Moving Picture World (Aug 1917)

1092 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 18, 1917 Essanay Meeting Editorial Necessities Striving to Give Exclusive Matter to Trade and Metropolitan Publications. A STEADY and consistent improvement in the publicity material issued by certain of the leading producers has been apparent for some time. The requirements of newspapers and exhibitors have evidently received more consideration than in the past. Formerly, as one prominent exhibitor recently said, "Too much space has been devoted in the past to the personal and not enough to the business end of this industry." A concern which has been adhering strictly to the suggestions made by photoplay editors and users of its pictures is the Essanay company. As a result they are daily receiving letters of commendation on the material which they are issuing. One of the most important steps taken is that of sending out exclusive from time to time to the various trade publications, as well as giving the metropolitan newspapers a prerelease service on all publicity. By allowing only one paper in each town to handle these stories there is no danger of conflicting stories appearing. Many photoplay editors lack the time to rewrite every item used in their columns and for that reason hesitate about using copy which might appear in precisely the same form in a rival publication. To assist every exhibitor using Essanay subjects has been another efforfwhieh may now be said to have been accomplished. A gradual revision of form has been taking place for several months in the bi-monthly publication, the Essanay News, until now it is a snappy, newsy sheet, sub divided into departments which solve the difficulty of every one who may be interested in the exploitation of Essanay features CASTING FOR NEW PARALTA PLAY. The casting director for Paralta Plays, David M. Hartford, has engaged the principal actors who are to support Bessie Barriscale in her next Paralta production, "Madame Who." Ed. Coxen, who played the strong character of John Cafferty the derelict, in support of J. Warren Kerrigan in "A Man's Man," is to act the leading man's role, "John Armitage." Howard Hickman will, play the heavy part of "Henry Morgan." Mr. Hickman's ability to play a wide range of characters is weli known. His last part was "Lafe Grandoken," the old cobbler, in "Rose O'Paradise." Another important engagement for this production is that sterling old star Joseph J. Dowling, who will play "Parson John" Kennedy. "THE MIDNIGHT MAN" (Butterfly). Jack Mulhall is the star of "The Midnight Man," the Butterfly picture scheduled for release August 13. Written by Bess Meredyth and Tom Gibson and produced by Elmer Clifton, this feature deals with the adventures that befall the inventive son of a safe manufacturer. Jack Mulhall takes the part of Bob Moore, whose father is desirous of forming a business consolidation with John Hardin, a rival manufacturer of safes, much against the wishes of Bob. The reason for Bob's objection resides in the fact that he had worked day and night Scene from "The Midnight Man" (Butterfly). to construct a safe that cannot be opened. Although the young man has the utmost contempt for the resisting qualities of the Hardin treasure-chest, he is nevertheless strong for the daughter of the household. Irene Hardin reciprocates Bob's interest much to her father's chagrin. A three-cornered battle of wits ensues, unusual complications arising when Bob befriends a safe-cracker, hoping to learn some professional secrets with which to confound his finacee's obdurate father. The unexpected occurs, however, when the lure of Irene's necklace proves too much for Bob's protege. The novel manner in which things are finally straightened out provides the chief interest in a plot with several turns. Jack Mulhall provides his usual breezy characterization. He is supported by Ann Kroman Hal Wilson, Wilbur Higby, Al McQuarrie and Uard Lamont. "IRIS" (Pathe-Gold Rooster). "Iris," probably the greatest play ever written by the Dean of the English speaking drama, Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, has been produced in films and will be released by Pathe as a fivereel Gold Rooster play on August 26. The title role is played by Miss Alma Taylor, a beautiful young English star, who in point of popularity corresponds to Mary Pickford. Miss Taylor is the highest salaried English artist. She has appeared in "Little Miss Nobody" and other hits on the stage and she scored a distinct success in the David Copperfield film produced by Hepworth and shown in America. The part of Maldanado is played by Henry Ainly, without question England's greatest actor today. Mr. Ainly has starred for four years in his own. productions at the Hay Market theater. His reputation in England is very similar to that of Leo Deit-richstein in this country. Mr. Ainly was seen here in support of Maude Adams and his biggest London successes were Leo Deitrichstein's "The Great Lover" and "The Great Adventure." In "Iris" his role is that of the Portuguese millionaire who almost brings about the ruin of the beautiful heroine. The role of the hero is in the capable hands of Mr. Stuart Rome. Mr. Rome is one of the best known of the younger English leading men. It is interesting in this connection to know that he is now at the front. "THE MANXMAN" AT THE CRITERION. Final arrangements have just been completed for the showing of George Loane Tucker's photodramatic version of Hall Caine's masterpiece, "The Manxman," at the Criterion theater, beginning August 13. "The Manxman" was produced on the tiny Island of Man, which lies almost in the center of the Irish Sea, with a good outlook upon Ireland, England and Wales, from the top of its highest mountain, Snaefel, on a clear day. More than a year was spent by Mr. Tucker and his company of players,, camera men, etc., often joined by Hall Caine himself, on the Isle of Man, in the production of "The Manxman." For nearly six months little actual photographing was done, the time being spent in the study of the characteristics, the quaintnesses, and the environmental and the psychological differences of the natives, who are distinctive in a great many ways from the natives either of England, Scotland or Ireland. In addition to the gripping interest of Mr. Caine's story, "The Manxman" stands forth as a work of ethnological worth. The film is hailed as the most stupendous camera creation since "The Birth of a Nation." In the cast of "The Manxman" are Fred Groves as Pete, Henry Ainley as Philip, and Elizabeth Risdon as Kate, and a score of .well-known English actors and actresses in minor roles, as well as 9.000 Manxmen. 83 SETS IN "THE FALL OF THE ROMANOFFS." In staging "The Fall of the Romanoffs," which is now nearing completion, Herbert Brenon has used mainly interior scenes. All of them have been erected in his studio on Hudson Heights, where dozens of workmen are employed daily preparing one set right after another. Special workmen who are skilled in the making of sets for moving picture work and in the knowledge of things Russian, have been selected. Eighty-three separate sets have been built, varying from replicas of rooms of state in the Czar's palace to simple little peasant's huts in country districts. Of the former, four cover the entire stage, and are bigger in scope than any Mr. Brenon has had in his former productions. Besides these Mr. Brenon has had two complete villages reproduced. One typical of many little Russian villages, the other typically Jewish. The little villages are complete in every detail from the humble cottages wherein the peasants dwell to the well from which they draw their supply of water. A tank that had to be used in one of the scenes has been a source of great joy to Mr. Brenon's staff during the hot weather, for at the end of a day's work they would don their bathing suits and plunge in for a welcome swim! BOBBY BUMPS' AMUSEMENT PARK. Little Bobby Bumps is here again. At this time he introduces to us an amusement park which certainly is very unusual. He turns the whole house into this amusement park, and Goldie, the colored cook, is very much upset indeed, especially when she finds her washtub being used as a seashore resort. He leaches the little pup all different kinds of tricks, and they shoot loop-the-loop with Goldie after them. Goldie goes through the most bumpy experiences trying to catch Bobby and his pup, and one feels sorry for her. As usual, she gets even with him, at this time through a very heroic jump lands on them and almost crushes them to death. Bobby realizing that Goldie has the best of him, asks woefully what she is going to do to him. Goldie just smiles and we leave it for you to find out what she says. This is one of the funniest cartoons ever put out and will appear in the 79th release of Paramount-Bray-Pictographs.