Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

July 8, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 49 Forecasts Greater Achievements REX INGRAM, the distinguished director of "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," is destined for still greater achievements in the motion picture industry. This opinion is voiced this week by William E. Atkinson, vice-president and general manager of Metro Pictures Corporation, which recently renewed its contract with the producer. "Absurd though it may sound at this time," says Mr. Atkinson, "we believe that before Mr. Ingram has half completed his projected next six pictures for us, he will have made strides in photoplay making that will make even 'The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' appear at a disadvantage in comparison. "No matter that it seems impossible, it is inevitable. Before 'The Four Horsemen' no one, even those in the Metro organization most confident of Mr. Ingram's Scheduled for Early Fall Among the first of the early fall publications will be Rex Ingram's "The Prisoner of Zenda," the version of Anthony Hope's famous novel which has received unanimous praise from those who have viewed it. Metro believes the feature will prove a greater box office attraction than "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." The picture is replete with romance, danger, intrigue, love and charm, and is enacted by a notable cast including such players as Lewis Stone, Alice Terry, Ramon Novarro, Barbara La Marr, Robert Edeson and others. Mary CHara adapted the Anthony Hope story to the screen. John F. Seitz photographed it. ability, would have believed that so perfect a motion picture could be made — and made to pay. Yet, there is 'The Four Horsemen' for evidence that the unattainable was attained. It is only reasonable to expect that the man who made that great advance will make others, for Mr. Ingram is young, utterly absorbed in his art, "intensely discontented with anything but perfection as he estimates it. A great director now, he will be greater." The truth of "Good pictures pay" has been demonstrated, says Mr. Atkinson, not only by Mr. Ingram's initial big production, but by subsequent works : "The Conquering Power" and "Turn to the Right." The director who won a degree from Yale university for screen artistry has completed two pictures for the new season — "The Prisoner of Zenda" and another yet untitled. Mr. Ingram's next feature will be Victor Hugo's "Toilers of the .Sea,", which will be filmed in the East. Optimistic Over New Murray Film BOTH officials of Metro and Tiffany Productions are optimistic over the new Mae Murray product, which is being presented by Robert Z. Leonard through Metro. Her latest feature, "Broadway Rose," is expected to outscore at the box office the records of her two previous Tiffany pictures, "Peacock Alley" and "Fascination." Concerning the Murray productions, M. II. Hoffman, vice president and general manager of Tiffany, says : "The most amazing thing about Miss Murray and Mr. Leonard, her director and husband, is that they are not content with big successes. They are constantly seeking bigger ones, never striving merely for the equalling of their last. " 'Peacock Alley,' I know, from the booking reports from Metro and 'Fascination,' have proven two of the most certain paying attractions of the year. There is a glamor, a brilliancy about the Mae Murray picture which, in addition to the magnetism of the star and the splendidly presented drama, sets them apart as something different from any other photoplays. "The thrills and enchantment in 'Peacock Alley' and 'Fascination' have generated an eagerness on the part of the public ; and this, in addition to the fact that Heralded as Star's Best On Metro's early fall program is "The Five Dollar Baby," heralded by the distributing company and reviewers who have seen it as Viola Dana's most successful screen offering. This Harry Beaumont production is a picturization of Irvin S. Cobb's short story which was published in the "Saturday Evening Post." Work has commenced at the Metro studios under the direction of Beaumont on a new series of comedy dramas starring Miss Dana. The first of these is "Page Tim O'Brien," by John A. Morose Other stories selected for this series are: "June Madness," by Crosby George; "A Noise in Newboro," by Edgar Franklin. Mr. Beaumont will handle the megaphone on all the Dana features. in her new picture Miss Murray is seen as an American o-irl, after French and Spanish roles, is bound to make "Broadway Rose' the most powerful attendance magnet of the series so far." William E. Atkinson, vice president and general manager of Metro, expressed himself as fully as confident as Mr. Hoffman of the immediate and big-scale success of "Broadway Rose." An extraordinarily large number of exhibitors after showing "Fascination" telegraphed or wrote to Metro exchanges asking for more pictures like it, according to the distributing company.