The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-09-06
LLOYD GEORGE RECEIVES
DIRECTOR GRIFFITH
Prime Minister Also Poses With
American Cinema Man While Ad-
miral of British Navy Waits

mlfal OF OklSAoN NdNS N1ltS
Seldom if ever has it fallen to the
fortunate lot OF any American-and
never before to a movie" director
to be received by David Lloyd George,
prime minister OF England, during
these present war times. unless his
mission was strictly a diplomatic one
and accompanied by numerous papers
of authority and national documents.
And yet this honor. came to David
Ward Griffith, genius of the motion
picture world, in a way hat was as
humorous as it was exceptional.
Mr.. Griffith, just prior to depart
ing for the battlefields of France to
take the more important scenes for
his latest production, Hearts of the
World" visited London in order to
interview Lloyd George, prime min
lister Of England, who had promised
on behalf Of the British government.
the official aid Of Great Britain's
army in taking the pictures on the fir
ing lines in France. Mr.. Griffith was
received by Lloyd George for more
than an hour in the cabinet rooms of
the British government in Downing
street, while many prominent Off
Gals and army and navy officers
waited in the ante-room. Griffith now
tells of the incident laughingly, but
declares that at the time he was
frightened through and through.
When Mr.. Griffith was about to
leave the Downing street rooms, Lord
Beaverbrook suggested to Mr.. Lloyd
George that the best way he could
show his official interest in "Hearts
of the World" would be to have the
camera man taking a moving picture
of himself and Mr.. Griffith shaking
hands. Lloyd George agreed, and
throughout the greater part of a half
hour, during which time Mr.. Griffith
was on the telephone getting his
camera mar and his apparatus to the
scene, the government officials rest
ed their toes in the ante-room.
"And the funniest part of it is"
says Mr.. Griffith, while the picture
was being taken the admiral of the
British navy arrived and had to wait
outside until we had finished"
This historic episode has been in
%corporated into "Hearts of the World
and will be shown as part of the pro-
logue.
When Mr.. Griffith was about to de-
part for France he saw Lloyd George
again and the great British states
mar said:
"The idea back of your splendid
story is a message to all civilization
that it's fight will not be in vain. Let
me be the first to predict that when
you have completed your labors YOU
will have produced a masterpiece
which will carry a message around
the world-a story which will inspire
every heart with patriotism; with
love of country and home: with the
great cause for which the civilized ma.
tons are now fighting in France. This
Mr.. Griffith, is the greatest and most
wonderful task you have ever at.
tempted. God speed you in you,
great work and grant that YOU ma,
accomplish your Desires"
Throughout all of Mr.. Griffith's
work on the battlefields of France
both the British and the French gov.
ernments gave him every aid and as.
s%istance, many times going out Of
their way to help along in the taking
of some particularly historic scene
Mr.. Griffith was Is months in com
pleting his picture, during which time
he was on three occasions under bonn
bardment, n of which lasted fou1
hours. 1t is also interesting to not,
that ne was the first American to Sc
foot in the front line trenches il
:. France.
Strange as it may seem in view O.
the fact that nearly all of the mos
important scenes were taken on the
battlefields, "Hearts of the World
is not in any sense a war picture
Both in Los Angeles, Cal, where il
was first produced, and in New York
city, 1T has been termed "the sweetest
love story. ever told" The great wa,
serves only as a background to the
unfolding of the main drama of the
e%trenal and never-dying story of a
great love that could not be DESTROYED
COMING-"EEARTS OF THE