Motion Picture News (Jan - Feb 1926)

992 Motion Picture News Lubitsch's Next to be i< Scenes from the Warner Brothers comedy-drama 'The Cave Man." Associated Inaugurates Drive Launches Ten Weeks Campaign to Stimulate Sales of Douglas MacLean Feature Comedies ASSOCIATED EXTIIBITOHS has started a Douglas MaeLcan drive to stimulate sales and exhibitor interest in the four couiedies made by this present Paramount star for Associated. These pictures are "Going Up," "The Yankee Consul," "Never Say Die" and "Introduce Me." It was largely because of the reception recorded these pictures that MacLean was signed to a Paramount contract. Since the release of their MacLean features over a year ago Associated has received many commendatoiy reports from exhibitors. In the i)resent sales cami)aign a total of $2,000 in prize money will be awarded by Associated Exhibitors to the exchanges and salesmen turning in the largest number of new bookings on the Douglas MacLean features over a period of ten weeks. E. J. Smith, sales manager 'of Associated reports that the announcement of prizes in this campaign has already resulted in increased bookings on the MacLean product and he anticipates the demand for the pictures will be so great in the next two months it will })e necessary to have additional prints made. The Special MacLean drive was inaugurated on Februai-y 14th and will be divided into two periods of five and six weeks each. M. G. M. Starts Three on Coast ''Love's Blindness/' ''Money Talks'' and "Lovey Mary" Placed in Production METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER started three productions last week on three consecutive days. Director John Francis Dillon began work on "Love's Blindness," Archie Mayo on "Money Ttdks" and Ilarry Millarde on "Lovey Mary." "Love's Blindness" is an Elinor Glyn story, the principal role in which is being played by Pauline Starke. Antonio Moreno has the male lead and the other i)rincipals are Kate Price, George Wagonner and Walter Tennyson. "Money Talks" is a Rupert Hughes story, whose cast so far includes Owen Moore, • Claire Windsor and Ned Sparkes. Agnes Christine Johnston adapted "Lovey Mary" from the novel by Alice Hegan Rice, who was also authoress of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch." Bessie Love has been given a contract by Metro-Goldw^^n-Mayer to play the title role of "Lovey Mary." In order to secure the full piquancy of Miss Love's beauty and that all the nuances of the filming be faithfully reproduced on the screen, Louis B. Mayer has given a new contract to William Daniels, who was responsible for the fine photography on "Monte Carlo" and other M-G-M successes. Louis and Conklin Loaned to Fox by Warners Willard Louis, recently signed on a long term contract to be starred in Warner pictures and Heinie Conklin, Warner comedian, have been loaned to Fox for featured roles in forthcoming productions. Louis will play a prominent part in "The Shamrock Handicap," a John Ford production and Conklin will play the comedy lead in Tom Mix's new feature "Hard Boiled." The Door Mat" ERNST LUBITSCH'S next production for Warner Brothers will be "The Door Mat," an American play, whose action is laid in New York City. Irene Rich will have the leading role. The picture is an adaptation from the stage play by Ethel Clifton and Brenda Fowler and was produced on the coast by Louis MacLoon. This will be Lubitsch's last light comedy or comedy drama before he does his big spectacle for the Warners. Rayart Secures Good Distribution for Product Brisk selling of product fur the past thirty days is announced by Rayart Pictures Corporation, of which W. Ray Johnston is Ijresident. A number of Independent Exchanges throughout the country have bought rights to "The Phantom Police," a serial, Anchor-Radiant comedies, stan-ing Bobby Ray, the Al Hoxie series and eight Reed Howes 251'oductions. Two Original Stories for Canine Star Two original stories have been written for Peter the Great, the giant shepard dog star, for release as Gotham Productions next season. They are titled, "King of the Pack" and "The Silent Avenger." The former is an original theme by Ed Faust, one of the brother owners of the dog. "The Silent Avenger" is by Edward J. Meagher, west coast scenarist. Highlights of "The Scarlet Streak" production. a Universal