Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1923 - Mar 1924)

56 EXHIBITORS HERALD February 23, 1924 Favors Producing in New York (Contimicd from page 42) work directing "The Fool." Just as the stage play has been a box office winner, the screen version under Mr. Millarde's capable hand is destined to becorne a money maker for exhibitors when it is released. Edmund Lowe, popular among the screen's new constellation of young romantic stars, has been selected to play the leading role in Channing Pollock's play. It will bs recalled that Edmund Lowe gave a fine performance in "The Silent Command," produced by Fox. Brenda Bond, a charming newcomer in motion pictures, although known on the stage, will play opposite Lowe. Raymond Bloomer, a capable screen actor who plaved Lord Tybar in "If Winter Comes," will have the other prominent part, that of Jerry. The second of the films now bemg made at the Fox Eastern studio is "It Is the Law." This is a crook melodrama, by Elmer L. Rice and Hayden Talbot. That veteran director of productions, J. Gordon Edwards, is in charge of the screen adaptation. Arthur Hohl, well known stage star, is playing the lead in the film version. He has been given a difficult dual characterization. Others selected for the supporting cast include: Herbert Hayes. Mimi Palmeri, Byron Douglas and George Lessey. The third, "The Warrens of 'Virginia," a screen creation made from David Belasco's stage classic, is in process of completion. It will be released early in the new season. Elmer Clifton, famed for his "Down to the Sea in Ships." has returned from San Antonio, Texas, where most of the exterior scenes — battles and episodes of Civil War days — were made. He is at present engaged in cutting and titling the pictures. The cast includes Wilfred Lytell, Martha Mansfield, J. Barney Sherry, Robert .Andrews. George Backus and Harlan Knight. Press Guest at Studio The starting of the 'Valentino picture, "Monsieur Beaucaire," by Sidney Olcott was attended bv more or less formality on Monday at Paramount's Long Island studio. Representatives of the trade press, New York newspapers, fan magazines and newspaper syndicates were guests of the star at luncheon. All the members of the cast were there and following the repast the first scenes of the picture were taken. It's a great cast that Paramount has assembled for this picture, and includes: Bebe Daniels, Lowell Sherman, Lois Wilson. Helene Chadwick. Oswald Yorkc, John Davidson and Paulctte Du 'Val, French stage star, Florence O'Denishawn will be seen in an interpolated dance number with Valentino and among the ladies of King Louis's court is none other than our old friend, Flora Finch. On his return to the studio from a lirief location trip to the Catskills, William de MiUe last week shot the final scenes of "Icebound," which Clara Beranger adapted from Owen Davis' stage play. Lois WiLson and Richard Dix are featured. Thomas Meighan is now doing the interiors for "The Confidence Man." which Victor Heerman is directing, after having spent a more or less disagreeable three weeks in Florida shooting exteriors between downpours" of rain. Picture companies, by the way. are finding tough going in Florida this winter, the rainfair having broken a record of twentv-five years' standing. Mcighan's lead ing woman in this picture of crook regeneration is Virginia Valli. Gloria Swansoii, tollowing a vacation in Havana and Florida, is scheduled to start work here at the Paramount studio the ISth. The new picture, which will be produced by Allan Dwan, is "Manhandled" by Arthur Stringer. New Company Producing The first production of Eastern Productions, a new corporation, is "The Masked Dancer," a six reel dramatic feature now being made at the Biograph studio. Burton King is directing this film, which is based on Rodolf Lothar's play, "The Woman with the Mask." Costarred are Helene Chadwick and Lowell Sherman, with a supporting cast consisting of Joe King, Leslie Austin, Arthur Housemen, Charlie Craig, Mile. Andree, Dorothy Kingdon, Rosina Rudami, Polly .