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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
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