to be used for numerous scenes and not for short flashes, a costly one was erected. Not the least of the action in the piece is Scene from "Her Naked Soul" (Essanay). arrived at when the hero meets the heroine. He skids .his car into her and knocks her against the curb. When the stunt was tried it succeeded beyond expectations and not only Miss Craig, but the director himself was upset. A retake furnished th& desired picture, but the actress had already been considerably bruised by the first attempt. The piece will have an appeal to women, who will sympathize with the heroine in her desperate attempt to make a good wife for her husband amid countless temptations. It was directed by Lawrence Windom.