IMPORTANT FILM CONTRACT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 8

IMPORTANT FILM CONTRACT

METRO CORPORATION AIM TO LEAD THE PICTURE INDUSTRY. The most important and interesting movement in the film industry has been the tremendous advance made by the famous Metro Corporation, which has recently increased its capital by some millions of dollars and purchased outright four of the largest producing companies for whioh it was previously only distributing agent. R. A. Rowland, president of the corporation, boldly declared that the intention of Metro was to lead .the industry in respect to quality, consistency of production, interior and exterior scenery, photography, etfl. With this end in view tho screen rights have been secured for most of . the' successful novels and plays of the present day. The selection of "the great army of supers, and the suitable casting of , characters—each has a separate department, presided over by experts acknowledged to be the best in America to-day. Recent additions to Metro's already strong force include the famous producer Albert Oapellani. the man who directed "Les Miserables" ; Clara Kimball Young in "Camille" and "The Common Law," etc.; the popular Edith Storey; Rita Joliet, tho famous opera singer, who was on the Lusitania when she was sunk; the great Russian prima donna, Mme. Nazimova, who is described as a worthy successor to Sarah Bernhardt and Ellen Terry, and will make her first appearance in Motro's stupendous eight-reel super feature, "Revelation," which without exception is extravagantly praised by American critics and described as the most perfect photo-play. A new contract running into many thousands of pounds has recently been entered into by a local company for the supply to New Zealand of the whole of the output, and constitutes one of the most important and probably the most- costly film purchases ever made in this country. The first picture of this new contract, "The Outsider," featuring Emmy whelm, will bo screened at Shortt's_ Theatre for six davs, commencing this Saturday—(Published by Arrangement.)