Camera (April 1920-April 1921)

CAMERA! "The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry" Page Seven EXHIBITORS' SERVICE PAGE LESSER TO ATTEND FIRST NATIONAL CELEBRATION IN SAN FRANCISCO Sol Lesser announces that he will go to Oakland on July 24th to attend the First National celebration on the following da> . The mayor of that city has declared a holiday for the motion picture industry, and there will be several celebrations including a parade, baseball games, Chamber of Commerce banquet, etc. The entertainment is in the hands of E. L. Perry, Oakland Manager of the T. & D. Theatre. Mr. Lesser states that sevei-al of the First National stars will accompany him to take part in the festivities. CURRENT REVIEWS "SUDS" "Suds," Mary Pickford's latest "Big Four" production, is enjoying an indefinite run at Grauman's Rialto. The screen story, which is an adaptation of the stage production, " 'Op o' My Thumb." in reality only forms a setting for the star's characterization of Amanda Afflick. The role is such another as that of Miss Pickford's unity in "Stella Maris," and it is an artistic triumph. It is doubtful, however, whether the production's drawing power will be as great as her more pleasant and romantic offerings. Harold Goodwin plays the smaU role of Benjamin Pillsbury Jones with considerable appeal. Albert Austin does Horace Greensmith and Rose Dione is Mme. Didier. Lavendar is excellently portrayed by an unnamed ex-polo pony. He should stick to this type of work. Jack Dillon directed the picture. "THE YELLOW TYPHOON" "The Yellow Typhoon," Anita Stewart's latest Louis B. Mayer First National starring vehicle, showed last week at the Kinema. The story which is a clever Monte Katterjohn adaptation of Harold MacGrath's Saturday Evening Post serial, has much of entertainment value, due to its rapid action, in spite of its many poorly arranged and directed scenes. A great deal of unnecessary faking is employed by the actors as an obvious result of their instructions. In the picture the star portrays both the lead and the heavy, or title role. The two women are twin sisters, a brunette and blonde respectively. The parts form a good contrast, and Miss Stewart is unusually interesting as Berta Nordstrum, the adventuress. Her interpretation of Hilda, the secret service agent, is more or less incidental. Donald MacDonald plays Bob Hallowell cleverly. His work is somewhat injured by the use of considerable "hokum," however. Ward Crane does the male lead satisfactorily. Joseph Kilgour is convincing as the male heavy. The little girl who plays Colette, the Typhoon's French maid in one seQuence, deserves mention tor her lack of the usual maid amateurishness. Edward Jose directed. "OLD LADY 31" Screen (Classics, Inc., presented Emma Dunn in "Old Lady 31" at the Victory last week. Many of yesterday's admirers of the star welcome the opportunity to witness the work of an old favorite again. The story is a distinct novelty in that all the principal characters are presumably sixty years or over. Also there are some thirty ladies of this age carried entirely through the picture. Otherwise the story is a little dull and tiring. PRIVATE PREVIEW IN BEBAN PICTURE All of the initiated of the Los Angeles Film Company know that George Beban has for five months been cutting his latest release "One Man in a Million." A few of his personal friends were invited to witness the production's preview last week. Among those present were Sol Lesser, Mr. and Mrs. Carter De Haven, William Desmond, and Marco Hellman. There still remain some two thousand feet to be cut. Walter Richardson Angle Rose is appealingly played by Miss Dunn, and Henry Harmon is Captain Abe Rose. Winifred Westover does Mary and Antrim Short is John. Others in the cast are Clara Knott, Carrie Clark Ward, Sadie Gordon, Lawrence Underwood, Graham Pettie. Martha Mattox, Mai Wells, Ruby Lafayette. John Ince directed. "THE BEST OF LUCK" Screen Classics presented "The Best of Luck" at the California Theatre last week. The story is the most pronounced demonstration of an imagination gone wrong we have vk'itnessed in weeks. It abounds in unconvincing motor chases, submarine helmets, and century old caskets of treasure at the bottom of the sea. Kathryn Adams does the feminine lead. Why she should have been cast for the role of Leslie MacLeod is a mystery. Her appearance is scarcely that of a bounding young athlete despite the fact that she is introduced sitting composedly in the r<!ar of an aeroplane stroking her pet kitten. She also rides a motor cycle and a horse most devilishly; but just the same her personality fails to get over. Jack Holt has nothing to do as Lord Glenayr outside of being presumably responsible for the rather gruesome death of the terrible villain on the floor of the ocean. Fred Malatesta, who does Lanzana, has possibly more intelligent action than the remainder of the cast. Frances Raymond is good as the Countess of Strathcaird. Others in the cast are Lilie Leslie, ICmmett King, Robert Dunbar, Bffle Conley. and Jack Underbill. Ray C. Smallwood directed. "WHAT'S YOUR HURRY?" Wallace Reid played last week at Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre in the Jesse L. Lasky production, "What's Your Hurry?" The screen play is another adapted Saturday Evening Post automobile story. It has considerable entertainment value, and a good cast. Lois Wilson plays the feminine lead prettily. She reminds us somewhat of the time when Ann Little and Wally were team-mates and the memory is pleasant. Charles Ogle, as always, has a real characterization to offer as the girl's father, manufacturer of motor trucks. Clarence Burton makes a good heavy, and Ernest Butterworth. Jr., is clever as the office kid. Ernest Joy does the president of the Cabrillo Irrigation Company convincingly. A great deal is made of some bits by C. H. Geldart, Lillian Leighton, and little Pat Moore. Sam Wood directed the picture. NEW COMPANY INCORPORATES Under the title of the Premier Production, Incorporated, a company was recently incorporated by Claire Woolwine, formerly an assistant district attorney of Los Angeles County; A. L. Hart of Detroit, Max Richmond of Chicago and John R. Martin, who was formerly identified with the J. Stuart Blackton productions. The new company will make one and two reel comedies, which will be released through, Special Pictures Corporation. Until their own studio can be built, shooting will be done at the Special Pictures Studio at Long Beach. FILM COMPANIES RECENTLY INCORPORATED House Peters. Inc.; capital stock, $1,000.000. Directors: House Peters, H. R. Haskin, W. E. DeCourey, F. J. Raven and H. V. Dennis. Kewpie Dorety Film Corporation; capital stock, $150,000. Directors: W. P Dorety, Ethel L. Dorety and E. A. Barker. Sunkist Film Company; capital stock, .$10,000. Directors: E. C. Hurth, Anna Hurth, William Terrill and Ola Terrill. Monty Banks Comedies; capital stock $20.000. Directors: S. L. Warner, J. L. Warner and H. Schwartz. Cinema Craft. Inc.; capital stock $200,000. Directors: Charles Hickman, Seymour Zeliff. S. M. Salisbury, P. C. Sterry and M. Hilton. GRIFFITH PICTURES TO BE RELEASED D. W. Gi'iffith announces that "The Love Flower" is ready for release at the present time, and that "Way Down East," which is now being filmed, will be issued to the ptiblic about August 1.5th. Miss Clarissa Selwyn has had to sever her connections with Egan's Little Theater to fulfill an important film engagement. George Hernandez is playing Mr. Richley in "The Village Sleuth." Florence Turner has signed with Metro to appear in support of Doraldina in "The Passion Fruit." Bertram Bracken has returned to Selig lot to make a special of .lames Oliver Curwood's story, "Kazan." Lew Morrison is playing Carl Wells in "The Village Sleuth" this week at Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre,