The Film Daily (1922)

THE ueiay, November 21, 1922 ■;xi^ DAILY Srrymore — Hamlet (Continued from page 1) ^o e of the opinions expressed on : ;bject follow: 3.V. Griffith: "I doubt if the sug ti production would uplift the What would the censors do In the first place there are iurders in the plot. Not one nr can be shown in Illinois or uylvania. The New York cen a little more lenient but cen rywhere are against death by \\ _^. le producer wouldn't be able ;n o show the flashing of swords 1 iiggers which is essential to the ic. le leading character is a morbid 1 who commits suicide. Cens re very much against the mor I art of character such as Hamlet. '\hile the play is expressed in a ful and poetic language, the subt latter that would be picturized vy strong meat. The censors II reject it and I fear that the ould too. ^ censors might pass it because i "Hamlet." An original story lithe same plot and characters m surely be banned. '1 would be unjust to ask any procc to spend from $500,000 to $1,), 0 and months of time and 'ji\ to make a production which isthen be tossed before the shears ti: censors for mutilation. ■ lere are several of us in the busi who don't care about making ly but we must be protected ; -t losing a lot of money which I nould be the case if this suggest 1. 1 lire actually reached the pro '11 stage. iiuly mention all these points to ' how censorship restrictions are (u producers to make namby11 \ pictures. ' ople talk about the screen being R'lodramatic as if that were "'hiiig to be avoided, yet it is A that we film the very es a melodrama with the intention . iking a picture which shall re■-' lit the best and finest in the in M. Warner, of Warner Bros.: :1 that this would make a great with John Barrymore as as he would play the part. It liing that should be placed be :■ public. I think that the i version would endure as long 1 stage play has. ir my part, I would be very cd to produce the picture without recompense at all, only asking I get back exactly the production I don't want any profit. We in picture people have talked a deal about better pictures and iplift of the screen. Now its up to get behind Hays with a pro :m of this sort. lie picture should be handled by distributing organization to give widest possible circulation. c want to show the world that re in earnest about making finer res. Let's start with "Hamlet" John Barrymore, as Augustus nas suggests. Carl Laemmle, Universal: 'The first difficulty to be overcome is that of transferring Shakespeare's immortal play to the screen without sacrificing that which makes it immortal. If this can be overcome, and I doubt it, the second difficulty that of solving the distribution problem in a manner satisfactory to all concerned could be handled by Mr. Hays without the shadow of a doubt." F. J. Godsol, president of Goldwyn: "The suggestion is worthy of serious consideration, but I feel that it is primarily a production problem and must be dealt with as such. We have had Jack Barrymore as a star in "Sherlock Holmes," and we know his screen value, but we have our doubts as to the suitability of "Hamlet." It must be remembered that one very fine screen veision of "Hamlet" with Asta Nielsen has been decisively rejected by the public. Arthur S. Friend, Distinctive Prod., "It would be a very wonderful idea if some one could assure the producer of enough circulation of the picture for it to be effective. The general disposition of the public is so far away from tragedy that I doubt if people will go to see John Barrymore, or any one else, in "Hamlet." Irving Lesser: "I feel that the 'Hamlet' proposition is a good thing. I base this conclusion on the fact that one other meritorious stage play produced some 12 years ago at the Amsterdam with Nat Goodwin as star, has made a remarkable success in pictures. The transferrence of a really fine work from the stage to the screen cannot but be a success." At a large studio now actively producing it was said "Hamlet" has already been presented in a very fine screen version and has proved a signal failure. With all due respect to Barrymore's art, we do not see how he can give a better performance than did Asta Nielsen in the picture in question. Yet that "Hamlet" was a miserable failure. John Barrymore's "Hamlet" is, in our opinion, a success not because of the play nor because it was written by Shakepeare, but because of the name of Barrymore. We do not feel that Augustus Thomas' point is v^'ell taken." Coast Brevities (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Hollywood — Shannon Day has been cast for Universal's "The Abysmal Brute," cast of which now includes Reginald Denny, Dorothea Wolbert, George Stewart, Charles French, Mae Busch, Nell Craig, Crawford Kent, Mabel Julienne Scott and Buddy Messenger. Myrtle Stedman will have the title role in Niblo's "The Famous Mrs. Fair." Julius Stern has renewed the contract of Ena Gregory, appearing in Century Comedies. To Lecture on "Robin Hood" Miss Harriet Church, California lecturer, will soon start a tour of the country lecturing on "Robin Hood" before churches and schools illustrating her talks with stereopticon views from the Fairbanks film. Saenger House Burns (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Pine Bluff, Ark.— The Saenger, on Second St., was completely destroyed by fire la'st week. The house had just been remodeled. f 1,000,000 Theater Planned (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Col J. B. Lankershim announces that a $1,000,000 theater will probably be built on his property in Grand Ave., between Sixth and Seventh Sts., adjoining the Kinema. Herman C. Raymaker, comedy director has been signed to direct Century Comedies. Filming of "Spawn of the Desert," third of the Wm. Fairbanks series, for Arrow, has been completed. Fay Tincher has come out of retirement to play opposite Lewis Sargent in Universal two-reel comedies, directed by Scott Darling. After a visit of several months in England, Ernest Palmer has returned to Mayer studios to his old berth as chief cinematographer for John M. Stahl. BUIIDOG DRUMMOND Dead or Alive! Edith Roberts has left for New York to play lead in "Backbone," to be produced by Distinctive Pictures Corp., and which, it is said here, will be directed by Edward Sloman. H. E. GAUSMAN Are You Looking Around the Corner? 1922 is just turning the corner. You are face to face with your plans for 1923 with the realization, perhaps, that insufficient working capital is the stumbling block to progress. We specialize in financing film propositions. Don't you want to consult with us? CHROMOS TRADING CO. 1123 Broadway Suite 616 t ^>-^tA^ ^^^Cyn.yt<^C^