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

CAMERAI Weekly Wake-'Em-Vp — CAMERA'S Newi Sedan FIRST NATIONAL CONCENTRATES AT UNITED TOURNEUR TO FILM FRENCH HIT NEXT "Two Little Vagrants," a screen adaptation of a favorite of the French stage, is to be Maurice Tourneur's next picture. World screen rights to the play have been obtained for 840,600 francs, according to a cablegram received by M. C. pictures, from J. Wilk last night. Mr. Wil khas been in Paris for several weeks concluding negotiations begun in this country some time ago. Anticipating successful conclusion of negotiations for the play, which Mr. Tourneur has wished for several years to film, an adptation has been completed by Fred Myton, Tourneur scenario chief, and practically all arrangements for work completed. Two prominent child players are awaiting a contract from Mr. Tourneur and as soon as the other principal characters have been cast the camera will begin to grind at the United Studios for First National release. Actual work on the production is expected to begin some time next week. The play, which is to the French public what "Way Down East" has been to the American I public for many years, is a meloj drama of novel construction and I the picture is to be thoroughly in accord with the Tourneur policy of "shorter and different." The completed photoplay is not expected to exceed six reels in length and will have that novelty and unusual character which have always marked the great French director's productions. It is possible that Mr. Tourneur and some of the principal players in his new picture will go to France to shoot some of the important scenes, in order to obtain authentic atmosphere. WILL FILM "TEMPORARY HUSBAND" IN FRISCO John McDermott, who is to direct "Her Temporary Husband" for First National, is in San Francisco this week, making arrangements for this picture, which, for the most part, will be made in the Golden Gate city. "Her Temporary Husband," is a screen version by F. McGrew Willis of William Paulton's famous stage comedy of the same title. It is planned to film the play on a most elaborate scale. According to First National executives, it will be a comedy extraordinary, with a cast including several hundred persons. Sidney Chaplin, brother of the famous Charlie, is to play the leading male role in this huge comedy production. Other members of the cast have not yet been chosen. In order to be in closer contact with the various independent producers who are making First National pictures, John McCormick, western representative of that organization, has removed his office from 5528 Santa Monica Boulevard ,to new and more commodious quarters at the United studios. In his new offices Mr. McCormick will be on the same lot with Producers Joseph M. Schenck, Frank Lloyd, Edwin Carewe, Sam E. Rork and Arthur H. Jacobs. With the establishment of Mccormick's office at the United studios and the completion of the organization of Fiist National's producing personnel at the same place, all west coast production is centered on the United lot with the exception of the Thomas H. Ince and the John M. Stahl-Louis B. Mayer productions. The pictures now being made by First National at United are: "The Huntress," starring Colleen Moore and directed by Lynn Reynolds; "Thundergate," directed by Joseph de Grasse and interpreted by an all-star cast including Owen Moore, Sylvia Breamer, Tully Marshall and Virginia Brown Faire. Work WEST POINTER DRILLS JACKIE'S GUARDS Fifty six-footers compose the Palace Guard which is used in Jackie Coogan's forthcoming production of "Long Live the King," now in the making at Metro's Hollywood studios. Each man was chosen not only for his physique but also for his military experience, every one of them having seen service in the World War. The Palace Guard was trained for the complex series of marching and manouvers by J. M. Fitzmaurice, who has just graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and who is out in Hollywood with his parents on the customary three months' leave granted to the new officers. Finding time hanging heavy on his hands, Fitzmaurice is combining business and pleasure on the Coogan set and thus also keeping brushed up on his military technique. In the fall, Fitzmaurice will join his new command at Kelly Field, in Texas, since he has been assigned to the Air Service. Every veteran in Jackie's palace guard has an interesting background. Jack William Votion, although still a youngster, has service medals from the Belgian and British armies and over a score of decorations for bravery on the battlefield. John Runsky, another "guard," spent twelve years as a captain in the Imperial Russian