Moving Picture World (Aug 1916)

August 19, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Selig Returns From Coast; Talks of New Pictures Predicts Great Reception for "The Crisis" — Not in the Market for Scenarios and Thinks Discussion of Subject "Press Bunk." WILLIAM N. SELIG returned Saturday, July 29, from Los Angeles, Cal., where he has been visiting the Selig Pacific Coast studios. While in Los Angeles Mr. Selig completed plans for the production of "The Garden of Allah." "The drama will be produced on a most elaborate scale," stated Mr. Selig in an interview on his return to -Chicago. "Colin Campbell will direct it and no expense will be spared to make the production the most spectacular of anything we have ever done. "I want to call your attention to several other productions. 'County That God Forgot' is going to be an unusual western drama in very detail. Marshall Neilan wrote the story for Thomas Santschi. I shall release it through V-L-S-E. The play will be in five parts and Santschi will be suported by an excellent company of players including Mary Charleson, George Fawcett and others. " 'Light of Western Stars,' Zane Gray's great story of the west, will also be produced in films in the near future. This drama will run anywhere from five to ten reels whatever it :s worth. Kathlyn Williams, Tom Mix, Marshall Neilan, George Fawcett and others will appear in the action. "I want to ptedict a great reception for 'The Crisis.' We have completed Winston Churchill's novel in twelve reels and it will be presented to the public probably early in the fall. The production is about ready for release and those who have viewed the film have been kind enough to state that 'The Crisis' is the greatest tiling we have ever done and will prove one of the most artistic productions filmed to date. The film follows the story in every detail and while there is a succession of spectacular scenes, the strength of the plot has not been sacrificed." William X. Selig, upon his recent return to Chicago from Los Angeles, Calif., again announced that the Selig Polyscope Company is not in the general market for scenarios. "The scenario question is being discussed pro and con in most of the trade papers and in other publications," said Mr. Selig. "Whether this stuff is just publicity matter or whether 'the scarcity of good photoplay plots' is being earnestly considered, I do not know. I do know, however, that there is no such thing as a scenario 'question' with our company. We have about seven hundred stories, including novels, short stories and motion picture plots in manuscript in our vaults. These were penned by the world's best writers. This material will last us for years. When this supply is exhausted we can yet more. We have always paid satisfactory prices for good stories, believing that the story was the real foundation of the entire photoplay structure. The plot counts just as much as the star or the direction." Bluebird Upsetting Star System. Still Plugging for the Slogan "The Play's the Thing"— Hoffman Says It's Making Good. LOUISE LOVELY will share honors with Warren Kerrigan when Bluebird Photoplays present "The Social Buccaneers" late in September. Miss Lovely has, hitherto, been a lone star on Bluebird play-bills, having begun her service to moving pictures in America when the Bluebird series were established. Fulfilling their advertised purpose to make "The Play the Thing," the casting of subjects has been a separate consideration in all the recent releases, and thus it comes that Miss Lovely and Miss Billington, together with Rupert Julian, lately appeared in the same release, "Bettina Loved a Soldier." Now Lois Wilson, who has been Mr. Kerrigan's leading woman for many months, gives way to Miss Lovely in plays where the casting will be improved by the substitution. Ruth Stonehouse will be introduced to Bluebird as a star, with Ruoert Julian her director; Dorothy Davenport has already joined the ranks of new leaders of Bluebird plays, and Franklyn Farnum, Emory Johnson and Richard Morris are other new principals lately added to the Bluebird stock organization. In every instance where these additional players have been employed, or will be occupied, they will be cast and have been cast because they seem best suited to the role. "We are spending too much money in nationally advertising our program," says General Manager M. H. Hoffman, in recent announcement, "to warrant our failing to maintain our purpose to make the play of first importance. We have tried our plan and are abundantly convinced that the public interest in photoplays is based first upon the quality of the scenario, or play. "We first select the play, and then select the best players we can find to impersonate the characters. Production takes CO-incident importance with selecting the play and playei these three vital factors to good photoplay entertainm< nl being what must, naturally, be relied upon in our purpose to abandon the "star" system in favor of tlie Shakespeareai dogma. "We are BUCCeeding so well that the skeptics are, in many instances, coming over to our way of thinking. The biggest exhibitors of moving pictures arc being canvassed for their opinion, and we are getting the proof that Bluebird vancing in public favor everywhere, solely upon merits and the basis we have established as the liluebird policy." Mr. Hoffman expressed enthusiastic belief that the tirst six months of Bluebird, operating along conventional lines, paved the way to an abund.mt SUCCeSS lor the n< u depai ture in their methods of exploitation llr returned last week from a trip of inspection among the exchanges in the Middle West. Marie Edith Wells. MARIE EDITH WELLS in her two years before the screen has had a goodly measure of success. Previous to a short experience on the sta'^e she had been an artist's model. Her first motion picture experience was with the Kalem company. Here she appeared in "The Cabaret Singer" and with Tom Moore in "The First Commandment" and "The Girl and the Bachelor." For over a year she played leads in subjects released through the World Film Corporation. Among these were "Just Out of College" and "Then I'll Come Back to You," both Frohman productions; "Sealed Lips," Equitable, and "The Builder of Bridges." Miss Wells is one of those sylphlike creatures of exquisite grace and charm. Likewise she is clever and brings lo her aid a certain knowledge of the work in hand which is the delight of any director Shi lias been repeatedly featured by the companies in whose productions she I as appeared until she has gained an enviable reputation with tin tans everywhere, Much more might be said here regarding her peculiar ntness lot motion picture portrayal, but those who have seen the pictures in which she has appeared to advantage need no Marie Wells. Furthe nmendatic WHERE IS B. JACOBS? arles, manager of the Re* Film I k< \ll..in\. u..uid ven much appreciate an) information which any ol the exhibitors or exiliaii^einen e.m ^i\e bin to the whereabout who was fori ployed b> the Pioneer Film t ompany, ami during the month Film Exchange Mr. i harles intimates that it would be well • tacrine the a< tfvitu s . | said la<