!AiJ-u.ujmju.imijmjJBtatliB we WTBWIWIIIWHWBIMIg Wigjiggg II i i liiWHilHiMMMUMiiltij """ ' ' I II I t i w i Jiiijf Hiji MlUHWH iJPSlWLf- iP ' w THE EVENING LEDGER PHOTOPLAY SECTION, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1915. Sartorial Solecisms in Motion Pictures By ELEANOR K. McDONNELL We 'wouldn't Etnad for It a. minute In real life. If a damsel in Aphrodite cos tome such as was -worn In the day of the early Greeks, -were to comotrlpplng down Chestnut street in this year of our 'Lord 3315 she'd have a mob at her neels a square lone and hluecoats all along the line vying with each other in trying to arrest her. Furthermore, It the charge weren't disturbing the peace or disor derly conduct, the lady in question would be detained for examination as to her sanity. But in "reel" life (It's too old to be a good pun, reely) sartorial solecisms are such common, everyday occurrences that the "wonder of it is that the audience hasnt launched a protest long ago. Per haps it's because they realize the futility of expecting a mere film director to know anything about the period of the drama til Jk IH HLjH isn't gripping and then the film director "gets his" from the critics. The standard of the movies is being raised every day and every day the re quirements are higher, the competition greater. The study of period dressing and period furniture has been made a part or the curriculum of some schools. In the opinion of Mrs. Niver, and many others not so well qualified to speak out in meeting. It should be one of the first assets of every moving picture director. For the day is not far distant when the children (who later will educate their fond parents) will be on to these incon gruities and the 16th century heroine in the sheath gown telephoning to her ardent swain in conventional Mart, Shaffner and Uarz, who comes speeding to her via his little Fordie may get a laugh that she didn't look for. It isn't pleasant to be laughed at when you're trying to put a bit of pale plmT sentiment across. Likewise the Utile gypsy who issues forth from her moun tain fastness jn petite fresh-from-the-shop patent leathers, may find the shoes not so comfortable in view of the reception given her by the people out front. So Miss Movie Actress and Mr. Director watch out. That goblin of all producers known as the public, may get you, it you don't! Miss Hackett Signs v The many Philadelphia friends of Florence Hackett will be pleased to learn that she has signed an advantage ous contract with the Pyramid Company and will be starred in two-reel features. Miss Hackett recently left Lubln's and The Power of Suggestion By HERBERT BRENNON I am a strong believer in the power of suggestion in moving-picture director ship. A director must infuse himself into each part to bring out the best that is in those he is directing. Otherwise, according to my ideas, there is bound to be a lack of harmony and continuity in the picture he is making. In theory at least, there should be no sub-titles to break up the continuous thread of the story, which is relied upon to hold the attention of the spectators. Sub-titles interrupt the narrative and Bometimes can ruin the most powerful of plays. A superfluity of sub-titles in dicates a lazy director. It means that, in order to save himself the effort of) keeping his scenario moving by legiti mate means, he resorts to the slipshod method of slapping in a sub-title. There could not be a worse fault. I think it is essential also that the director should himself have been an actor; or at any "rate havo bad stage experience in some way. In fact this is a sine qua non. The director should also be in sympathy with the subject of hlf) scenario and with his people. It is im possible otherwise to get tho best effects. instant popularity. Her second theat rical season with James J. Corbett, In "The Burglar and the Lady," was fol lowed by "Rip Van "Winkle." The next year she appeared In "The Toymaker in Nuremburg" and "The Happy Mar riage" nnder Frohman, then In Joe "Welch's "The Peddler," and one of Olga Nethersole'a productions. "The Travel ing Salesman" was the last play in which she appeared before joining the Bellance Company. She played with James Kirk wood, Henry "Walthall and Marion Leon ard. Some of the photoplays In which Miss Hackett will be remembered are "Tho Road o' Strife," "Beloved Adventure," "Tho Intriguers" of George Terwilllger. "Rainy Day" by the same producer, and "The Path to the Rainbow," which has not yet been released. SEES HIS WORK FILMED Gouvemeur Morris, author of The' Goddess." made a trip of BOO miles, from his home in Aiken, S. C, to the Vita graph studios in Brooklyn, In order tq see the first five chapters produced. It was his first work to be produced on the