The Moving picture world (December 1920)

844 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 18, 1920 •MOVING PICTURE Published weekly by the Chalmers Publishing ComMay, S16 Fifth Avenue, New York (Telephone: Murray Hill 1610-13). President, T. P. Chalmers, Sr.; Vice-President and General Manager, J. F. Chalmers; Secretary and Treasurer, E. T. Chalmers; Assistant General Manager, James L. Hoff; Editor-in-Chief, Arthur James; Advertising Manager, Wendell P. Milligan. Address all correspondence to the company. The office of the company is the address of the officers. Chicago Office: Suite 1021-1023 Garrick Building, *< West Randolph Street (Telephone: Central SOW). Paul C. Uinz, Manager. Lot Angeles Office: 610-611 Wright ft Callender Build ing (Telephone: Broadway 4649). A H. Giebler, Manager. Cine-Mandial, the monthly Spanish edition of the Moving Picture World, is published at S16 Fifth Avenue by the Chalmers Publishing Company. Yearly subscription, %2. Advertising rates on application. This publication is dedicated to the service of the moving picture industry in all of its elements. Its foundation is character, its watchword is enterprise, its aim is betterment. IT is not at all impossible that history will refer to him as Selznick the Stabilizer. This thought is brought to mind by three recent events, each of which has a stabilizing influence on the moving picture industry. The cases in point include the completion of a deal for the sale to Utica Investment Company of $2,000,000 worth of ten-year bonds whereby Mr. Selznick is given additional capital for his business without yielding the control of his business to any outside financial interests. This in itself is an expression of confidence on the part of the investors in Mr. Selznick and the stability of moving pictures. The second instance is the success of Mr. Selznick's suit against Clara Kimball Young whereby Miss Young is required to live up to a contract despite what Judge Learned Hand describes as an "ingenious piece of legerdemain on the part of a star to avoid the consequences of a contract of settlement." The third is the case of Robert Selznick, who voluntarily returned to work for Mr. Selznick, accepting such position as was suggested to him after what appeared to be a very definite attempt to yield to temperament. All actions in the industry which tend to demonstrate the responsibility of stars, directors, producers and others in the making of contiacts are of very definite value to the industry as a whole, and we are moved to fe licitate Mr. Selznick on having been the prime mover in these three successful efforts toward stabilization. The announcement from the Frohman Amusement Corporation that its productions in which Lillian Gish is to star will be marketed independently will be fine news for state rights men throughout the country. When so important a star in big pictures is placed on the independent market it is a stride upwards for that field. We bespeak for Mr. William L. Sherrill, president of the corporation, and for Miss Gish, the star, a very successful outcome of their plans. We believe in the soundness of the idea and we are assured that the productions will be of the very highest standards. The response from all parts of the United States of co-operation in the great popularity star contests, to be conducted through the daily newspapers to determine the present-day standing and relative popularity of the big stars of the screen, has been so prompt and so cordial that the success of the plan is already assured. Although the race is an open race and no one is denied a seat at the party, we are moved to congratulate Associated First National Pictures and its exhibitor members on their prompt, efficient and effective grasp of the idea Katherine MacDonald has finished her seventh production for Associated First National release. It is a thrilling mystery romance titled "My Lady's Latchkey," and is an adaptation of "The Second Latchkey," from the pens of C. N. and A. M. Williamson. Those prominent in the supporting cast are Edmund Loew, Claire DuBrey, Helena Phillips, Thomas Jefferson (not of Rip Van Winkle fame) and Howard Gayc. An entire Chinese street is being built on the Goldwyn lot for "The Water Lily," under the direction of Frank Lloyd. The story, which has just gone into production Gouverneur Morris' first, original screen Roxer massacre of foreigners in China will and their concerted action as an organization to put the plan into effect everywhere. This speaks volumes for the coherency and enthusiasm of First National, and it is bound to compel the admiration of the entire industry. We shall publish in an early issue the first returns, some of which are already beginning to pour in, and we invite your careful consideration of the news of the contests appearing in this issue. If there is any point which you, as an exhibitor, are in doubt about, wire promptly to the editor of Moving Picture World and the response will be immediate. Let's go ! The National Board of Review is a worthy body. This is conceded. But the National Board, when it announces its bulletin as "the first publication devoted to impartial and serious critique" of the finest in current motion picture production, is mumbling through its chapeau. It is not the Columbus of impartiality or seriousness in criticism. Moving Picture World has earned and enjoyed the reputation long since for both of these virtues. Let the Board go in for all the constructive criticism that occurs to it as helpful, but let it be kept free from patronizing assertions of exclusive merit where it follows rather than leads. be an episode in the picture, and Mr. Lehr and Mr. Lloyd have been very particular to have the Chinese architecture, costumes, furniture, etc., absolutely correct. Carmel Myers begins soon on a new production called "Cinderella Jane," by Marjorie Benton Cooke. Director Rollin Sturgeon is assembling the cast. Milton Sills has returned from a duck bunt to play the leading male role in the Metro production, "What Is the Matter with Marriage?" Pearl White has completed camera work in her latest William Fox feature production, "The Thief," the Henri Bernstein stage success. Charles Giblyn staged the play. Clip and Paste Sam Spedon expressed, as well as any man I ever knew, the idea of personal sunshine. His friendly heart attracted friends, and his gentle nature, his faithful devotion to his tasks made a place in all our hearts that will cause him to be missed. Few in the industry of moving pictures had as many friends as he, and among his associates on this publication he was beloved. He leaves a rich heritage of kindliness. J. F. CHALMERS.