army. Most of the men, naturally, saw service in the A. E. F. or with the Canadians. on "Flaming Youth" and "Her Temporary Husband" is scheduled to start immediately. The independent First National pictures now being made at United are: Edwin Carewe's "The Bad Man;" Joseph M. Schenck's Constance Talmadge production, "The Dangerous Maid;" Arthur H. Jacob's Frank Borzage production, "Against the Grain;" Sam E. Rork's Donald Crisp production, "Pon;'ola." The personnel of First National's own producing unit, as announced today by McCormick, is: Earl J. Hudson, general production manager; Richard Walton Tully, general production counsel; David H. Thompson, production manager; Clifford Butler, comptroller and cost supervisor; William Ely, casting director; Arthur Fresnedo, chief auditor; Fred Booth, flying auditor; Harry Barnes, cost payroll accountant; Helen Hamilton, secretary to the western representative; Harry Hoyt, head of the scenario department; W. C. Dowlan, head of reading department. The publicity department is made up of the following writers and photographers: Jack Neville, director; Fred Stanley, Mort Blumenstock, Cleve Moore, Harold Matson and Charles Brown. LADY WHO KNOWS "LITTLE" BIT" ABOUT PICTURES Discovered! Twelve-dollar-a-day carpenters who actually work fast! When Elmer Harris of Associated Authors took his company to Santa Monica beach for some exteriors of his screen version of "The Love Hater," he selected a stately home under construction for "location." After taking a "long shot," the director, Lloyd Ingraham, moved his cameras up for a close-up, but by the time his cameras were placed in position, the carpenters had made radical progress in their work. After several futile attempts to beat the carpenters' hammers, the astonished director begged the workers to cease their labors until he completed his "shooting." The lady for whom the house was being built acceded to the picture-makers' wishes, saying that she "knew a little bit about motion pictures." No doubt she did — she happened to be Mrs. Jesse Lasky. The cast of players on this location included Madge Bellamy, Matt Moore, Kathleen Clifford, S. Reeve-Smith, Stanhope Wheatcroft and George Cooper. Josephine Adair has just finished one of the major roles in Emory Johnson's "The Mailman" with Ralph Lewis. "The Third Alarm" and "In the Name of the Law" were the other two pictures in which she appeared with Ralph Lewis under Emory Johnson's direction. Page Thirteei POST WILL TOUR WITH "GOLD MADNESS" Arrangements were completed this week for an extended tour of Guy Bates Post in conjunction with his stellar vehicle, "Gold Madness," which is being presented by William H. Bender. The tour is to be made under the auspices of the Principal Picture Corporation, Sol Lesser and Mike Rosenberg contracting with the star and his represen tative, Mr. Bender, to distribute the picture and back the bookings of the stage celebrity in conjunction with this independent production. An unusual scheme has been approved by Lesser for the introduction of Mr. Post in a dramatic intermezzo," which will reveal the classic actor's eloquence of voice and gesture and his dramatic power in a unique manner. He will appear in three capacities in this interlude — first as a character in the story, then as an abstraction or cosmic being and then in his own person as Guy Bates Post. The material employed has been written expressly for Mr. Post by George Noel Baker, author, journalist and native of Constantinople where he was born of English parents but later espoused the spiritual philosophy of the East. There is a touch of mysticism, a firm foundation of ethical truth and a noble appeal in the lines assigned to Post that promise to fortify and emphasize the dramatic story of "Gold Madness" and impart an epic bigness seldom encountered in pictureland, says Mr. Lesser of Baker's "dramatic intermezzo." A musical score is being arranged by Constantine Bakaleinikoff. LLOYD HUGHES FINISHES ROLE IN "HUNTRESS" Lloyd Hughes, popular leadiDg man for Mary Pickford in "Tess of the Storm Country" and other big successes, has just concluded his characterization opposite Colleen Moore in "The Huntress," a forthcoming First National picture, soon to be released. Mr. Hughes leaves this week for his first vacation in two years and will resume work before the camera in the near future. Hughes is one of the youngest leading men in Hollywood and a "local boy." He started his career as a butcher boy not many years ago, but soon acquired the movie bug and hung around studios until he received his chance. He is pointed out as the screen successor to the late Wallie Reid, by many "Wiseacres" in movie circles.