Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-01
Photoplay Features.
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Continued from Second Page.)
that pictures are a new art, and
the genius that has gone into them
has been in it's nature the genius
of the story-teller. These story
tellers have spun their yarns against
natural kgrounds-reaistic set
tings. What is now coming to COM
pete with them is the genius which
understands pictures, as the literary
men are supposed to understand
words, the genius that will project
in new and artistic settings previous
ly ungueSsed stories or plots which
are the free material of any who
care to use them" Suggestion is also
made as to what the artist will do
with motion pictures, and much is
prophesied of what will be accom-
plished by the force of genius. The
artistic treatment Of original stories
and plots written along lines that are
new will bring about splendid re-
, suits, no doubt But there is one
vital factor that is carefully evaded
in the discussion, one life-giving ele-
ment that seems to be lodged as
matter of policy.
The stream will never rise higher
than its source. The motion picture
and photoplay drama will never rise
above the intellectual, the moral, the
artistic level of those who create
them. This does not mean necessari-
ly the director of the picture and the
players who give it life. but it does
mean the financial and authoritative
power by whose resources a picture or
a photodrama is created. The director
is in a sense the creator of a photo
play, regardless of the writer of the
story or the actors who pose for Its
scenes of action. But behind the di-
rector is a greater power, which!is the
real creator of the picture. 1t is the
individual or the corporation whose
money supplies the wherewith, with
out which the director would be help
less, no matter what ideal dreams he
may dream. One of the writers
touching upon the theme of what the
artist can do for the moving picture
refers to what Shakespeare did for
drama. He used old plots, but pre-
sented them in new and unusual
manner" Quite true, perhaps, but it
was Shakespeare who did it. He did
not have financial genius at his
heels who insisted upon clever ideas
that would make the plays pay. This
is strangely appropriate to the crea-
ton of photoplays of artistic worth
as spectacleSr or as drama. But the
ShakeSeareS of the screen world
should do the devising and they
should not be interfered with by the
man who has ideas that will pay. Too
many pictures have been created with
a company, a camera and a genius for
a director whose art aim was 10 pro-
duce something that would bring big
financial returns. And it is in this.
many believe, more than in anything
else, that the pictures producing in
dustry needs attention. Rich men
there have been and are who would
pay hundreds of thousands of dollars
for picture whose art in some in
stances at least they could never ap-
preciate. because it is the way of rich
men to buy such costly things to
satisfy their vanity. Maybe, after
while. some such rich men will be
willing to advance the money for the
creation and production of photoplays
and picture drama, without insisting
upon having a finger in that creation
and production. When that time
comes, art will have its way in the
picture world. and with the advent of
art will come resentment to the hid
eous nightmares that have defaced
the screen where art alone should
reign.
Joseph Urban. the famous scenic
artist, is designing a number of elab-
crate sets for Marion Davies latest
photoplay. Buried Treasure" Mr..
Urban formerly was art director for
klaw & Erlanger and also designed
and executed practically all the seem
cry for the Follies.
The Devil to Pay a new Brunton
-. production. hinges the interest on a
sensational court trial. in the course
of which a man long believed dead by
hanging, makes an appearance and
disrupts the case of the defense with
his evidence.
X
Vitagraph claims to have erected
a its West Coast studios the largest
set ever erected for the concluding
chapter of William Duncan's serial
The Silent Avenger." 1t is said to
occupy the equivalent of six city
blocks and represents street scenes of
an elaborate character.
x
In Jimmy Aubrey's newest Vita
graph comedy. The Decorator" there
are no bathing girls. no art students
and no merry merries of the chorus.
Indeed. there is but one feminine
character. The comedy. which will
follow it, however, viii have more
than a hundred chorus girls as "a
feature of the supporting company"
r
Lionel Anvil. e-1o, with Reginald
Mason and Vernon Steele. also lead
ing men. will support Madge Ken