Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1924)

Page 38 Exhibitors Trade Review Ginsberg, who is disposing of the territorial rights to the six two-reel features. Mr. Ginsberg, following several flying trips to territories in the east and middle west, announced last week that "Flying Fists" will be handled in several new territories. Contracts for the remaining territories are pending, and will be closed. 'U' Releases Serial The current week marks the release of a new Universal chapter play. It is "Wolves of the North," a serial drama of the north woods fur country, made and starred by William Duncan. Duncan has made a number of very successful serials for Universal since he changed from the Vitagraph to the Universal lot last year. Among them have been "The Fast Express" and "The Steel Trail," railroad dramas which Universal reports set new records for serial sales and for boxoffice success. "Wolves of the North" was adapted from "The Free Trader," a magazine story by Kathleen and Robert Pinkerton. Duncan plays the role of a "free trader" in the serial. A "free trader" is a special type of courageous fur hunter and trapper who refuses to tie-up with the big fur syndicate, chosing, despite overwhelming odds, to market his ftirs to independent buyers instead. * * * Five Century Comedies For October Release The first thing Julius Stern did on his return from abroad this week was to announce the titles of the productions to be released for October. There are five in all and among them are two in which Wanda Wiley will be starred. There will be two starring Buddy Messinger and one in which Al Alt, Hilliard Karr, Jack Earle and the Century Follies Girls will be featured. 'No Fooling' Educational 1 reel Cliff Bowes and Virginia Vance are sweethearts. Cliff calls on the girl one day and meets her dad. She asks him to autograph his photo, and gives him a pen to use — but the pen doesn't work, and in trying to make it write he spatters her dad with ink. Other mishaps occur, and he is ejected from the Mortimer home. Bernice writes him that she will meet him in the park. While seated, a fur piece catches on to the back of his coat and is later set on fire. Half of his pants are torn away, and he is surely the victim of much embarrassment. There is little to the picture that could possibly entitle it to the term "comedy." There are old gags and few. There are trite situations such as the exchange the kid brother makes in taking the candy out of the box and replacing it with kittens. The burning fur piece and the painted park benches a're old, and the losing of his trousers too, may be said to have been old when Adam first shared his ward-robe with mother Eve. On the whole there seems to the writer little of comedy, refreshing enough to provide this film with the necessary positive assets that will give the exhibitors sufficient reason for booking. Cliff Bowes is simple enough — and Virginia Vance has for some time contributed her decorative screen presence to these comedies— but this story is so thin and the situations so unnecessary that even with them in it there is little to be said in the way of praise. Us & ♦ 'Snappy Eyes' Century-Universal 2 reels A country miss having two suitors — one a simple rustic lad, the other a slick cityfeller — chooses the polished metropolitan chap with whom to while away her hours. The country lover is jealous, and informs the girl's dad she is going around with the city chap. The father sends her off to a boarding school to rid her of the city swain, though he follows. They are about to leave the school to be married, but before the minister accomplishes this, the country boy, who has followed with the urban fellow's wife, interferes, and all ends well. Wanda Wiley cute and vivacious lends the role of country lass in straw bonnet and overalls quite a deal of personal charm. She has pretty teeth and takes pains all the time she is acting to give you the impression that this is not a comedy but a dental ad sign. Further she has eyes — they are sharp and snappy as the title. But, why does she blink, so continuously? Aside from these correctable limitations we think that Wanda will soon improve her business, and then we expect to see big possibilities in Wanda and her comedy films. On the whole the comedy is rather good, and worth booking, for there is enough to it to make a good program item. Many exhibitors find a feminine comedienne a good change from the usual half-baked masculine comedians, whose pictures are constantly losing in their box-office values. As Wanda Wiley is not sufficiently known as yet to the fans, more than the usual exploitation is needed to put this comedy across as an attraction, but we believe that as the audience will be so satisfied with this newcomer that we consider her worth the cost of this advertising. She seems to show sufficient ability, and soon we all will hear of her big successes in comedy roles. * * * 'Hello 'Frisco' Universal 1 reel Slim Summerville, and his pal Bobby Dunn seek jobs with a moving picture outfit as extras. They are not needed however, but on the resignation suddenly of one of the firm's cameramen they are taken on and given a camera and the assignment to go to San Francisco to cover the Motion Picture Ball. Though the camera gives Slim considerable trouble they catch the screen stars and start home — but later find the camera was not loaded with film. They return with nothing to show but a damaged camera. On the whole, this is nothing short of a nice bit of publicity for the screen artists — nearly all of whom are Universal stars — but yet there is one laugh that should be given due credit. While Slim and his assistant-and-pal are standing at the crest of a rather steep hill, attempting to load their camera with film, the entire roll slips from the assistant's hands and careens joyously down the hill unwinding as it goes. Though they give chase after it, they arrive too late to check either its career or its momentum. Tired and anxiously facing the terrible job of rewinding the film, they arrive at its last foot — only to find that a careless smoker has dropped a lighted match on the celluloid strip. They must retrace their steps, this time up-hill following the flaming and smoking film, now quite beyond salvage. Some of the stars that they meet at the station include Antonia Moreno, Wanda Wiley, Bebe Daniels, Jackie Coogan, Lew Cody, Barbara La Marr and Norman Kerry. While it may be booked for the interest that young folks have in seeing screen stars at close range and informally, as a comedy there is nothing to "Hello 'Frisco" that should make an exhibitor go out of his way to get. Yet there can be built around just such a film, a great sensational ad campaign, selling the "all-star cast" to the fan public. For this, much advertising money and exploitation time must be devoted. Window displays with the photos of the stars should attract attention. As "The Hansom Cabman," Harry Langdon impersonates a surviving member of a fast disappearing race — the cabby. Pathe has produced a two-reeler chock-full of fun featuring Langdon, the star performer.