Camera (May 1922-April 1923)

Page Sixteen "The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry" CAMERA I News and Gossip About tKe Moving Throngs of Movieland "Grumpy" on Home Stretch William deMille will bring his Paramount production, "Grumpy," to an end early in February and will have completed, it is believed, one of the most interesting pictures he has done in a long time. The element of mystery which enters so strongly into this play by Hodges and Percyval and which Clara Beranger adapted, is always fascinating and wonderful characterizations are being achieved by Theodore Roberts, May McAvoy and Conrad Nagel, the featured players, as well as by Casson Ferguson, who plays the heavy role; Charles Ogle and others. Serial Title Changed Pathe announces change of title of Ruth Roland's next serial release from "The Riddle of the Range" to "Haunted Valley." The Roland serial is scheduled to follow "Plunder," with Pearl White, which will be released on January 28.. "Haunted Valley," it is stated, has already been liberally booked under the now discarded title of "The Riddle of the Range." Blanche Sweet as Tess Marshall Neilan will film "Tess of the D'urbervilles," on a tremendous scale, with Blanche Sweet in the title role. Ever since the announcement by the Goldwyn company that Mr. Neilan would make a picture of the Thomas Hardy classic, speculation has been rife as to who would play "Tess." When a company was sent abroad under Frank Urson's direction to make in England "atmospheric" exteriors and what are known as "established" shots of the Dorsetshire country, interest was increased. Miss Sweet retired from the screen for a time, but soon after her marriage to Mr. Neilan returned in a big production of "Quincy Adams Sawyer." Orlamond Wins Goldwyn Contract William Orlamond, character actor, has just been signed by Goldwyn to a long-term contract, a mark of favor won by his work in such exacting parts as that of the motion picture director in "Doubling for Romeo," as the Inventor in "The Sin Flood" and, most recently, as Lord Fryingham in Rupert Hughes' production of "Souls For Sale." Mr. Orlamond started pictures in 1918, and has appeared in many productions, including Nazimova's "Camille," in which he was the father of Armand, and in "Boys Will Be Boys." He hails from Denmark. Marie is Loaned Marie Prevost, Warner Brothers' popular star, has been loaned to Goldwyn to appear in "The Rear Car." Immediately upon the completion of that she will return to Warner Brothers' lot and start on her next picture for them. Tying Up a Galaxy of 'Em Warner Brothers are signing 'em up rapidly. Lately they have tied up on long-term contracts Harry Meyers, Monte Blue, Marie Prevost and Grant Carpenter, well-known scenarist. They have also signed William Benudine, the director responsible for the "Heroes of the Street," the last Wesley Barry picture, to direct the popular boy star in "David Copperfleld," "Little .lohnny Jones" and "George Washington, Jr." Rapf's Warner Schedule With the departure of H. M. Warner for the east announcement was made that Harry Rapf had been signed to produce for Warner Brothers for two years. Rapf's first picture under this new arrangement will be "Wolf Fangs," the scenario of which is being done by Frederick Myton. This production will feature the popular German police dog, Rin-tin-tin. The direction will be in the hands of Chester Franklin. Immediately after launching "Wolf's Fangs" into production Rapf will start on the filming of "Lucretia Lombard" from the book by Kathleen Norris, the adaptation being done by Sada Cowan. Following these two pictures will come "Broadway After Dark" with Marie Prevost as its star. Back to Grease Paint William Worthington, who organized the company and directed Sessue Hayakawa in his first starring vehicles, is to return to the screen as an actor after an absence of six years, during which time he has directed many of the best known stars. Mr. Worthington will play an important role in "Red Lights," adapted from the stage play, "The Rear Car," which Clarence Badger will direct for the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. Among the stars directed by Mr. Worthington have been Mae Marsh, Bryant Washburn, Edith Storey, Edith Roberts, Herbert Rawlinson and, more recently, Frank Mayo, whom he has just guided in seven pictures. From Tropics to Arctic Having only recently returned from Hawaii where she played a principal role in "The White Flower," made by Famous Players-Lasky, Arline P r e t t y scarcely had time to doff the make-up required for that clime when she was whisked by the Fox company to Truckee, for some snow scenes in Dustin Farnum's