Variety (December 1914)

VAfcllTY NEW CORPORATIONS. Albany, N. T.. Deo, t. Joe W«k«r Prodwelasj Cox. of New York City. Capital, $10,000. Picture plays, eta Max Weber, Dare Lewie, Philip Fried- man. HL K. Llaeolm Players Co. Capital, i26,000. Photo Plays. George Thorms, heodore De Moulin, of New York, James W. Bailey, Cold 8prlnga, N. T. Lloyds FUbs RoaoTatlks; Co. Capital, 11.000. B. J. Brown, O. R. Stevenson, Edna Oreenberg. C. L. Chester. Inc. Picture photogra- hy. Capital. $6,000. Carolyn Cheater. llliam C. Qlass, Edward A. Mclnnes or New York. Broadway Clarossoat Co. Capital, $26,000. General amusement and res- taurant. Albert Erklns, H. 8. Steward, W. W. Wood, of New York. BlasJ PoMleatloa Corporation. Capi- tal, $6,000. General publlahlng business and picture plays. Florence Lipnlcke, George Troak, Walter N. Sellgeberg, New York. Lo Roy Photo Play Exhibiting; Cor- poration. Capital, $6,000. Jacob B. Agins, Israll Hoffman, Lena Hoffman, of New York. « SOCIETY MATRON IN FILMS. Mrs. Francis Ricker White, Jr., a society woman of Larchmont, N. Y., has joined the Reliance company as a picture actress. She became interested in photoplay when taking part this fall in some of the scenes the Reliance serial staged in and near the fine resi- dence of the Whites in Larchmont Up to that time Mrs. White had been the leading spirit in amateur the- atricals in society circles in Larch- mont "MINA" BEGINS DEC. 17. The first release of David Horsley comedies under the Melies franchise in the Motion Picture Patents Co., will be released Dec. 17 in the General Film Co. Program. The new brand is "Mina," the first selection of "Red Seal" having been abandoned. "Mina" is the abbreviated form of "Made in America." INJUNCTION OVER PARAMOUNT Washington, Dec. 9. The Casino Theatre Co. and the New Strand Theatre Co. have instituted in- junction proceedings against the New American Theatre Co. to prevent it from advertising Paramount pictures. The two firms that started the action claim they have these pictures for their theatres exclusively. DALY WITH PATHS. Arnold Daly has been placed under contract by the Pathe company and will play the part of Craig Kennedy, the leading role in their new serial, "The Exploits of Elaine," which they are to produce as a follow-up to "The Perils of Pauline." Philadelphia Theatres Transferred. Philadelphia, Dec. 9. The Plaza theatre, on the east side of Broad street, between Ritner and Porter, and the Century, at the north- east corner of Erie avenue and Mar- shall street, both picture houses, have been sold by the Active Real Estate Co. to Morris Spiers, president of the Exhibitors' League of Pennsylvania. Albert M. Greenfield represented the Active company, which is a subsid- iary of Earle-Mastbaum syndicate. The consideration of the sale was not disclosed, but is subject to mortgages amounting to $126,500. The total as- sessed value of both properties is $130,000. DISTRICTING COUNTRY. In the reorganization of its sales plan, the World Film Corporation has divided the United States up into four districts, south, New England, central and Pacific, each district to be handled by a manager. W. R. Scates was this week made district manager for the central division and left for Chicago to establish headquarters there. H. C. Drum will handle the Pacific Coast di- vision. Managers will later be appointed to handle the New England district and the south. The territory about New York will be handled by the World's main office here. FILMING "OLD DUTCH." Work began this week in the Fort Lee studio of the World Film Cor- poration on the picturization of "Old Dutch" in which Lew Fields will be featured. George Hassell and Vivienne Martin, who had important parts in the stage production will appear in the screen version. Upon the completion of the picture Fields and Miss Martin will return to "The High Cost of Loving." The Miles, Minneapolis, started play- ing four shows a day Dec. 8. C. H. Miles has denied that the Miles Hip there has been leased