Paramount and Artcraft Press Books (1918)

ADVANCE PRESS STORIES— Continued JOHN P. LOCKNEY CAPABLE ACTOR Portrays Role of Editor in “String Beans” JOHN P. LOCKNEY is a character actor of much experience and imagination. This enables him to give to each of his roles a real personal touch which makes them outstanding. In the role of Zachary Bartrum, in “String Beans,” Chas. Ray’s new photoplay, which will be shown at the theatre next , he is a splendid example of that peculiar species which has afforded so much material for colorful writing on the part of men like Mark Twain and others who painted the types as they saw them. The times have changed and the country editor has changed to some extent, but in some of the small interior towns he still exists, in a way the monarch of all he surveys, the pivotal point of local scandal, the counsellor of those in difficulties, the arbiter of fashion, politics and the last resort in the matter of crops, climate and so on. Mr. Ray’s support in this photoplay is excellent. Talented Scenarist JULIEN JOSEPHSON who wrote “String Beans,” Thomas H. Ince’s newest Paramount picture starring Charles Ray, is an author of many successful photoplays. With Dennison Clift he wrote “The Midnight Patrol” another Ince production and has also done other successful photoplays. He has the understanding of a man who has seen much and retained a grasp on all that has come within his notice. His stories are graphic and full of human interest. “String Beans” is on view at the theatre this week and is much admired. DONALD MACDONALD BAD FILM VILLAIN Real Scoundrel in Ray’s New Picture, “String Beans” Donald MacDONALD is a convincing villain. That is, he makes his roles effective by the use of his imagination. He knows what a vindictive, hateful, tricky, scheming and altogether disreputable character would do under given circumstances — not because he has any desire to emulate such a person, but because he can visualize such mental and physical crookedness. In “String Beans,” Charles Ray’s latest Ince-Paramount picture which will be shown at the theatre next , he is a slick scoundrel. The picture story was written by Julien Josephson and directed by Victor Schertzinger. Two other important roles are played by A1 Filson and Otto Hoffman, both sterling character actors. Jane l^ovak is leading woman and J. P. Lockney plays a country editor. Capable Director VICTOR L. SCHERTZINGER, who directed “String Beans,” the latest Ince-Paramount picture starring Charles Ray, which is being displayed at the theatre this week, is not only a clever film expert, but a musician of the highest order. He succeeds at times in infusing something of the musical quality into the rhythm of his pictures. “String Beans” is a country town story and Mr. Schertzinger has employed his imagination in making the various characters lifelike in the extreme and giving to the action that semblance of reality that carries the audience with it and convinces the spectator to such an extent that he forgets it is merely a picture play. RAY FOILS CROOK IN NEW PHOTOPLAY Appears as Country Boy in Picture, “String Beans” IN his new Thomas H. Ince-Paramount photoplay, “String Beans,” in which he will be seen at the theatre next , Charles Ray appears as the country boy who puts the schemes of a shrewd “bunco” artist from the city to naught. The idea is to raise money from the farmers to start a stringbean canning factory — but it is a swindle and Mr. Ray, as Toby Watkins, the no-account lad from the farm, upsets the whole thing and finally wins the mayor’s daughter in the bargain. Mr. Ray recently had a session with the dentist which is the result of youthful vanity. When he was a lad he thought it would be fine to have some gold in his teeth, so he discovered a couple of small cavities in two front molars. The dentist inserted bits of gold which looked fine in the eyes of the young man and were the envy of his associates. But in the pictures they looked anything but that. So Charles took advantage of his vacation to have them removed and replaced by porcelain. The Ray smile will be more than ever attractive now. Expert Photographer CHESTER LYONS is the photographic expert who caught the fine scenes in “String Beans” the new Paramount picture from the Thomas H. Ince studios starring Charles Ray, which is being shown at the theatre this week. Mr. Lyons is a dependable and capable camera man with an eye for composition and a mania for “clear” shots. The picture created a profound impression on its premier presentation here and crowded houses have been the rule throughout the week. 15