The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

The Moving Picture Weekly A MAGAZINE FOR MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS PubUshed Weekly by the MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY PUB. CO. 1600 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY Paul Gxjlick, Editor. (Copyright, 1920, Universal Film Takkington Baker, Bus. Mgr. Mfg. Co. All Rights Reserved.) Vol. 10. FEBRUARY 28, 1920. No. 2 Butchers First SelEcted Picture For I92Q Full page British Advertisement ■pHE popularity of Priscilla Dean and the appeal of the photoplays in which she has already appeared is not confined by any means to the United States. The small reproduction shown above of a full page advertisement in a British film journal speaks for itself. "Kiss or Kill" was the very first selection of Butcher's important distributing agency in Great Britain for their 1920 business and they don't make any bones about coming out and stating so in print. On this side of the water the Jewel has also selected a Priscilla Dean picture as its first offering of the year. This picture is the $500,000 production "The Virgin of Stamboul," by H. H. Van Loan. It was produced by Tod Browning who took five full months to direct this gigantic production and another month to properly out and title it. "The Virgin of Stamboul" is being ranidly prepared for its debut. "The Virgin of Stamboul" is a story of a beautiful beggar girl who becomes involved in a love affair with an American officer in Constantinople. The story called for seventy original sets, representing street scenes, harums, palaces, mosques, and other atmospheric reproductions of Asia Minor. Universal City kas Its Own Local BoarJ of Review SERIOUS error has no more chance to remain in a Universal photodrama than has a fat man to see his watch-fob. A committee of chronic critics view every foot of film the minute it is dry enough to leave the laboratory. The committee is required to abide by more rules than those usually governing the Most Sublime Monarch of a colored secret society. Here are the rules: 1 — The committee must not view pictures until twenty minutes after the usual lunch hour of the members. 2 — Any member who suddenly develops a kindly feeling toward the world in general must resign from the committee until his private stock is exhausted. 3 — The death of a mother-in-law is sufficient cause for the resignation of any member. Upon acquiring another mother-in-law it is assumed that he will again be in the proper frame of mind for the committee. 4 — Any member with a tooth-ache will have two votes on any disputed point. 5 — Any director found slipping a critic a bottle of gin will lose his friend on the committee. The critical board is unique in its personnel. It is composed of: Percy Heath, scenario editor of Universal City and former dramatic critic of eastern newspapers; Charles L. Hertzman, director of publicity at University City and former theatrical manager and newspaperman; Lillian Greenberger, casting director of Universal City; Malcolm S. Boylan, assistant director of publicity; S. M. Tompkins, chief cameraman and Miss M. L. King, an attache of the scenario department. Then the National Board of Review takes the film in hand to assure the country in general that it is strictly moral in every way. No Universal film ever goes out without this stamp. P. M. Gonzalez pEDRO Miranda Gonzalez, present manager of the Porto Rico Branch of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company in San Juan, has worked his way to his present position by his own efforts and without any pull or special dispensation of luck. He is a native Porto Rican and received his primary education in the public schools of San Juan. In 1911 he entered the University of Porto Rico at Rio Piedras. Upon graduating he received his high school diploma and a certificate as special teacher in manual training. Two years later he received his Principal Teacher's diploma, having finished in 1916, the four year Normal Course in that University. While engaged in putting four years into one, he was also engaged in taking a correspondence course in bookkeeping which stood him in good stead when he started working for the Porto Rico branch of the Universal in San Juan as bookkeeper and translator. Shortly afterward, he was made cashier and it so happened that it devolved upon him on several occasions to act as manager of the office, until May 25, 1919 when he was named General Manager of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company in Porto Rico.