The Washington times., 1914-11-21
THE BEST
Photoplay Department ii,
WASHINGTON
Serial Film May Be
Reissued So 1t
Can Be ShO7vn
Every Day.

The suggestion from Charles Pathe
sort of publishing business instead
Of actually producing films them
selves renews interest in another sug
gestion that was made in these
columns some months ago regard
ing the reissue of the serial films
after the serial mas been completed.
We suggested at that time that the
producing company could probably
DO a large business by issuing a set
of films of the entire story for eX-
hibition night after night until the
serial is shown in practically COM
plete form. This would be in line
with Mr.. Pathe's idea because II
would he the publication of a serial
in set of pictures that would
run a week or more rather than eX-
tending il over several months.
The case OF The Million Dollar
Mystery" has suggested this most
strongly, This serial is one of the
prize story class. 1t offers a prize
TO the person who can write the
most plausible solution to several
particular features of the mystery.
The prize is large enough to attract
the attention OF a large number Of
contestants and ii is likely that
thousands of PEOPLE throughout the
United States will send in solutions
from which the scenario of the last
installment is to be written.
1t would seem, therefore, that the
producers Of this picture could do
the public a favor and at the same
time make some extra returns for
themselves by issuing the complete
story, so far as it has gone. in
forty-four reels, that could be run in
pairs or by fours, every night until
the entire story had been shown
again. In this way the people who
wish to send in solutions for the
mystery will have an opportunity to
go over the details again and make
up their minds as to just what they
want to write. There are undoubt-
edly many people who have kept files
OF The Times with the novelized
form of the film. But those who
have followed the production know
that the film has departed from the
story in several important particu-
lars. This will be particularly no
table in the differences between the
last chapter of the story, to be pub
lshed tomorrow in The Times, and
the last reels of the film, which will
be shown here during the coming
week. In the disposal of one of the
most important characters of the
drama the film and the story are
radically different.
There undoubtedly will be ques-
ton in the minds of many of those
who wish to submit solutions for the
prize as to which Of these is to be
followed. A character is not definite
ly disposed of in the story, while in
the film the manner in which the
disposal is accomplished leaves no
doubt whatsoever. The plan of put
ting out the whole of this story in
stI aight form to be run every day
has been taken up with the pro-
ducers, and il may be that something
will be done to issue the films.
There is a difficulty to be met in
the fact that the Gins are being
shown in the smaller theaters so
long after they are relea Sed to the
larger houses. This will make Ii
difficult to get a sufficient time for
the showing of all the insta 'lments
Of the picture before the time limit
on the sending in of solutions ex-
pires. II this can be arranged, ii is
likely that the continuous showing
of The big mystery drama will be
made possible.
This nlm. by the way. has main