The Moving picture world (November 1921)

1084 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 31, 1921 Advent of New Year Promises Many Surprises for Doris May Star Series; Two Listed Already When Young Man 1922 rings out the old and rings in the new — he'll have something worth thinking about, and talking about, in R-C Picture's 1922 schedule for the Hunt Stromberg Productions starring Doris May. Advices from the R-C Pictures studios on the West Coast indicated a hum of productional activity for the Hunt Stromberg unit, with two stellar stories, "Boy Crazy" and "Gay and Devilish" in course of production and preparation for respective release along the early months of the New Year. "Boy Crazy," now nearing completion, is an original story by Beatrice Can. Exploring into the new fields of farce-comedy, the forth-coming picture, to follow "Eden and Return" in order of distribution, narrates the exciting experiences of a little lady who opens a haberdashery shop for men — just to prove to a certain young man, who operates a style salon for ladies — that her home town and its home talent can compete with any form of modern business. Plot Moves Swiftly Underlying the central idea and big situations is a swiftly moving melodramatic plot which deals with mystery, suspense and thrills in a way altogether new to screenfare. Doris May is seen as "Jackie Saunders," whose boy-admirers are legion — and likewise steadfastly faithful, even to the extent of buying all sorts of "new ideas" in clothes and apparel, just to aid their pretty proprietress of the haberdashery establishment. The character of the plot clears the way for innumerable comedy exploits and Hunt Stromberg and Director William A. Seiter have made the most of the opportunities. In the cast with Miss May is Harry Myers, Otto Hoffman, Fred Gamble, Gertrude Short, Frank Kingsley, "Billy" Elmer and Edward Brady are others in support. "Gay and Devilish," the fourth release of the Doris May attraction, is an original story from the versatile pen of Charles A. Logue, whose screen and stage successes are numbered by the dozens. It is being adapted for the screen by Garrett Elwlen Fort. "Gay and Devilish" refers to a strictly up-to-date girl who so blunders that it requires a stout-hearted and ironfisted lover, one perfectly aggravated uncle, and a flock of other interested ones to extract her from the wreckage. This assistance, according to one of the play's furiously fast sequences, is made all the more difficult because Jackie runs amuck in a fur coat — under which is nothing more or less than daintily ribboned silk lingerie. When certain "benefactors" insist that it's too warm for the moleskin, the heroine becomes involved in more complications— and horrors. Making Plans Negotiations are now under way which will bring Bull Montana and Otis Harlan, who appeared so successfully in "The Foolish Age" cast, back in Miss May's support. The estimable Mr. Montana, it is reported, will assume the role of an athlete who poses, in gold and bronze, for the benefit of Jackie's art career and incidentally, for the romantic reason that he's madly "in love" with a baby-vamp who becomes enmeshed in Jackie's scheme of things. The manner of presenting "Gay and Devilish" upon the screen will furnish an innovation in construction and narrative-visualization, scenarioist Fort, working out some brand ney phases in continuity. The timeliness, and box-office appeal, of the titles for the new Doris MA SCENE FROM GOLDWYN'S "THE WALL FLOWER" May pictures are heralded as important selling angles. Both "Boy Crazy" and "Gay and Devilish" are of the short and snappy type that arouse the imagination, and create the desire to see. Emphasis also is made of the exploitation possibilities attached to the titles. Has Big Role In the new R-C all-star production, "Beyond the Rainbow," now being taken at the studio on West SixtyFirst Street, Helen Ware has been secured to play the part of the solicitous society woman, Mrs. Nathaniel Gardener. At the same time Miss Ware is also appearing in "The Wandering Jew" with Tyrone Power at the Knickerbocker Theatre and the work in the two plays is giving her little time to spend in her home in Westchester County. Harold Lloyd to Be Featured in New Comedy Associated Exhibitors state that the Harold Lloyd feature production, "A Sailor-Made Man," will be the big holiday week attraction on the programs of many of the largest first run theatres throughout the country. As a special exploitation aid, Associated Exhibitors has had prepared a novelty, consisting of a white paper sailor hat, such as Lloyd wears throughout the comedy. These caps are cut from a pattern and joined at the sides and top by the wearer. Exhibitors can obtain them from their Pathe branch office. Several theatres like the Liberty of Seattle, Wash., which is situated near a naval station, are giving a special showing to the navy men. Paramount s "Saturday Night" Was Finished in Record Time ( 11 Scene from 'The Little Minister." A Vitagraph release, starring Alice Calhoun What is believed to be a record for editing and titling a special production, says Paramount, was set by Cecil B. DeMille and staff in finishing the Paramount director's latest picture, "Saturday Night," in order that he might embark promptly for his vacation in Europe. Twelve working days were required. Jeanie MacPherson, author of the story, did the literary work on the titles. This demand for speed gave rise to reminiscences on Mr. DeMille's part concerning the rapidity with which it is possible sometimes to work on a pjcture without detracting from its value. "I made two pictures at the same time once," he said, "one during the day and the other at night. And they were both very successful, too — "The Cheat' and 'The Golden Chance.' The man elected to stick it out with me was Alvin Wyckoff, director of photography. He and I slept an hour every evening. And I remember when we had Miss Geraldine Farrar under contract for eight weeks. During that time we were entitled to make one or more pic ture. We actually made three, and one of them was 'Carmen.'" Brenon Talks to College Students At Columbia University recently Herbert Brenon, director for William Fox, delivered a lecture on the Art of Motion Picture Directing, before the students of the class in Motion Picture Production. William Farnum also talked to the class. The director and star were there at the invitation of Professor Rowland Rogers, in charge of the class. Wagner Praises Ray Production Rob Wagner, writer and authority on motion picture subjects, has seen the completed screen version of his comedy "R. S. V. P." and he makes public the fact that he is thoroughly delighted by Charles Ray's production of his script. This is a First National production in which Arthur S. Kane presents the star.