Moving Picture World (Aug 1917)

1090 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 18, 1917 <£« g. g« l£ 15 ^a ^ Is g-" g° i£ J5 15 15 c < • • : > 2g -^ *^' ^ -^ ^ °^ ;^» °^ a-^ SI Sj °^ -^ 2f Manufacturers' Advance Notes *£■ ^' ^' g' €C. g' 6^ C" g?g? g> S° C'C g^ ■ * j § Z)a/i/ P/ai/s "Man Without a Country" Frohman Amusement Corporation Announces Patriotic Production Directed by Jack Noble. THE announcement comes from the offices of President William L. Sherrill of the Frohman Amusement Corporation that his corporation has completed the taking of the final scenes of Edward Everett Hale's "A Man Without a Country," and that this next big Frohman production will be ready for its first public showing, beginning an indefinite run at a prominent Broadway theater, about August 10. For the past two months John W. Noble, the new Frohman director, has been laboring with armies of people, building entire villages, fighting replica battles of the Revolutionary, Civil and Spanish-American wars and staging the wonderful reproduction of Admiral Decatur's naval battle with the Tripoli pirates. Anthony P. Kelly, the adaptor of the greater part of the former Frohman successes, has again contributed the scenario of this latest play. Suggested by the book, the scenario is the result of many months of historical research by the scenario author and the finished product which he himself terms "the best work of my life." Enacting the role of Philip Nolan, the rash army captain who, in a moment of extreme anger, cried: "Damn the United States! I wish I may never hear of the United States again," is Arnold Daly. In support of Mr. Daly there is the Jisual Frohman cast. John W. Noble has, during the seven years he has been directing motion pictures, acquitted himself with distinction. "I feel that at least our corporation has succeeded in producing a picture that sets a standard," said President Sherrill. "We have chosen a subject which carries psychological appeal — a smashing, up-to-the-minute, timely production which will do much to stimulate the interest so much needed at this moment. We have certainly been accorded most unusual cooperation and credentials from every source, enabling us to make our production absolutely authentic and historically correct." KATHLYN WILLIAMS IN SELIG TWO-REELER. "A Man, A Girl and A Lion" is the title of the Selig feature production in two reels released August 6 in the General Film service. The drama introduces Kathlyn Williams once more in a jungle picture. She is seen in thrilling adventures afloat and ashore and playing with a ferocious African lion. The story is from the pen of James Oliver Curwood, the famous writer, and the all-star cast that carries out the story includes other than Kathlyn Williams such artists as Thomas Santschi, Lafayette McKee and Charles Clary. In brief, the drama has to do with a girl of the jungle who Scene from "A Man, a Girl and a Lion" (Selig). listening to the wonderous tales of the circus man there on a trapping expedition, runs away to another land and joins a circus. How sh< experiences a rude awakening and is avenged by a captive lion are but incidents in a Selig jungle drama said to possess strength of story, good acting, and excellent wild animal stuff. cs> 55 S§ ^ 55 51 ^ ^ il El ->> -^5 ESSANA\SHOWS TWO FEATURES TO TRADE. Trade showings of "Open Places" and "Efficiency Edgar's Courtship," two Essanay feature productions, are now being offered at branch offices of K-E-S-E. "Open Places" is the third of the Essanay Western series in which Jack Gardner, the former musical comedy star, is being featured. This Scene from "Efficiency Edgar's Courtship" (Essanay). photodrama, which has been built to meet the general public demand for red-blooded action on the screen, will be released August 20. Taylor Holmes, the stage comedian, is to make his screen debut in the comedy-drama entitled "Efficiency Edgar's Courtship," which will be released September 3. "Open Places" presents the adventures of a little New England schoolmarm who attempts to teach the "wild and woolly" West its A B C's. In a little pioneer town of Montana, on the Canadian boundary, she meets a typical bad man and, impressed by his picturesque appearance, weds him. Their honeymoon is cut short by a deadly duel in which her husband kills another man and is forced to flee across the boundary to escape justice. A year passes in which the little teacher gradually grows interested in Constable Calhoun of the Canadian Mounted Police. The dramatic climax comes when, as their acquaintance has ripened into mutual love, the bad man turns up again to claim his wife. The picture has a screen time, approximately, of sixty-five minutes. Ruth King and Carl Stockdale head the supporting company. Taylor Holmes has been given a type of subtle comedy characterization in his first picture. The story presents the actor in the role of an "efficiency bug" who seeks to win the love of a girl by the application of modern business methods. More successfully to compete with his chief rival, who plays, a guitar, he purchases a saxaphone. In the long run efficiency wins out for him. Virginia Valli takes the leading feminine role. "Efficiency Edgar's Courtship" has a screen time of sixty-eight minutes. FORD STAGING TIMELY DRAMA. Director Francis Ford, ■who recently completed the producof the Universal special eight-reel feature, "John Ermine of the Yellowstone," in which he himself played the title role, has commenced work upon a dramatic story of international Intrigue entitled "The Greater Sacrifice," which will probably be released in three reels. The story, written by Jessie Love and arranged for the screen by William Parker, tells of a young officer of the American diplomatic service who is entrusted with an important secret mission, and of a young woman, the servant of a foreign power, who is sent out to betray him. She very nearly succeeds, but falls in love with him, and ends her life rather than bring ruin and disgrace upon him. Duke Worne, whose work as the "heavy" in "John Ermine of the Yellowstone" is said to be of real power, is cast for leading role in the present story, and Ford will play the villain's part. Mae Gaston, Beatrice Van and William T. Home will appear in the supporting cast.