Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1192 Motion Picture News United Studios Busy with Productions SINCE Joseph M. Schenck took over the controlling interest in the United Studios in Los Angeles all of the independent producers who are making pictures for Associated First National are making their headquarters there. At the present time five directors are at work on First National releases and at least three more will be " shooting " in a short time. Edwin Carewe is making " The Girl of the Golden West," Frank Borzage is making " Sands of Time," based on a magazine story called " Terwilliger;" Maurice Tourneur is finishing " The Isle of Lost Ships ; " James Young has begun " Wandering Daughters." Richard Walton Tully is preparing to begin the making of Trilby," and Norma Talmadge will soon start "Ashes of Vengence," while Constance Talmadge is getting ready for " Dulcy." Big Cast For "Miles Standish" Eighty-Seven Name Parts Listed For Present Charles Ray Production tJ'TpHE Courtship of JL Standish," which Laurette Taylor Book Store Tieup Made Laurette Taylor's prominence in the theatrical world made possible a book tieup for the Metro picture, " Peg o' My Heart," with Kaufmann's department store, Pittsburgh. This establishment had never before consented to aid in the exploitation of any motion picture. The stunt was arranged in connection with the presentation of the photoplay at the Grand theatre. C. C. Deardourff succeeded in arranging the tieup, which took up an entire window of the store on the main street. The simple display was centered about a framed painting of Miss Taylor in costume, one of the accessories available for the production. Copies of the novel, " Peg o' My Heart,"— which T. Hartley Manners wrote from his stage play — composed the rest of the exhibit. The Actionized " Peer " shown is the special photoplay edition which Grosset & Dunlap have published in connection with the IE Courtship of Myle"s Charles Ray is now producing, under the direction of Frederic Sullivan, has a cast of eighty-seven name parts, the largest number, it is believed, ever assembled for a photoplay. These eighty-seven, moreover, are in addition to more than 900 Indians who are to be seen in the production. The braves who are thus appearing in their first motion picture impersonate representatives of the nine tribes of Indians with whom the Pilgrims engaged in deadly struggles in the early days of New England. They will give a highly colorful touch to the big attraction, besides filling a very necessary part in the dramatization of one of the most important and fascinating chapters of American Colonial history. Charles Ray will play the role of John Alden, the young man who did not " speak for himself," but who won the alluring Priscilla Mullins, notwithstanding. Enid Bennett, now best known for her Maid Marian in " Robin Hood," will impersonate Priscilla, while Fred Warren, well known character actor who has had importan! parts in many recent Goldwyn productions, will be Myles Standish. Captain Thomas Jones will br portrayed by Stanton Heck, who had leading roles with Mr. Ray in " A Tailor-Made Man " and "Scrap Iron"; Edward Winslow, by Thomas Holding, who was conspicuous in Marshall Neilan's "The Stranger's Banquet " ; Fallon, the rebellious pirate by Tom Wilson, familiar for many parts in Charles Ray, D. W. Griffith and Douglas Fairbanks pictures; John Carver, by Sam De Grasse, recently in " Robin Hood " ; Elder Brewster, by Joseph Bowling, one of the hits of " The Miracle Man " ; Governor Bradford, by Norval MacGregor ; Steven Hopkins, by Max Asher, long a featured comedian : Mary Chilton by Charlotte Pierce; Edward Dotey by Sidney Bracy; John Howland by William Sullivan, and Isaac Allerton by Frank Farrington, both of whom terminated stage engagements in the East to join Mr. Ray in this production. " Merry-Go-Round ' ' Approved Universal Chief Declares It Biggest SuperProduction Company Has Made WORD has been received in New York from Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Pictures Corporation, who now is at Universal City, Cal. that *' Merry-Go-Round," the Universal Jewel production now nearing completion under the direction of Rupert Julian, is the biggest superproduction that Universal ever made. Tulian now is in the last stages of editing the picture. Its 200,000 feet of negative are down to about twenty reels. This will be halved before it is ready for the screen. It is probable that a finished print will be on the way to New York in several weeks. According to present arrangements the picture will be Universal's first big fall release. Its early completion