Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

January 20, 1923 EXHIBITORS HERALD 55 Six Fox Specials Now Ready Lupino Lane Is Starred in Feature Length Comedy Hailed as one of the most popular comedians of two continents, Lupino Lane, pantomimist and famous tumbler is seen in "A Friendly Husband," a five-reel special comedy in the Fox series — the first which the company has issued as a special in two years. For some twenty years Lupino Lane has been on the stage, playing the London Hippodrome and Drury Lane with his father, and his comic ability is not a recent discovery. In "A Friendly Husband" Lane takes his wife with him for a camping trip on the hottest day of the year equipped with all the comforts of home folded up in an enormous truck which is hitched on to the car. By simply working a lever stoves, dishes, tables, chairs, washing machines and many other things are forthcoming and throughout, the mishaps and adventures prove decidedly mirth-provoking Fox officials declare. One twenty-four sheet, one six sheet, two three sheets and three one sheets, as well as window cards, slides, circus heralds and a sixteen-page press book are available on Lupino Lane's comedy, it is announced. "If Winter Comes" Will Make Screen History Fox Declares Screen history will be made, Fox Film Zorporation predicts, when the screen /ersion of A. S. M. Hutchinson's widely •ead novel, "If Winter Comes," is publshed to exhibitors. As a book it has iurpassed the million mark in circulaion, and the announcement of its adaptaion to the screen created great public nterest, it is pointed out. Harry Millarde directed the entire proluction; some of the bigger outdoor cenes being taken on the English sites BE YOURSELF" is the title of one of the new Christie comedies for Educational in which the producer has sought to carry out a new conception in comedy production. described by the author. The remainder of the scenes requiring interiors were taken at the Fox studios in New York and Los Angeles. + + + At the present time the film is being cut and edited. It will be issued soon. An extensive and elaborate advertising campaign will be started before the publication date is set for the photoplay, the story of which, it is believed, holds the world's record for a fiction publication. Most of the newspapers in the larger cities have already run the story in serial form. + + + "THE TOWN THAT FORGOT GOD" is another Fox special production that comes to exhibitors fresh from a ten week run on Broadway and is soon to be issued. All the New York newspaper critics dwelt at length on the power and tensity of the storm scene, which has been acclaimed by the reviewers as one of the most realistic ever created Fox reports. The acting of Bunny Grauer, who portrays the boy, is given a special amount of praise in these reviews. Harry Millarde, who directed "Over the Hill," created this screen production. + ♦ + A musical score has been prepared for "The Town That Forgot God" by Erno Rapee. Legion to Use Film in Americanism Campaign The American Legion, through its Film Service Division, has acquired from S. H. Boynton, of Chicago, all rights to picture "The Man Without a Country," based on the original story by Dr. Edward Everett Hale. The film will be shown throughout the country in connection with the Legion's Americanism campaign. Distribution will be under direction of Earle A. Meyer, Director of the Film Service at Legion National Headquarters, Indianapolis. New Series Will Be Issued Immediately Producer Announces "The Village Blacksmith," "A Friendly Husband," "The Net," "The Face on the Barroom Floor," "Does It Pay?" and "The Custard Cup" ; these are the six new specials offered by William Fox which the company has scheduled for immediate publication. These new productions are vastly different in scope and material from those issued early in the season but their box office appeal is equally certain, Fox Film Corporation declares. Interesting facts about the new series is revealed in the following digest: + + + "THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH" brings Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem to the screen. It was heartily applauded by reviewers at its New York premiere. Distinguished players, including William Walling, Tully Marshall, Virginia Valli and Bessie Love, are featured under the direction of Jack Ford. + + + "A FRIENDLY HUSBAND" is a five-reel comedy starring Lupino Lane, well-known comedian of two continents. "THE NET," a 1923 melodrama of thrills and mystery directed by J. Gordon Edwards, is a drama of women's conventions and men's intentions. A brilliant romance of Bohemian life in the artists' studios of the Latin Quarter is said to be vividly and faithfully portrayed by an allstar cast. Mr. Gordon and Maravene Thompson wrote the story. + + + "THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR" brings to the screen Henry B. Walthall in a story of sensations, thrills, prison escapes, storms at sea and a charming romance. Jack Ford directed this. Ruth Clifford is in the cast. + + + "DOES IT PAY?" is an engrossing picturization of life, featuring Hope Hampton, supported by a notable cast and directed by Charles Horan. + + + "THE CUSTARD CUP," with Mary Carr, is adapted from the popular story of that name by Florence Bingham Livingston, a story of every-day life with a surprise climax following a series of humorous developments. The direction of this special was in Herbert Brenon's hands. Coming soon will be "The Town That Forgot God," which ended a successful ten-week Broadway run on January 7, and "If Winter Comes" by A. S. M. Hutchinson, directed by Harry Millarde, with a cast of brilliant players. Thomas Dixon Film Placed With Producers Security Announcement is now made that arrangements for distribution of the Thomas Dixon production, "The Beast," have been made with Producers Security Corporation.