Paramount Press Books (1918)

ADVANCE PRESS STORIES To Be Sent to the Newspapers Prior to and During the Display of “Sporting Life” A PARAMOUNTARTCRAFT SPECIAL PICTURE “SPORTING LIFE” IS BASED ON FAMOUS OLD ENGLISH PLAY Maurice Tourneur’s Photoplay Exciting and Filled With Thrills C HOWING a phase of English life that under the stress of the war may never be seen again, “Sporting Life,” Maurice Tourneur’s splendid picturization of the famous Drury Lane melodrama which scored so heavily two decades or more ago, is one of the greatest motion picture spectacles produced in this country in many years. “SportingLife” will be shown at the ....... theatre next The scenario by Winthrop Ivelley departs from the original play mainly in the elaboration of detail. The general outline is not disturbed, the plot concerning itself with Lord Woodstock’s winning of the Derby with his mare Lady Love, and his stepping into the ring to take the place of an “unknown” pugilist whom he had backed heavily and who had been drugged through the agency of Olive de Carteret, the vamp, at the instigation of her husband, who is Lord Woodstocks deadly enemy. The story has to do with the attempt of de Carteret to ruin Lord Woodstock. The romantic element is provided by the Earl who is in love with the daughter of his chief trainer. Her sister loves'Joe Lee, a prize fighter, not wisely but too well, and when she attempts suicide, her father on learning the truth, becomes the willing tool of Mrs. de Carteret in doping Lee just as he is to step into the ring. Lord Woodstock takes his place and not only wins the fight but thousands of pounds as well. The production is a notable one from every angle, while the support is exceptionally good. The principals in the cast are Ralph Graves, Warner Richmond, Charles Craig, Constance and Fair Binney and Willette Kershaw. THRILLING PRIZE FIGHT IS STAGED IN “SPORTING LIFE” One of Many Interesting Scenes Shown in Tourneur’s Big Picture NE of the most exciting ring battles ever shown in any motion picture is that in which Lord Woodstock fights a victorious battle 'himself after the man he had wagered upon hack been drugged by his enemies. This is one of numerous thrilling scenes in Maurice Tourneur’s fine picturization of “Sporting Life,” the famous English melodrama, which will be shown at the theatre next John, Earl of Woodstock, is a young British nobleman who is harassed by debt. He is a thorough sportsman and when Joe Lee, a gypsy prize fighter is matched, Lord Woodstock bets every dollar he can raise on him. But Woodstock has a powerful enemy who causes Lee to be doped by the father of the girl he had wronged and Woodstock, in order to save his wagers, enters the ring himself and fights a victorious battle. It also develops that Lord Woodstock has backed his mare, Lady Love, to win the Derby and to best him, his enemy gets into action again and has Lady Love stolen. Then, to clinch his villainy, he kidnaps Woodstock and circulates the report that he is dead. Both master and horse are rescued in time and when Lady Love wine the Derby, Woodstock cashes in to the tune of many thousands of pounds. The picture is one of unusual thrill and expectancy. The love element is provided by Lord Woodstock who loves Norali Cavanagh, a daughter of his chief trainer and when he gets into trouble with ruin staring him in the face, Norah saves him. The photoplay was produced under the direction of Mr. Tourneur and the results have' been highly effective. LIKE MELODRAMA? “SPORTING LIFE” WILL PLEASE YOU Maurice Tourneur’s Big Picture Production is Clever and Artistic O you like melodrama? The real old Drury Lane brand filled to the brim with stirringaction, suspense and genuine thrill? Who doesn’t? If you do, you should not fail to see “Sporting Life,” Maurice Tourneur’s superb picturization of the famous Drury Lane success of twenty years ago which will be shown at the ...... theatre next Just as in the days when the vivid melodramas thrilled young and old alike, the picturizations of the more famous of these thrillers, is rousing popular interest to a hig-h degree of intensity. When Mr. Tourneur began work on “Sporting Life” as his first offering as an independent producer, he g-ave orders that no expense should be spared to make the photoplay a distinct work of art, and that his wisdom was appreciated by the public was demonstrated on its presentation in a New York theatre on September 15, 1918, when it was acclaimed one of the best photoproductions made in years. Aside from the interest of the story, the scenes of “Sporting Life” are unusually massive and interesting. These include a gypsy camp, a prize ring contest in the National Sporting Club in London, a racing stable, a battle on a dismantled ferry boat, the rescue of a stolen horse from the cellar of a tenement, and finally, a view of the Derby at Epsom,' showing the King’s box. The various characterizations are in highly capable hands. The cast includes Ralph Graves, Warner Richmond, Charles Eldridge, Charles Craig, Henry West, Constance and Fair Binney and Willette Kershaw.