Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1920)

8». EXHIBITORS HERALD October 9, 1920 Clark-Cornelius Offers Hiller Picture to State Right Market Production Declared by S. J. Rollo to Be Unusual in Theme and Atmosphere— Story Woven Around Hindoo Hypnotist "The Devil's Angel," a romance of Bohemia, will be published through state right exchanges, according to an announcement from S. J. Kollo, secretary of the Clark Cornelius Corporation who is handling the distribution of the production. It was produced under the direction and supervision of Lejaren Hiller. an artist of national reputation, whose illustrations are to be found in every month's issue of the big magazines published in America. Hiller Noted as Artist Mr. Hiller is the originator of what is known as "photographic illustration." in which branch of illustration he is an acknowledged leader. Educated in America, he has had the additional advantage of years of study in Paris and S. .1. KOLLO <'l3irk-('orii«'liiiK i-MTullvr, who announce* new product! OB for the state rl(il>« field. other art centers. In "The Devil's Angel," he believes he has brought before the camera the eye and the skill of the artist in lighting effects and unique photographic scenes. Hypnotism and its mysterious phenomena provides the basis of the theme in "The Devil's Angel," resulting in a tense dramatic production, which, aided by the artistic hand of Mr. Hiller, should prove a revelation in motion picture entertainment. Story of the Picture As Cynba Roget, a beautiful girl who, escaping in the night from the house of the Hindoo hypnotist, takes refuge in the atelier of three struggling young Bohemian artists, and in turn for their hospitality becomes their model and queen of their humble household. With this background Mr. Hiller forms the foundation of a romance, through which runs a thread of mystery, hypnotic influence and Oriental intrigue. How the girl, who had become domi , nated by the hypnotic powers of a Hindoo mystic, succeeds in throwing off the malevolent influence and freeing herself so that she might be free to join her artist lover, is portrayed. Speaking of the production, Mr. Kollo. of Clark Cornelius Corporation, said: Rollo In Statement " 'The Devil's Angel' is something entirely new and original in motion picture production and it will prove a revelation the moment it reaches the screen. There are innumerable reasons for this. "In the first place the story is one the like of which has never been written — but its unusul theme and artistic atmosphere will be copied by producers for some time to come. Delving into the mystic of the orient, it nevertheless maintains its American asmosphcre throughout. "Its notable cast, including such artists as Templar Saxe, Lejaren Hiller. Helen Gardner and many others will prove a powerful appeal at the box office anywhere. The innumerable striking scenes and the beautiful lighting effects, which only an artist of the first magnitude could produce, will long be remembered as really the first of their kind." ("lark Cornelius Corporation is distributing the picture in America, with the Alexander Film Corporation controlling rights. Harry Levey Called Before U. S. Senate In Campaign Quiz (S fecial to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Sept. 28.— "Uncle Sam of Freedom Ridge" broke out on the front pages of the dailies here today, due to the appearance in Washington, September 23, of Harry Levey, the producer, before the Senate committee investigating campaign fund expenditures. The committee wanted to know if the picture. which visualized Margaret Prcscott Montague's article of the same name, published in the June Issue of the Atlantic Monthly was political propaganda and if the Democratic campaign committee was interested in it. Miss Montague's article makes an ardent plea for the League of Nations. It was brought out that Bernard Baruch, an administration man, is financially concerned in the venture, and, while Mr. Levey admitted that the League of Nations plea influenced Mr. Baruch in investing in the enterprise, he declared that the picture was non-political and that the Democratic campaign committee did not get one cent of the proceeds. He said that he and Mr. Baruch alone shared the profits on a fifty-fifty basis. Celebrated Players Buy Gaumont Serial Rights Celebrated Players Film Corporation of Chicago has purchased the Illinois and Indiana rights to "In the Clutches of the Hindu," the Gaumont serial. Wessman and Stephens Distributing Corporation of Atlanta. Ga., has purchased the rights for the southeastern states. The Twentieth Century Film Company of Philadelphia has purchased the entire series of twelve Gaumont productions for eastern Pennsvlyania and southern New Jersey. • on, : i . „ : . ..^.aujmm "Educational Week" Held in Cleveland All of the Loew film theatres in Cleveland observed "Educational Week" in connection with the ■ 1 gathering in the Ohio city of the ' American Legion for its conven | tion this week. At both the Mall and the Alhambra theatres "Torchy in High." = At the Stilman, "Don't Blame the Stork." Loew's Euclid, which has shown practically every Educational comedy for two weeks or longer, had "The Big Show." "Nonsense," the latest of the { Mermaid series, made its first two I weeks' run at the Euclid. In connection with this unusual j showing which is said to have been j the first time on record that all of j the Loew theatres showed comedies belonging to the same com j pany, Cleveland Educational ex I change inserted a special advertisement in the Cleveland papers inviting the especial attention of the members of the American Legion to these pictures. ■ I'-" i. i mmai ( «>\ Feted by Film Folk On Visit to Hollywood Signal recognition was accorded the motion picture industry last week when Governor James M. Cox. democratic nominee for the presidency, passed up three other speaking engagements in southern California and disappointed thirty thousand persons in order to keep his appointment at a reception given in his honor at the Hollywood Studios. The affair was staged under the auspices of Associated First National Pictures, Inc., with John E. McCormick, western press representative, heading the committee in charge. Half a hundred well known stars assembled at the Hollywood Studios to extend a welcome to the potential president on behalf of the film world, and where other gatherings had received but a few scant minutes the Democratic candidate devoted three-quarters of an hour to the event staged by the picture interests. Five studio press representatives collaborated in making the Cox reception the biggest studio stunt of the year. They were Jack Neville, Pete Smith, Harry Hammond Beall, Harry Wilson and Joe Parker. Assisting the above in the carrying out of the plans were John Jasper, of the Hollywood Studio: B. P. Fineman, president of the Katherine MacDonald Pictures Corporation, and Sol Lesser, Western First National chief. N. Y. Shown "Babe" (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. September 2*.— Though handicapped with its out-of-the-way location and its general unsuitability for motion picture exhibitions. Madison Square Garden had a good week with "Babe" Ruth in "Headin' Home," the Yankee Photoplay Corporation production. Ruth made three personal appearances, the engagement covering eight days.