Ready Made Ad Talks
Dorothy Dalton in a Society Drama,
"The Mating of Marcella"
(Paramount Five-Reel Production)
There are few motion picture stars who have a more enthusiastic
following than Dorothy Dalton, and this fact will doubtless be
demonstrated here on ____ when Miss Dalton apprears at the ____ theatre
in "The Mating of Marcella," a powerful domestic drama by Joseph
Franklin Poland. Miss Dalton has done splendid work in this, her newest
picture for Paramount, done under the supervision of Thomas H. Ince, and
the excellence of her portrayal of the exacting title role has not only
served to increase her popularity but has added materially to her
reputation as one of the most charming and talented motion picture stars
in the country. Mr. Poland, the author, has a long string of successes
to his credit, but "The Mating of Marcella" outshines them all. The plot
is developed with clearness and strength while the characterizations are
all that could be desired. R. William Neill, who directed the star in
"Love Me" and "Tyrant Fear," had charge of the production under Mr.
Ince's supervision -- which speaks volumes for its artistic excellence.
Thurston Hall plays the leading role opposite Miss Dalton, and Juanita
Hansen, a strikingly beautiful blonde, has an important role. Others in
the case are Spottiswoode Aitken, William Conklin, Milton Ross, Donald
MacDonald and Buster Irving. In this picture Miss Dalton is a modiste's
model, the daughter of a musician whose prolonged illness causes her
much anxiety. To obtain money to pay physicians' bills she consents to
impersonate the frivolous wife of a rich man for six months, in order
that the wife may establish a legal residence in Nevada and obtain a
divorce to marry a "Count." The husband falls in love with her. Through
the revenge of a discarded admirer of the wife when she was a showgirl,
they are made free to marry when this man, disguised as a chauffeur,
drives his automobile into a lake and drowns the wife, her new
sweetheart and himself.
At the ____ on ____ of ____ week, "The Mating of Marcella," with Dorothy
Dalton.
-- Motion Picture News, June 8, 1918, p. 1419
Advertising Aids for Busy Managers
"THE MATING OF MARCELLA"
Thomas H. Ince Presents Dorothy Dalton in the Story of a Modiste's
Model, Who Becomes the Real Wife of the Man Whose Name She Assumed.
Cast.
Marcella Duranzo |
Dorothy Dalton |
Robert Underwood |
Thurston Hall |
Lois Underwood |
Juanita Hansen |
Count Louis Le Favri |
William Conklin |
Jack Porter |
Donald MacDonald |
Pedro Escoba |
Milton Ross |
Jose Duranzo |
Spottiswoode Aitken |
Bobby Underwood |
Buster Irving |
Directed by R. William Neill.
The Story: Marcella's father, a
musician, falls ill, and is unable to continue his work. Rather than
become the wife of Pedro Escoba, also a musician, Marcella esuports
herself and her parent by working as a model. Marcella's father gets
worse, and the service a a specialist is required. To secure money to
obtain the doctor, Marcella agrees to a proposition of Lois Underwood,
the show-girl wife of the wealty Robert Underwood, to live in the West
for a certain time under the assumed name of Mrs. Underwood, the object
of Lois being to obtain a divorce from her husband and to marry her
admirer, Count louis Le Favri. Little Bobby Underwood falls dangerously
ill, but through Marcella's nursing his health is restored. Later, Mrs.
Underwood and the count meet death when a discarded lover of Mrs.
Underwood, acting as her chauffeur, drives them into a lake, Robert
Underwood, who has fallen in love with Marcella, marries her.
Feature Dorothy Dalton as Marcella Duranzo and Thurston Hall as Robert
Underwood.
Program and Advertising Phrases:
Vengeance Breaks
the Marriage Tie When Schemes and plots Have Failed.
Getting Rid of a
Husband Was Not So Easy as it Seemed.
Stripping the Mask of Deceit
from the Face of a Faithless Wife.
When Is a Co-Respondent Not a
Co-Respondent?
Stirring Drama of Married Infelicity Carrying a Vital
Lesson
Domestic Drama Involving Thrilling Complications.
Stunt
Suggestions: Get out a throw-away with a flash line, "Do you want to
earn $1,000?" In smaller type add, "Mrs. Robert Underwood paid Marcella
that sum to impersonate her at Reno and thus establish a legal residence
preparatory to divorce. See 'The Mating of Marcella' at (house and
date)." Get a blank decree of divorce if you cn, or make a copy and
paste on window cards with the text, "Mrs. Underwood paid Marcella a
thousand dollars to establish a Reno residence, but Death was the judge
who gave the final decree. See 'The Mating of Marcella' at (house and
date)." Use with the large gelatines of the star for lobby work.
Advertising Aids: Two each one, three and six-sheets. one 24-sheet.
