Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

76 E ALICE LAKE IN KISSES (METRO) Clean, wholesome comedy-drama of the best type. Story is well told and continuity unusually good. Story holds the attention from the first few feet to the end. Directed by Maxwell Karger, from scenario by June Mathis. Five reels. In "Kisses" Metro has one of the best offerings of the month. It is excellent entertainment and hard-boiled vaudeville audiences at the Rialto theatre, Chicago, where it had its premier, found it delightful diversion. The title refers to candy — candy kisses — and has to do with a girl and a man who engage in manufacturing the confection. Alice Lake, in the role of Betty Estabrook. has quite the most captivating role of her career. It would seem comedy is her forte. She is ably assisted by that splendid actor Harry Myers, who is P. Barnum Bailey in the play. Edward Connelly appears as Betty's father; Edward Jobson is John Maynard, a rival candy maker; D. Todd has the part of Norman, his son, and Mignon Anderson is very well cast as Bessie Neldon. The subtitles are gems of wit all the way through. Here's a picture that presents an unusual number of exploitation angles; stunts that can be easily and cheaply put on and will reap big returns. A tie-up with drug stores and candy shops is but one angle, and many other advertising schemes will suggest themselves. Betty Estabrook, just out of college, meets a promoter, P. Barnum Bailey, on the train, and gives him some of her home-made candy. He becomes interested in Betty and helps her sell her candy at a Charity bazaar. Then Bailey discovers she is engaged to Norman Maynard. Her father dies suddenly, leaving many debts. Norman breaks his engagement and Betty, with the help of Bessie Neldon's father and Mr. Bailey, launches a prosperous candy-making business. Soon the competition becomes too stiff for John Maynard and he is forced to buy Betty's recipe for making kisses and also buy her plant at a price which enables that young lady to pay off her father's debts. The partners — Bailey and Betty — then decide to become life partners. MARGARET BEECHER IN SUNSHINE HARBOR (PATHE) This is a fairly pleasing little program picture in spite of the fact that the story lacks any great amount of tenseness and is inclined to be "jumpy" in its continuity. Miss Beecher has a pleasing personality and registers well. Five reels. Directed by Edward Hemmer. "Sunshine Harbor" is the story of a southern girl whose father fails to realize that she is grown up and who goes to New York to seek a career in the newspaper field. The theme, however, is not of the substantial variety and the dramatic incidents of the production are few. The antics of a newspaper city editor and his reporters depicted in this production undoubtedly will coincide with the mental picture the public has of these two important groups of the press. Included in the supporting cast are Howard Hall, Coit Albcrtson and Ralph Haroldc. XHIBITORS HERAL A scene from "Sunshine Harbor" (Pathe) Dr. Hopkins, a southern aristocrat, favors the marriage of his daughter to Hamilton Graves because he is the son of his old-time friend. Col. Harvey Graves. The younger Graves, however, is an unscrupulous chap and he becomes hope lessly intoxicated when taking Dr. Hopkins' daughter to her first dance, where she meets Billy Saunders, a newspaper reporter, home on vacation. Saunders is repelled as a suitor by Dr. Hopkins through the msinuat'ons made by Graves. When her father tries to induce her to marry Graves, she leaves home. In New York, under the name of Miss Smith, she obtains employment as a newspaper reporter and is popularly hailed among her fellow newspaper workers. One night during a big fire she "covers" the story for Dugan. another reporter who is unable to get there. While noting the details of the blaze she is caught in the midst of an explosion which blinds her. Her newspaper friends, particularly Billy Saunders, who has returned from an assignment in Cuba, assist her in every way. Little hope is held out for the recovery of her sight, and, confronted with this situation, Saunders proves that he really loves her by still imploring her to marry him. The last resort is a great specialist who performs an operation. When the bandage is removed, she discovers it is her own father who has brought back her sight. Tweedy to Star in New Comedy Series Pictures to Be State Righted by Sanford Productions; "Fire, Fire" First A new series of twelve two-reel comedies, featuring Tweedy, are being produced in Los Angeles for distribution at the rate of one each month on the state right market. The new