Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1074 Motion Picture News A Havana to Celebrate Paramount Week RR ANGEMENTS have been completed by the Caribbean Film Company of Havana, for a Paramount week celebration the week of April 8th, in honor of the fifth anniversary of the company. Advices received by E. E. Shauer, director of the foreign department of the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, indicate that Cuba's first Paramount week will be a record-breaking celebration for the motion picture industry in the island. Having just signed contracts for the distribution of Paramount pictures for another year in Cuba, Porto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, officials of the Caribbean Film Company are making plans for increased distribution during the year. The program for Paramount Week includes some of the biggest of the recent Paramount successes, and an extensive advertising and publicity campaign has been launched to insure the sucess of the celebration. ChicagoWomenEndorse "Prince and Pauper" Notables See "Othello" Preview Theatrical Dignitaries Approve Classic at Private Century Roof Showing THE Century Roof, New York City, last Sunday evening, was the scene of a notable gathering to view " Othello." Ben Blumenthal who, in conjunction with David P. Howells, will present the great Shakespearean screen classic at the Criterion theatre beginning February 25th, gave a pre-view of this much talked of continental spectacle to a selected company of friends. World famous stage and screen artists attended, as did the leading dramatic and motion picture critics of the metropolitan papers. " Othello " was produced in Germany recently by Ben Blumenthal and David P. Howells. Dimiti Buchowetzki, the noted Russian, directed the spectacle, which takes its place as the first great picturization of one of Shakespeare's immortal dramas. Emil Jennings, already famous for his dramatic performances of " Othello " on the speaking stage and who became one of the ranking screen players because of his splendid portrayals in " Passion " and " Henry the Eighth," plays the title role in the new film. Werner Kraus, justly famous for his work as " Dr. Caligari," takes the part of Iago. " The most beautiful woman in Europe," lea Lenkeffy, Mrs. Fred Michael, Chairman, was sought out and engaged to jlay Better Films Committee of the Ch cago Woman's Aid, endorses Mark Twain's " The Prince and The Pauper." " It is an entrancing picture," she says in the current issue of Social Progress, " and the American Releasing Corporation are to be congratulated upon the privilege accorded them of bringing this film before the American public. It remained for a company producing in Vienna and Prague to contribute ' The Prince and the Pauper ' to the literature of the screen in a way that would have pleased Mark Twain. A little Polish boy by the name of Tibi Lubin plays the double role of prince and pauper in a manner that should realize the dream of every child who had read and loved the book. A splendid film for children of all ages." the role of Desdamona. Among the noted stage people who attended the private showing were Mr. and Mrs. David Warfield, Mr. and Mrs. David Belasco, Miss Ethel Barrymore, Miss Billie Burke, Miss Gilda Gray, Miss Mary Eaton and a host of others. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson, Conde Nast, Robert Sherwood, S. J. Kaufman, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Winthrop, ■ Frank Crowninshield, Miss Jane Cowl, Miss Lenore Ulric, Mrs. Morris Gest were among the others who mingled with the critics who gathered to see " Shakespeare " on the screen. As a compliment to the Russian, Buchowetzki, the entire companies of the Moscow Art theatre and Balieff's " Chauve-Souris " also attended the showing. The Century Roof theatre was used through the courtesy of Morris Gest. Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld favored Ben Blumenthal by supervising the presentation of " Othello." He arranged a special musical setting for the Century showing and personally directed the Criterion Theatre Orchestra at the screen. After the showing supper was served and dancing followed. It seemed to be the consensus of opinion among those present that " Othello " is a masterpiece, both from the dramatic and motion picture angles. Speculation was rife as to how the public would take to the picture when it opens at the Criterion next week. Hodkinson Announces Release Grace Haskins Production, "Just Like a Woman", is Due March 1 5th THE W. W. Hodkinson Corporation announces that the Grace Haskins' production, "Just Like a Woman," will be released March IS. This production has been produced by Miss Grace Haskins, the youngest female producer in the field, and those who have seen an advance showing say it provides a strong attraction for exhibitors looking for something different in the way of film entertainment. The story of "Just Like a Woman " deals with a young girl, daughter of an actress, who is greatly looked down upon by two old maid aunts, but who poses as a prim school teacher and forces her aunts to go to the extreme in demonstrating their puritanical beliefs, much to their discomfort. She makes a wager to win a young lawyer with whom she is in love. How she does this makes the story unusual in its appeal and decidedly interesting. The production was made on the Coast and many novelties in the way of an exciting automobile race, some laughable comedy in and about a private school for girls, some real thrills and fight scenes in a small town on the Mexican border, and the two distinot character types portrayed by the leading feminine role, are said to combine to make this an unusual attraction. The cast is composed of Marguerite De La Motte, who plays the part of the girl who puts her aunts through the paces ; Ralph Graves, who plays the role of the ambitious lawyer, and George Fawcett, who enacts the picturesque character of the old uncle. NO ONE CAN RESIST Crawford Reports Good Prospects in West ROY CRAWFORD, vicepresident and treasurer of Associated Exhibitors, returned this week from Topeka, his former home, where he went on business connected with his large theatrical interests in Kansas and Missouri. Mr. Crawford stopped also in Chicago and Kansas City. " Picture men in the Middle West seem particularly optimistic," said the Associated official. " This optimism is born in part of the fact that business men generally are highly encouraged by the present trend in the business world. " In Chicago, I was told by James Wingfield, who books attractions for an extensive circuit of theatres in the Central Western states, that the road show has ' come back ' in great shape. He has never known greater activity in bookings of this class of attractions. And, of course, when business in the legitimate field is good, vaudeville and motion pictures also are certain to profit." Fox Announces Latest Tom Mix Story Alma Bennett, the young screen actress who has developed into a popular player, is Tom Mix's new leading lady and will be seen in support of the Western star in " Three Jumps Ahead," which will be released by Fox Film Corporation in March. Tom Mix is said to perform one of the most hazardous feats ever attempted before the camera to provide a thrill in this picture. " Tony," the wonder horse of the screen, and Tom leap over a canyon twenty feet wide and ninety feet deep, in addition to other wild rides from steep mountain sides. Others in the cast include Edward Piel, Joe Girard, Virginia True Boardman, Margaret Joslin. Frank Forde and Harrv Todd. C.B.C.'s SEASON'S SMASH