Paramount and Artcraft Press Books (1918)

PRESS REVIEWS OF “THE SQUAW [MAN” To be sent to the Newspapers Immediately After the First Display of Cecil B. De Mille’s Great Photoplay AN ARTCRAFT PICTURE Cecil B. De Mille’s Splendid Photoplay ‘The Squaw Man” Creates Profound Impression Famous Director was the First to Picturize Edwin Milton Royle’s Famous Play and his Re-Production Doubtless will Rank as an Important Screen Classic T T was a rare bit of judgment and good taste that induced Cecil B. De Mille to rc-produ.ce “The Squaw Man” after a lapse ot several years, for it was the first Lasky picture, directed by himself, and at its premier presentation it was regarded as a really wonderful example of photoplay production. Now, with a wealth of color, a wonderful cast, splendid investiture and the added experience in technique that the intervening years have brought, Mr. De Mille has created a modern version of the drama that is without doubt one of the finest things of its kind ever brought to the screen. This was the opinion generally expressed at the first showine of the photoplay at the theatre yesterday when it elicited sincere applause from the audience. Those who by chance had seen the original screen production of Edwin Milton Royle’s famous drama, were able to draw comparison and mark the wonder ful strides of the art in a few short years. Those who saw it for the first time, or who had only seen the play on the stage, were equally impressed by its magnitude, the tremendous human interest of the story and the remarkably fine production. Many probably recall the plot — how Jim Wynnegate, to save his cousin’s reputation, because of his regard for the latter’s wife, assumes guilt for a crime committed by his relative and leaves his ancestral home in England for a ranch in Wyoming. There, it will be recalled, he is saved from death by the hands of a gun fighter by a girl of the Ute In dian tribe, and in gratitude finally marries her. Later, when the cousin is killed and his widow and others appear at the ranch, Jim is grief stricken. But his Indian wife — by marrying whom he has earned the title of “Squaw Man” — mourning because her little boy is to be taken to England to be reared, ends her life. Thus, though overcome with grief at the death of the “little mother,” Jim sees a possible prospect of future happiness with the woman he really loves. Pathos, humor, widely divergent scenes, wonderful character delineation, thrill and suspense — these are the ingredients of a drama that can not grow old, which, indeed, seems even better today than it did when first presented to the world in stage form. A cast of such uniform stellar excellence that it is difficult to choose between the individual members, has been selected and the hand of the artist is seen throughout the direction. Elliott Dexter plays Wynnegate . with great realism, while the other roles are artistically portrayed by such artists as Jack Holt, Edwin .Stevens, Katherine MacDonald, Ann Little, Noah Beery, Thurston Hall, etc. As pure, unadulterated entertainment of the most perfect kind, “The Scpiaw Man” is unequalled. It has everything a photodrama should have to make it popular. Cecil B, De Mille Discusses Reproduction of **The Squaw Man _ X. -f /"> c IT ISCUSSING his splendid reproduction of “The Squaw Man,” which was presented with unusual success at the theatre last night, Cecil B. De Mille, the famous Artcraft producer, said to a reporter in California recently ; “Why did I wish to again produce ‘The Scjuaw Alan?’ Well, there are several reasons, sentimental and professional. In the first place, it had been decided by our company that it was a picture which would prove decidedly acceptable even to those who had seen it before, while a great many new cinema patrons have been added in the several years since it was first produced. In this I concurred and so it was determined to go ahead. “It was my first picture. In the interim. I have produced a good many films of different character, and I feel that each has in some measure surpassed its predecessors. And I also believed that I could, by reason of the fact that I have already produced ‘The Squaw Alan,’ accomplish something really worth while in the re-production of the drama. With what I have gained in knowledge, practice, experience, with the greater facilities in lighting, investiture, etc., — the technical advancement, in a word — and with the truly superlative company I have assembled, I am certain that the new version of ‘The Squaw Alan’ will be infinitely better than the old. “Again, it is a strong, a stirring drama. One with the reddest kind of red-blooded action. It has intensity, suspense, thrill, pathos, humor, and withal, the wonder of the great west as atmosphere. It is a picture that will not grow old. ^ “I have a' company today, as I say, which I do not believe could be excelled. Every role, even down to the least important, is played by an artist of reab merit. Each is typical. I have such splendid artists as Elliott Dexter, Theodore Roberts, Thurston Hall, Ann Little, Katherine MacDonald, Herbert Standing, Noah Beery, Edwin Stevens, Tully Marshall, Jack Holt, etc., in the cast— to see such a company together in one picture is like an all-star revival of some celebrated play in New York. I think it will be a distinct attraction in itself.” This serves as Mr. De Mille’s first Artcraft special for the new year and the indications are that it will rank as one of his greatest productions.