Show Uncle Sam Planning Movie Il Campaign for Recruiting Marin Marins s By FIRST ROSS E. E ROW ROWEL L U. U S. S M. M C. C Plans are now being made to portray portray portray por por- tray the activities of ot the marine corps on the tile moving picture screen In a new two-reel two film In tIle the interest of ot pub pub- If all goes well welt it is probable that within a few weeks marines willbe will willbe willbe be acting before the persons who pay their dimes and anti quarters at the principal cinema theatres throughout the country The Id Idea a of utilizing the moving picture picture pic plc- ture as a factor in recruiting was first filst introduced by the tile navy recruiting off office ico in Los Angeles Cal Cat some five or six years ago One of the chief petty officers oW- oW cers at that stall station on cOl conceived the idea of using them in connection with a traveling recruiting party His Ills scheme was to go RO on the road moving from city to city and hiring suitable halls for the purpose of showing showing showing show show- ing life in the navy on tho tile screen During the tile performance he was to de deliver deliver deliver de- de liver an appropriate lecture describing the th-e advantages of an enlistment etc Recruiting literature was wa to be ho distributed distributed distri distri- buted and between shows the tho hall ball was to become a temporary recruiting staThe sta- sta tion but the The plan was given a trial immediate results in the form of en enlistments enlistments en- en were not sufficient to compare compare com corn favorably with the permanent pare iare abandoned stations so the scheme was In 1913 while in charge of ot the tile re- re district of San Francisco the writer suggested to headquarters the idea of ot having a film made that would be along the lines of the tile educational ones Just being introduced at that time The suggestion was to show allow the tile evolution evolution evolution tion of a marine beginning at the A A sign in front of the station and amI thence showing his career caleer through an entire enlistment introducing scenes depicting the different phases of service serice life I In Ill the innocence of inexperience rashly lashly offered to undertake the task of producing such a picture Beginning Beginning Beginning Begin Begin- ning with the tile scenario my troubles and difficulties multiplied rapidly through the various phases of un until until until un- un til the final day came caine when the finished fin In- In product the result of many tryIng trying trying try try- ing and discouraging incidents was thrown on n the tile scene I took one de despairing despairing despairing de- de look at the dismal sight and then went home and sent for the doctor doc doc- tor I remained two weeks on the sick list until the excitement had subsided It was a typical first effort but not entirely discouraging It had sufficient merit to stimulate the hope that some sometime sometime time lime someone would produce a marine marino corps film that was worth while It encouragement when I was a great later discovered tila that my camera man had acquired about all aU his experience In turning a grindstone on a ranch near Fresno However In spite of the lack of vir virtue virtue tue tUB in tho the maiden effort persistent re recruiters recruiters re- re crullers succeeded in getting g-etting the picture plc pic ture on the tile screens In iii various parts of the country and some districts oven went so 10 far as to report it a su success In some places where tho picture was L lectured it was reported to have gone with a whoop Only recently has the film been expended as worn out in service That first attempt while not en entirely entirely en- en lIrely successful taught laught many things There Thero will be few of the former mistakes mistakes mis mis- takes made in the new marine corps film now being planned The work has been started logically and it is hoped looped to carry the story to a logical sion Some of the scenes will be purchased purchased purchased pur pur- chased outright from companies havIng having hav hay ing good marine corps material in their preparedness films and weeklies while other scenes will be shot on the location location location loca loca- tion under competent direction with Gunnery Sergeant t Sterrett assisting It is proposed to run the story In two reels of 1000 feet each and in Its tentative tentative tentative tenta tenta- tive state will run about as follows The first or opening scene is laid at atI atthe attile the tile New York barracks A company I of ot marines is shown drilling They go through various company movements physical drill under arms etc for I about feet of film With tho drill over the tho men seek rest and recreation The camera catches a panoramic view of the post exchange showing pool ta tables ta- ta bles bies reading tables pinochle game an anso anso anso so on over to the counter It PICKS picas up a marine marin marine close close close up view view eating eating pie This Tills marine has a large mouth and a I good pie pic appetite for tho tim laugh A close up view of a catcher and batter wearing marine corps baseball uniforms is then shown hown Tho batter makes a hit and runs while WillIe rooters cheer Next a 0 new style of boxing with the boxers mounted on poles is shown This in includes includes includes in- in a knockout and is captioned to let folks folies know that that style of boxIng boxing boxing box box- ing is popular with the marines stationed stationed sta sta- In Pekin China A wireless ss station with a a. marine in charge is the next scene The marine operator receives a radio message and hands it to a marine orderly who exits double time The orderly hands the message to the commanding officer who reads Commanding Officer Marine Barracks Navy Yard Embark one company immediately Immediate on Tennessee for duty In Haiti Upon arrival arrival arrival ar ar- ar- ar rival report to 10 officer ex expedition ox- ox now from Philadelphia Phila Phila- delphia BARNETT The commanding officer sends for forthe forthe forthe the bugler and directs call to arms A close up view of bugler sounding call callIs callis callis is shown followed by a view of a squadron The men are reading playIng playIng playing play- play Ing cards musical instruments etc The Tile bugler is flashed back and he the rn nor n spring from their bunks and start packIng packing packing pack pack- ing knapsacks The next scene Is on the parade ground with the men