to anyone. THE PERFECT "Si." Montagu* Olass' stories of Hebrew life In the shop and in the borne found their way to the etase in the "Potash and Perlmntter" production and now they bob up before the picture camera in "The Perfect 88," a four- part Eclectic. At an uptown photoplay house last week the oaptlone of the pictures caused more laughter than anytnlng else. The cap- tions are nothing more than "humorous ob- servations" of Morlts Abramowsky, written by Olaas. It is this running fire of satire by Olass that puts the picture into a genuine comedy olass with the character work fairly well sustained. The feature has been ade- quately staged, particularly the model dis- play of gowns. About a half dosen women descend wide stairs arrayed in low cut rai- ment of a stylish make and before the camera they look real. They may have been bor- rowed for the occasion but it matters not as they give the picture a classy aspect la portraying Hebralo types of the sort that the Olass stories have made familiar it is hard, very bard in fact for the players to refrain from exaggerating them in an effort to make them appear ridiculous. In this picture the players must be given credit for not too farcically extending the opportunities given. The story tells of the experiences of Oertie who becomes a model when a garment house salesman admires her and in order to have her around, wires his firm he has found a a "perfect 86." With Mayer and Nathanson the girl remains through the good graces of Morlts, although Mayer doesn't appear to care a tinker's tinkle what becomes of her. The house salesman gives Oertie the once over and takes her out for a real feed. In re- covering from the night out Oertie sends in her resignation and on top of this comes an offer from a rival cencern at double her M. A M. salary. Mayer Co. receives an oruer from a princess with instructions from the salesman to send Miss Oertie along. In a quandary and as a last resort Mayer, the boss, goes to Oertle's apartments. She's in neglige and notloeably careless about expos- ing hsr ankles, and right there Mayer falls. Oertie and Mayer call on the princess and a big order is the result Then comes the wooing of Oertie by Mayer, her consent and the wedding repast. The film runs along in a happy groove. Fairly well photographed. The action is supposed to take place In Ber- lin and Lelpslg. RELEASED NEXT WEEK (Dec 12 to Dee. 19, inc.) MANUFACTURERS INDICATED BY ABBREVIATIONS, VIZ.I GENERAL Vitegrsph V Biogrspn B Kalem K Lubin L Pathe Pthe Selig S Edison E Essanay S-A Kleine Kl Melies Mel Ambrosio Amb Columbus Col Mina Mi UNIVERSAL Imp I Bison B101 Chrystal C Nestor N Powers P Eclair Eclr Rex Rx Frontier Frnt Victor Vic Gold Seal G S Joker J Universal Ike U I Sterling Ster MUTUAL Gaumont G American A Keystone Key Reliance Rel Majestic MaJ Thsnhouser T Kay Bee K B Domino Dom Mutual M Princess Pr Komic Ko Besuty Be Apollo Apo Roysl R Lion Ln Hepworth H The subject is in one reel of about 1,000 feet unless otherwise noted. DECEMBER 14—MONDAY. MUTUAL.—In Tune. 2-reel dr. A; Key- stone title not announced; Our Mutual Olrl, No. 48. Rel. GENERAL F.—The Sheriff of Willow Oulch, dr. B; The Smugglers of Lone Isle, 2-reel dr, K; A Perilous Passage, dr (14th of "The Beloved Adventurer" series), L; The Lure O' the Wlndlgo, 2-reel dr, 8; The Greater Love, dr, V; The Flirt, com, B; Madame Double X, com, 8-A. UNIVERSAL.—The Mill Stream, 2-reel dr. I; Lizzie's Fortune, com, Ster; The Way- ward Son, dr. Vic DECEMBER 17—THURSDAY. MUTUAL.—The Political Feud, 2-reel dr, Dom; Keystone title not announced; Mutual Weekly, No. 103, M. GENERAL F.—Red Dye, and A Natural Mistake, split-reel com, B; When the Blind See, 2-reel dr, L; Hearst-BelIg News Pic- torial, No. 84, 8; A Question of Clothes, com, V; Snakesvllle's Blind Pig, w-com, 8-A; The Thrilling Adventures of Count Veraoe, com, Ml. UNIVERSAL.—Within the Gates of Para- dise, dr. 1; Ambition, 2-reel dr, Rx; The Fatal Hansom, com, Ster. DECEMBER IS—TUESDAY. MUTUAL.