Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1536 Motion Picture News BANKERS who believe that a released negative has no asset value will find a lot of solid food for thought in a report of the Triangle Film Corporation to be published in April. Five years ago, in April, 1918, this concern was in the hands of its creditors. Triangle owed around three million dollars and the Government was about to auction it off in a vain endeavor to collect a few hundred thousand. Today, after five years of quiet, steady, sane management, Triangle has paid off nearly four million dollars, and is back in the hands of its stockholders free and clear of all debt and with a tidy cash balance in the bank. Moreover — this has all been done without the sale of a single negative. A number have recently been leased to the Tri-Stone Pictures Corporation, a deal which was most favorable to Triangle and will undoubtedly prove very advantageous to Oscar Price, H. G. Aitken and the Tri-Stone Pictures Corporation. These pictures, featuring Chaplin and Fairbanks and including also some of the best comedies of the past are to be re-titled and generally modernized before release. But the point is that Triangle still has all its 4000 negatives with still a considerable potential value, for re-release or reproduction. Who knows, in fact, just what value? Of course, the bankers will say, a good manager did this. Perfectly true and the credit goes to a man who never asks for credit — Percy L. Waters, a pioneer and one of the solid men of the industry. He did it. * * * "\T7EDDING BELLS AND ORANGE BLOSSOMS" ▼ ▼ ' might well be the title of the picture which Marguerite Courtot and Raymond McKee will enact in the very near future. The picture is a romance with but a single setting — the happy ending. This is our way of announcing the forthcoming marriage of the two stars whose romance began in a childhood friendship and which reached its happy conclusion during the filming of " Down to the Sea in Ships." Miss Courtot and Mr. McKee were cast in the principal roles, portraying the parts of devoted lovers. It is believed that this close association of some fourteen or fifteen months in the making of the whaling story was instrumental in the happy couple walking over to Tiffany's to look at the sparklers. The marriage is expected to take place during the latter part of April. * * # EEP your eyes on Dorothy Mackaill who is shoiving an art, for pantomime which will not be denied. There is something of Lillian Gish's wist fulness about her which makes her personality thoroughly appealing. Her performance in " Mighty Lak' a Rose," is a fragrant breath of sentiment and charm. It should carry her far along the high road to stardom. * * * (jrpHE COVERED WAGON " is making just as big hisA tory in the film industry as the pioneers did in their hazardous journey over the Oregon Trail in the days of '48. Here is a screen epic for you ! It exudes romance, generates suspense, stimulates patriotism, furnishes adventure and carries one along with a majestic sweep of dramatic movement. The very title is fascinating. And once the curtains part on the hardy pioneers assembled at Westport Landing awaiting the bugle call which will send them forth upon their perilous journey, the spectator is in for two hours of the most stirring kind of drama. History is being recorded not the dull, dry printed words of a text-book, but vivid and vital episodes of one of the most romantic and adventurous periods in the building of this mighty country. The picture is carrying a seat sale eight weeks ahead and from our line of vision it appears to be selling out. The fortunates who attended the premiere at the New York Criterion pioneered their way through a blinding rain-storm. The feature, heavily advertised weeks in advance, made the patrons look forward to seeing a great achievement. Certainly the gorgeous sign which decorates the upper part of the theatre is an eye-opener of what the spectator may expect when he is ushered to his seat. It shows a huge covered wagon fording a stream, painted in a color scheme of brown and sky blue — a sign which stands forth like a beacon surrounded as it is by the incandescents. In a small parking place in front of the theatre two studio sun-lights shot a rich coloring of yellow over the sign and suggesting to the passing pedestrians that " The Covered Wagon " had arrived. And having arrived it is destined to stay for weeks to come. Certainly it carves a milestone in its record of a bygone people. Here is the motion picture at its best. No society drama here; no triangle situations; no play carried along by dialogue, but a reproduction of the big outdoors of '48 when men took up their plows and cried " Westward Ho ! " The vast panorama of scenes makes history vivid and stirring. It is as much an epic in its way as " The Birth of a Nation." PETE SMITH, the demon press agent and exploiteer, who has just returned to Los Angeles, has opened offices to handle publicity and exploitation for independent producers and stars. Arrangements have been closed with M. C. Levee, President of the United Studios, whereby Mr. Smith will make his offices at this studio and handle the publicity of United, Maurice Tourneur Productions, and other independent producers. Mr. Smith, who for the past three years has directed the publicity of Marshall Neilan Productions, continues with Mr. Neilan in handling that producer's publicity and will also look to the publicity of Miss Blanche Sweet. * # * J EAH BAIRD is leaving Los Angeles for a visit in New York, timing her departure with the release of her latest picture, " Is Divorce a Failure? " — but not caring to answer the vital question since she is certain tliat married life is successful. Arthur Beck, who is the star's husband, producer of her films, will accompany her East. * * • ERNEST TORRENCE dons the royal purple again ! The screen benefited greatly when this able pantomimist left the stage to display his talents under the Kliegs. Gifted as he is with an exceptionally mobile countenance it is no difficulty for him to enact faithfully, and colorfully any role with which he is assigned. " Tol'able David " found him playing a graphic study of an abysmal brute — a study which he also rendered in " Broken Chains." Then along comes " The Covered Wagon " and he contributes the finest performance of the year — one of the finest performances for that matter in the history of the screen. He shows his humorous side — and this big Scot has one if you have ever witnessed him in several of his stage interpretations. As Jackson, the scout, the camera catches every gesture, every movement of his hands, every shadow which flits across his face. He is real and human — and, seemingly, a character out of the period which he so ably represents. Follow him in his desire to punish the villainous rival of his PICTURES AND PEOPLE