Reel Life (1915-1916)

THE SECRET OF THE SUBMARINE New AmericanMutual chaptered photoplay to be released in fifteen installments is announced HE S E CRET O F THE SUBMARINE is the title of the new American Mutual chaptered photoplay. The first chapter in two reels will be released May 8. Work on this picture has been under way several weeks and every precaution has been taken to assure swift delivery of every chapter and all of the promotion and advertising matter related to each chapter, enabling the exhibitor to make the most of its pulling power. The first screening of six chapters of the picture at the American’s projection room in Chicago proved The Secret of the Submarine a really remarkable production. It involves many elements of interest — and incidentally carries something of a lesson on “preparedness” although there is nothing in the nature of propaganda about it. Story is Modem, Timely and Logical The Secret of the Submarine carries the elements of novelty and timeliness in a highly effective degree. It is intensely modern and crowded with sensational action. The story is woven around the life of a young girl, whose father is the inventor of an apparatus enabling sub-seacraft to reach a great depth without peril to the crews. The formula of this invention, sought by foreign governments as well as the American government, enables the direct introduction of the question of national defense, in a manner at once logical and thrilling. The fact that the United States is involved in the search for the formula lends a patriotic novelty to the intense drama of the story. The dramatic suspense is well sustained from the beginning, being carried through adventure after adventure to a big “punch” climax at the close of each chapter. The authors have struck an excellent balance of characterization and the members of the cast have been selected to fit the types as well as for their dramatic ability. Thomas Chatterton, as Lieutenant Hope, U. S. N., and Juanita Hansen, as Cleo Burke, modern young Americans, awaken immediate interest as their love affair lends a real charm to the chain of heart-stirring situations. Mr. Chatterton is a fine, upstanding virile type of hero and Miss Hansen, the possessor of a captivating winsomeness just suited to the role of Cleo. The “heavy” roles have been given into exceptionally capable hands, Lamar Johnstone and Hylda Hollis, both distinguished for their finished acting. William Tedtnarsh, whose characterization of Quabba in The Diamond from the Sky, was considered one of the great character roles of the screen, essays the part of a Japanese spy. George Clancy, as “Hook” Barnacle, an old salt, who has gained his sobriquet because of a hook in place of his right hand, is afforded a splend i d opportunity for character work, the which he realizes to the fullest extent as does George Webb in his role of Mahlin, an internationalemissary. The smaller roles have all been given into equally capable hands. The manner in which the characters have been defined by the authors is so definite that an unusual amount of strength will be given to the story through this fact alone. Motion picture patrons do not enjoy watching a picture and be made to wonder “who is who” in each chapter. Samuel S. Hutchinson, president of the American Film Co., has precluded any possibility of confusion in The Secret of the Submarine by his selection of the storied characters and the persons chosen to play them. George Sargent is the director in charge of production. The story for newspaper syndicate publication is being written by E. Alexander Powell, famous war correspondent, whose dispatches in the New York World and other papers have proven among the most forceful writings of the great European war. “When President Hutchinson, of the American Film Company, first discussed with me the writing of a novel based upon a pictured theme of preparedness, it struck me immediately as a capital idea,” said Mr. Powell. Motion Pictures Best Way To Preach Preparedness “During my years as a war correspondent in various countries, I have had unusual opportunities to observe the scientific battles being waged by the inventors of all nations to safeguard the crews of sub-seacraft. “The thought came to me that in the motion picture there lay a definite way to reach every American citizen. I likened the motion picture, in my own mind, to a national line of defense for intelligent propaganda has always been necessary to quicken the pulse of nations. “I was turning the thought over in my mind when I received a long-distance telephone message from Mr. Hutchinson. He inquired whether I would entertain writing the novelization of a motion picture. “I hesitated at first, but when he told me the story would center around preparedness, I was immediately interested. I visited the U. S. naval base at San Diego, with Mr. Hutchinson, where the officers proffered us every co-operation. “I realize to the fullest extent the national value of pictures such as The Secret of the Submarine, portraying as will this picture, a realism of sea dangers and the falsity of our assumed national safety.” REEL LIFE — Page Twelve