series is sponsored by the Sanford Productions, recently organized by F. M. Sanford, president of Western Feature Productions, Inc., who will handle the direct distribution of the product in the United States. See Better Business "1 have just completed a tour of the distributing centers," says Mr. Sanford, "and I have come to the conclusion that the buyers in the state right market have begun to see the light of better business. Furthermore, I found a stronger feeling than ever of friendship toward the actual producer, the independent producer, I mean, and in every instance they were anxious to buy direct from us in Hollywood, and effect the usual 25 to SO per cent distribution charge added by a New York agent or distributor." Tweedy has been a picture star for more than ten years, starting with Pathe in Europe more than fifteen years ago. D April 8, 1922 He has since worked with numerous big companies on the other side. He was featured by Ambrosia, of Italy, and directed features for them as well. In America he has made four different series, all of which are on the market, the most successful of which were the Mirth comedies. Dorothy Earle Supports Dorothy Earle will again be his leading lady. The other members of the cast have been selected. Frank S. Mattison will be in active charge of production and work with Marcel Perez in the direction of the series. The title of the first picture is "Fire, Fire," and production has been in progress for the past three weeks. The picture is expected to be ready for the market in April. INDUSTRY AWAKENING TO REFORM MENACE {Continued from page 67) periments by Henry Winik, film man of New York and London. Mr. Winik was encouraged in his experiments by the belief that many cases of mental disorder can be corrected through the medium of comedies. Already, it is said, he has obtained marvelous results among the crippled children at the Children's Seashore Home at Atlantic City, N. J. His tests among the insane will be conducted at the Atlantic City County Asylum for the Insane. Sociologists contend that the minds of criminals are unbalanced. If Mr. Winik's experiments prove successful they should be evidence that motion pictures, rather than being a detriment to the moral welfare of the country, serve in raising these standards of morality. * * * A spirit of cooperation which should bring beneficial results is that accorded the Missouri Sunday School Association by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of the state. The exhibitors' organization has pledged its assistance in making the event a success. Various films dealing with outdoor life and Sunday school organization will be presented in the theatres. Cooperation of this nature has not dei'clopcd, perhaps, as it should, for the benefits to be derived are a hundredfold. * * * Without mentioning his name, the Rev. Henry R. Rose, pastor of the Church of the Redeemer at Newark, N. J., characterized the Rev. John Roach Straton of New York as a "nuisance" for his attacks on the stage and screen. During the course of his sermon on "Good Actors and Clean Plays," Rev. Mr. Rose said: "A preacher is hard put for something worthwhile to talk about when he is everlasting harping on the rottenness of the stage. It i* a mean and unprincipled business to do such a thing. He had better turn his attention to the narrow-mindedness of his own particular wing of the church and broaden it out a little. "There is a New York preacher who is becoming a nuisance. He is bringing the pulpit into disrepute among thinking and candid people. The pulpit cannot afford to attack the stage and the stage cannot afford to parody the pulpit. They should work together. The church will do the preaching, but its preachers must be broad-minded men and fair to everybody. If they follow the lead of a certain New York preacher they will damn the church and do the stage no good whatsoever. "Motion pictures do not deserve the condemnation to which they have been subjected of late. There arc some that should be slashed to pieces and burned, but think of the number that are positive educators and inspirers of the masses. Take such films as 'Turn to the Right,' 'Orphans of the Storm,' 'The Four Horsemen,' 'The Little Minister,' 'The Conquering Power,' and even 'Gct-Rich-Quick Wallingford.' They have done a world of service for the millions, in addition to entertaining them wondrously. "The stage and the church need each other and the world certainly needs both." * * » What formerly was the Motion Picture Theatrical Association of the World has changed its title to Better Pictures Association of the World, with John A. Quinn as president.