Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1546 Motion Picture News Hays Welcomes Belasco to Industry Extends Thanks to Warner Brothers for Achievement in New Affiliation DAVID BELASCO, the theatrical producer, was officially extended the greetings of the entire industry by Will H. Hays, following his affiliation with the Warner Brothers in the production of a number of his notable stage successes, at a conference held last Wednesday at the Warner offices. Considerable interest is attached to Mr. Belasco's arrangement with the Warner organization, in that the theatrical producer for the first time in his career has become personally identified with the industry and will undertake the general supervision on the filming of his stage plays. In extending the industry's welcome to Mr. Belasco, Mr. Hays said : " It is indeed a great source of gratification to have Mr. Belasco identified with our wonderful industry. And I am sure that every member of the industry is proud to have him with us. In this respect thanks are due to the Warner Brothers for their splendid achievement in having Mr. Belasco join our great medium for the enlightenment and entertainment of humanity." Mr. Belasco, when asked about his new affiliation, said : " The motion picture is a new art, and I realize that I shall have to start at the bottom to fully comprehend its marvelous possibilities. Its scope is unbounded, and it holds a great fascination and interest for me. I look forward with keen anticipation to my visit to the Warner Brothers' studio." According to the announced partnership arrangement between Mr. Belasco and the Warner Brothers, the latter will film " The Gold Diggers," "Daddies," " Deburau," and " Tiger Rose," which will star Lenore Ulric, while the former will personally supervise the making of the productions. Mr. Belasco has chosen Sidney Franklin to direct Miss Ulric in " Tiger Rose,' and Edmund Goulding was chosen to write the conti nuity. Preparations for the filming of this picture are reported under way at the Warner studios. Miss Ulric will leave for the coast the latter part of May, following the consummation of a two-year run on Broadway, in the Belasco stage play, " Kiki." With the completion of the picture she will return East to resume her interrupted performance of the play. From Harry M. Warner came the statement that Mr. Belasco will leave for the west coast on or about June 1. At the conference were present, in addition to Messrs. Belasco and Hays and Miss Ulric, Hope Hampton, Jules Brulator, B. F. Roeder, general manager for Mr. Belasco, Courtland Smith and members of the trade press. Sixty Features Is First National Schedule It was learned yesterday that First National will release approximately sixty pictures next season. This information came from a First National executive, who stated that contracts already negotiated assured that number of feature pictures. It is possible that there will be more. Following First National's annual meeting in April, it is expected that an announcement giving next season's plans in detail will be issued. The new contract with Thomas H. Ince assures from six to eight pictures from that producer. Then there will be the Joseph M. Schenck productions, starring Norma and Constance Talmadge; the Inspiration pictures, starring Richard Barthelmess; the John Stahl productions, and the product of First National units, including those headed by Richard Walton Tully, James Young, Maurice Tourneur, Edwin Carewe and other prominent producers with whom negotiations are now under way. Will Hays and David Belasco, who met at Warner Brothers' in connection with Mr. Belasco's entry into the motion picture field. Branham Directs Canadian Famous Houses Charles G. Branham of Toronto, Ontario, is director of theatres for the Famous Players Canadian Corporation, Limited, Toronto, having general supervision over the many theatres of this company in cities from Montreal to Vancouver. This post was held until recently by H. M. Thomas, who has returned to Des Moines, Iowa, where he has become identified with the A. H. Blank Theatre Enterprises once more. Mr. Branham has been with the Canadian corporation for four or five years, originally having charge of publicity and picture exploitation. Metro Adds to Foreign Distribution Arrangements An important contract closed this week provides for the distribution of Metro's product in New Zealand and Australia through Famous Players' branch in those territories. The occasion is taken by Metro to review its foreign expansion under the supervision of Arthur Loew. A little more than a year ago Marcus Loew arranged with Sir William Jury, in London, for the disposition of the Metro product in Great Britain. The Palace theatre in London was leased at the same time, and since then Metro's bigger productions have received their initial British presentations at this house. Distribution arrangements have also been closed during the past year for the Metro productions in the Argentine, Porto Rico, San Domingo, Brazil and Japan. Ernest C, Warde Signed to Direct by F.B.O. The Film Booking Offices of America has just placed under contract as a director Ernest C. Warde, a son of the late Frederick Warde, and long identified with affairs of the theatre and motion pictures. His early experience in production was with the " Thanhouser " company in New York, and as a producer he has to his credit such productions as " Silas Marner," " The Man Without a Country " and " The Vicar of Wakefield." Also he wielded the megaphone for " The Bells " with Frank Keenan, " The Midnight Stage," " Gates of Brass " and " The World Aflame." Action scenes from Harold Lloyd's latest, " Safety Last," for Pathe release.