Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-02-16
(By Foster Gilroy)

after he mad witnessed TWO reel nun
the exteriors of which had been taken
nu his own Lonz Island estate The
sub Get was h, Beggar Mtid
which Imported +; tell the love stcry
IN mo- on ictures back Of the fa.u'.rS
painting by Sir Edward Burne- Jones
with row hangs II the TAFT gallery.
Lond, IA MASTERPIECE which it,cf IS
an Interpretation 81 Tennyson's poem.
of King Cophetll End his 3e9i: 'r
Maid Queen.
The Beggar Maid is the first Of
a series OF moving pictures designed
10 familiarizc the public with the great
est canvasses in the leading galleries
OF the world 1t comes TO the screen
sponsored by most distinguished adj
visory board of artists, critics and art
patrons consisting of:
Robert w DcForest, president OF
the Metropolitan. Museum of Art at
New York.
Francis c. Jones treasurer Of the
National Academy OF Design. trus-
tee OF the Metropolitan M"senm OF
Art.
Edwin H. Blashfield, president of
the National Academy of Design.
Charles Dana Gibson, president of
the Society OF Illustrators. editor Of
Life
Robert Aiken president of the Sculp-
tors Society OF America
Louis c. Tiffany founder of the
Louis Comfort Tiffany foundation.
Daniel Chester French, famous
Sculptor.
Back of this series is the most am
bilious plan thus far attempted to hui
mamie the great paintings of all ages
and at the same time preserve to the
utmost the entertainment values so
necessary TO a successful presentation
on the screen. Twelve paintings in
all will be picturized and "The Beggar
Maid will be followed by the "Thc
Bashful Suitor' by Joseph Israeils
"The Young Painter" by Rembrandt
"Mona Lisa" by Leonard da Vinci,
and other subjects already in course
of preparation.
The perturbation of this series was
the idea OF young southern girl, Miss
Vera Roger. who has herself appeared
on the screen and whose indominatable
energies resulted in the formation Of
the aforementioned advisory board
The series reaches the screen through
w. w. Hodkinson. pioneer in the
movement to bring better material TO
the screen. The actual productions
are being handled by Triart Produc-
tons, and are being taken under the
direction of Herbert Blache and Le-
jaren Hitler, the latter a we'll known
figure in the art circles of New York.
In commenting on the appearance of
the series Mr.. Hodkinson said:
Subjects OF this kind will do more
TO answer the insstent demand for
better pictures on the part OF both
press and public alike, than all the
promises producers can make. Until
this series came along. the masses had
to look to indifferently done produce
lions for their conception of the mas
frepieces OF art. Here, on the screen
they witness the actual moving inn
pulses back OF the painting. They see
the artist at work on it. and follow
every stroke Of the brush in vivid
perturbation of his subject Whether
or no; the public likes thus sort of pic
ture itceived decisive answer in its
New York showings, which elictated
a degree OF critical appreciation seldom
accorded even the big features of Il e
screen"
The title part in "The Beggar Maid"
is played by Mart Astor, 10 year
old actress who has mounted to stellar
honois with meteoric rapidity.'
Before 'lhel Beggar Maid wa
filmed careful scenario was prepared
constructed upon the story of King
Cophetua and the legend on which
Tennyson based his poem. Burne-
Jones is shown in reverie over a
volume of verse and when his neigh
Dor, a young English earl, bursts in
to praise OF the matchless beauty of
the daughter of one OF his tenants. the
idea Of the painting unfolds in the
painters imagination. He seeks out
the beautiful peasant girl, and, having
obtained her consent to pose as the
Beggar Maid promptly enhsts the
services OF the earl as King Cophetua.
The picture was made on the beau
tiful Long Island estate Of Tiffany, a
member of the advisory board, and so
infinitely careful were the details all
worked out, that it is said 10000 feet
OF film were used to get the final 1000
feet comprising the object
From the standpoint OF the gallery,
Francis c. Jones, one Of the trustees
Of the Metropolitan museum, declares
that the great masterpiece series will
awaken tremendously increased IN
terest in art
BY bringing the famous paintings
OF the world Of art to life" said he, by
giving the motion and by outlining
the stories back Of them, the motion
s,irf1..s 80, AZ much 70 encourage tic