latest picture being produced under the direction of Colin Campbell, for which Miss Pretty has been engaged as leading lady. Unit System for Goldwyn An important change in production policy has been announced by the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. Hereafter the unit system will be employed in making the big feature pictures to which the company has committed itself. Each director will have his own staff and will be given every facility in putting into his productions his own individuality and personality. He will have the cooperation of the department heads of the Culver City studio, but each unit will be separate unto itself. The announcement was made by Abraham Lehr, Vice President in charge of production, following conferences with President F. J. Godsol and Vice President Edwaid Bowes, both of whom have just returned to New York after spending several weeks at the studio. It's a Mammoth 'Script Here's one for the lovers of statistics! Wallace Worsley hands it out for digestion. He states that when the Universal handed him the scenario for "Notre Dame," they gave him the biggest script ever handed a director. "It is large enough to choke a horse," says the director, "and it is not only cumbersome, but is a real source of trouble to everyone who has to handle it." For instance, " the 446 odd scenes and 172 titles required 188 pages of eight and a half by thirteen legal size paper which weighs over four and a half pounds. To date 17 star players, headed by Lon Chaney, have been cast, and the camera work will require more than four months time. Sacrifices Ease for Career Daughter of one of San Francisco's wealthy business men and daughter-in-law of the world's largest landholder, Aileen Pringle has given up money and leisure in order to make a place for herself on the motion picture screen . She has cut off the allowances from her husband and her father in order that she may feel that her professional advancement is earned by her own work. Miss Pringle is the daughter of George W. Bisbee, president of the Pioneer Fruit Company of San Francisco, and the wife of Charles M. Pringle, son of Sir John Pringle, former governor of Jamaica and owner of most of the land and industries on the i.sland. The Goldwyn Pictures corporation has given Miss Piingle a longterm contract following her excellent work in "The Strangers' Banquet" and "Souls For Sale." Titling "Drivin' Fool" "The Drivin' Fool," E. D. Newman's comedy-drama of automobile thrills, has been com pleted after two months of camera work in scattered locations all over the western states and the picture is now being titled by Walter Anthony, who is an author of notable literary attainments and was formerly a dramatic critic in San Francisco and Seattle. Wally Van is featured in "The Drivin' Fool." Seen with Van in the coming production are Patsy Ruth Miller, Alec Francis, Wilton Taylor, Ramsey Wallace, Jesse AJdridge, Rosa Gore and other well known players. More "Juice" Need Frank Urson, director of Marshall Neilan Productions, has returned from the Grand Canyon, where he has been scouting for locations to be used in Marshall Neilan's production, "The Ingrate." Urson found weather conditions in the Canyon unusually favorable for picture work at this time of year. How ever, one prohibitive condition he discovered was the lack of high tension lines carrying suflicient voltage to light the El Tovar Hotel in which Mr. Neilan had planned some dramatic scenes for "The Ingrate." End of the "Trail" "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," starring Mary Miles Minter with Antonio Moreno in support, has been completed. Director Charles Maigne has made a decidedly thrilling and a strong heart-interest drama of this old favorite which was adapted by Will M. Ritchey from the book by John Fox, Jr. and the play by Eugene Walter. The cast includes besides the two win Brady, CuUen Tate and Frances Warner. As the little mountain heroine. Miss Minter, it is said, has done some of the best work of her career. Bans Word "Dead" A change in the title of the forthcoming Tourneur production has been announced by Maurice Tourneur. The new title is to be "The Isle of Lost Ships." The picture was adapted from Crittenden Marriott's novel, "The Isle of Dead Ships." Tourneur's policy is not to change the title of a picture unless it is absolutely necessary from the exhibitor's standpoint. It was after serious consideration that the ban was placed on the word "dead." "The Isle of Lost Ships," in which Anna Q. Nilsson, Milton Sills, Frank Campeau, Walter Long, Bert Woodruff, Aggie Herring and Irene Hunt are being featured, is now in the hands of the cutters.