Camera - April 14, 1923 to February 16, 1924 (April 1923-February 1924)

V * I F. R A Weekly Wake'Em-Up— CAMERA'S Neius Section Page Eleven BAD MAN" IS NOW BEING FILMED ON RANCH Bang, bang, bang, they're off! Holbrook Blinn, bad man de xe, has busted over the border d is doing his famous stage le before the camera. Work on Edwin Carewe's "The ad Man," which will be releaby First National, started sterday at Roscoe where the itlal ranch exteriors were hot." Though necessarily somewhat ifferent from Emerson Porter rown's stage play in which linn has starred so long so sucssfully, this celebrated actor as a role even more picturesue and mirth-provoking than one which has been charming gitimate audiences of New ork and Los Angeles. The screen adaptation of this lay," says Blinn, "will give me n even better chance to internet the bandit character as I isualize him. The film will perit much more action and detail nd will permit a wider range f acting and a stronger plot." Enid Bennett, who played aid Marion in "Robin Hood" nd who was the feminine lead n Fred Niblo's "Captain Appleack," will play the feminine ead of "The Bad Man" opposite Jack Mulhall, who has the role f Gilbert Jones. Carewe plans to turn the negative over to First National for listribution in August. The interiors are to be taken at the United Studios. CRUZ GETS JUVENILE ROLE IN LEE FEATURE The part of Charlie Hemingway in "You Can't Get Away With It," the first of a series of special productions to be made by Fox under the direction of Roland V. Lee, is being played by Charles Cruz, popular screen iivenile, instead of George Kackathorne, who was recently reported as playing the part. The ro e referred to is the leading juvenile character in the story and is allowing the actor a fine opportunity to establish himself as one of the most capable artists of his rank. Prior to his entrance into motion pictures a short two years ago, Cruz appeared in musical comedies and dramatic plays from which he gained wide recognition as a brilliant performer. Among a number of successful pictures in which Cruz has appeared and won the unstinted praise of dramatic critics for his histrionic ability are 'Beauty's Worth," "My American Wife," "You Never Can Tel!," "Blood and Sand," and others. A SURPRISE IN STORE FOR FANS OF OWEN MOORE Whoever had decided Owen Moore was permanently committed to starring in rollicking comedies such as he made so triumphantly for Selznick, have a surprise in store for them, because when they see him in "Thundergate" in which he is now playing the leading role for First National at the United Studios, they will discover him reaching zenith of intensely dramatic artistry — just the opposite to the sort of work he did in such successes as "Reported Missing." An additional element of surprise will be discovered in the fact that in "Thundergate," Mr. Moore plays three different characters or rather portrays the dramatic feelings of an unusual man in three distinctly different transitions of his carrer as unfolded in this story cf the entrancing Orient. Moreover, for the first time he essays the interpre tations of a young Chinese character, and, according to reports emanating from those associated with him in the filming of this picture, his performance bids fair to be proclaimed one of the acting sensations of the current year. Although those who are familiar with Owen Moore's long record for presenting screen characters of great variety do not need any proof of his versatility, those who know him only by his brilliant work as the star of the series of comedies he made during the last three years will no doubt be more than surprised to see him so heavily dramatic as he is in "Thundergate." Especially as a derelict is his work most challenging of seriousness although his interpretations of the character of the young Chinese in the midst of most dazzling Oriental luxury is said to be exceedingly gripping. CRISP IS WORKING HERE AFTER 3 YEARS' ABSENCE Donald Crisp, famous director, soldier of fortune and actor, who has spent the last three years in Europe, two, managing the Famous Players -La sky, London Studio and one year at the Berlin plant of the same company, will direct Sam E. Rork's production of "Ponjola" for First National distribution. Among the pictures which Crisp directed in Europe was the screen adaptation of "Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush." This was made in Scotland, the original locale of the story. Crisp has been a recognized authority on pictures since the inception of the industry and has been prominently identified with filmdom in many ways. As co-director with David Wark Griffith he helped give to the world its very first big spectacle, "The Birth of a