Lobby displays, 8x10, 11x14 and 22x28. Cuts from one to three columns on
star and production. Advertising layout mats. Slides. Press book.
Released May 20.
-- Moving Picture World, May 25, 1918, pp.1191-1192
"The Mating of Marcella"
(Paramount-Ince -- Five
Reels)
Reviewed by Peter Milne.
JOSEPH FRANKLIN POLANDS' "The
Mating of Marcella" casts Dorothy dalton in a society role which se
handles as capably as the artificialty of it will permit. Mr. Poland's
plot, it must be confessed, is builded upon a premise that smacks more
of the basic situation of a musical comedy than of serious drama.
However, this portion of the story is registered with good effect It is
the seemingly forced virtue of the heroine, Marcella, a but of
characterization perhaps injected to meet the goody-goody moral code of
censor boards, that transforms the drama into an unlikely conflict of
conscience-striken characters. It is when Marcella, after finding
herself in love with Underwood and realizing that circumstances have
paved the way for their happy marriage, suddenly decides that
Underwood's place is at the side of his impossible wife that the false
note becomes apparent. Granted that Marcella might have entertained
scruples against divorce, her previous conduct in situations from which
another woman would have resigned seems to stamp her as a very
inconsistent lady. So it is not Miss Dalton's fault that at times her
work fails to convince.
The five reels contain a number of
pretentious settings and include a view of a hotel garden that is a rare
delight to the eye. Supporting the star appear Thurston Hall as hero,
Juanita Hansen whose blonde beauty makes her the identical type for the
frivolous wife, and william Conklin. R. William Neil, the director, has
handled his subject tastefully. The sensational thrill in the last reel
when all the undesirable characters are disposed of when an express
train hits their automobile amidships is cleverly executed, being timed
to the minute. the photographic work is up to the high standard always
maintained in Ince pictures.
THE STORY AND PLAYERS
Marcella
(Dorothy Dalton), modiste's model, is constantly worried over the long
illness of her father, Duranzo (Spottiswoode Aitken). Late one evening
while delivering a gown to Lois Underwood (Juanita Hansen), in an
emergency she runs into an opportunity to gain a thousand dollars. Mrs.
Underwood, formerly a show girl, languishes under the marital "yoke" and
entertains no love for her husband, Robert (Thurston Hall) or her young
son (Buster Irving). But she doesn't like the idea of giving up the time
to live in Reno long enough to establish her residence there and then
sue for divorce. Count Louis (William Conklin), one of her admirers,
suggests that she employ Marcella to take her place. And Marcella
accepts the offer, believing she is helping Lois in Procuring a fortune.
While at a fashionable hotel in Reno she meets her supposed husband who
has come west with his son. Explanations are in order. The little boy is
taken seriously ill and Marcella nurses him back to health, the while
gaining the love and respect of his father. She, however, refuses his
proposition that she stay on and establish Mrs. Underwood's residence.
She implores him to patch up his quarrel with his wife. She returns to
her father. Lois, having failed to get her divorce, adopts the plan put
before her by Jack Porter (donald MacDonald), another suitor and
announces her intention of starting suit for divorce, naming Marcella as
co-respondent. Her activities are, however, cut short, for Count Louis,
jealous of Porter, disguises himself as Lois' chauffer and drivers her,
his rival and himself to destruction beneath the wheels of an engine.
Then Marcella goes to the man she loves.
-- Motion Picture News,
June 1, 1918, p. 3326
What the Picture Did For Me
The Mating of
Marcella, with Dorothy Dalton -- Women especially liked this
because of gowns. Men enjoyted the story. Has the life of city wealth
well shown. -- Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Nebraska -- Small town
patronage
-- Exhibitor's Herald and Motography, March 29, 1919, p. 45
What the Picture Did For Me
The Mating of Marcella,
with Dorothy Dalton -- A splendid subject. Well liked by all. Light
business, but all came out boosting picture. -- M. C. Kellogg, Homestake
Theatre, Lead, S. D. -- Mixed patronage.
-- Exhibitor's Herald and
Motography, October 5, 1918, p. 41
Why Do They Do It
A Memo to Mr. Hoover
IN "The
Mating of Marcella," with Dorothy Dalton, Marcella boys a bag of apples
to take to her invalid father. The hero comes along in a swell limosuine
and nearly runs over her, causing her to drop her bad of apples. Hero
and heroine drive off but leave the bag of apples on the pavement.
Marcella arrives home and suprises her father with the same bag of
apples.
Carl J. PETERSON
San Antonio, Tex
-- Photoplay,
November 1918, p. 71
with Dorothy Dalton, Thurston Hall and Juanita Hansen. Directed by Roy
William Neil. Ince/Paramount.