Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1550 Motion Picture News Lever of Stoll Company Here "Prodigal Son" and Other British Made Productions Ready for American Market ENGLISH productions of magnitude will figure prominently in the industry in America if the ambitious program of the Stoll Film Company, Ltd., of London, is carried to a successful conclusion. Alfred Lever, general manager of the London concern, is in New York at present to conclude arrangements for the distribution of a number of screen classics already produced or in process of production. Primarily Mr. Lever is here in the interest of the screen production of " The Prodigal Son," an adaptation from the widely known novel of Sir Hall Caine, prints of which he has with him. The production was directed by A. E. Colby, considered among the first rank of British directors. It is in reality two pictures in one, being both " The Prodigal Son " and " The Return of the Prodigal Son." Mr. Lever is opposed to the general usage of the term super-special, but declares " The Prodigal Son " is the most pretentious production ever filmed by an English producing concern. In the cast are Stewart Rome, Victor Herbert, Flora Brettel, Edith Bishop, and Mrs. Haydn-Coffin. In a letter A. E. Colby, the producer of the picture, Sir Hall Caine highly commended the entire production. " The Prodigal Son " was produced in Iceland, England, France and Monte Carlo and was seven months in the making. According to Mr. Lever, the Stoll Film Company, Ltd., is getting away from the program pictures, of which an average of fifteen a year have been produced in the past. In the future there are to be about ten productions made a year and they will be made from the very best material available. Among other productions of the Stoll Company which will be available in America in the very near future, according to Mr. Lever, are " The Wandering Jew," " The Sign of Four," by Conan Doyle ; " The Tower of London," by Harrison Ainsworth, and " The Guy Fawkes," an original scenario. Product of the Stoll Company is by no means unknown in America, as they were the producers of " The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes " and " The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes " which met with splendid receptions by motion picture patrons in all parts of the country. Coincidental with the announcement of the releasing of these Stoll features is the statement from the New York offices of the concern that Mr. Paul Seligman is retiring as manager in New York and will return to England in the near future. His retirement here is occasioned because of the condition of his health. Inflammable Film Uses Up at Hearing The use of inflammable film outside of theatres came in for considerable discussion at a hearing last week before the Connecticut Legislative Committee on Public Health and Safety. The relative hazards of nitrate cellulose and acetate cellulose film and the merits of 28 and 35 millimeter films were debated at length. This was the result of the bill introduced by Representative Arthur J. Vinton, which provides that the acetate film may be used in the wider machines. The present law provides that only the narrow safety film may be used in any exhibition other than in theatres. Arguments for the bill were that country towns were limited to the narrow film and could get no modern dramas. Against the bill were arrayed those who feared for public safety as a result of fires caused by the general use of inflammable film. Here are some of " Our Gang," who play in the Pathe series of two reelers, this one entitled "Giants vs. Yanks." Gladys Brockwell Added to "Hunchback" Cast Gladys Brockwell has been added to the cast supporting Lon Chaney in " The Hunchback of Notre Dame," the Super-Jewel being made from Victor Hugo's novel at Universal City. Wallace Worsley, the director, aided by Perley Poore Shehan and E. T. Lowe, Jr., the adapters, as well as by Chaney, are taking extraordinary measures to assure that every character of the fifteenth century classic will be reproduced faithfully in the screen version of Hugo's book. For man to Start Work on "Broken Wing" Shortly Tom Forman will begin production at once on his next Preferred Picture for B. P. Schulberg, " The Broken Wing," a film version of the play by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard, which played two seasons ago at the Forty-eighth street theatre. The cast includes Miriam Cooper, Kenneth Harlan, Walter Long, Betty Francisco, Evelyn Selbie, Edwin Brady, Ferdinand Munier and Richard Tucker. Olga Printzlau has recently completed the adaptation. Schertzinger on Location with Vitagraph Company Victor Schertzinger, who is directing " The Man Next Door " for Vitagraph, is on " location " with his company at Victorville, Cal. This story by Emerson Hough, author of " The Covered Wagon," is laid on a ranch, Palo Verdi in the West, and Director Schertzinger has taken over 3,800 acres upon which are grazing 5,000 head of cattle. The cast in "The Man Next Door" will have among its features players Alice Calhoun, James Morrison, Frank Sheridan. David Torrence, John Steppling. Adele Farrington, Mary Culver, Bruce Boteler and Harry Todd. Scenes from " Souls for Sale," the latest Rupert Hughes production for Goldwyn release.