Paramount and Artcraft Press Books (1918)

ADVANCE PRESS STORIES To Be Sent to the Newspapers Prior to and During the Display of Ethel Clayton’s New Paramount Photoplay, “The Mystery Girl.” A Paramount Picture. “THE MYSTERY GIRL” A ROMANTIC STORY OF LOVE AND WAR Ethel Clayton Has Charming Role in Splendid New Photoplay The romantic aspects of war are emphasized in “The Mystery Girl,” the Paramount picture in which Ethel Clayton is starred and which will be shown at the next From a story by George Barr McCutcheon, who is known as one of America’s most popular novelists, this story is said to give Miss Clayton a vehicle admirably suited to her talents. Like so many of Mr. McCutcheon’s stories “The Mystery Girl” has to do with a mythical kingdom. But the locales are realistic, being the west front in France and the coast of Maine in this country. Ethel Clayton is introduced as the Countess “Ted,” alias 477, a motor ambulance driver in France. She and her uncle, Prince Sebastian, the ruler of Lurania, have been driven from their country by the Germans. Prince Sebastian goes to Green Fancy, Maine, and wires for his niece to join him there. At the front she has been seen by Captain Tom Barnes, U. S. A., who is ordered home on leave and who sees the Princess on the steamer again and falls in love with her. She is pursued by enemies and in an exciting series of adventures in this country. Captain Barnes assists her and wins her love. Miss Clayton is said to make an adorable Princess Ted, and her always artistic emotional acting makes the character a living figure. Henry Woodward is Captain Barnes and other important members of the cast are Clarence Burton, Winter Hall, Maym Kelso, and J. Parks Jones. Marion Fairfax wrote the scenario of “The Mystery Girl” and William C. de Mille directed it. Charles Schoenbaum was the photographer and John Browne assisted in the direction. ETHEL CLAYTON’S PICTURE BASED ON M’CUTCHEON NOVEL Story of “The Mystery Girl” Is Humorous, Dramatic and Appealing Ethel CLAYTON, the talented, beautiful and versatile Paramount star, will be seen in “The Mystery Girl” at the theatre next Marion Fair fax adapted the picture from one of George Barr McCutcheon’s latest and most popular novels — “Green Fancy.” George Barr McCutcheon has the reputation of never writing a dry story. His imagination is vivid and he puts a great deal of orginality into his books , coupled with a whimsical and fantastic humor, and a genius for invention that renders them entirely different from the average best seller. “Green Fancy” was a striking story, but it is said to have been improved by its transference to the screen. The change in title gives a better idea of what it is about, for Miss Clayton is truly a girl of mystery and a very charming one. There is a lot of trouble about crown jewels of an imaginary principality, and the war is introduced through the fact that the heroine is at first seen as an ambulance driver in the battle zone, while the hero, played by Henry Woodward, is an American Army captain, invalided home because of a smoker’s heart. There is adventure, thrill, excitement and humor in the story and the ending is said to be distinctly charming. William C. De Mille directed the picture with much skill. The supporting cast is an excellent one, the players including Henry Woodward, Clarence Burton, Charles West, Winter Hall, Maym Kelso and Parks Jones. ETHEL CLAYTON IS TITLED WOMAN IN “THE MYSTERY GIRL” Serves as Ambulance Driver At the Front and Proves Herself an Expert Ethel CLAYTON, one of the foremost emotional actresses, plays a titled European lady in her latest Paramount Picture, “The Mystery Girl,” which will be shown at the theatre next Princess “Ted” of Lurania, the lady in question, drives a motor ambulance on the western front where she meets Captain Barnes, an American army officer and he falls in love with her. Miss Clayton’s skill as a driver of motor cars stood her. in good stead in the ambulance driving scenes, and she soon showed that she could handle a big ambulance truck as easily as she drives a light racing car. Miss Clayton’s intrepid spirit was well shown recently when she went west to make Paramount Pictures and decided to make the trip across country in her motor car. In the past several years her work on the screen has gained her many admirers, who find in her finished acting and vivid personality a neverfailing attraction. Her Paramount pictures so far have been admirable stories and her latest, “The Mystery Girl,” is perhaps the best she has done so far. Its story, which combines romance and drama, is from the facile pen of George Barr McCutcheon, and in novel form it is known as “Green Fancy.” The scenario version was made by Marion Fairfax, and William C. De Mille directed the picture. Charles Schoenbaum, who did the splendid camera work that distinguishes “The Mystery Girl,” was also responsible for the photography of Miss Clayton’s two recent pictures, “The Girl Who Came Back” and “Women’s Weapons.” Mr. Schoenbaum is an artistic blender of light and shadow, with a keen sense of dramatic values. 13