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

Cameras Weekly Wake-em-up SPECIAL NEWS SECTION SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1923 ~~~~~ CHAPLIN FILM GETS NEW TITLE "A Woman of Paris" is the title finally decided upon for Charles Chaplin's first dramatic picture in which Edna Purviance is featured and which has just been completed at the Chaplin Studios. During the making of this picture which has been in production for eight months it has been temporarily titled "Public Opinion," a title copyrighted by Mr. Chaplin and one which will be used on a subsequent picture. Although Mr. Chaplin does not personally appear in "A Woman of Paris," there runs through it that same touch of humanness which has made him the acknowledged genius of the screen and its humor, pathos and tragedy are blended with supreme artistry. Those who have seen the picture in unfinished state declare it will be a sensation when it is released during the month of September at which time it will have its premiere in New York City at a Broadway legitimate theatre. Perhaps the most vital phase of the production is the new treatment of the subject matter and the finesse with which the various scenes are played by the actors; Mr. Chaplin having devoted more of his time to the acting in this picture than has ever before been given to a motion picture. Each scene was directed by him personally and on some of them weeks were spent on a single scene. The result bids fair to place Mr. Chaplin in the same position among directors that he has formerly held among actors. The picture which will be released in eight reels will be handled for distribution by United Artists, the releasing organization for the personal productions of Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith. Those in the cast supporting Edna Purviance are Adolphe Menjou, Carl Miller, Lydia Knott, Charles French, Betty Morrissey, Malvina Pole and Clarence Geldert. The staff assisting Mr. Chaplin on the production of "A Woman of Paris" included, editorial, Monta Bell; assistant director, Eddie Sutherland; business, AlW fred Reeves; photography, Rollie \ Tetheroh and Jack Wilson; and research, Harry D'Arrast and Jean di Limur. Following a short vacation Mr. Chaplin will immediately begin work on the production of a new six reel comedy with himself starred and which will also be released through United Artists. QUITS PLAYING TO FIGHT FOREST FIRE Constance Talmadge's warriors of "The Dangerous Maid" cast stopped fighting each other long enough the other night to conquer what threatened to grow into a forest fire. The company was working in a nearby valley on a wooded ranch supposed to be an old English highway. Constance, disguised as a boy, was darting back and forth across the road and behind trees with a squad of "Bed-Coats" hot after her. Half a mile away a wall of flame shot up into the air and the cry of "Fire!" went up. Director Victor Heerman immediately called a halt and ordered Constance. Marjorie Daw and the other feminine members of the cast to safety. Heerman then told off 200 men into squads under Conway Tearle, Lou Morrison, Philip Dunham, Eddie Brophy and Glen MacWilliams and the whole male force was rushed to the spot of the flames in motor trucks. There they joined with residents of nearby ranches who were hastily assembling, and in about two hours made a firebreak that prevented the flames from reaching the timber land. The blaze spread on through the brush but, cheated of its larger prey, finally burned itself out. FLYNN SPECTACLE IS NOW NEARING COMPLETION When the cameras click on long shots of the big palace set the latter part of this week, Emmett Flynn will have completed the filming of "In the Palace of the King," the period spectacle he directed for the Goldwyn studios. Edmund Lowe, leading male player in the production is the only principal in the cast who is not yet finished with the picture. Other players, including Blanche Sweet, Hobart Bosworth, Pauline Starke, Sam de Grasse, Lucien Littlefield, Wiliiam V. Mong, Aileen Pringle, Charles Clary, Harvey Clarke and others, have made their final scenes, and most of them are planning their summer vacations. In order to confer with Richard A. Rowland, general manager of Associated First National Pictures, Inc., Earl J. Hudson, general production manager of that organization's own producing unit, has left Los Angeles for New York City. LESSER WILL FILM "HIAWATHA" SOON Sol Lesser announces an early beginning on the production of a spectacular and poetic screen version of Longfellow's "Hiawatha." For several months this poem has been in contemplation and for several weeks the scenario department has been busily engaged in research work attendant on the great enterprise of filming this American classic. The services of James Willard Schultz have been engaged in the preparation of the story, he being a full-fledged member of the Blackfoot Indian tribe of Montana with the fortunes of which, for more than twenty years he was identified in the field and chase. As an authority on Indian lore, Mr. Schultz is regarded without a peer in the United States, and his published works on Indian life are numerous and popular. He has been taking an active interest with the Principal Pictures scenario staff in the adjustments necessary to render the story of Hiawatha suitable for film translation. "It is our plan," says Lesser, to emphasize the poetical elements of the work, or rather to attempt to give them complete visualization. .This we hope to accomplish by the importance we shall give to the earlier episodes of the poem wherein the infancy and young boyhood of Hiawatha are treated. The poetic essence of the work is what we are after rather than "plot-values" and the usual "movie plot action." We shall boldly attack the problem of fixing upon the screen immortal poetic beauty of Longfellow's most widely known and popular poem. Of course we plan the engagement of typical Indians to give reality to our scenes and in the engagement of these we expect the authoritative advice and counsel of Mr. Schultz will guide us rightly. We believe we shall accomplish the production of a pageant-poem that will appeal with its beauty to every class of motion picture patron and every lover of romance and poetry." AMERICAN AND TURK WRITE PLAY An interesting collaborating affiliation, which promises to bring to the motion picture screen a story with a keen psychological analysis of the Oriental custom of plural wives, has just been announced. Under the title, "Harem Love," a story is being jointly prepared by J. Stewart Woodhouse, well known local scenarist, and Gerjes Bey, recently arrived from Constantinople. Gerjes Bey was educated in the universities of the Turkish capital and knows Oriental life in all its phases. His uncle was Minister of War under Abdul Hamid, under which monarch he himself was knighted at the age of nineteen. Gerjes Bey was connected with the diplomatic service of his country for years. When "Harem Love" is ready for production Gerjes Bey purposes to give personal technical supervision, bringing to the American screen, perhaps for the first time in its history, a true vivid picture of Turkish life, including the innermost secrets of the harem, and a revelation of social and political customs which make this domestic institution popular in that country. It is undoubtedly true that only a native, who has studied the Turkish people, can give a true insight into the mental attitude of the woman who is one of the many wives, and of the man who finds his better half has been divided into numerous infinitessimal fractions. Just what conflict of emotions would be aroused in a father's breast when confronted with giving his own daughter as a part of another man's harem, equal in proportion to his own, is a sentiment an American would would find hard to conceive. Inasmuch as it is purposed the hero of the story shall be an American there will probably be a striking clash of love sentiment between the Anglo-Saxon and the Oriental temperaments. Mr. Woodhouse is working overtime, with the aid of black Turkish coffee, at his home 1832 North Normandie, Hollywood. George Hackathorne has completed his role in Eddie Cline's First National production, "When a Man's a Man." Included in the cast, were John Bowers, Marguerite de la Motte and June Marlowe.