The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-20


That French and German actors have
been presented with Iron Crosses and
Legion of Honor decorations FOR
bravery on the field OF battle
Bursting shells disfigure the pages
OF the trade Journals and scatter the
type pic eyed over the pages OF the
advertising sections. Even the actors
are using tho war as n prctext to get
a job. l put man on at the studio
as an extra the other day." smiled Mr..
Marston. when he told me that the
Consul OF his country had warned him
to be prepared to sail on Ave days no.
tice and that he wanted a little money
TO leave with his family when he went
to the front. I found out few days
later that the extra man was American
born and fired him on the spot.
Seriously. however" continued Mr..
Marston. the war really has affected
the American end OF the Aim industry.
Soft core carbons have gone up from
S2s to $40 thousand, while metol,
used In the development OF film. has
Jumped in price from SO a pound TO $40
Hydrochinon. which was selling at
dollar a pound a month ago. Is now
quoted at So. Both OF these chemicals
can be produced In this country how
ever. so unless the market has been
cornered manufacturers should feel no
Immediate concern. American condens-
Ing lenses do not come up TO the re-
quirements OF motion picture projection
and as no more German or French
lenses can he obtained until the ces-
satlon Of hostilit!es the supply In Amer
lea Is now at a premium.
"Guncotton. which serves as one of
the bases from which raw Aim stock is
made. Is now AT low prices. however.
and as most of the Aim Is manufactured
In the United States there need be no
legitimate rMe In the price OF film
stock in this country. The best photo
graphic gelatine. which Is also used in
the manufacture Of raw film. comes
from Germany. and Aim manufacturers
must expect rise in the price OF this
product. Printing coHors from Ger
many and France also have markedly
advanced in price of LATE.
But while the manufacturer suffers
scenario writer's are making use OF the
war TO Hold us with war photoplays.
Other literary hacks are busy writing
war bulletins to Ne flashed on the
screens Of the picture playhouses. Lee
turers at liberty. have managed to
get Jobs in some Of the larger motion
picture houses explaining how the war
ought to he fought with a pointer and
a war game slide map projected from
a stereoptlcon in the operators booth.
Even the musical programmes to
accompany the pictures have been
brought strictly up TO date. Last night
IN n Broadway picture house the INTEL
,gent organ!st Numbered out the Mar
sellaise. Die WaCht am Rhein,' Rule
britannia 'Bohm's 'Attaquc DIES Ulans,'
Cannes 'Marche Russo and Gounod's
March PontifiCaie' at appropriate mo-
ments during the projection of a battle
him.
Large numbers Of the foreign born
employees OF American studios have
gone back to Europe since the begin
ming OF hostilities, among the most
prominent being Claude Patin, general
secretary Of the Eclair plant, Lieut..
-Gustave Ehrhardt Of the Essanay COM
pany, Guy Standing OF the Famous
Players. Arthur Roussel and l.. =. Bon
villain. the two presidents OF the
Pathe Freres American branch in Jer-
sey City. together with the son Of chief
clerks. camera men. actors. directors
and other employees In the mechanical
departments Of the co-AmeriCan
film companies.
Corporal OF DRAGONS EscofYler, a
member OF the Pathe stock company,
who was one OF the first to leave for
the front. has been decorated for gal
lantry in action, according 10 a cable
49,, ~. ,,,I,, ot-,
can officials OF the plant. Henry
Gachon. Photographic expert Of the
t'nivsrsal's Bayonne laboratories. left
on La Lorraine on August 5 and A. r.
Ferrand, recently American manager Of
the Eclipse Urban Film Company, who
is corporal In the French reserves, left
on the same vessel.
Motion picture camera men repre-
sentlng Pathe Freres, Blache. Gaumont,
Eclipse. Mutual Universal. Eclair, Lu-
bin. Vitagraph. Edison. the Industrial
Moving Picture Company, the Chicago
Tribune and the Animated Weekly have
sailed within the last week for Europe
to Aim the war, provided, be It under
stood, they can get anywhere near
the firing line, which I much doubt"
smiled Mr. Marston.
i nave also neaFu IL sdlu tUdl lut
Victory Film Company OF New York.
hearing Of the reported firing OF cannon
OF the Maine coast some days ago,
chartered yacht equipped with wire
less and 10000 feet OF film and sailed
with four camera men TO the scene OF
action. John Bull is busy passing out
his business cards these days. how
ever" commented Mr.. Marston.
The closing Of the French and Ger
man plants and the limitation OF the
output OF the Italian concerns enables
American manufacturers to make a
strong bid for the South American film
market which hitherto has bought
largely on the Continent. In the neu-
trail countries and even in England the
market which formerly has been sup.
piled by the French and German manu-
,dcturers will turn toward America for
their photoplays, American Aims pre-
dominate in Russia and American
manufacturers will soon be able to sup
ply that market by way of the Pacific
/ route
"Only IT, Germany, France and Bel
GUM have IMPORTS and exports p-ac-
/ tiCally ceased. The suspension OF tie
! importation of French and German films
- this country OF course leaves the
! American market wholly to American
i