falling talling in on the double There is a close up view of knapsack inspection and then Close ranks Squads right and they're off for the front The marines malines go over the gangway of ot the tho battleship while Wilile wives mothers and sweethearts on the dock cheer A sergeant sergeant sergeant ser ser- geant of ot marines brings aboard some civilian friends friends friends-a a middle aged lady chaperone and a pretty girl A panorama pano pano- rama ramt of an inspection of pf the guard on on the tile quarterdeck is shown Also a a. longshot longshot long longshot l' l showing howing shot at the decks and turrets marine lien sentries tries on duty The serge nt then shows the fair visitors how marines ma na- rifles rines are trained to man the tile five inCH I loading machine This is on a guns explanation from the be followed by an all sergeant that one shot from a inch five-inch save a aimed might surel surely gun naught from destruction A torpedo i bout boat oat destroyer is shown steaming in the moonlight as though the sergeant sees it in a vision A close up view of the j i breech of the inch five-inch gun is shown ii i with a projectile on the tIle deck The iI guns gun's crew rew open breech load and fire I The splash of a shell striking the water ij throwing it high in the air all is pictured I The women visitors shudder at the sergeants sergeant's ser ser- geant's graphic description and helea he j from the to lea leads s them away guns where a potato peeling machine is in operation They rhey arc greatly interested I in seeing potatoes p by machinery machiner of course what course what woman would not ber bar berThen Then rhen they are taken up to the ships ship's galley and are shown its working I pal pans From the galley the sergeant takes fake them to the marines marines' quarter where marines are seated on ditty boxes playing cards shining buttons etc The I sergeant el calls clear cleal decks and the themo mo mess mp s tables are lowered A close up view Vichy of the men eating good wholesome wholesome whole whole- some orne food follows The rho sergeant explains ex ex- plains to the women visitors that this 1115 I ame space is used at night for sleeping sleeping sleeping sleep sleep- I I ing quarters Marines are then shown I winging their hammocks and there is alose a I lose close up tip view of a marine sleeping In in one The women leave the tile ship the tile lines linen are tre cast off and the ship leaves tio tho i dock dod A battleship under wa way is shown for tor forthe the Ihl close of reel eel No 1 The second reel opens up with tilt tate battleship in a harbor harbol The scenes in this reel are actual scenes taken laken on the location by Carl D. D Pryer Fryer I of the Tropical Film company own own a and nd producer of ot the film U U. U 5 S. S 1 aia- Under Fire in Haiti nn s Marines are arc shown embarking s 1 u. u ships hips boats This is followed by a I I landing scene Motor drawn n Jat batteries erlEs erlE's and motorcycles manned by marines are shown as leaders to the actual warfare warfare war war- I I fare scenes that follow Colonel Wailer I I and staff view the preparations for nat hat natI I tie tle A fire control party setting up in instruments instruments instruments in- in I and a close up of ot the motor drawn battery firing are shown in short flashes A binocular view of a full battery battory bat bat- batI I tory tery firing and an at infantry advance e are then ben shown as is the tile firing line at Captain Hookers Hooker's company is i shown attacking and being attacked ina ina in ina a mountain pass This is an actual battle scene and one of the finest pieces of photography under fire ever ever shown Several hundred feet of actual battle scenes follow after which Colonel Waller Wailer accepts the tile surrender The di dis disarming disarming dis- dis arming of prisoners by marines marInE's marInEsI is given footage as is a sick bay hay scene where wounded marines are given treatment The Thc picture closes with a tranquil in Prince Port with the marines marines ma ma- rines rifles on guard having the situation well wen wellin wellin in hand Every step every foot of this film as planned has ilas been carefully thought out Many lany of the best scenes In the film as originally made would have strong to marines or military mili mill mill-I tary tory men but would make scarcely any ally impression on a civilian Women are in the majority at moving picture theatres and we have catered to their wants also in this film Our choice of ot scenes for their benefit is based on Oil actual experiences of marines showing visitors over ships It was cs found that the visitors are first interested interested interested inter inter- ested in the tile great guns then in how the themen themen themen men sleep and eat Hence the potato peeling dishwashing and cooking scenes In building up the film we as marines marines marines ma ma- rines have havo remained on the sidelines and have worked the thine out wIth no consideration of what would please us but rather we bore In mind always what would best please the civilian who saw it We Va strove first to entertain net neit netto ito to advertise b by not seeming to do so so I and If the tile picture is half halt what it is expected expected ex ex- to be little trouble should be experienced in getting booking for Itin it itIn itIn In the best class of moving picture the the- atres Probably five prints for experimental purposes will first be made Then if the picture is a go as it is confidently expected it will be other prints in sufficient sufficient sufficient suf suf- number to supply the recruiting service will be made Special billing and advertising matter matter matter mat mat- ter will be printed by the publicity bureau bureau bu bu- bu- bu reau leau and since the film will cost them nothing booking agencies and exchanges exchanges ex ex- changes will probably be very glad to use it over their circuits Booking through exchanges even oven where state rights for a a. specified time have to be given may be better business than trying to book the thing yourselves through managers of individual the the- atres The Tho former method is best handled handled handled han han- by hy making an appointment with the sales Bales promotion manager or publicity publicity publicity pub pub- man of ot some big exchange Take the film with you and have it pr it pre Then if its it's good you wont won't have to do any talking The film will speak peak for Itself Itself and and you |