—Her Younger Sister, dr. Be; At Dawn, dr, Ma]; The Barrier of Flames, 2-reel dr, T. GENERAL F.—A Scrap of Paper, 2-reel com-dr, B; Cupid Backa the Winners, com, K; It Cured Hubby, and Weary Willie's Rags, split-reel com, L; The Man from the East, dr. 8; Out of the Past. 2-reel dr, V; The Vanishing of Olive, dr, E; The Loose Change of Chance, dr, 8-A. UNIVBR8AL-—Such a Mistake, and The Glass Pistol, split-reel com, C; The Ghost of Smiling Jim, 2-reel w-dr. O-S; The Boy Mayor, dr, N. DECEMBER 16—WEDNESDAY. MUTUAL.—The Silent Way, dr. A; The Panther, 2-reel dr, Br; The Joke on Yellen- town, w-com, Rel. GENERAL F.—The llate That Withers, 2- reel dr. K; The Bomb. 2-reel dr, L; The Test, dr, 8; The Egyptian Mummy, com, V; On Christmas Eve, dr. E; Two Pop-up Fables, com, 8-A. UNIVERSAL.—How Father Won Out, com, and Ascent of the Ingrar Nellaon, educ, split-reel, J; A Game of Wits, 2-reel dr, Eclr ; Universal Animated Weekly, No. 144, U. December is—Friday. MUTUAL.—The Game of Life. 2-reel dr, K B; Trapped by a Heliograph, dr. A; When Fate Rebelled, dr, Pr. GENERAL F.—His Prior Claim, dr. B; Through the Keyhole, com. K; The Com- edlenne'a Strategy, dr, L: The Tall of a Coat, com, 8; Who Was Who In Hogg's Hol- low, com, V; The Colonel of the Red Hus- sars, 2-reel dr, E; The Olrl from Thunder Mountain, 2-reel dr, 8-A. UNIVERSAL.—Hla Dog Oone Luck, com. and Here and There In China with Homer Croy. educ. split-reel. N; Heart of the HUls. 3-reel dr, Vic. DECEMBER 19—SATURDAY. MUTUAL.—The Beast of the Tear, 2-reel dr. Rel; Keystone title not announced; Two Kisses, com, R. GENERAL F.—The Bond Sinister, dr. B; The Black Diamond Express, dr (Feature of "The Hazards of Helen" aeries), K; Who's Who. and Shall Curfew Ring To-Night, split- reel com, L; The Lady or the Tigers, dr, 8; Mr. 8anta Claus. 2-reel comdr, V; The Birth of Our Saviour dr, E; Broncho Billy's Christmas Spirit, w-dr, 8-A. UNIVERSAL—The Christmas Spirit, 2-reel dr, B101; His Doctor's Orders, com, J; Fron- tier title not announced. THE LAST EGYPTIAN. "The Last Egyptian" w a flve-reeler (Alliance Program) nroduosd by the Os that bears all the earmarks of a story one might read In a popular fiction magasine with the "By Rider Haggard" line under the title. It Is aa fantastlo a tale ae any that Mr. Hag- gard has ever conceived and therefore makes a very good feature story of the lighter cert, and the feature should be a moat in- teresting one for exhibitors who eater to a middle class patronage. The scenario relates a story of the last of a line of desoendents of Egyptian kings, Kara by name. Kara learns from his grandmother, hla sole sur- viving relative, that Lord Roane, aa Eng- lish noblsman, had dishonored his mother and that ln his veins, together with the blood of Kings, there is the blood of a perfidious unbeliever. Before passing away she delivers into his keeping the key to the secret burial Elaoe of his race and exacts a promise that e shall be avenged on his mother's betrayer. Then the real events of the story begin to take form and work out Kara takes enough treasure from the vaults of hla ancestors to carry him to Cairo, where he is received as a prince of casts, and comes upon Lord Roane, his son and the letter's daughter. Lady Aneth. Kara pays court to the young English girl, having first fleeced her rather at cards to the extent of $00,000, and the girl, to save the parent from disgrace, consents to marriage, Kara, oonoelvlng that his re- venge will be complete when he takes the girl from her relatives, and after going through a mock ceremony of marriage places her ln his harem. However, he Is betrayed by one of his followers who has a lust for English gold, and a young Englishman who la In love with the girl spirits her away on his yacht. Kara goes into the desert and obtains the aid of roving river olrates who agree to capture the yacht and make prison- ers of Its passengers until Kara shall deliver a ransom, after which they are to torn over their prisoners to him. The yacht Is taken and Kara goes