Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1668 Motion Picture News Cast Named for New Metro Film "The Law-Bringers" All the important roles in " The LawBringers," the next Reginald Barker production which Louis B. Mayer will present through Metro, have been cast, according to advices received from the coast studios of Mr. Mayer. Actual work on the production has already been begun, and it will follow " Hearts Aflame " as the second Barker photoplay to be released through Metro. Barbara La Marr. who has been seen in recent Rex Ingram productions for Metro, will enact an important role. Earle Williams is likewise prominently cast. Others of the players selected are Wallace Beery, Joseph Swickard, Renee Adoree, Pat O'Malley, Pat Harmon, and George Kuwa. The photojilay is based on G. B. Lancaster's novel, The Law-Bringers," but this title is considered tentative. Priscilla Dean Completes Work on "Drifting" '• Drifting," Priscilla Dean's new big Universal-Jewel production, has been completed at Universal City and soon will be shipped to New York. This is a screen adaptation of a Broadway stage success by John Colton. It was produced on the stage by William A. Brady a year ago with Alice Brady in the starring role. Miss Dean plays the role of " Cissie," a drifter from America, who reigns as a striking figure of the underworld in a prominent Chinese seaport. Among the players in the supporting cast are Wallace Beery, JNIatt Moore. Tully Marshall, William V. Mong, J. Farrell McDonald, Madame Rose Dione and Anna May Wong, a talented young Chinese screen actress. Two hundred Chinese were used in the picture. Tod Browning directed it. Paramount Opens Second Office in Java Arrangements have been completed for the opening of another Paramount exchange in the Far East, according to advices received by E. E. Shauer, manager of the Foreign department of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. This new exchange will be located at Sourabaya, Java, and will be the second Paramount distributing center for that island. Donald H. Rodriques has been appointed general manager of the Paramount interests in this territory and will have under his jurisdiction exchanges at Singapore, Batavia, and the new one at Sourabaya. All three exchanges will be operated under the direction of Managing Director John W. Hicks, Jr., of the Famous-Lasky Film Service, Ltd., of Sydney, Australia. Melford Starts Work on if Salomy Jane" On March 26, George Melford started his new Paramount production, " Salomy Jane," which, it will be remembered, was Paul Armstrong's play adapted from the Bret Harte story. Waldemar Young wrote the film version and Jacqueline Logan will be seen in the title role. Two other important players will be Maurice Flynn and William Davidson, the latter a well-known Eastern actor and the former already known for some excellent work in Paramount pictures. In " Broadway Gold," the Truart Film Corporation's release, an Edward Dillon production; Elaine Ham merstein, Elliott Dexter and Kathlyn Williams appear in the leading roles. Principal Pictures Adopts Franchise Plan Principal Pictures Corporation announces a plan whereby its productions will be distributed on a franchise basis. Heretofore its pictures have been sold individually, but it has now been decided to distribute the productions to the exchanges collectively. Under the newly inaugurated plan the first group to be made available for ioeal distributors will comprise a series of five productions. These pictures will be as follows: "The Spider and the Rose" by Gerald Duffy; "Temporary Marriage": "The Man from Ten Strike," a James Oliver Curwood story ; " East Side, West Side," by Leighton Oemun and Henry Hull: and " Bright Lights of Broadway." "Civilization" Print for Government Archives Thomas H. Ince has sent a telegram to Senator David I. Walsh, of Massachusetts, praising his efforts to preserve motion pictures of great historical value and offering a special print of " Civilization " for the Government archives. Senator Walsh is quoted as having said in Washington that the Government is criminally neglecting its duty to future generations by making no effort to preserve motion pictures of great historical value. Several patriotic societies have started a movement to have motion picture preservation archives installed by the Government in Washington, and Senator Walsh is backing this plan. New Producing Company Is Launched at Stamford John W. McKay and George Terwilliger are now prominently identified with a newly organized producing company with headquarters at Stamford, Conn. The holding company will operate under the name of Stamford Pictures, Inc. A plot has been secured and within a month the building of a studio will be under way. According to plans, a three-story plant will be erected with room for three companies. One unit to be owned and operated by Stamford Pictures figures upon making about six pictures a year, some of which will be directed by Terwilliger. Backers of the new project feel they have an ideal site, as many producing companies have been sending companies to Stamford for outdoor stuff. Frank Mayo to Play Lead in "Six Days" Frank Mayo's first role under his long-term contract with Goldwyn Pictures Corporation will be the leading male part in Elinor Glyn's Six Days," opposite Corinne Griffith. Besides Miss Griffith and Mr. Mayo, the cast thus far selected for " Six Days " includes Claude King, Myrtle Stedman, and Maude George. Director Charles J. Brabin, who was signed to direct this one picture for Goldwyn and then placed under a long-term contract before he had started work on the production, is now making interiors for the film. Arthur Loew Goes Abroad for Metro Pictures Arthur Loew, foreign manager of Metro Pictures Corporation, sailed Tuesday on the Aquitania for an eight weeks' tour of the principal European countries, in the interests of the foreign distribution of Metro pictures. Accompanied by Mrs. Loew, he will visit England, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and as many other countries as his time will allow. The purpose which occasioned Mr. Loew's departure is the making of arrangements abroad to release Metro photoplays in the principal Continental countries. He will endeavor to conclude pending negotiations for the presentation of the company's releases, by arranging for their distribution through the leading European mediums. The international scope of Metro is thus being widened by his activities, the work having been inaugurated by Marcus Loew on his foreign visit last year. Harry David Is Engaged to Help Put Overf<Suzanna" Mack Sennett has engaged Harry David, formerly managing director of the Mission theatre, Los Angeles, to represent the Sennett interests throughout the country with the idea of aiding exhibitors in the presentation and exploitation of his " Suzanna," starring Mabel Normand, and the five-reel comedy special, " The Shriek of Araby," in which Ben Turpin and Kathryn McGuire are featured. Both these pictures are Allied Producers and Distributors Corporation releases. David was still connected with the Mission when " Suzanna " was given its premiere at that house. He is carrying extensive advertising and publicity material for the picture with him.