assures ample time for the Universal Exploitation Department to get behind it in a big way and to make it a nationally known picture before it is ready for release. Universal is projecting a national campaign for this feature, which will far excel anything ever attempted in the way of picture exploitation. It is planned to conduct such a thorough campaign that every exhibitor's patrons will be well acquainted with the picture and will await its advent in the local theatre. There will be an unusual number of accessories and striking posters on " Merry-Go-Round." The title lends itself excellently to exploitation purposes, and Universal is not overlooking any bets in taking advantage of this situation. Shortly after the picture is finally prepared for release, the corporation's exploitation corps, numbering more than half a hundred exploitation experts, located in various sections of the country, will start a concerted drive to prepare the way foi the exhibitor booking the Julian super-feature. The cast used in " Merry-GoRound " never was equalled before in a Universal picture, say Universal. Headed by Norman Kerry, Mary Philbin and George Hackathorne, it includes such well known players as Caesar Gravina, Edith Yorke, George Seigmann, Dale Fuller, Lillian Sylvester. Spottiswoode Aitken, Dorothy Wallace, Al Edmundson, Albert Conti, Charles L. King, Fenwick Oliver, Sidney Bracy, Anton Vaverka, Maude George, Jane Sherman, Helen Brunneau and Helen Holte. Rickenbacker Plane]for "Going Up" Out in Hollywood, where production work on " Going Up," Douglas MacLean's first feature for Associated Exhibitors, has been in progress several weeks, a large tract of land adjacent to the star's studio has taken on the oppearance of an aviation field in war times. The flying scenes in the picturized version of the wellknown musical comedy, and the mechanical equipment necessary for their "shooting" have compelled the purchase of a whole fleet of aeroplanes. Most prized of the fliers is a high-powered Italian Ballila, which Captain " Eddie " Rickenbacker, celebrated ace, used in many of his most daring exploits during the World War. Schulberg Production Plans Announced THE next series of pictures scheduled for production by Preferred Pictures for distribution through the Al Lichtman Corporation has been announced by B. P. Schulberg. As soon as Gasnier completes " Mothers in Law," which is now under way at the Schulberg Studios, he will direct "The Parasite," from the well known novel by Helen Martin. Upon completion of " April Showers," Tom Forman will begin on "The Broken Wing," the stage success by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard for which he is making elaborate plans. He will take his company to Mexico where the picture will be made in the exact locale described in the original play. The cast has not yet been announced though it is expected that the leading masculine role will be given to Kenneth Harlan who was recently assigned to Forman to appear exclusively in his productions. Title of 6th All-Star Comedy Decided Upon The title and cast of the sixth All-Star Comedy to be released by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation has been announced. This comedy is burlesque on Shakespeare's " Hamlet " under the title of " So This Is Hamlet." The cast is composed of Charles Murray, Felix Adler, Charlie Hines, Bill Neil, Dan Duffy, Dorothy Walters, Dorothy Allen and Little Russell Griffen. The All-Star Comedies are pro-, duced by C. C. Burr, featuring Charles Murray, for release through the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. It is said that " So This Is Hamlet " offers unusual treatment in some highly amusing comic incidents surrounding one of the greatest works of Shakespeare. According to those who have previewed this production it is said that it is distinctly out of the ordinary. It gives Charles Murray every opportunity for the presentation of highly amusing comedy situations. He is ably supported by an exceptionally strong cast, directed by Richard Thorpe. "Truth About Wives" Is Completed B. B. Productions, Inc., announces the completion of the third Betty Blythe special feature, " The Truth About Wives." This is described as a highly dramatic treatment of a modern American domestic problem. Miss Blythe's role is that of a young American woman who makes an unfortunate marriage, and is unjustly accused of a serious crime. The story is by E. C. Holland. The cast, in addition to Miss Blythe. is as follows: William Carleton, Tyrone Power, Anne Luther, Fred Jones, John Daly Murphy, Marcia Harris, Nellie Spaulding, Frankie Evans. Eva Novak TEMPTATION