book to the vaults to secure sufficient treasure to oomplete his scheme He Is followed into the vaults by the father of the girl, who, after a terrlflo struggle, overcomes the Egyptian and closes the doors of the vaults on him that he may die with his ancestors. On leaving the vault he la mistaken for Kara by a discarded favorite of the harem and stabbed to death. The sol- lower of Kara, who turned traitor. Anally brings about the release of the captives by leading the pirates to believe that there a number of English troops advancing to take them, and they make way to save their own skins and all ends happily. The ItaHag members of the caat are J. FarreU MaoDon- ald and Vivian Reed. The picture was pro- duced under the direction of L. Frank Baum, who has done some very good work In It, and the prints were made by the ■vans Co. The production ln a soenlo cense, although made la California, la possssssd of any quan- tity of north African atmosphere. THE CONSPIRACY. Charles Frohman stands sponsor for this four-part Famous Players Oo, feature, re- leased ln the Paramount program Deo. IB. It Is a detective story with a multitude of thrills and—wonder of wonders—an enlivening touch of real humor. This leavening of T» n irrfiiro, with the grace of neat comedy oomes as a woJ- oome relief to rather too much Intense dra- matlo product from the studios. John ■msr- son Is featured. The feature Is from the dra- matic work of Robert Baker and John Mmer- son. Emerson (his name does figure rather extensively, doesn't it?) is the delightful old writer of detective fiction, who figures almost unconsciously in the solution of polios mys- teries, an exquisite characterisation, which gives the rather complicated and heavy mys- tery tale a splendid contrasting touch of sun- pis human portraiture. The picture has many excellencies—little touches of the dramatic craft that give it force and an air of restraint that gives It conviction. For example (as illustrating the stagecraft employed) when Margaret Holt, the girl detective first enters the rooms of Pedro Alvares, she la on the verge of discovery by a woman who knows her Identity for several scenes, a capital example of stage suspense. Again after the murder of Alvares. her escape is all but accomplish- ed, when further complications Impede it and the action hangs again by a thread. To ex- emplify the restraint, there la a drug fiend in- volved ln a subordinate part, fluch a role would ordinarily have been a temptation to the film director for exploitation. In thte In- stance, the part is splendidly balanoed. The character eppears but briefly, performs only the sctlon necessary to the part and disap- pears again. These minor Items are picked at random from memory In nn attempt to In- dicate the thoughtful, studious preparation and handling that mark the entire work. The Fiolnt is that the effort shows Intelligent hand- ing to an extraordinary degree. There is no Insistence on detached lnoldent to secure a scenlo effect or a dramatlo "punoh." The one defect seems to be that the action la slow In getting Into swing snd the dramatlo prepara- tion Is unwieldy—a defect which Is common. It appears, to the screen adaptations of stage pieces. This point has been touched on often In these oolumns, but Its Importance excuses such Insistence. The picture exemplifies an- other element of feature production, economy of footage. Every action la reduosd to Its lowest possible term of film. A message is to be sent. The sender Is seen to enter a tele- graph office. Without Interval a messenger- boy comes Into the office of the sender snd delivers the wire. The whole story is there, although moot directors Insist upon showing the sender In the set of entering the tele- graph office, writing the message, paying for It, business of the operator sending It and the operator at the other end dispatching it by a mrHHmKerboy. Four of the usual operations eliminated and nothing lost. Little econo- mies such as these make for cohesive action.