Film News (October 15, 1923)

filmTnews Of General Interest Stills from “Tiger Rose” Made Permanent Exhibit in Congressional Library An unusual request was presented at the Warner Brothers’ Home Office last week when the National Geographical Society expressed their desire to possess a complete set of stills from “Tiger Rose” to be placed in the Congressional Library, Washington, D. C., as a permanent exhibit. The request was based on the fact that the exterior scenes of the Warner Classic were taken in Yosemite Valley, in locations untouched by the camera up to this date. Because of their pictorial beauty, the National Geographical Society desired them as a photographic record of the most rugged and natural spots of beauty in the National Park. First National Films 250,000 Cattle A quarter of a million head of cattle were driven across the border into Mexico last week, and the spectacle was filmed by Associated First National Pictures as the basis of an epochal drama of the passing of the west, called “Sundown.” Converging from the rim of the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Arizona and Columbus, N. M., three mighty herds were concentrated. The scenes show the last desperate stand of the cattle-Kings to regain the open range from the grasping hand of civilization. For months the cattlemen have been fighting to save their very existence, and the amalgamation of three biggest herds in the world for a drive into Mexico has been carried on secretly. Six aeroplanes were used in getting sky shots of the stampeding herd, a prairie fire and the burning of a complete settlement of homesteaders. In addition to the six cameramen in aeroplanes, twelve other cameramen were rushed from the Coast studios to New Mexico in order to make certain of getting every angle of the stirring spectacle. F. B. O. to Distribute Palmer Releases The Film Booking Offices have been selected to handle the releases of the Palmer Photoplay Corporation for Hollywood, it has been definitely announced. Three of the Palmer pictures are available for distribution. “Judgment of the Storm” is the first, and will be released December 1st. Costume Museum Planned Five women met one afternoon last week in the Joseph M. Schenck offices to complete the plans for a remarkable costume museum. It is the intention of the three Talmadge sisters, Clare West and Frances Marion, to group all the costumes which have been used in past Joseph M. Schenck productions on two entire floors in the new building which is being erected at the United Studios. The costumes will be kept in glass cases. Every period in history will be represented. Judicious purchases have been authorized to fill in historical periods which already are not represented. It is planned to open the museum to the public which at present is barred from the studios. It is manifestly impossible to permit all visitors from the East to go through the studios while photoplays are being made as this holds up the production. But the costume museum, it is felt, will satisfy feminine curiosity in one respect, at least. Public Invited to View Filming of “America” To counteract the prevalent impression of faking in film productions, D. W. Griffith has invited the general public to be present at the taking of the principal scenes in his forthcoming picture, “America.” Galleries of from 1,000 to 13,000 have taken advantage of this opportunity, but the state police had to take a hand to prevent “pirate photography” of some of the scenes by smaller cameras for sale to local companies to use in minor productions. Virginia First State to Have “Dry” Film The Virginia Prohibition Enforcement Director, Harry B. Smith, together with Attorney-General John N. Saunders, were “shot” in a picture recently made depicting the work of the dry officers in enforcing the provisions of the Eighteenth Amendment. Every day activities of the dry agents form the basis of the film, which shows the conditions surrounding the making of bootleg liquor and why it is dangerous to drink it aside from the alcoholic effects. In one instance, the still was even located in a pig-pen. Virginia is said to be the first state to have a motion picture production of this kind. Talking Pictures at Washington Press Club The 1923 model of talking motion pictures was presented at the Press Club in Washington last week, the program including a humorous address by Irvin S. Cobb and addresses by the Secretary of Labor, D. W. Griffith and Walter Damrosch. Ernest Davis, of the Metropolitan Opera Company, rendered a tenor solo. California Forest Fire Cost Goldwyn $7000 a Day The big forest fire which raged in the vicinity of the Big Dipper Mine, where the company making “ Greed ” from Frank Norris’s “McTeague” were acting the mine scenes under the direction of Erich von Stroheim, was a costly one for Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. Von Stroheim and the members of his company were enrolled by the fire marshal to fight the flames. Owing to the interruption in shooting the mine sequences, Goldwyn was out $7000 a day while the company was helping to fight the fire. Shipman to Film Productions in South With a view to increasing his annual output of outdoor photoplays, Ernest Shipman will produce a series of pictures in the South during the current months. A five year program has been determined upon, under which Mr. Shipman will divide his activities between Canada and Long Island during the summer months and the Southern States during the winter to obtain continuous production of outdoor dramas thruout the year. Altho no announcement has been definitely made as to the locale of the southern activities, it is generally understood that one of the states east of the Rockies will be selected. Mr. Shipman is to start on a tour of the South within the next few weeks, to decide on the one best suited to his winter production plans. Goldwyn to Hold “Jimmy Granger Week” The week of November 25th — December 1st has been set aside by Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan as “Jimmy Granger Week” in honor of their universally liked General Sales Manager.