Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1922)

November 11. 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 63 John Gilbert Signs New Contract for Starring Roles in Fox Pictures Fox Film Corporation has signed a new contract with John Gilbert, who plays the title role in "Monte Cristo." Owing to the splendid work of Mr. Gilbert in this picture, his new contract calls for his elevation to the full dignity of a star in future productions. Mr. Gilbert i s a young actor, twenty-four years of age, who has forged rapidly to the front in the past two seasons. Prior to that he was a stock company director on the Pacific coast. His first important screen role was two years ago with the Fox Company, when he appeared as leading man in the production called "Shame." Immediately after this he began the task of portraying Edmund Dantes in the screen production of "Monte Cristo," which took nearly a year of his time. Mr. Gilbert will immediately begin work on two additional Fox specials, the first a picturization of "St. Elmo." John Gilbert Borzage to Make Hurst Story for Cosmopolitan The next picture to be directed by Frank Borzage for Cosmopolitan Productions will be "The Nth Commandment," a picturization of the famous Fannie Hurst story of the same name. It will be filmed in Cailfornia, where he recently finished work on "The Pride of Palomar," Cosmopolitan's picturization of Peter B. Kyne's story, now being prepared for release. Interest attaches to the production in the fact that it will bring together the same combination which brought into being Cosmopolitan's "Humoresque." Make Trip to Maine to Study Locale of Story Henry M. Hobart, production manager of Distinctive Pictures Corporation; Clarence Buddington Kelland, author, and Charles Whittaker, scenarist, left New York last week for a trip to Island Falls, Maine. They will remain for several days, studying the locale of that part of the country, which is identical with that of "Backbone," the story by Mr. Kelland. which is now appearing in serial form in the Saturday Evening Post, a film version of which Distinctive will shortly produce with an all-star cast. Belasco Productions Has First Picture Completed George H. Davis, Eastern representative of the Belasco Productions, Inc., announces that the first of a series of big productions, "Her Price," has been completed, and is now in the process of titling and editing. It is expected that the picture will be ready for the market soon. It was supervised by Edward Belasco and directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald. Uses Less Titles in New Comedies Titles should not be "forced" into comedy, and the action itself if it is a good comedy, should be sufficiently funny to stand up without this aid, is the opinion of Harry Conn, producer of the Hallroom Boys comedies. He announces that he is carrying out this belief in the production of the comedies on the new series. Since the beginning of production on this new series Mr. Cohn has had worked into them fewer titles than ever before. Each of the comedies ready on the new series, "Still Going Strong," "The New Mama," "A Tailor Made Chauffeur," was run at Coast theatres and the effect of the fewer titles studied carefully. The result is said to have proved conclusively the wisdom of the new policy. Paramount to Receive Original Screen Story From Booth Tarkington Booth Tarkington has been added to the list of famous authors providing stories for Tom Meighan, Paramount star. Mr. Tarkington,, according to agreement made with Jesse L. Lasky, will provide Mr. Meighan with an original creation, and will collaborate close with scenario writers and the director of the production. This is said to be the first time that Mr. Tarkington will write directly for motion pictures, friendship with Meighan having prompted it. The acquisition of Booth Tarkington makes the fourth well-known author who is now writing for Mr. Meighan. The Paramount star is now working on George Ade's second original screen story, "Back Home and Broke," which is expected to be even better than "Our Leading Citizen." Following that he will do a story by Rex Beach, and after that he will star in an original story by R. G. Kirk, whose stories of the steel plants of Pittsburgh have been a strong feature of the Saturday Evening Post. Thomas Meighan Arliss to Star in Film From Tom Gallon's Novel The next starring vehicle for George Arliss to be made by the Distinctive Pictures Corporation will be a film version of "Tatterley," by Tom Gallon, English novelist. Harmon Weight, who directed the last Distinctive picture with Mr. Arliss as star, "The Man Who Played God," will direct. Forrest Halsey, who wrote the continuity for the last Arliss film, will be responsible for the scenario. Harry A. Fischbeck, who is under a long-term contract with Distinctive and has photographed all the Arliss pictures, will also photograph "Tatterley." W. C. Bachmayer Tops Field in Campaign on Mae Murray's Pictures The $1,000 prize given by M. H. Hoffman, vice president and general manager of Tiffany Productions, Inc., to the Metro district manager doing the greatest amount of business in Mae Murray's pictures, in proportion to territorial quota, was won by W. C. . B a c h m e yer of C i n c i nnati. and the branch manager's prize of $.500 was won by C. E. Almy of the Metro exchange in Cleveland. The donor of w c Bachmeyer the prizes was himself out in the field cooperating with the Metro sales forces in the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit branches, and, after the reception of sales figures on these pictures, presented the prizes personally. The original awards were to be given tying contestants. The Tiffany productions for Metro, presented by Robert Z. Leonard, are "Peacock Alley." "Fascination" and "Broadwav Rose." Four Prominent Writers On Universal Scenario Staff Supplying Stories The recently completed reorganization of the Universal City scenario department sets a new mark for that company in gathering together a larger and better known group of literary lights than has ever before been corraled under the "U" banner. Among those now stepping on the accelerators of their twin-six Remingtons and Underwoods are Charles Kenyon, George Randolph Chester, George Bronson Howard and Perley Poore Sheehan, under the direction of Raymond L, Schrock, scenario editor. Charles Kenyon's latest scenarios are "Bitter Sweet," based on William Dudley Pelley's story, and starring Lon Chaney and "The Power of a Lie," now being directed by George Archainbaud at Universal City. George Randolph Chester's most recent contributions are the continuities of his wife's story, "The Flaming Hour," starring Frank Mayo; "The Lavender Bath Lady," Shannon Fife's story starring Gladys Walton, directed by King Baggott; "The Scarlet Car," a Herbert Rawlinson vehicle, and "The Summons," starring Frank Mayo. George Bronson Howard is writing both originals and scenarios at Universal City today. He has not been in his present connection long enough to have any of his stories completely filmed, although his early success was recently filmed again with the same star and director as "Don't Shoot." Perley Poore Sheehan's success as a novelist, like that of Chester, preceded his recognition in pictureland by several years. Raymond L. Schrock, newly-appointed scenario editor at Universal City, needs no introduction. His literary skill and executive talent have done much to add to the prestige and eminence of Universal.