Exhibitors Herald (Sep 1920)

102 EXHIBITORS HERALD September 18, 1920 "Over the Hill to the Poor House9' Completed As William Fox Special After five months of production activity, William Fox has completed a six reel picturization of Will Carleton's famous poem, "Over the Hill to the Poor House." It is scheduled for fall publication. Mr. Fox, it is declared, is an ardent admirer of the late Will Carleton's poems, hut not until recently was he able to conclude negotiations for the film rights to the two poems. When this had been accomplished Harry Millarde was assigned the task of directing the piece. Delights In Task In discussing his new feature Mr. Fox said: "I am performing a task which affords me a delight wholly unalloyed in presenting 'Over the Hill to the Poor House.' Will Carleton was known as the Farm Poet. He sang of the homely things of life— the things with which we are all intimately familiar. Nor has any poet ever revealed a keener knowledge of the inner workings of the hearts and minds of plain folks. "In the poems upon which our new production is based Carleton touched upon a subject which caused King David to break his heart over Absalom and which evoked from King Lear his immortal plaint, 'How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child.' It is a subject which will wrest songs from poets of all the generations yet to come. Carries an Appeal. "1 have watched the development of this production from the moment the first scene was written. I have watched it through all the months it has been in the process of filming. 1 take in it a pride that has never been exceeded in all the years Fox Film Corporation has been issuing pictures." "Mother" pictures always have proved big attractions, and "Over the Hill" is a mother picture of the most appealing sort, it is said. Aside from this, the fact that the poem is more popular than ever and that it is known to millions of people gives to it the advantage of all the world of advertising it has received during the last forty years. I human Harry Carey says EVERY fellow is a boob by rights. That's why the Lord gives him the license to laugh at himself. But the more he laughs at himself, the less of a boob he really is. — Watch for "SUNDOWN SLIM" Mary Carr appears in an all-star cast as Ma Benton. William Welsh appears as Dad Benton. John Walker plays John Benton, the black sheep of the family. Noel Tearle is Isaac, the sanctimonious eldest son. Others in the cast are John Dwyer, Wallace Ray, Phyllis Diller, Louella Carr, Vivienne Osborne, Dorothey Allen and Edna Murphy. "Money Mad" Next Lasky Fitzmaurice Production George Fitzmaurice, whose production of "The Right to Love" is enjoying successful runs, has started work on "Money Mad," his fourth special production for Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. This is an original story of New York life by Ouida Bergere, the wife of the director, who also wrote "Idols of Clay" and was responsible for the continuities of the other Fitzmaurice productions, "On with the Dance" and "The Right to Love." Presenting an all-star cast, this picture marks the screen debut of Dorothy Dickson, a dance favorite of New York. The remainder of the cast includes Robert Schable, Alma Tell, George Fawcett, Katherine Emmett and Helene Montrose. Buster Keaton Stars in New Metro Comedy Films "One Week," the first of the Buster Keaton comedies to be distributed by Metro Pictures Corporation, was announced by officials of that organization for issue on September 1. The Keaton comedies are presented by Joseph M. Schenck. Buster Keaton has been heralded as Fatty Arbuckle's legitimate successor in the field of short comedy films. Arbuckle himself, it is said, made the selection. "One Week" will be followed by "Convict 13," to be published eight weeks after the initial comedy, and others will follow eight weeks apart. Big Marne Battle Scenes In "The Four Horsemen" The first Battle of the Marne will serve as one of the big features of the screen version of "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," the Metro picturization of Vicente Blasco Ibanez's novel. Rex Ingram is directing the picture, June Mathis is arranging the picture version of the story and Amos Myers is art director. More than 6,000 persons will be used, it is said, for the scenes to be filmed in this phase of the story. Former army officers will drill the troops to be used for the battle scenes. Rudolph Valentino and Alice Terry head the allstar cast. New Manager in Minonk MINONK, ILL.— C. A. McDonough is manager of the Royal theatre recently acquired by Alcru Theatre Company, represented by E. E. Alger, of Paxton, and E. B. Ramsey, of Fairbury. Robert White is the operator and Miss Josephine McDonough is in charge of the ticket office. HETTY COMPSON Whose first picture "Prisoners of Love'' personally produced by herself, has been completed for distribution through Goldwyn. Walker Is Rothacker's Downstate Supervisor Douglas D. Rothacker, manager of the industrial division of Rothacker Film Company, has appointed H. I. Walker industrial representative for Central Illinois. Mr. Walker has opened a headquarters office in Peoria, where he has been conducting a dramatic school which turned out graduates who actually got bookings. In the last ten years Mr. Walker has played parts with some of the country's best known legitimate stock companies. He is an old-timer in films. He was with the old American company fourteen years ago when it had a studio back of the Criterion theatre in Chicago. Bill Fairbanks, Circus Star, Now in Pictures State rights exchanges all over the country will be interested in the announcement by Phil Goldstone of the organization of Western Star Productions Company to produce a series of five and six-reel Western features starring William (Bill) Fairbanks, champion rider and broncho buster and formerly with Barnum & Bailey circus. Three western . stories by prominent writers have been obtained and are being put into scenario form. The pictures will be produced in California and Arizona. Change Little Rock Royal LITTLE ROCK, ARK.— Work of remodeling the Royal theatre, on Main, between Fourth and Fifth streets, is progressing rapidly. The interior is being entirely reconstructed and rearranged into one of the most comfortable theatres in the South. It will seat 1,200 people, and $30,000 is being expended in remodeling. DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES