The Washington times., 1915-02-17
George Kleine Marks
Ne7v Era in Film
Comedy by His
Productions

Another new comedy film producer
has appeared in this country with
an IDEA tor comedy photoplays that
ought to get the very widest atten-
ton. George l\leine has entered the
held as competitor of the vari-
ous regular program people, and
proposes to produce number of
comedies. Officer 666," shown at
the Strand early this week, is the
first of these that has been seen
In Washington. stop Thief is to
follow shortl;, we are told.
The distinctly" feature of MIR.
klein"'s productions IS that they are
real comedy, so far as u.an,tlc
construction ana sincere playing can
make them. There is a total alb
scnce of slap-stick and ciap-trap
that is distinctly novel in film
The play depends Tor Its humor on
Its situations. just as a comedy does
OH the stage.
Some months ago We called at
tcntion to the unusual results that
were being obtained by the Essanay
company in the production of the
George Ade fables. We referred TO
these at that time as real comedy
without the cNtraneous aids that
most film people seem to think ia
necessary. And the popularity OF
the Ade fables on the screen Is
ample evidence of the desire of the
public tor just that sort Of thing.
The George kleine production Of
"Officer "6'' is just what might be
expected from n man who IL as
rs Mr.. kleinc. This man is rather
= rcmarkable figure in the motion
picture industry, and has had very
ST. adv rise.
beginning as an exhibitor and
becoming an exchange operator Mr..
Klein" was one of the few men in
the business who looked into the
future and who seemed to realize
Just what tremendous possibilities
the film contained. Tie quit his en-
chang" business and encouraged
production of real plays Wheth-
or it was his mind that conceived
the production of "Quo Na,lis?" or
the head Of the zines company-it
makes no difference Kleine was
the chap who saw the possibilities
Of the film and put it on the mar
Rct.
From then on his name has been
linked with all that is big and
best in the motion picture industry.
lie has rnc"urH G"d the production
of those magnificent spectacles
which his time and attention has
been devoted to exploiting. It> has
come to he u set idea of the public
that anything with the Kle!ne
name attached will be well worth
seeing.
1t was natural. therefore, that
some i;tils curiosity was awaken
eH when IT va announced that he
would produce a series of COM
""i'S-or rather a series Of stage
successes OF more or less COM
cay character The public. which
hG. 'I.t .l~f--
grand, something Impressive in a
Spectacular way, from the kleine
pr"dHrl. was rather at loss to un-
h"rSlaEd Just what ne would do
WIN tn" modern play which had
IttI" Of tn" spectacular.
'in"er 66s' shows couclusively
exactly what he has done. He has
taken the stage play and adapted
u 10 th" hln--but he has 40 adapt
20 u 'nai ~ would requir. a very
SkIIIluI p"rSOn to discover where
~" adaptation 'Or1cs in, for the
play H. H"rn on the screen Ia pre-
fI-"iy -" play az seen on the
sthE". That -. the real idea Of
~" pIH is presented. OF course
'hfT" ~ an exterior scene or two
ihdt "rT" not on the stage Ana
" - necessary 10 put In some ac-
ZION :" make up for what Ia irld in
W" INES ~ the original play.
80 fafhful has been tho work Of
~" 1dap'er NJ IN. play 'hnt there
are I"wnr scenes IN IT thHn in any
rr"t'"n picture INST has been
show n"rs Tor = I"rE tirns- prnb-
al, fe'er frau aT. TnyIti-rssI
I'F''rs that 6~S bsHr made. M 10
'F'' THIS r,sEus st+rsSs ~ ssi
f'"E hare E.h z.i tr.IN about =
IT, = 'rsrtr- -as.rxs ~, the
pc p r"r" " hon nrs rernsrr
0f. '.e.. 4-h 'sIaiIy tram
49, do . a...-1r srerss IN 80