Donald Brian with Lasky (1915) 🇺🇸

The distinguished romantic star, Donald Brian, is to make his photodramatic debut under the Lasky management.

Mr. Brian, who acquired world-wide fame as the Prince in The Merry Widow, is now starring in The Girl from Utah, but will positively pose for his first photodrama immediately after the end of his present season.

The contract between the Lasky Feature Play Company and Mr. Brian, like the other contracts recently made with renowned legitimate artists, gives the Lasky Company the right to Mr. Brian’s services not only for the one photodrama which will constitute the initial release but for a period of years to come. Word has been sent to Mr. Cecil B. De Mille at the Lasky studios in Hollywood, California, and preparations have already begun for providing Mr. Brian with a vehicle of extraordinary importance, especially adapted to his genius. Donald Brian was born at St. Johns, Newfoundland, and made his dramatic debut at Boston in Shannon of the Sixth. The list of productions in which he has assumed notable roles includes The Man from Mexico, Three Little Lambs, The Supper Club, The Belles of Broadway, Florodora, Little Johnny Jones, Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway, and Fifty Miles from Boston. One of his most noteworthy recent hits was the stellar role in The Dollar Princess.

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The Last of the Mafia

First Offering of Neutral Company a Five-Reel Melodrama, Produced by Sidney M. Goldin.

Reviewed by Hanford C. Judson

With a clear melodramatic story, speedy and well contrived suspense, the Neutral Company’s five-reel picture, The Last of the Mafia, is what may be termed a good offering. It will interest all, and the majority will be pleased. It is set among New York slums and the backgrounds are as good as the best; are perfect. The characters serve their purpose well. The situations are made sufficiently poignant and they are “old friends;” but let us mark it out, we are still friendly to them. If we know them, we like them; they don’t bore us a bit and we still find it a pleasant experience to flatter them with real tears. One of the emotional spots is the respect paid to an Italian policeman, one of the story’s characters, who falls while performing his duty.

It is not improbable that this picture will pay as well as many that a reviewer could legitimately give much more space to. It can safely be termed a “popular” offering. Among the players, all of whom do good work, are Jack Clark, little Catherine Lee (of Neptune’s Daughter fame) and William Conrad. The mechanical work is serviceable.

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The Lone Star Rush (Alliance)

The Lone Star Rush, a film version of Edmund Mitchell’s widely read novel, is scheduled as the next offering on the Alliance program. The scenic background of the story is laid in the arid gold fields of the Australian desert and deals with the romantic adventures of a party of prospectors.

One of the striking features of this picture is the really remarkable perspective view showing the mad rush of the army of prospectors, down the parched mountain-side into the alkali plains, under whose dust run the veins of gold ore. They come afoot, on horseback and in antiquated vehicles of the country.

The production was filmed under the direction of Mr. Mitchell, the author of the novel, and the leading parts are played by Robert Frazer, late leading man for Henry W. Savage, and Charles Arling, formerly associated with Francis Wilson. Rupert Julian, who appeared as Marc Antony in William Faversham’s production of Julius Caeser, at the Lyric theater, New York, also appears in a leading role. May Gaston, until recently leading woman in the Eclair-American companies essays, the stellar female part.

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Edith Wynne Mathison Makes Her Debut on the Screen

By many critical authorities, Edith Wynne Mathison, Sir Henry Irving’s leading woman during his farewell tours and considered to be among the foremost dramatic artists upon the English-speaking legitimate stage, will make her first appearance on the screen Sunday, March 14, at the Strand theater in New York City, assuming the title role in the great Lasky-Belasco photodramatization of Belasco’s hit, The Governor’s Lady. It is gratifying to learn that Miss Mathison photographs admirably, and that her part, in its most supreme expression is therefore destined to be immortalized.

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Elliott With World Film

Paul B. Elliott, the latest recruit to Lewis J. Selznick’s New York Exchange forces, is to occupy the position of Special Representative on the road for the New York office, his territory, including New York State, Connecticut, etc. Mr. Elliott was formerly associated with the Indianapolis branch of the World Film.

For a number of years Mr. Elliott gained experience in the show business, being identified with many well-known people. He managed theaters in Western New York and Ontario, and worked in stock and repertoire. Breaking into the motion picture game, he did some valuable work in handling state right and feature films, and became known to exhibitors in various parts of the United States.

Conceiving that he could best succeed in his aims by joining a big progressive and aggressive organization, making the highest class features, and marketing them in a business-like way, Mr. Elliott saw that World Film gave him the opportunity he desired. Mr. Elliott knows the motion picture business thoroughly and may be trusted to give a good account of himself amongst exhibitors.

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Donald Brian

Paul B. Elliott

Scene from The Last of the Mafia (Neutral)

Collection: Moving Picture World, March 1915