Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page Four 6OYW7ATCH YOUR STEP” has a story which is different from the usual run of pictures and is therefore full of surprises. This genuine comedy which features Cullen Landis and Patsy Miller, while not heralded as a super-production, has all the elements of first-rate entertainment and is a clean, wholesome, simple representation, most refreshing to jaded appetites. The work of Cullen Landis was specially fine, indeed the cast was so well balanced that it is difficult to make any selections for special praise, all the parts fitted in to make a per fect picture. Although essentially a comedy there are plenty of heartthrobs and dramatic situations to make the amusing situations appear even more amusing by contrast. During its pfesentation at the Allen Richmond St. Theatre recently, so enjoyable did this picture prove that the ‘audience expressed itself with audible comments; and “Watch Your Step” created its own publicity through sheer merit. Exhibitors should not overlook this one. It is a Goldwyn, released through Famous-Players. CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Digest Reviews ‘‘Watch Your Step,” “Women Must Weep,” ‘Carnival’ WOMEN MUST WEEP” is the first release of the Bruce Scenics, Wilderness Series, thru. Fducational. ‘The photography in this picture is so perfect that one can almost imagine that a mirror was being held up, the scene reflected in it and we permitted to see the reflection. For lovers of scenics “Women Must Weep” will prove a great treat for the various scenes are like reproductions of marine, pastoral and landscape masterpieces by famous artists. In order to make these scenics even more attractive and appealing to the general public a thread of a story has been very subtly introduced. Who has not read Kingley’s poem of the sea. Who has not repeated the lines “For men must work and women must weep—while the harbour bar is moaning?” In the screen adaptation two poems are blended, the men going out to sea, the fears for their lives, the inevitable storm, the finding of the bodies which have been washed up by the sea, and the watching figure of the woman who weeps and weeps for “her man” whom the sea has taken and has not given up. Rugged beauty and rugged pathos make this new release especially worthwhile. AMERICAN RELEASING CORP. ABANDONS DEPOSIT SYSTEM ON EXHIBITOR CONTRACTS sr first revolutionary change to be announced in long-established film policies for the coming season, but effective instantly as well as later, comes from the American Releasing Corporation, the newest of the distributing companies, which announces the immediate abandonment by that company of the taking of cash deposits from exhibitors on film rental contracts. The announcement comes through Walter E. Greene and H. B. Warren and is as follows: “In the twenty-year-old motion picture industry no nation-wide distributing company has had the courage or the foresight to go in alone on its own money without falling back upon the exhibitor for deposits on theatre contracts, “American Releasing Corporation takes pride in announcing that today, with this announcement, we become the first and only company op erica that neither asks nor requires any deposit from any exhibitor signing a contract to play the pictures released by our company. “We are operating here and in other parts of the world with our own money and with not one penny of your money. Your signature on your contract with us is your security. Should some exhibitor dishonor his signature we will not deal with that exhibitor. “Whatever deposits we have held have been returned to their owners, or films have been shipped, served and played to absorb deposits and there is not to-day in American Releasing Corporation a five-cent piece of anyone’s money except our own.” “We commend this announcement of a proper and yet courageous step to the attention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America now holding their annual convention in the erating in the United ry GOO! ety of Washington. What we have “Carnival” is a British production, produced under the direction of Harley Knoles. It has some very fine scenes, much more elaborate than we have seen in most British productions and these are nicely handled. The continuity, however, in the first part of the picture does not flow evenly and the action is spasmodic. The work of Matheson Lang in the role of Othello is most admirable. He should keep away from the modern, for he is supreme in costume and in character roles. ‘Carnival’ lends itself to exploitation. During its presentation at the Regent, the week of May 8th, it was surrounded by such an excellent bill that it is difficult to judge its individual drawing ability. ‘“Creatore,” conducting an orchestra in musical selections which are very dear and near to the hearts of music lovers, a quartette of very fine singers in an operatic selection, and one of the funniest of the Educational comedies, “The Rainmaker,” which gives Lloyd Hamilton just the right kind of opportunities and material for his eccentric talent, would force the position held by a feature picture up one hundred per cent.; and make it just that much harder for the feature to register. “Carnival” was certainly not strong enough to top a bill of the quality which the Regent presented the week of May 8th. Universal’s Prize-Ring Series “Leather-Pushers,” Pantages The Pantages Theatre is running Universal’s series of prize-ring pic tures “The Leather Pushers,” along with the usual six acts of vaudeville, doing a very good business at Vancouver. Exhibitors in Winnipeg Help Stimulate “Save The Children Fund” At the request of the committee, headed by D. C. Coleman, vice-president of the C.P.R., who have charge of the “Save the Children Fund,” the exhibitors of Winnipeg have for the past two weeks been showing films to stimulate interest in the charity. These films have been shown free of charge. —S———ESESESSeESE=SSESSS done is what every exhibitor organization in the United States has been endeavoring to bring about for the past ten years.” Deposit clauses have been eliminated from all American Releasing contracts for all business to be contracted for within the boundaries of the United States and deposits previously held by Americans have been applied on current business bein played immediately or refunded dir -@vvitel exhibitors holding contracts.