Paramount Press Books (1918)

ADVANCE PRESS STORIES— Continued MAURICE TOURNEUR A FAMOUS DIRECTOR His Photoplay “Sporting Life” Thrilling Offering JyJ AURICE TOURNEUR, famous motion picture director, whose first independent offering, “Sporting Life,” a picturization of the famous Drury Lane melodrama of the same name, which will be presented at the theatre next , is a firm believer in incidental music and at ceteras to create the proper atmosphere for screen productions. “I like the creepy music to herald the approach of the villain,” he said recently. “I love the sob stuff strains to indicate the sad moments of the heroine. I would like to create the good old unsophisticated spirit which prevailed in the good old Drury Lane melodrama days. It is a curious fact that Drury Lane theatre in London, the home of de lux melodrama and pantomimes, is now devoted to motion pictures. This indicates the power of the screen which is now superseding stage productions all over the world.” “Sporting Life” is a thrilling photoplay and every role in it is interpreted by a player of stellar importance. The principals are Ralph Graves, Warner Richmond, Charles Craig, Constance and Fair Binney and Willette Kershaw. A Strong Melodrama NE of the strongest photo^ plays seen in this city in years is “Sporting Life,” the first independent offering of Maurice Tourneur, the famous film director, which is being shown to crowded houses at the theatre this week. It is a splendid picturization of a famous Drury Lane melodrama and there is not a dull moment throughout the action. The story is heart appealing and the players are of the best. FRIDAY UNLUCKY? NO! SAYS TOURNEUR Producer Began Work That Day on “Sporting Life.” T HE bugaboo that Friday is an unlucky day, does not alarm Maurice Tourneur, producer of “Sporting Life,” the great Paramount-Artcraft special picture which is to be exhibited at the Theatre next The picture was begun by Mr. Tourneur on Friday, its biggest scenes were photographed on Friday, it was finished on Friday and when it was presented for the first time in public at the Rivoli Theatre, New York, on September 15, 1918, it proved to be one of the biggest successes the screen has ever known. There are many thrilling incidents in the story of this superb adaptation of the great Drury Lane melodrama which has held the stage for more than twenty years. Chief among these are a prize fight in the National Sporting Club of London and a reproduction of Derby day at Epsom. The story has to do with John, Earl of Woodstock, who battles against odds to regain his lost financial position by backing two great sporting events, and whose efforts are nearly balked by an inveterate and unscrupulous enemy. The various roles are excellently portrayed by prominent screen artists. A]|Famous Stage Success TP HE great photoplay “Sport* ing Life” produced by Maurice Tourneur, which is being shown at the theatre this week, is a superb ParamountArtcraft special picture. It is an adaptation of the famous Drury Lane melodrama and there isn’t a dull moment from start to finish. The scenes of the prize fight in the National Sporting Club of London and the Derby are much admired, while the story is thrilling and heart appealing. «* DERBY IS FEATURE OF “SPORTING LIFE” Many Other Thrilling Scenes in Big Production p HIEF among the big features ^ that make “Sporting Life” so notable a photoplay, is a scene showing the English Derby at Epsom Downs. “Sporting Life” is an adaptation by Maurice Tourneur of the celebrated Drury Lane melodrama of the same name which was produced in 1897 and which has held the stage periodically ever since. It will be shown at the theatre next The story deals with a young British nobleman who seeks to rehabilitate his fortunes, which are at a low ebb. He is a thorough sportsman and he backs a prize fighter, and his own mare Lady Love, to win the Derby. Both events are carried through successfully, but not without serious difficulties laid in the young sportsman’s path by a relentless enemy. There is a charming love story which holds much suspensive interest. The story is an excellent one and from every standpoint, “Sporting Life” is a most notable production. The principals in the cast include Ralph Graves, Warner Richmond, Charles Craig, Constance and Fair Binney, and Willette Kershaw. Splendid Photoplay HP HE verdict of the patrons of 1 the theatre where “Sporting Life,” the great Paramount-Artcraft special picture is on view this week, is that it “is a splendid photoplay.” It was produced by Maurice Tourneur on a lavish scale and it has all the elements that go for success. The scenes have been splendidly produced, while the story itself is on a high order of excellence. 15