Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

22 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 24, 1925 Prominent Americans Sponsor French Film on Broadway Producers Determined to Demonstrate That France Can Make Good Pictures — W ill Go Into Criterion Theatre (Special to Exhibitors Herald) New YORK, Jan. 13. — For the purpose of demonstrating to New York theatregoers and American motion picture distributors that good productions can be made in France, the most pretentious picture ever turned out in that country will be placed on Broadway for a long run some time next month. backers. The scene is laid in France during the fifteenth century and is built around events happening in the wars of Louis XI and Charles the Bold. As an indication of the absence of money consideration and also of the active cooperation of the French government, is the fact that Carcassonne, recognized as the most perfectly preserved medieval city in the world, was denuded of telegraph and telephone poles and everything else of a modern nature for the making of the picture. Most of the action of the picture deals with the siege of Beauvais, and Carcassonne was selected for this One of the dramatic scenes from ‘’The Miracle of the Wolves,” a French special. HFi picture is “The Aliracle of the Wolves.” It was made by the Societe Francaise D’ Editions De Romans Filmes, and the American committee which is sponsoring and backing the venture is composed of eight men of such wealth and standing as to make the experiment one to attract no small amount of attention. The committee is composed of Barron Collier, chairman; Cornelius Vanderbilt, Rodman Wanamaker, William Ziegler, Myron T. Herrick, William Wrigley, Jr., R. A. C. Smith and Coleman du Pont. site. For the big battle scenes the French government placed at the disposal of the picture makers two entire army corps and two complete divisions of cavalry. The most prized historical possessions of the government were also given over for the use of the picture. Charles the Bold in the picture wears the identical armor worn by Charles the Bold at the siege of Beauvais. Louis XI in the picture plays with the identical set of chessmen used by King Louis XL This realism is carried out to a startling degree. For the American showing the picture will be cut to 10,000 feet. This cutting and the translation of the titles is not being done in New York. The picture bears the distinction of being the only motion picture to be given a showing in the Grand Opera House of Paris. The Criterion theatre was selected for the showing and for some time past negotiations have been under way for securing this as soon as the run of “The Ten Commandments” is completed. The proposition made by the committee handling the picture is to lease the Criterion for an indefinite period on a month to month renewal basis, with a guarantee of four months and an option for as long as it is required. It is the intention of the committee to take over the theatre as is, with the entire present staff, make some interior changes, build up the orchestra and go in for a long run. “The Miracle of the Wolves” was one year in the making and the producing company plans to make a series of twelve at the rate of one a year, all of which are to be given long runs in America. The company making the productions is financed by the Bank of France and in the making of the first picture had the active cooperation of the French government. The production is said to be one oi the most pretentious ever filmed and evidently money consideration has not entered into the calculations of the producers and their Chinese Patrons Cause Panic Among Audience (Special to Exhibitors Herald) HALIFAX, N. S., Jan. 13. — A panic resulted at the Orpheus theatre here recently when members of the Chinese organization, the Chinese Free AJasons, obtained permission to observe New Year’s festivities. In carrying out their scheme of celebration they included a program of fireworks. Rather than content themselves with the moderate kind of display, they carried their hilarity to the realm of bombs and cannon crackers. The noise, coupled with the excitement of patrons of the theatre, gave the crowds the impression that a riot had started followed by a fire. None were seriously injured. Will Divorce Goodman (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13.— Alma Rubens, wife of Dr. Carson Daniel Goodman, production manager for Cosmopolitan, has applied to the superior court here for a divorce. Above and below are presented four scenes from ‘‘The Miracle of the Wolves,” the American presentation of which is sponsored by a committee composed of Barron Collier, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Rodman Wanamaker, William Ziegler, Myron T. Herrick, William Wrigley, Jr., R. A. C. Smith and Coleman du Pont. The picture will be presented at the Criterion theatre in New York.