Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 27, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 377 Tourneur Protests Use of "Photoplay" Promiscuously MAURICE TOURNEUR, the independent producer, who has completed his production of the Drury Lane melodrama, "Sporting Life," which is to be released by Hiller & Wilk, Inc., protests against the indiscriminate use of the word "photoplay." Says Mr. Tourneur," We see the word used in various ways, as 'photoplay comedy,' 'photoplay farce,' 'photoplay tragedy,' and so on, all of which are as wrong as the theatrical use of drama comedy, drama farce or drama tragedy would be. Why not photofarce, photocomedy or other combinations? "Again, the use of 'photoplay' to cover all forms of silent drama, from that written originally for the screen to the adapted drama and novel, is not correct. "Personally, I don't think photoplay is ' the word we have been awaiting to describe the motion picture drama. Why not try to get a better one? "The movies have brought many words and new uses of old words to the language, as fade-out, switchback, cut-back, iris, register, shoot (othewise to photograph), screenization, scenario, script and continuity and we need a bigger word to describe the output. "Movies is, of course, hardly a word to be used professionally. It only indicates something that moves. Surely the screen drama is something more than that now. Not that I dislike the Americanism of the word. It is rather a term of endearment, indicating the hold of the motion picture play upon the heart of the masses. We will never be able to get away from it." "The Hand of Vengeance" Is a Red -Blooded Serial IN a recent statement attributed to Edward L. Hyman. who is engaged in patriotic work in connection with training camp activities managing a motion picture theater at Camp Gordon, is the remark that soldier boys are the harshest critics, that they insist on clean "he-man" stories. The Gaumont Company claim in thi.s connection, realizing the appeal of the better class of pictures to real men and their families, are making only this class of productions, and that their new serial, "The Hand of Vengeance," is above all else a man's story, although it will appeal just as strongly to a man's wife, his children and his parents; and that it is red-blooded and absolutely clean, and the principal character is a man who befriends the oppressed. Dustin Farnum Competes In Rodeo at San Jose DUSTIN FARNUM was among the participants at the Fourth of July rodeo at San Jose, Cal., where he proved to be a. formidable competitor in the way of frontier sports and pastimes. Mr. Farnum's decision to enter the rodeo contests ■was a last minute affair. An equine ambulance was chartered in Los Angeles, and Mr. Farnum's rodeo horse, "Majesty," was started on its 450-mile journey a day in advance. Zane Grey, the novelist, whose book, "The Light of Western Stars," has just been filmed, with Farnum in the leading part, and Harry A. Sherman made the trip in Mr. Farnum's car. Newspapers Praise "Stolen Orders." "Stolen Orders" has just completed a successful week's engagement at Poli's theater in Washington, where many favorable criticisms of the production were published in the daily newspapers, calling attention to the sensations and thrills, together with the patriotic appeal which it carries. Clever Punch Paragraphs In "Topics of the Day" Weekly Issue of This Short Novelty Film Contains Bright Sayings, Coupled with Patriotic Propaganda — Now Showing at Strand Theater, New York, for Tenth Week — Also at Other High Class Houses. in Gary, Ind., at the Gary theater, week of Julj 1-1, while the Louisville company, under the management of Daniel O. Martin, will make a tour of Kentucky, starting about the middle of August. Both companies will carry complete symphony orchestras. The Doll-Van Film Corporation, located in Merchants Bank Building, Indianapolis, is highly pleased at the manner In which this production is being received by the public, and has received many letters of commendation, including ones from Governor Goodrich of Indiana and Mayor Jewett of Indianapolis. THE Topics of the Day Film Co., producers of the two-hundred foot novelty film, "Topics of the Day," which is issued weekly, and has been called a "pictureless motion picture," are in receipt of very flattering letters of commendation from several high-class motion picture houses which are using this service, among which is the Palace theater, Schenectady. This film is now in its tenth consecutive week at the New York Strand. Each issue consists of fifteen bright, clever paragraphs culled by the Literary