Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AND THE PICTUREGOER 34 C ENDING Oct. 9, 1915 he had not played hie last card. "Very well," he sneered, -" I will goat once and inform your daughter of the truth." This was the momenl for Sadunah's decision. "Meet me to-morrow morning al t • 1 1 o'clock at the Devil's Pool, and I will lake you to Editha,'' was her calm retort. The unexpected reply sent Laroche away quite satisfied that Bditha would be his, as well as the money, and that it was blood-mi mey tnal tered not. The morning broke bright and fair. On the terrace Editha and her lover were seated when Sadnnah, gowned in white as for a bridal ceremony, came down the steps unheard. Bidding her beloved child a mute farewell, she climbed to the height above the Devil's •Pool. Waiting beside the broken fence was Henry Laroche. Sadnnah greeted him gaily, and. calling his attention to the beautiful view, she sprang at his throat, and with great force pushed the man through the fence. Together they fell, and both were drowned in the Devil's Pool, which lay deep at the bottom of the cliff. Taking the terrible secret with her to a watery grave, Sadnnah had sacrificed her life for the happiness of her child. # * # # Never before has a photo-drama, marked with such beautiful emphasis the love of a woman for her child. No Greater Love is a drama of intensity throughout, revealing the wonderful power of mother-love. Husband, fame, life itself are all surrendered in one glorious sacrifice for the child the woman bore. Our readers will no doubt remember Mile. Regina Badet in Zoe, one of tho most successful films issued in 1913, and this fascinating actress has played the part of " Sadnnah."' It is a great conception, for she has given us a moving interpretation of the Soul-stirring story. M. de L'Isle appears as "Mostyn," Paul Guide as "Laroche." and Mile. Ni/.ar as " Editha.'' The film will be released by Gaumont on October 25th. HALL GA1NE on the FUTURE ofthe FILM PLAY MR. HAL (Photo. Lo Innv "MOVING PICTURE '-GOERS. Pa takes bis pels lo ill" pid arcs. SO magnificent a thing is the Famous Players production of The JStental City, both from an artistic and a dramatic point of view, that it is with immense satisfaction we receive news Of it being followed into the cinema world by another of Hall Caine's successful novels — namely. Tlic Christian. This latter has just been completed by the Loudon Film Company, with Derwent Hall Caine (son of the author, who, by the way, lias recently made a huge success in Pete at the Aldwych Theatre) as " John Storm " and Elisabeth Risdon as '" Glory Qnayle." When the other day Low Warren, of the Kincumiograph Weekly, spent a pleasant hour with the great author, the conversation naturally turned upon the film-play, and Hall Caine made it clear that he. for one, recognised how universal to-day is the appeal which the picture-screen makes to the peoples of the world. New Vehicle of Expression. " It is a fine— a magnificent— thing.'' he said, " to speak to a great public. All our dramatists and writers from Shakesi -care downwards have sought the widest outlet for their work. One hundred thousand readers represents one hundred thousand hearts touchedsomething much to he desired. A fine thing to be able to do. but a great responsibility. It is in this direction that the cinematograph will help the author. It is a great new vehicle of expression, a work that does not require translating. The author depends on the vehicle of words. He must therefore always be conscious of the limitations of his language. If he writes for England and the English people he has an enormous public truly, but if he wishes to appeal to humanity as a whole he must find a means of surmounting the barrier of English language and life. He must rise" beyond it. and find a new means of expression if he would prove equally interesting to the Frenchman, the 1 [talian, and the Russian. Few men are able successfully to do that. Speaking to the World. " The cinematograph story-teller the story-teller who writes in pictures and not in words, whether of play or novel is sneaking to the world. Man is man everywhere. He has the same emotions, the same aspirations; he is the same h n m a n creature, whether he be black or white. The writer it to produce the great picture story appeals to the widest, thegreatest. the most wonderful and the most complex audience the world has ever known. The Dumas of the Screen. "... May I say that I believe the day is not far distant when a second Dumas will arise who will to the pictures a literature of its own. Why should not the world see a g story-teller who can tell a great story to the eye alon ? 8J0 L CAINE. more will our pro >.<: Warren.) ducers look to the plays and books of the writers of the day to provide the screen stories which they need. The Dumas of the screen will write for the cinematograph, and not for the publisher of books or the producer of plays. He will understand all the techniqm the art, its wonderful advantages, and its limitation He will write in the newmedium of expression, as a writer writes a book, or a painter paints a picture: he will write for the camera alone, and he will produce a great, a marvellous work of art that will set the standard for all future cinematograph playsa play that will be seen by a greater number of people, that will occasion more discussion, and will make a wider and more general appeal than anything that has yet been done." Hall C line's Lam;nt. " Would that I were a young manthat 1 were thirty years younger that 1 might witness its advent, and that I might perhaps be permitted to play a small part in the making of the new literature of the cinematograph theatre. Hut it is work for men of a younger generation. I must be content to ^o on with my books and my plays, and to them translated by other hands into the medium of the moving picture.'' Speaking of ■ KbJJ Caine remarked: "It follows my story with an exactness that is remarkable. L am delighted with the film, and 1 only hope that those who see it in the picture theatres will derive a much pleasure from seeing it on the screen as I did myself."