screen, and ho expressed himself as greatly pleased with Ralph W. Inee's direction of the picture, under the super vision of A. E. Smith. FLORENCE HACKETT Who has become a great screen favorite this is the first announcement of her new field of activities. Florence Hackett wks born in Buffalo, N. T. "When she was fifteen years of age she was brought by her mother to New Tork, where she attended SL Ce cilia's Academy. "When she tried out for a part in "Dora Thome," she won ETHEL GRANDIN A United player he Is directing. Perhaps, too, they have nao. a peep at the heterogeneous collec tion of raiment -which masquerades itself in the equipment of the average moving picture company under the name of the period wardrobe.' The period -wardrobe, like Shakespear ean drama, should be "not of an age but of all time." Instead it is a curious pot pourri of wearing apparel, fashioned without the slightest fidelity to history. Take into consideration, then, the pal pable inadequacies of the wardrobe, add to this the foolish carelessness or ignor ance of the 'director, and then add again the personal idiosyncrasies of the par ticular stars who are being filmed and you get the reason for some of the curi ous costume and furniture incongruities that are seen daily in the movies. "When Leslie Carter posed for that stirring drama of the Civil "War period. The Heart of Maryland," she didn't wear a hoopskirt. She wore instead a Sheath gown that would have made Lady Godiva blush for shame. It couldn't pos sibly have been born before 1S10. Of course, she may have figured out, and rightly so, that Mrs. Leslie Carter in a hoopskirt would be even more droll than the same lady in a sheath, which the dames of I860 didn't wear, but which Leslie had an idea was exceedingly be coming to her own svelte linns. Likewise "The Kreutxer Sonata." I have Mrs. Edward C Nivers word for it that this naughty film contained more ridiculous discrepancies than any other on record. And being the lady member of the Pennsylvania Board of Censors, before whom all the movie plays in the State must pass muster before they can be ladled out to an eager public, she ought to know. Now Tolstoy wrote "The Kreutxer Sonata" some 30 years ago, and yet when It was served up on the screen, automo biles, vacuum cleaners, telephones and modern costumes were prematurely born. Despite the bad taste of their being there, they came out boldly and flaunted them selves In the face of a gasping audience. It didn't laugh, however. The story was too gripping. But sometimes the story Keystone Picture Moving HF School OPERATING TAUGHT In this school of experience men of all ages acquire the knack of "how" and learn the theory of "why." This "lcarn-by-doing" method assures every learner a successful future. Qualification guaranteed. Po sitions secured. BIG SUMMER REDUCTIONS OF HIGH-CLASS FEATURES TIIE LITTLEST IlEIJEI." 6 reels. "THE CHIMES" 3 reel. "DAVID COPPEnFIELD" 7 reels. -HBAItT OP MIDLOTHIAN" 3 reel. Drop In ana ret our larse Hit ol single and multiple mis. Book qulcklv. First come, first served. Blinkrinrn otopi.ws i-HLLLfcUlOrn cORPOR.VTIO?f Philadelphia Branch, ISM Vine Street. MIONE WALNUT I0C0. See PHILADELPHIA'S FAVORITE in Pictures mil its&$s&M MARIAN SWAYNE wsmsr yjyjyily 18 REELS A WEEK UNITED FILM SEKVICE OP WIILA. 1IS3 VINE STKEET Open Doily and Monday, Wednesday and Friday Evening "WRITE. PnONE On CALL FOR INFORMATION 1310 ARCH STREET Bell Phone "Walnut HOI. J 1 Studios (jgj Fr &en I Beautify Your Theatre at a small cost by using Artinclal Flow ers. Vine. Palms, etc Let us aaggest something; for your elec tric fan brackets also for lobby and Interior decorations. J. S. BORGENSKI Importer 62 North 13th Street, Pkflju, Pa. If you are not sure about your program we will supply a service that will be reliable and composed of as many varied subjects as re quired. Yes, we have Chaplins. The Greater New York Film Rental Co. Joaeph Spero, Ucr. 1339 Vine Street "Walnut 688. FACILITIES 6 ARTIFICIALLY LIGHTED 5 DAYLIGHT STAGES Props, Cameras, Camera-men, Scenery, Costumes 200-ACRE FARM, MOUNTAINS, NATURAL LAKE, WOODS, ETC. RATES REASONABLE PRINTING AND DEVELOPING (Twelve Hours) EXPERT PROMPT DEPENDABLE Four Cents Per Foot, Complete Titles, Five Cents Per Foot Write for Information i liberty Motion Picture Co. GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA, PA. OFFICERS WM. S. LLOYD, Pre., Prop. Stratford Knitting Mills. M. T. MORINGE, See'y Liberty Motion Picture Co. J. B. MUSTiN, Treat & Gen'l Mgr. Liberty Motion Picture Co. DIRECTORS COL. SHELDON POTTER CHAS. W. KOHL JNO. AXFORD JOHN DLAKELY WM. DAY ROWLAND T. W. ANDREWS "LIBERTY" is not a producing company WWWWfJWW?! MS mmmmimmmmiurr -rY StMLa
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers