Close Up (Oct 1920 - Sep 1923)

C (& 5 <2j2x^> fuxr^ L<i Z DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS PICTURE CORPORATION PRESENTS ROBIN HOOD AT GRAUMAN’S HOLLYWOOD THEATER Story by Elton Thomas, Directed by Allan Dwan, Photography by Arthur Ede son, Scenario Edit Dr, Lotta Woods REVIEWED BY ESS. ESS. Here is “Little Egypt” for you — an architectural motif that carries away back to the River Nile. A motion picture theater which probably ranks second best in the United States. (I believe there is one in Chicago which ranks as the foremost — only my opinion, of course.) Splendiferous, magnificent, unique, original — all these, and other adjectives — Grauman’s Hollywood theater fairly earns. And there are none who shall say him nay. Now, as to the prologue of “Robin Hood" — Joes any one really lay any stress on these things? Do they belong? What is their raison d’etre? Just as long as these inane prologues are sprung, just sc often will I continue to exercise my inalienable prerogative of giving ’em the raspberry. This one really went from the ridiculous to the sublime. For “Robin Hood” is in very truth an inspired masterpiece that transcends the best prev'ous effort catalogued as a costume production. The photography was a thing of wonderment extra precaution on exterior shots enabled the beholder to sometimes question whether or not he were looking at a picture, or really communing with all outdoors and nature in her most enlivening moods. Adventure, romance, thrills, excitement — all. all have their extra innings in this production. But back of it all is one of the sanest., prettiest, most appealing love themes ever encountered in screen production. And how Doug did walk away with that pic ture! Did I say “walk”? Well, run, and leap would be better. Wallace Beery as Richard was everything the doctor ordered — true as a die to the story in its original. Enid Bennett was a most entrancing Lady Marian, who enacted a difficult role with grace, charm and finesse. She was as sincere and straightforward in her delineation as was Doug in his, which is saying a great deal. The clever maneuvering of hosts of warriors called for unstinted praise, as did also the antics and rapid cavorting of Robin Hood’s band of loyal supporters. Jan Sofer, musical director, rendered an intelligent accompaniment to the screen’s motivation and added appreciably to the entertainment as a whole. As stated above, the prologue was a “bust”back to Sullivan & Considine’s circuit for this stuff. Another thing, what’s the idea of announcing that “Robin Hood” will never play at a lesser pride of admission than now prevails at Grauman’s Egyptian theater? We’re ready to be enlightened on this joker. P. S. — Just because the entire cast is not mentioned is no sign that each member didn't succeed in covering self with glory. This sentence applies to Sam De Grasse, William Lowry, Paul Dickey, Roy Coulson, Billie Bennett, Willard Louis, Wilson Benge, Alan Hale, Maine Geary and Lloyd Talman. “WHAT’S WRONG WITH MOVIELAND?” (Continued from second cover page) Ruth Roland, serial star, nearly drowned while filming scene in hydroplane recently. Note: This is not a press agent story. Ruth Berry, 18-year-old Los Angeles girl, won second place in a beauty contest staged between $0,000 girls all over the U. S. Not so bad for Los Angeles, eh? Edward Carew, actor-director, did not have his pet dog muzzled, so the police did it for him. Larry Semon became so excited on getting his comedies accepted by Sid Grauman that he staged a party at the Plantation Cafe Friday; October 27th. Here’s something high-brow. Conrad Nagel, Lasky leading man, recently read “Thanatopsis” to the Wa Wan Club. His father, Dr. Frank Nagel, composed the music. Francis McDonald and Mae Busch are divorced. Now both of them are hitting casting directors for work. Peggy Joyce and her rules for love are gone from Los Angeles. Peggy was so disappointed in our little city that she forgot to make payments on her machine. She sure was disappointed! Why do Julius and Abe Stern always put their pictures in the ads for Baby Peggy Comedies? Pearl White says $25,000 of jewels were stolen from her apartment while she was on location. We didn’t know the price of cut-glass had gone up. Pauline Frederick is fighting her father’s will of $50,000, in which he left her nothing. Pauline believes in “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Rudy Valentino watched the work of his rival, Ramon Navarro, in “Trifling Women” at the preview in New York recently. He said nothing but thought a lot. Toreador trousers, for which credit has been given to Valentino, were originally invented by a young Los Angeles dancer in January, 1922. Harry Coffee of Fresno also claims that he invented them in May of this year. However, the L. A. dancer has absolute proof. If there is nothing the matter with pictures, why are these people back on the stage? Here’s the list: Doris Kenyon, Vincent Coleman, Madge Kennsdy, Florence Reed, Enid Markey, Bessie Barriscale, Mabel Taliafero, Joseph Kilgour, Mildred Harris and Henry Walthall. Now let us all hope — even if this year is a little slow, — that things will pick up and go back to the good old days. Anyway, let’s all try and rebuild Hollywood, and make real good pictures in the future.