Exhibitors Herald (1927)

22 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 26, 1927 Premiere Shows ‘Rough Riders’ Is Real Roadshow Production Roosevelt Portrayed as Regular Human Being — San Juan Hill Victory Credited to Private Played by Charles Emmett Mack By JOHN S. SPARGO New YORK, March 22. — Paramount’s big Spanish war picture, “The Rough Riders,” was given its premiere at the George M. Cohan theatre last Tuesday night, and the consensus is that it is a real road show production. The audience was an invited one made up chiefly of critical film people, and the hearty applause which greeted a number of scenes of the production gave concrete evidence that they are not surfeited by the many war pictures now running on Broadway. 1\ / ANY who attended expecting to see the former Rough Rider leader and former president glorified, if not deified, were doomed to disappointment. Throughout the entire picture Director Victor Fleming has made Mr. Roosevelt appear as a regular human being, with his well-known penchant for disobeying orders, when the comfort or safety of his men was at stake, being strongly in evidence. In fact no small amount of the glory which has always attached to the name of Roosevelt is taken away from the magnetic leader and politician, and given to a lowly private. The picture, mental and otherwise, of Roosevelt leading his men up the steeps of San Juan Hill under the heavy fire of the Spanish troops, has always been an alluring one to hero worshippers. Charles Emmett Mack Is Hero This feat, generally considered the turning point of the war, the picture version accredits to Charles Emmett Mack, a private, who after grovelling in cowardice when the bullets commence to fly, suddenly goes berserk and charges up the hill towards where the Spanish are intrenched. Believing the charge is ordered the other men of the regiment follow and the wild charge breaks the Spanish line and dislodges the enemy. The film shows Col. Roosevelt on horseback, watching his men dashing into the face of death ahead of him. And so the famous San Juan Hill is pictured in “The Rough Riders.” There are many thrilling moments, much good comedy and a most entrancing love story woven into the picture. Mary Astor, the girl with two soldier sweethearts, was never more beautiful and certainly never displayed so much histrionic talent as in this. The comedy is furnished by Noah Beery and George Bancroft, respectively, in the parts of the sheriff. Hell’s Bells, and Happy Joe, a horsethief who foils arrest by joining up with the regiment. ‘ The acting honors are carried off by Charles Farrell in the character of Stewart Van Brunt, who finally wins the girl after his rival has died in his arms in Cuba. Col. Roosevelt is portrayed by Frank Hopper, who was selected for his resemblance to the Rough Rider leader, and in spite of it being his first appearance on the screen, he carries off the part in an acceptable and pleasing manner. Col. Leonard Wood is portrayed by Col. Fred Lindsay; Stanton by Fred Bohler. Cinemartest School Quiz by Sheriff Is Asked by Salt Lake (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, March 22.— Sheriff William Traeger has been asked by Salt Lake City officials to investigate the Hollywood Cinemartest School, representatives of which have been operating in Utah agreeing to get unwary victims “a place in the movies at so much per place.” The plan, according to Salt Lake officials, was to offer to take a test of likely pupils at one dollar a foot. Although there is a similarity of names the Hollywood Screen Test Studio has no connection with the other concern and has no representatives in Salt Lake City. The Hollywood address given by the screen test cameraman is occupied by an antique shop. The tests taken were said to be filed with the Screen Test Library, but that company denies any connection. Emmet Sorg represents himself as president of the organization. He was employed as a salesman at one time by the Hollywood Screen Test Studio, of which C. E. Holah is president and general manager. Missouri Admission Tax Passage Now Possible ST. LOUIS, March 22. — A new play in the political football game with Governor Sam Baker’s bill for a 10 per cent tax on admissions brings the possibility that a sufficient number of Democrats will line up for the measure to put it over. National Chain Move j in Chicago May Turn j to Deal for Booking ' Indications of steps by either Publix ^ Theatres or another national chain to ob ( tain possession of six theatre circuits in 1 Chicago, as announced in last week’s Her j -M.n, took a new turn this week with the I report that negotiations had reached a stage j where the possible deal might swing either t to purchase of theatres or acquisition of booking control. j In either event the reported negotiations ' ;■ represent an effort by distributing-theatre owning interests to compete with the Stanley-West Coast-First National amalgama * tion in acquiring exhibition control between Pittsburgh and the Rockies. The B. & K. Midwest-Ascher Brothers negotiations continued. Several of the J officials concerned are still in the East. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “The Taxi Dancer,” which played the B. & K Chicago week before last and the B. & K. Tivoli last week, was at Ascher Brothers’ Sheridan this week. Charles Emmett Mack Killed in Auto Crash; Second Death in T roupe (Special to the Herald.) RIVERSIDE, CAL., March 22. — Charles Emmett Mack is dead from injuries received in an auto collision here Thursday. This is the second fatality in the same unit within a week. Helen Howard’s neck was broken in a collision in Los Angeles while she was on the way to join the company on location. Loretta Rush’s skull was fractured in the same accident and she is in a Los Angeles hospital. The company was making “The First Auto” for Warner Brothers. Mack was being costarred with Patsy Ruth Miller. Mack was in Paramount’s “The Rough Riders,” which opened last week in the George M. Cohan theatre in New York. He also appeared in “A Woman of the World” with Pola Negri, “The Unknown Soldier” with Marguerite de la Motte, and in “Dream Street.” r FOR, Lbs; ANGELES' S' • : [■ MGlIllRliG'CO^STPJK T yynusff SISTER ■ iiSlHlElAYLOR When ground was broken for the United Artists theatre in Los Angeles, Fred Niblo acted as master of ceremonies. He is shown introducing John Barrymore. Between them are Rosetta Duncan and Estelle Taylor. Douglas Fairbanks, at the extreme right, is talking to Mrs. Charlotte Pickford, while Mary Pickford is to the left of Morris Gest, who has his back turned to the camera. Walter Rand Resigns (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, March 22.— Walter Rand, manager of the United Artists exchange, Los Angeles, has resigned. D. J. McNerney, former branch manager at San Francisco, has succeeded Rand. “Last War Used Up,” Will Rogers Declares (Special to the Herald) LONDON, March 22. — “Our movie actors want a new war. They have used up the last one.’’ That’s the message Americans here received from Will Rogers when they gathered to celebrate completion of the redecorating of the Davoy hotel.