Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1924 - Feb 1925)

January IQ, 1925 Page 21 F. N. Specials Are Honored HONORS of a critical, popular and boxoffice nature continue to be showered upon three of the "specials" distributed during the year just closing by First National Pictures, Inc. The three productions are Frank Lloyd's picturization of Rafael Sabatini's novel, "The Sea Hawk," Al and Ray Rockett's production of "The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln," and Joseph M. Schenck's Norma Talmadge picture "Secrets," from the stage play of that name. The publishers of Film Daily selected for its "Film Year Book," the "ten best pictures" of the year. The poll on these was taken from selections of motion picture reviewers on eighty leading newspapers, trade and fan publications. "The Sea Hawk" stood second on this list with fifty-one votes, as against fifty-two for the picture standing first, "The Thief of Bagdad." "Secrets" stood fifth on the list with thirty-three votes, and "Abraham Lincoln" ninth with thirty votes. The three First National "specials" were among the seventeen pictures for the year declared the best from which one was selected for the Adolph Zukor $.10,000 award, by a committee of judges made up of George Barr Baker, chairman of the First International Congress of Motion Picture Arts ; Ellis Parker Butler, President of the Author's League of America, Inc., through which the award was made ; Edward Childs Carpenter, president of the American Dramatists ; Allan Dwan, director of "Robin Hood" ; Charles Dana Gibson, the artist ; Frederick Roy Martin, general manager of the Associated Press ; Mary Roberts Rinehart, novelist ; Elmer Rice, playwright and scenario writer : and Robert Sherwood, motion picture critic on Life. When the list of productions for the $10,000 award had narrowed down to ' seventeen, announced by the committee along with the publication of its award, as possessing ■"marked excellence," "The Sea Hawk," "Abraham Lincoln" and "Secrets" were in the list. "That three of our 'specials' should appear in the honor list of three such selections of the year's outstanding productions speaks volumes for the ability and the skill which goes into their making,'?" said E. A. Eschmann in commenting on the matter. "These pictures were selected as 'specials' in advance of proddction, on the m,erit and screen ability of thi^ir -Stories', were "g^.en every care to make them big in story,^', human appeal and in Above is Betty Bronson, star of Paramount's "Peter Pan" being greeted by Jesse Lasky on her arrival in New York for the premiere of the picture. box-office attractiveness throughout their filming. When it came to distribution they were marketed on a special plan and given a type of exploitation that was both new and very effective. "Coming on top of the great business done by 'The Sea Hawk,' 'Secrets' and 'Abraham Lincoln,' and the very large list of bookings still to be played. First National has cause to feel it has gauged public taste quite correctly in the making of its 1924 'specials' and to feel even greater confidence that its list of 'specials' for 1925 will surpass them in artistic worth and -in box-office drawing power. • "Certainly no picture could hold out more promise than 'The Lost World,' now rapidly nearing completion and soon to have its initial showing. I have seen it screened and am convinced that it is going to be a sensation in the industry, for its novelty, its dramatic worth and the excellence of cast and production. "Colleen Moore's 'Sally,' from the Ziegfeld musical comedy success of three seasons, was selected as 'special' even before the scenario had been prepared, as was 'United States Flavor,' a picture of the steel industry, to be produced under the supervision of Earl Hudson with Milton Sills and Doris Kenyon featured. Norma Talmadge's new picture, 'The Lady,' recently completed, is classed along with these productions and was made as a special. "Other forthcoming 'specials' are being prepared for in the same far-seeing way and they will be marketed in a manner befitting their worth." GRAUMAN TO AID A. M. P. A. DINNER That this year's Naked Truth Dinner of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, Inc., will be the most brilliant function in screen history to date, is indicated by the way plans are now shaping up for the affair which is to be staged at the Hotel Astor on the evening of Saturday, ' February 7. To insure the success of the annual frolic of the publicity and advertising men of the film industry the entertainment committee, headed by President A. M. Botsford, is completing arrangements to make the dinner a Sid Grauman presentation. Heavy pressure in the way of telegrams and letters from such influential personages as Adolph Zukor, Marcus Loew, Hiram Abrams, Walter Wanger and Harold Franklin, followed up by a personal interview with Harry Rapf, have convinced Mr. Grauman that the coming event is one not to be ignored and that he will accept the invitation to be the guest impressario of the evening if it is humanly possible for him to do so. This means that unless something unforseen arises the genius who is generally acknowledged to be the greatest showman in the motion picture world will stage his first presentation on Broadway. And the A. M. P. A.' will be the honored medium. Grauman's prologues' and 'presentations are the talk of the show" business generally. People come front miles around and pay top prices when he puts on a show at his magnificent Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood or at the palatial Metropolitan designed and built by him in Los Angeles. IT GETSTHE WORD OF MOOTH ADVERTISING HAL ROACH'S "THE WHITE SHEEP Pafhepicture --®-—