Nation." Another of his famous pictures was "The Six Best Cellers." Crisp has already established offices at the United Studios and wiil start directing Cynthia Stockley's South African story within the next few days. Among members of the cast already selected are : Anna Q. Nilsson, James Kirkwood and Tully Marshall. Crisp's assistant will be James Ewens, who assisted Director James Young in the filming of "Wandering Daughters," ami Richard Walton Tully's screen version of "Trilby." Ince to Film Fitch Story "Barbara Fritchie," the story of Civil War days which has been a favorite stage classic with two generations, is to be screened by Thomas H. Ince. Film rights to the play, which was written by Chile Kitch, have been purchased through the playwright's widow and the estate of Charles Froham, who produced the stage drama. Production work will begin as soon as a cast can be selected. OLD-TIME GRIFFITH FIND CAST IN "THE BAD MAN' Teddy Sampson, another member of the old I). W. Griffith school, who has become a screen favorite, has been engaged to plav an important part in 'The Bad Man," which is to be produced and directed by Edwin Carewe for First National. Miss Sampson has been cast in the role of "Angela Hardy," a semi-comedy part which will give her an excellent opportunity to demonstrate her talent. Miss Sampson has recently re turned to the coast after an engagement with Famous Players in which she appeared with Elsie Ferguson in "The Outcast." She has been in films for nine years; previous to that she was in musical comedy and on the vaudeville stage. It was while she was appearing with Gus Edwards in "School Days," that D. W. Griffith was first attracted to Miss Sampson's talent. He advised her to desert the "speajdes" for the silver-sheet, and she agreed. Her first screen part was in "The Broken Bottle," which was produced by the old RelianceMajestic Company, later the Triangle Company. She played leads and character parts in a number of features produced by this organization. Later she was with Selznick and for a year she was starred in a series of Christie comedies. Hines Finishes Johnnv Hines has completed the filming of the George M. Cohan play, "Little Johnny Jones," at the Warner Brothers studios under the direction of Arthur Rosson. The story centers around the English Derby at Epsom Downs, England, with Hines as the Yankee jockey scheduled to ride Yankee Doodle. Molly Malone is the girl in the case, and George Webb plays the villain. DINKEY COMPLETES FIRST FEATURE PICTURE "Gigi," Dinky Dean's initial starring vehicle, produced by Z. A. Stegmuller at Universal City, just has been completed and the negative and masterprint taken East where arrangements are being made for distribution. For perhaps the first time in film history a four-year-old star makes his bow to the picture public in a five-reel costume production adapted from a classic penned by a famous author. That this picture will take like wild fire is the consensus of opinion of those who have seen it. The production is a lavish one and little Dinky is supported by a remarkable cast consisting of such celebrities as; Virginia Pearson, John Sainpolis, Josef Swickard, Sam De Grasse, Eric Mayne, Mitchell Lewis, Ethel Wales, Frank Bond and Frank Darrow, Sr. "Gigi," a screen adaptation of Abbie Farwell Brown's famous "John of the Woods," a Houghton Mifflin book now in its sixteenth edition, is the story of an Italian youngster who lived in an Italian principality during the fifteenth century. The story has and appealing plot and costumes and settings are lavish and rich far beyond those of the average costume production. The film was directed by Albert Austin, who wrote and directed "My Boy" and who also directed "Trouble." Chuck Reisner, famous character actor, star and director, who is Dinky's father, assisted in the filming cf the youngster's first serious effort toward stardom. Dinky first, came into the public eye when he appeared with Charlie Chaplin in "The Pilgrim." MONEY-MAD INDIANS GIVE PEACEFUL TOWN A THRILL Residents of Bishop, California had visions of an uprising of Piute Indians last week when 35 braves, in war paint, descended on the peaceful town. Then, when they headed for the First National Bank, the fears grew to intensity. "The Indians have turned bank robbers," thought the citizens. But they were all wrong. The Indians were as peaceful as the town. They had come there i<i cash their salary checks which they had received for playing parts in "The Huntress," a First National picture starring Colleen Moore, now being taken in the Sierras, a few miles from Bishop. Florence Billings is taking a short vacation following the completion of her contract with T. Hayes Hunter in "Wild Love."