The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

November 7, 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 43 Florence I 'id or and Tom Moore in a scene in "The Trouble 7s.'itli Wives/' a Paraiiioiiiif Picture directed by Mai St. Clair. Fox Buys Rights to Stage Hits, Six Belasco Plays and Big Novel Plays 4 At Same Time XJtwted Artists Corporation Release Booked Simultaneously in West End London London newspapers and British film trade journals recently have commented rather widely on the fact that four United Artists Corporation releases are playing simultaneously in the West End of London. The pictures are: Mary Pickford in "Little Annie Rooney," the Marble Arch; Charlie Chaplin in "The Gold Rush, the Tivoli ; Douglas Fairbanks in "Don Q, Son of Zorro," the Hippodrome; D. W. Grififith's "Sally of the Sawdust," the Empire. The comment was made that this is the first time in the history of the film business in England that any releasing or producing ■organization has had four big feature pictures showing at one time. The comment also was made that exhibitors were considerably-impressed by this fact. Hart's "Tumbleweeds" Now Being Edited "Tumbleweeds" is completed. William S. Hart's first production for United Artists Corporation release is now in the cutting room and is being assembled and titled. The picture, say those who have seen parts of it, bids fair to be the superlative among Westerns, the most ambitious of "Bill' Hart's offerings to the screen. "If the utmost care in production, a perfectly selected cast, and an exceptionally fine story are the essentials for a successful photoplay feature, then 'Tumbleweeds' will be the western drama par excellence, Hart is quoted as having said when the last shots were made. King Baggot directed the picture and Barbara Bedford has the leading feminine role. Begins on "The Reason Why" Jack Conway has begun work on an elaborate production of Elinor Glyn's successful novel "The Reason Why" at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Aileen Pringle has the role of Zara, and Edmund Lowe has been borrowed from William Fox for the role of Tancred opposite her. Douglas Gilmore has a prominent part and Phillips Smalley appears in this film as Markrute. Edythe Chapman plays Tancred's mother and Mary Hawes appears as Zara's maid. Constance Bennett Signs Contract Constance Bennett, daughter of Richard Bennett, has signed a long term contract to appear exclusively in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures. Miss Bennett is now playing the role of Irene in Edmund Goulding's "Sally, Irene and Mary," an elaborate picturization of the Edward Bowling musical stage success, adapted to the screen by Hope Loring and Louis Leighton. "The Kitten and the King." A Gerald Beaumont comedy drama based on the life of a policeman has been acquired by Harry Garson as the next starring vehicle for Maurice (Lefty) Flynn. It is called "The Kitten and The King."* It will be the third, policeman's role Mr. Flynn has portrayed in his current series, his other police parts having been in "High and Handsome" and "Speed Wild." He is now engaged in filming "Between Men," in which he plays a civil engineer. WHAT constitutes one of the season's important deals of stage and screen was announced this week by William Fox when he made public the fact that Fox Films has purchased the screen rights to "Cradle Snatchers" and "What Price Glory," Broadway hits ; "One Increasing Purpose," A. S. M. Hutchinson's latest novel, and six David Belasco plays. In addition to the four plays which made David Warfield's reputation — "The Music Master," "The Auctioneer," "The Grand Army Man" and "The Return of Peter Grimm" — the Fox-Belasco transaction includes film rights to "The Lily," in which Nance O'Neill starred, and "The Comedian," in which Lionel Atwill played the title role. "The Music Master" ran for a recordbreaking year in the old Belasco Theatre on 42nd Street and then went on tour for two more years. It was revived successfully three times, and it made David Warfield's name a household word. In 1904 came the production of "The Auctioneer," in 1907 came "The Grand Army Man," and in 1910 "The Return of Peter Grimm," each of which brought Warfield new laurels. Each of the four plays ran for three years, one year on Broadway and two years on the road. "The Lily" established Nance O'Neill's reputation as a character actress. In the play she enacts the role of an older sister who has sacrificed the pleasures in life to obey the whims of her selfish father. "The Comedian" is the story of a beautiful young girl who falls in love with a matinee idol. This role considerably enhanced the reputation of Lionel Atwill. "What Price Glory," produced by Arthur Hopkins, ran for more than a year as the dramatic hit of Broadway. It closed recently. when four companies took the play out on tour. "Cradle Snatchers," produced this season by Sam H. Harris with the assistance of Hazzard Short, is tjie reigning dramatic triumph on Broadwaj'. It has been producing gales of laughter at the Music Box. "One Increasing Purpose" is the third Hutchinson novel to be brought to the screen by Fox Films. "If Winter Comes" and "This Freedom" were presented with considerable success two seasons ago. RUGGLES TO DIRECT Wesley Kugglcs has been engaged to direct Evelyn Brent in her next F. B. O. production "A Broadway Lady," it is announced by B. P. Fineman, F. B. O. production head. A Picture Record of Something l^O Man Ever Did Befot'e! Imperishable ^^istory; Boldness mWr surpassed; A thrill that aroused the world. A 24 Day Adventure with Amundsen