Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 20, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 405 ,Jir OCN£>s=5? <^Q>=?? Manufacturers' Advance Notes World Pictures Names Four Subjects for August Issue THE announcement of World Picture issues for the month of August presents to exhibitors what are considered the best pictures ever turned out by this organization. First on the schedule comes "Heredity," in which Barbara Castleton is starred and John Bowers featured. The story is by Maravene Thompson, well and favorably known as a writer of fiction and plays. As its title indicates, the theme is based on the old adage, "Blood will tell." Nedda Trevor, a direct descendant of the Trevor who aided Charles the First of England, meets Paul Winslow when a child, and a romance ensues. Many years later her stepfather murders her mother and escapes. Nedda is accused of the murder. Paul comes back to Europe and eventually gains her freedom, while the real murderer is arrested. William P. S. Earle directed. August 12 is the date for the publication of "The Beloved Blackmailer," in which Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn Greeley are starred. Harry O. Hoyt is the author, and Dell Henderson is the director. Bobby Briggs, an overfed, overpetted youth, believes he is sick. His father endeavors to ruin the father of the girl he loves. The girl tells him that she will marry only a man and not a mollycoddle. She has Bobby kidnapped and taken to a health camp, and also works a worthy blackmail on Bobby's father. When Bobby returns, strong and ruddy, his girl is forgiven, and all is well. Coming on August 19 is "Merely Players," starring Kitty Gordon, with Irving Cummings supporting her. The Fox's "Salome" Has First Secret New York Showing SURROUNDED with the usual secrecy, "Salome" underwent its first unreeling in one of the projection rooms of the Fox general offices on Forty-sixth Street last week. The picture was shown In the rough — that is, typewritten titles were introduced where later art titles are to stand, and certain scenes were screened in all their redundancy and with retakes superimposed. The showing was solely for the cutters and those who exercise critical judgment in the final finishing of the product. Publicity men on the staff of the Fox" organization also were present. Hettie Gray Baker, film editor of the Fox output, was principally in evidence as regarded the "taking of evidence." "Salome" is to be the one independent offering of the coming season by the Fox organization. By which is meant that it is a non-release feature de luxe, which will be shown in about fifty of the foremost theaters in America which usually house only purely dramatic offerings of the highest standard. A monster big publicity campaign has been set in motion properly to put before the public the massiveness of this production. Samuel F. Kingston is in charge of the production, with Will T. Gentz acting as his publicity aid. Theda Bara enacts the titular role. The strong dramatic fiber of the story safeguards the play from being dwarfed by its massive mise en scene, which, in one instance, involved the construction of a replica of the Jerusalem of 40 B. C. story was written by L. Case Russell, and directed by Oscar Apfel. It is a story of great dramatic strength. The picturization of the sensationally successful stage play, "Inside the Lines," is scheduled for publication August 26. Lewis S. Stone, who was featured in the stage production, is the star. "Inside the Lines" should prove to be as great a success on the screen as it was in the speaking version. In fact an added intensity and interest has been given to the picturization of Earl Der Biggers' success. The story of "Inside the Lines" contains among other factors a supposed German spy, with designs on the British grand fleet, and an American girl. Anita Stewart Completes Picture. Anita Stewart has completed "The 'Mind-the-Paint' Girl," the first of the special series of Anita Stewart productions which Vitagraph plans to release in the near future. Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph, and Miss Stewart are now busy in the consideration of a number of other plays, selections from which will be used for her other vehicles. All of the plays under consideration are from well known subjects, either legitimate stage productions or popular works of fiction. Mr. Smith says that so many plays are under consideration that he ■will not be able for some days to announce Miss Stewart's next vehicle. But he said, however, that the rest of her pictures, like "The 'Mind-the-Paint' Girl," will be made under his personal supervision and directed by Wilfred North, who gave the screen such a splendid picture in "Over the Top." Exhibitors are awaiting the announcement of the release date for the first of the Stewart series, and judging from the Vitagraph announcement, their curiosity soon will be satisfied. Fannie Ward and Her Woman Chauffeur. Washburn to Make "The Gypsy Trail." Bryant Washburn will make his bow under Paramount management in "The Gypsy Trail." "The Gypsy Trail" was one of the comedy successes of the last season. It Is from the pen of Robert Housum. It is a comedy of the romantic type, just suited to Washburn. Its story turns on the difference between the romantic and the prosaic viewpoints. Ernest Glendenning created the role on the stage which Mr. Washburn will present on the screen. "The Gypsy Trail" will be the first of the series of eight Bryant Washburn Paramount pictures to be produced during the coming year. The director has not as yet been decided upon. W. W. Hodkinson Adds Plaza Pictures to His Service THE W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, according to a statement issued this week, is adding product to its Hodkinson service. This new material will be known as Plaza Pictures Although no definite statement is forthcoming as yet in reference to the exact nature of these pictures, it is understood that two and possibly three popular stars will be included under the brand, and that their pictures will be released in series maintaining the present alignment of Hodkinson service. W. W. Hodkinson's personal statement in reference to Plaza Pictures in part is as follows: "Plaza Pictures are good photoplays in every sense of the word. We are convinced that the producers of this material have obtained a consistent quality of production which, coupled with the popularity of the star appearing in these pictures,' will make our new offering very acceptable to the exhibitors. "Producers of Plaza Pictures decided to release their material through us because they wanted not only present profit for themselves, but also to prove to the exhibitor that they were ready to make good pictures, sell them at a reasonable price to help the exhibitor make money from them, and by that same token insure the continued prosperity of their own business as producers. They felt that our organization and method of working presented the logical means to accomplish the above results. The addition of new product is a step forward for us. We now have Paralta Plays, Plaza Pictures, and the Douglas Natural Color Pictures, and more coming. "We know that there has been some confusion in the past in the exhibitors' minds in reference to us and those producers releasing through us. "Many exhibitors seem to be unable to fix clearly in their minds that the Hodkinson organization is built with a definite purpose in mind, and is striving to achieve a definite object; namely, the buying of product for the exhibitor at a reasonable rate rather than to force upon him the product of the producer regardless of quality. "We will be in a position to announce the stars in Plaza Pictures next week, and may say, moreover, that the production of Plaza Pictures is well ahead of schedule, so that we can assure the exhibitors that there will be no delay or trouble on that score."