Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

August 24, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1135 Bluebird to Issue Again) Keenaris "The Long Chance" BLUEBIRD has rescued from the oblivion which perforce overtakes all things cinema another excellent photoplay. The late Broadway Specials contained a numb'er of good examples of the moving picture art. Among them was Frank Keenan in "The Long: Chance," a thrilling' six-reel picture of the West in its most unvarnished condition. It was released three years ago, and had far more than the natural life of a photoplay. Now Bluebird has decided to reissue it on its regular program, cutting it down to five reels and snapping it up with modern titles and the style which accompanies all Bluebird photoplays. The reissue of "The Long Chance" is not nearly so difficult as that of many photoplays, because it was one of the first dramas to be produced along what are known now as modern titles. That is, its story wasn't told in one-two-three sequence. The element of photoplay suspense was interjected in the development. Half of the story wasn't told until the last reel, whereas it was formerly custom to keep the audience in strict quaintance with the entire action of photoplay as it progressed. In addition to Frank Keenan. who needs no introduction to photoplay fans, and who is still grinding them out for their delectation, the cast assembled was a strong one, including Stella Razetto, Fred Church, Beryl Boughton, Jack Nelson, Jack Nelson, Jack Curtis and Clyde Benson. E. J. LeSaint made the production, which was written from a continuity contributed by Harvey Gates. In fact it is to Mr. Gates that "The Long Chance" is indebted for its highly modern tecnnique. Keenan is seen in the character of Harley P. Hennage, written by that wonderful portrayer of Western types, Pet' r B. Kyne. the acthe Scene from "Pursuit of Polly" (Paramount). Billie Burke Plays Driver in "In Pursuit of Polly" "A Sun Kissed Isle" (Post Travel). "A Sun Kissed Isle" is the title of the Post Travel Series No. 11, released by Pathe Exchange, Inc., the week of August 25. This travelogue takes the spectator through Uncle Sam's Island of Porto Rico, showing beautiful scenery, the modes of living of the natives and their industries. IN "In Pursuit of Polly," her newest Paramount picture, to be released August 19, Billie Burke will be seen for a time as a chauffeur in overalls, who does not disdain to repair her broken-down automobile and who, while engaged in this occupation, is discovered by a millionaire who offers to assist her and later, following a series of the strangest kind of adventures, marries her. In this picture Miss Burke plays the part of Polly Marsden, a wealthy society girl of New York, who is unable to choose between two men who love her and consequently becomes engaged to both of them at the same time. To extricate herself from this tangle she announces that she will give her hand and heart to the first man who captures her, she to have an hour's start in her automobile. As the result of this plan many interesting situations develop, all of which are diverting, many of them comical and others highly dramatic. In the course of her adventures Polly comes in contact with Hun spies who are seeking to destroy American munition plants. Mason, the millionaire friend of the roadside, who happens to be a Secret Service agent, comes to the conclusion that Polly is acting in conjunction with these "spies as their confederate and he is forced to place her under arrest just as the two suitors reach the scene. It thus develops that, according to the agreement made before the race began, Polly belongs to Mason, as he is the first to have captured her, and he unhesitatingly claims her as his bride. It is said that there have been few photoplays in which Miss Burke has been seen that have afforded her the support for effective characterization that "In Pursuit of Polly" does. Thomas Meighan is her leading man and others in the cast are Frank Losee, A. J. Herbert, William Davidson, Alfred Hickman and Ben Deely. Doris Kenyon Breakfasts With Hub's City Officials DORIS KENYON'S first production, "The Street of Seven Stars," by Mary Roberts Rinehart, produced by her own company, De Luxe Pictures, Inc., had its first showing in New England at the Park theatre in Boston during the week beginning Monday, August 12. Miss Kenyon appeared in person at the theatre Monday afternoon and evening. In honor of the event Manager John D. Soriero arranged to have all of the city officials of Boston meet Miss Kenyon at a breakfast to be given at 10 o'clock on Monday. In addition to the city officials, prominent exhibitors of Boston and New England also were invited. Following the breakfast Miss Kenyon, accompanied by Theodore C. Deitrich, president of De Luxe Pictures, Inc., and William L. Sherry, president of the William L. Sherry Service, motored to Lowell, where a lunch was given in Miss Kenyon's honor by the exhibitors of that city. Manager Soriero conducted an extensive advertising campaign in the Boston newspapers on the initial showing of "The Street of Seven Stars" in New England, and has aroused much interest in star and production. Scene from "Wedlock" (Paralta). "Prisoners of the Pines" (Hampton). The first Jesse D. Hampton picture starring J. Warren Kerrigan has been titled "Prisoners of the Pines," so called because it is a story of the workers in the lumber camps of the far north and so far away from civilization as to be literally prisoners of the trees from which they earn their living. Hampton-Kerrigan pictures are distributed by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation.