Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1922)

April 1, 1922 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW 1241 Twelve New First Nationals Finished Variety of Subjects From Studios of Stars and Producers Announced for Early Release Actual Filming Started on New Pyramid Picture Actual filming of The Queen of the Moulin Rouge, the second production of Pyramid Pictures, Inc., has been started at the Pyramid Astoria studio on Long Island, under the direction of Ray C. Smallwood. Martha Mansfield has the principal role. The cast selected to surround Miss Mansfield is Henry Harmon, one of the Ray C. Smallwood most capable character actors in pictures, who attained fame by his work in 'Ception Shoals, with Nazimova. Others who are already at work in the picture are Fred Jones, who plays a light heavy role; Tom Blake, who appears as an apache leader, and Mario Carillo, cast as a French dancing master. The Queen of the Moulin Rouge contains a story suggested by Paul M. Potter's play of the same name, which enjoyed a long run in New York and throughout the country several years ago. A realistic French atmosphere is assured the production when it is considered that the art director is Ben Carre, a Frenchman of long experience. Growing Demand Reported for "Isle of Zorda" Pa the reports that its judgment in securing American rights of distribution of the Louis Nalpas production of Jules Verne's heroic romance Mathias Sandorf, renamed The Isle of Zorda, was more than vindicated by the interest shown by leading exhibitors throughout the country prior to the announcement of release on March 26. t is stated that the picture will have the benefit of exceptional exploitation by some of the best first run houses in the United States, and that the general demand for it is remarkably active. "Interest in The Isle of Zorda is found to be stimulated beyond the fascinations of its 'Monte Cristo' type of story by the splendor and verity of its scenic display— most of the exteriors faithfully presenting old world locations famous for their grandeur and beauty," says the statement. Twelve productions were completed this week in the studios of the stars and producers releasing through t irst JNational, It IS announced. They will oe released in the near future. The twelve are: Norma Talmadge in The Duchess of Langeais. This is said to be Norma's greatest picture. It is the drama of a woman wno finally comes to adore the man whose own love for her she had turned into hatred. Directed by Frank Lloyd. Appearing in the support of IVliss Talmadge are Conway Tearle, Adolphe Jean Man joy, Rosemary Theby, Kate JLiester, Irving Cummings, Otis Harlan and Thomas Ricketts. Scenario by Frances. Marion. Katherine MacDonald in Heroes and Husbands." In this photoplay Katherine MacDonald has the role of an authoress who has no difficulty making her characters "behave" in printer's ink, but has more than her share of trouble with her fiance, who is pursued by the wife of her publisher. Supporting Miss MacDonald are Nigel Barrie, Charles Gerard, Charles Clary, Mona Kingsley and Ethel Kay. Directed by Chet Withey. Dorothy Phillips in Allen Holubar's The Soul Seeker. Much of the action of The Soul Seeker takes place at sea. The bigscenes of this ambitious Holubar production were filmed from hydroplanes. Dorothy Phillips is supported by Robert Ellis, Gertrude Astor, Wallace Beery, Jack Donovan, James O. Barrows, Frances Raymond and William "Fat" Fong. John M. Stahl's One Clear Call. The plot of this Stahl production is laid in a small Alabama tovra where two men of strangely contrasting natures are in love with the same woman, who in turn is in love with one of the men but married to the other. The cast consists of Henry B. Walthall, Claire Windsor, Milton Sills, Irene Rich, Joseph Dowling, Shannon Day, Fred Kelsey, Annette De Foe. Doris Pawn, Donald MacDonald and Albert MacQuarrie. Directed by John M. Stahl. Adapted by Bess Meredyth from Francis Nimmo Green's story. Constance Talmadge in Her Primitive Lover. This is a sprightly comedy with a dramatic twist. In the cast with Constance Talmadge are Harrison Ford, Kenneth Harlan. Directed by Sidney Franklin, from an original story by Edgar Selwyn. Continuity by Frances Marion. Marshall Neilan's Fools First. Fools First tells of the regeneration of a criminal through the wiles of the daughter of a master crook. The cast includes Claire Windsor, Richard Dix, Claude Gillingwater, Ray Griffith, George W. Seigman, George Dromgold, Helen Lynch, Hazel Keener, Shannon Day and Leo White. The story, by Hugh McNail Kahler, originally appeared in the Saturday Evening Post. "Baby" Peggy Montgomery, who made such a hit in "Penrod," has an important role in Fools First. Thomas H. Ince's Jim. A tale of the conflict in a woman's soul between a career and a big love in the open country. The locale of the story carries it through the California plains, San Francisco and New York. Jim is an original screen story by Bradley King. Marguerite De La Motte, Milton Sills and John Bowers are featured in the cast. Maurice Tourneur's Loma Doone. R. D. Blackmore's immortal novel tells the story of a gentlewoman who falls into the hands of outlaws and is rescued after years of desperate endeavor by her boyhood lover. Directed by Baurice Tourneur, the settings are most elaborate and in clude a replica of Westminster Abbey and Doone village in England a century ago. The featured players are Madge Bellamy, Frank Keenan, John Bowers and Donald MacDonald. Thomas H. Ince's The Hottentot. As Sam Harrington, who is scared of horses, Douglas MacLean has, it is said, the greatest comedy role of his career. Adapted from the original stage by Willie Collier and Victor Mapes. Cast includes Douglas MacLean, Madge Bellamy. Truly Shattuck, Lila Leslie, Dwight Crittenden, and Raymond Hatton. J. Parker Read, Jr.'s, Paunied. That everything we hold nearest and dearest must sometimes be placed in pawn is the theme of this photoplay by Frank L. Packard, author of "The Miracle Man." Directed by Irvin Willat. Featured players are Tom Moore, Edith Roberts, Joseph Swickard, Charles Gerrard and James Barrows. Thomas H. Ince's Skin Deep. Produced by Thomas H. Ince. A story of the reclamation of an enemy of society as the result of a facial transformation by plastic surgery and the love of a good woman. Directed and adapted by Lambert Hillyer from an original story by Marc Edmond Jones. Cast includes Milton Sills, Florence Vidor, Marcia Manon, Frank Campeau, Charles Clary, Joe Singleton and Winter Hall. J. L. Frothingham's The Man Who Smiled. In this story of Russia, New York's Ghetto and the West there is told a dramatic story of a family's separation through a mother's error and of the eventual reunion of father, mother and son. Directed by Edward Sloman. Cast includes Marcia Manon, Mary Wynn, William V. Mong, Edward Sutherland, Lucille Ward, Harvey Clark, Fred Malatesta, Charles French, little Bruce Guerin. Universal Selects Five Pictures for Gladys Walton The wise critics have almost unanimously declared The Wise Kid the best of all of the Gladys Walton pictures to date. Miss Walton has just finished a personal appearance tour which took her as far east as Salt Lake City. She has just returned to Universal City to start production on The Trouper, which has been prepared for her use during her absence. The Trouper was written by A. P. Younger of the Universal staff', who scenarized it. The role provided for Miss Walton is a typical one. She plays a wardrobe girl in a road show. The Trouper will follow in release a production made from the popular song^ "Second Hand Rose," which was the song hit of the 1921 Follies. A tie-up has been arranged with music stores throughout the United States to exploit the production when it is released early in May. Lloyd Ingraham, one of the earliest Universal directors, produced the picture which was put into scenario form by A. P. Younger. Universal has also purchased the Henry W. Savage stage version of Anne Caldwell's stage play. Top o' the Morning. The play brings Miss Walton back to the Irish roles in which she has been popular. Following that Universal will make an elaborate version of Bret Harte's M'Liss, scenario for which is being prepared by George Hull.