Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

Record Details:

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28 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 20, 192J Distinctive in Market With Five Initial Productions Friend Announces Titles of Two Pictures Three Additional Subjects to Be Ready in May (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, January 9. — Distinctive Pictures Corporation has launched production activities on a comprehensive scale. In an announcement just issued from 366 Madison avenue, Arthur S. Friend, president, states that between now and the middle of May five specials will be ready for the market. PRESIDENT FRIEND stated that the aim of the company was to give the public pictures which are 100 per cent entertainment. The first production will be "Backbone," Clarence Budington Kelland's story which appeared first in the Saturday Evening Post. Charles Whittaker has written the scenario. Edward Sloman is directing the work of an exceptional cast. Alfred Lunt — his first time on any screen — and Edith Roberts have the leads. * * * The second production will be "T h e Ragged Edge," based on Harold MacGrath's absorbing novel of the South Seas. Harmon Weight will direct this picture from a scenario by Forrest Halsey. Apart from the many surprises of the story itself there will be other surprises in "T h e Ragged Edge" production, according to those familiar with the detailed plans of Distinctive. Three more productions will be ready by the middle of May. Detailed work on these soon will be put into the hands of individual directors, while Mr. Friend and Henry M. Hobart, vice president of Distinctive Pictures, will devote their attention to arranging for the production to follow. They now are negotiating for several unusual stories. Arthur S. Friend Henry M. Hobart Mr. Friend and Mr. Hobart won distinction through the artistry of their first production, "Disraeli." They kept up the good work in "The Ruling Passion" and in "The Man Who Played God," and the aim of these two executives is to produce pictures of no lesser merit than the first three. The statement issued by Mr. Friend is as follows: "Distinctive Pictures Corporation announces that its first two productions of 1923 will be 'Backbone,' based on Clarence Budington Kelland's story in the Saturday Evening Post, and 'The Ragged Edge' from Harold MacGrath's novel of that name. There will be three other productions, already selected but unnamed, these to be ready by the middle of May. Plans for the summer and fall are now being considered. "In preparing the above productions, Distinctive Pictures is proceeding in the belief that the best sort of films which can be given to the public for the public's H. N. Marin satisfaction are those which are 100 per cent entertainment. To give the public such films, it is necessary for the producer to buy his stories carefully — and buy on merit alone; then to get a scenario which will bring out the full film power of that story; then to plan the actual making of the picture under the best direction obtainable; and, finally, to work patiently, painstakingly all of the time to insure a technically perfect job. "Courage to discard poor workmanship and constant vigilance to detect it — those are two of the cardinal principles in making better films. Distinctive Pictures believes that producers arc personally responsible to the public for the quality of their product. Its executives will bear that in mind during every day of the making of Distinctive pictures." Mr. Friend is one of the pioneers of the motion picture industry, having been one of the organizers of the original Lasky company and its treasurer. He was one of the moving spirits in the formation of the Famous Players-Lasky combination, and held an important position of control in the enlarged corporation until he resigned in 1920 to resume the practice of law. He did not remain long away from the motion picture fold, however. In 1921, Distinctive Productions was formed, with Henry M. Hobart, formerly of Cosmopolitan Productions, as president. This company put out "Disraeli." Soon after this it became known that Mr. Friend had been associated with Mr. Hobart in the enterprise. The company next made "The Ruling Passion" and "The Man Who Played God," with George Arliss, who had distinguished himself in "Disraeli," in the leading roles. These pictures were published through United Artists. In October, Distinctive Productions, Inc., was reorganized and expanded and the name was changed to Distinctive Pictures Corporation. Mr. Friend was elected president and Mr. Hobart became vice president and production manager. The latter was vice president and general manager of Cosmopolitan Productions at the time "Humoresque" and other such pictures were made. The board of directors of Distinctive is composed of Mr. Friend, Mr. Hobart, Richard Whitney, Here Are a Few Records (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 9.— "When Knighthood Was in Flower," the Cosmopolitan production starring Marion Davies, had a run of fifteen weeks and three days at the Criterion theatre. Admissions paid totalled 122,086 and ranged from 50 cents to $2. Total receipts were $157,900.90, or weekly average of $10,329.90. The nearest competitor for this record, it is said, was "Humoresque," which played to approximately $148,000 in two weeks. The special opened Sunday at the Rivoli theatre at popular prices. Nathan Friend, Homer K. Gordon am Winthrop W. Aldrich and Charles 5 Hervey. Since the reorganization, Mr. Friem and Mr. Hobart have been building u their staff. H. N, Marin, formerly o Famous PlayersLasky, is the genera manager, and Howard Estabrook is gen eral assistant to Mr. Friend and Mi Hobart. Bert Adler, Nathan Frienc Homer K. Gordon and William L. Sherr are the special representatives. Burr Price, formerly of the New Yor Herald and later director of the press bu reau in the Belgian Government's Min istry of Economic Affairs, has bee appointed director of advertising an publicity, with Dorothy Cleveland as th assistant. J. N. Naulty, for years in charge c the Famous Players Eastern studios, the studio manager. With a view to maintaining a standar of artistic perfection, Distinctive has pi under long term contract Clark Robii son, designer of sets, and Adrian, the 1! year-old genius who has created a sens; tion by his costumes. Month's Shipment of Film Totals Slightly More Than $750,001 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 9.-D tails of our export trade in film, prepan by the Bureau of Foreign and Domest Commerce, of the Department of Cor merce, show that November shipmen reached a total of slightly over thre quarters of a million dollars in value. Shipments of raw stock during tl month aggregated 9,215,143 feet, wor $195,837, of which 5,960,528 feet went France and 1,131,749 feet to Japan, oth exports being made to Denmark, En land, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Braz Australia and New Zealand. A total 492,781 feet of exposed negatives, valu at $37,959, was exported in November, which 334,010 feet were shiped to En land and 83,794 feet to Germany, t only other markets being Belgiu France, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Ja^ Japan and Australia. November exports of positive nl totaled 12,229,916 feet, valued at $531,7c 2,348,027 feet were exported to Austral 1,272.506 feet to Canada and 1,332,361 fe to Argentina, the remainder being < vided among some forty-odd countries.