•\rcher, Helen Ward and Alice Mills. "The Masked Dancer" is being made for Sol and Irving Lesser and will be released through the Principal Pictures on March 15. W. O. Hurst and Charles S. Heryey are actively interested in the corporation. Mr. Hurst is in charge of the production. Bennett Resumes Operations After eight weeks of inactivity Whitman Bennett opened his Yonkers studio and began work on his fourth production of the current season, an elaborate New York society melodrama, emotional in character and lavish in presentation, entitled "Virtuous Liars." In this project Mr. Bennett is associated with H. Clay Miner who has recently announced his affiliation with the Whitman Bennett enterprises. Artists already engaged and working are David Powell, Naomi Childers, Dagmar Godowsky, Maurice Costello, Burr Mcintosh and Edith .'Mien, the "new discovery," who played the second feminine lead in "Scaramouche." Mr. Bennett has decided to depart from his recent custom of employing a director and will take charge of the stage himself. The story of ''Virtuous Liars" is an adaptation from a European drama made by E. C. Holland, author of "The Truth about Wives," and put into scenario form by Eve Stuyvesant. This will be the most elaborate production of the season from the Bennett studio. Nigh Making Miniatures Nighsmith Pictures, Inc. has started production of "Her Memory" the second of its series of Will Nigh's Miniatures, at the Whitman Bennett studios, Yonkers. This one reel dramatic feature is based upon a story which was selected from among 30.000 manuscripts in a short story contest conducted by "Life" and was awarded third prize. It is a modern, .•\merican romance containing a startling surprise. The first of the series, "Among the Missing," which recently played a successful run at the Rialto, New York, will be released by Patlie. Production Most Elaborate .\t this time production activity of Cosmopolitan is confined to work on "Janice Meredith," a picturization of Paul Leicester Ford's romance of the .American Revolutionarj' period, adapted for the screen by I.illie Hayward and which Cosmopolitan is making its most elaborate production to date starring Marion Davies. "Janice Meredith" it is said, will in every respect represent the greatest achievement of Miss Davies and of Cosmopolitan Productions. It is being directed by E. Mason Hopper. Supporting Miss Davies are such sterling actors as Maclyn Arbuckle, Holbrook Blinn and Harrison Ford. While extensive alterations and additions are in progress at Cosmopolitan's own studio work on "Janice Meredith" is progressing rapidly at four outside studios, namely: The 44th street, Jackson, Pathe and Biograph. Much location work has been completed, Miss Davies and the entire company journeying to Boston to make such scenes as the Boston Tea Party, the Ride of Paul Revere and other thrilling incidents of the stirring days embracing the entire Revolutionary period from 1775 to 1783. Two Units on "Chronicles" The Yale University Press, which recently took over the Vitagraph studios as production headquarters of "The Chronicles of America," has two complete companies working full blast on these authentic photodramas released by Pathe. Webster Campbell and Kenneth Webb are the directors in charge. Mr. Webb has completed "Wolfe and Montcalm," his first production of the Yale Press. The picture deals with the blasting of French Ambitions in America, culminating with the famous Battle of the Plains and the capture of Quebec by the British. Mr. Webb is now directing "The Declaration of Independence" which is about half completed. This film will depict the stirring events leading up to the actual signing of the important document, exactly as they took place in 1775-6. An accurate set reproducing Independence hall is being erected, as well as a huge street set of Philadelphia at the time of the action. The second company, under the direction of Webster Campbell, is now filming "Yorktown," based on the stirring events which took place between January and October, 1781. ending with the march of the American army south from New York to Yorktown, the battle and the subsequent surrender of Lord Cornwallis to General George Washington. Production has just begun on "Yorktown." Finishing touches are being applied to "The Gateway to the West" which was directed by Mr. Campbell and produced almost entirely in the South, six weeks beintj spent on location at Chatham, near Fredericksburg, Va., Charleston, S. C, Ashville. N. C, and Esmeralda, N. C. This Chronicle portrays the thrilling story of young George Washington at Fort Necessity in 1754. when he was sent to protest against the occupation of Virginia's territory by the French from Canada. BarrsTnore In Cast Chadw'ick Pictures, Inc., has two pictures in course of preparation one of which at least will be made in the east. The first production to be made for Chadwick Pictures will be made by Ivan Ahramson and Edmund Lawrence and will be entitled "Meddling Women." For this Lionel Barrymore. Dagntar Godowsky and Wanda Hawley have been engaged. Work will be started at the Talmadge studio on February 25. I