Digest from a world-wide field such as, "The Germans have put one over on Luther Burbank, for they handed the Russians a perfectly good olive branch bearing full grown lemons" and "The Yankee idea of holding a line is to advance it." Wherever the "Topics" have been shown they are said to have elicited great applause. Webster Selects Title For Second Production IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY" is the title selected for the new feature which will be produced by the Harry McRae Webster Productions, Inc. The producer, Harry McRae Webster, and Richard Field Carroll, author of "Reclaimed," are jointly responsible for the story and scenario, and they promise a surprise in connection with its production. Two prominent stars have been selected for the leading parts, and they will be supported by a cast of well-known players. Stoermer's Estate Will Be Used for Locations THE beautiful estate recently bought by William Stoermer, general sales manager of Standard Motion Picture Corporation, will be used for locations in connection with forthcoming features to be made by this company. Mr. Stoermer's estate is picturesquely located in Westchester County, New York, and is known as Stormcrest. It is situated on a wooded slope and affords beautiful views of the Hudson River towards Storm King, also of the valley of the Croton. William Epstein Buying State Right Features WILLIAM EPSTEIN, well known on account of his activities in connection with the Royal and Princess theaters, San Antonio, has recently disposed of his interests in these houses and expects henceforth to concentrate his efforts in the state rights field. He is now en route to New York, where he anticipates remaining for several days looking over the market and arranging to secure territorial rights on a number of special feature productions. Good Business Reported On "Hearts of the World" DW. GRIFFITH'S latest big produc. tion, "Hearts of the World," which is being handled in Indiana and Kentucky by the Doll-Van Film Corporation, has completed successful engagements of three weeks at English's theater in Indianapolis and two weeks at the Mary Anderson theater in Louisville. The Indianapolis company, under the management of Arch McGovern, will open Sales of the Week Activities in State Right Sales Market During the Past Seven Days. ARROW FILM CORPORATION announces sale of following territory on series of J. Warren Kerrigan reissues: To Masterpiece Film Attractions, Philadelphia, for eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey; to Quality Film Company, Pittsburgh, for western Pennsylvania and West Virginia; to Standard Film Service, Cleveland, for Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky; to E. & H. Film Distributing Company, Atlanta, for Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North and South Carolina; and to V. H. Hodupp, Inc., Indianapolis, for Indiana. Announcement of sale of Illinois rights on "Raffles" to Central Film Company, Chicago; New Jersey rights on "Eyes of the World" to Jacob Fabian, Newark; and Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia rights on series of four Allison-Lockwood reissues to Bernard Depkin, Jr., is announced by Arrow Film Corporation. W. H. Productions Company announce the following sales of territory on reissues: Series of Arbuckle one-reelers for Illinois, Indiana, and southern Wisconsin to Bee-Hive Exchange, Chicago, and for Canada to Superfeatures, Limited, Toronto. Series of Shorty Hamilton two-reelers to Masterpiece Film Company, Philadelphia, for eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey; Chaplin reissues to Emerald Film Company, Kansas City, for Kansas and Missouri; and five Barriscale features to Max Herring for West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Boston Photoplay Co. have secured from W. H. Productions Company the New England rights to the following reissues: Series of Arbuckle one-reelers, Shorty Hamilton two-reelers, and William S. Hart feature, "Staking His Life." Good Business for New Graphic Film. The latest Graphic production "When Men Betray" made by Director Ivan Abramson, is said to be enjoying exceptional summer bookings. Gail Kane appears in the leading role, assisted by a large cast including Robert Elliott and Stuart Holmes. The story deals with the betrayal of the marriage vow and the selfpunishment of such transgressions. Title of Sixth Jester Changed. Jester Comedy Company has discovered that the title, "His Day Out," under which the sixth of their Comedies was to be released, has been used, and to avoid confusion, this release will be titled "Oh! What a Day."