Paramount Press Books (1918)

ADVANCE PRESS STORIES To Be Sent to the Newspapers Prior to and During the Display of Fred Stone’s Latest Photoplay, “Under the Top.” An Artcraft Picture STONE’S COMEDY IS FINE ART ASSERTS RENOWNED CRITIC SYENGALI, ALIAS BEERY, IS FEATURE OF “UNDER THE TOP” STONE DOES SOME PERILOUS FEATS IN “UNDER THE TOP” James Huneker Pays Tribute to Genius of the Star of “Under the Top.” JAMES HUNEKER, one of America’s foremost art critics, has ranked Fred Stone as the leading comedian, acrobat and dancer in the country. It was he who pointed out so trenchantly about a year ago that Mr. Stone’s work belongs in the realm of the fine arts, and that the elastic Fred has brought to the American stage a distinctive genius for fun-making. Now this genius has been transferred to the films and hundreds of thousands of persons, who have heretofore been deprived of seeing Fred Stone, because of living such a great distance from the metropolitan centers where he appeared, will have a chance to view his really extraordinary art. His work is difficult to define ; it consists of flashes of real acting, a humor that is spontaneous and human, an acrobatic skill that gives the spectator the idea that Mr. Stone has no bones in his body, and wonderful dancing that is absolutely individual. All these elements are combined in his second Artcraft picture, “Under the Top,” which will be shown at the theatre next This is a charming comedy-drama of circus life, which was written by Anita Loos and John Emerson and scenarioized by Gardner Hunting. Donald Crisp directed the picture and he was assisted by Nat Deverich. Real Circus in Picture INDEPENDENT of the exquisite comedy work of Fred Stone, the celebrated comedian in the picture, there is a real circus in “Under the Top,” the second Artcraft photoplay starring Mr. Stone, which is now on view at the theatre. An entire circus was engaged for this production and the picture is one of unusual merit. Mr. Stone is excellently supported. Popular Actor Portrays Role of Hypnotist in Support of Fred Stone. NOAH BEERY v is a tall man with piercing dark eyes and jet black hair. As it happened, he had a wonderful black beard all grown when Donald Crisp, who directed Fred Stone’s second Artcraft picture, “Under the Top,” which will be shown at theatre next was looking for someone to play the role of the hypnotist, Professor de Como, in the story. Crisp saw Beery and seized him. “You’re just the one I want,” said the director. “Can you make up as a hypnotist, a la Svengali, in an hour ?” “I can,” said Mr. Beery. In one hour a tall man in a black suit, and with a black cloak thrown over his shoulders, was striding toward the stage where the company was making “Under the Top.” Mr. Beery does some splendid acting in the role of Professor de Como. In the story he is called upon to hypnotize a young girl to the end that she may be married to one of her rascally guardians who seek to deprive her of the circus she had inherited from her father. Fred Stone, who plays the part of the girl’s sweetheart, frustrates this plot in an extremely novel manner, as all who see this photoplay at Manager ’s popular playhouse next — , will tes tify. A Worth While Picture FROM every standpoint, “Under the Top,” in which Fred Stone, the famous musical comedy comedian, makes his second Artcraft appearance and which will be shown at the theatre next , is well worth one’s while. Mr. Stone performs all the wonderful athletic stunts that made him famous on the stage and they add immeasurably to the attractiveness of the picture. 13 Photoplay Affords Noted Star Many Opportunities for Fun-Making. IN the early part of “Under the Top,” the new Artcraft picture starring Fred Stone, which will be shown at the theatre next , the famous comedian has to do a dive down a rope from a church steeple. The scene comes when he, as Jimmie Jones, a young village painter, quits for the noon hour. Fred came down the rope head-first at break-neck speed, while three cameras “shot the scene,” and numerous people about the Lasky studio watched breathlessly, wondering if he would land safely. He did, and everyone agreed that when it came to doing startling stunts, Fred Stone was in a class by himself. This is one of many similar hairraising feats which Mr. Stone performs throughout the action of the story of “Under the Top.” As Jimmie, he loves Pansy McNeill, a circus girl whose guardians plot to deprive her of her inheritance by wedding her to one of them. They cause her to be hypnotized and the marriage is to be celebrated while she is in a hypnotic trance. But Jimmie takes a hand in the proceeding with the result that the villains are foiled. Mr. Stone’s leading woman is Ella Hall, a beautiful and talented actress, and chief among the supporting players are Sylvia Ashton, James Cruze, Guy Oliver, Charles Ogle, Noah Beery, Jane Wolff and J. Cummings. Story of Stone’s Life THE story of “Under the Top,” the new Artcraft picture in which Fred Stone, the famous musical comedy star, is to appear at the theatre next , is said to be the story of Mr. Stone’s early life. The famous comedian’s early yearnings for circus life led him to run away from home and take up circus work. The love interest of the picture is well sustained throughout.