Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 7, / o 2 ? 1669 Tourneur Names Cast for "Brass Bottle" Maurice Tourneur has surrounded himself with a talented aggregation of players for his picturization of " The Brass Bottle," to be produced by M. C. Levee. For the leading character of Horace Ventimore, the young architect, Tourneur has selected Harry Myers, who will portray a role similar to that he pictured in " The Connecticut Yankee." For the part of Fakrash-elAamash, the genii, the director has engaged Ernest Torrance. Tully Marshall as Professor Futvoye, Clarissa Selwyn as Mrs. Futvoye. Ford Sterling at Rapkin, Aggie Herring as Mrs. Rapkin, Charlotte Marriam as Sylvia Futvoye and Ed Jobson as Samuel Wackerbath, comprises the other portrayers of the leading characters. Distinctive Will Produce "The Steadfast Heart" Distinctive Pictures Corporation is making a picturization of " The Steadfast Heart," a Clarence Budington Kelland story now appearing serially in Collier's. Edith Roberts will be featured with Joseph Striker. Sheridan Hall is directing the picture. The full cast has been chosen as follows: Edith Roberts, Joe Depew, Joseph Striker, Jerry Devine, Hugh Huntley, Wm. B. Mack, Wm. Black, Marrio Majeroni, S. Tansey, Harlen Knight, Mary Alden, Walter Lewis, Louis Fierce, Mildred Arden and Helen Strickland. Hodkinson Employees Hold Big Theatre Party A theatre party was recently given to its employees by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation at the performance of " Liza," a musical comedy, at the Bayes theatre. The entire organization, numbering some seventy-five department heads and employees, participated in the affair, which was one of the frequent " get-together " functions of the Hodkinson organization. "Wolf Fangs " Changed to "The White Silence" " The White Silence " is the title definitely chosen by the Warner Brothers for the production which has been announced under the working title of " Wolf Fangs," featuring the Belgian police dog, Rin-Tin-Tin. The production is nearing the stages of completion under the supervision of Harry Rapf. Chester M. Franklin is directing. PreRelease Showing Held for "The Bright Shawl" " The Bright Shawl," starring Richard Barthelmess, an Inspiration production for First National distribution, was given its first prerelease showing last Monday evening at the Rialto theatre, South Norwalk, Conn., of which A. M. Hamilton is manager. First Nat'l Buys Rights to "Flaming Youth" " Flaming Youth " by Warner Fabian, has been purchased by First National and in all probability will be filmed in time for release early next season. The story was published in book form by Boni and Liveright and is running serially in the Metropolitan Magazine. MOTION PICTURE NEWS William A. Johnston, Pres. & Editor E. Kendall Gillett, Treasurer J. S. Dickerson, Managing Editor Fred. J. Beecroft, Adv. Mgr. Published on Friday every week by MOTION PICTURE NEWS, Inc., 729 Seventh Ave., New York, N. Y. 'Phone 9960 Bryant Chicago Representative, L. H. Mason, 752 South Wabash Avenue ; 'Phone Harrison 7667. Los Angeles Representative, J. C. Jessen, Room 616 Security Building, Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Cal. ; 'Phone Hollywood 3568. Subscription $3 a year, postpaid, in United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Porto Rico and Philippine Islands. Canada, $6. Foreign, $10. N. B. — No agent is authorized to take subscriptions for Motion Picture News at less than these rates. Have the agent who takes your subscription show his credentials and coupon book. Western Union registered cable address is " Picknews," New York. Copyright, 1923, by Motion Picture News, Inc. B. P. Fineman Back Again in Producing Field B. P. Fineman is back in Hollywood producing again after an absence of a year, during which he was chiefly engaged with the marketing of his productions out of NewYork. Fineman has taken over the Principal Pictures studios. The first picture to be produced by Fineman will be " Don't Marry for Money," a collaboration by Hope Loring and Louis Duryea Lighton. It is a society drama. Fineman inow seeking a director and choosing a cast. Goldwyn District Managers Hold Conference in N Y. The district managers of the Goldwyn Distributing Corporation were called into New York last week for a sales conference with James R. Grainger and other company officials. Those in attendance included George Hiekey, Chicago; William Truog, Kansas City; J. A. Koerpel, Cleveland; Arthur Lucas, Boston; J. A. Chantler, Toronto; Sam Eckman, Jr., New York; and Felix Mendelssohn, Philadelphia. Dwan Starts "Lawful Larceny" for Paramount Allen Dwan has started production of his new Paramount picture, " Lawful Larceny," adapted by John Lynch from Samuel Shipman's stage play of the same name, at the company's Long Island studio. The featured players in the cast are Hope Hampton, Nita Naldi, Conrad Nagel, and Lew Cody. Hal Rosson is photographing the picture and Dick Rosson is Mr. Dwan's assistant. Tony Sarg to Prepare Art Lobby Displays Tony Sarg has been added to the staff of experts engaged by Oscar Price and Harry Aitken. Mr. Sarg, generally acknowledged to be one of America's foremost artists, will devote his time to the preparation of some artistic lobby displays. Tarkington Boy Stories in Production for 1st Nat'l William Beaudine has started camera work on " Penrod and Sam," a screen version of Booth Tarkington's stories of typical American boy life in the average-sized town. The picture is for First National and is being " shot " at the Hollywood studios. The players include: Benny Alexander, Irene Rich^ William V. Mong, Rockliffe Fellowes, Mary Philbin, Gareth Hughes, Buddy and Gertie Messinger, and the colored " twins," for Herman and Verman." The company is under the management of J. K. McDonald, who headed the companies which produced the Buddy Messinger and the Little Johnny Jones series of pictures founded on American child-life. Mayer to Produce Robert Service Story for Metro The rights to Robert W. Service's storv. "The Trail of Ninety-Eight" have been secured by Louis B. Mayer for production as a motion picture by Reginald Barker. It is to be released by Metro Pictures Corporation, following the completion of " The LawBringers," the present Barker production. The photoplay deals with the famous gold rush, and an entire company will make the trip to the Yukon Trail for the filming of the story. Assoc. Exhibitors Add to Sales Organization W. B. Frank, general sales manager of Associated Exhibitors, announced this week the appointment of W. T. Richards to the force working out of the New Orleans branch office, U. H. Robinson to Des Moines, Bert Mendelson to Philadelphia, and Randolph Elliott to Kansas City. A. Cunningham is the new branch sales manager at Salt Lake City, succeeding the late Lawrence J. Baratte. Fox Sets "Bucking the Barrier" for April 1st Fox Film Corporation announces two releases for the week of March 31, a Dustin Farnum production and a Sunshine Comedy. ''Bucking the Barrier," the Farnum feature, was written by George Goodchild and adapted to the screen bv Jack Strumwasser. Colin Campbell directed. Arline Pretty is the star's leading woman. The schedule places April 1st as release day. The Sunshine Comedv is titled, "The Mummy." Foreign Distribution Set for Talmadge Pictures Announcement is made by First National that contracts have been closed with the H. A. P. Film Co., Hoefgade 9, The Hague, Holland, for the distribution of " The Eternal Flame," starring Norma Talmadge and " East Is West," starring Constance Talmadge. Holubar Signs to Make Four for Metro Allan Holubar has signed a contract with Metro, according to advices from the coast. He is to produce four pictures at the Metro studio, work to start May 1. The pictures will be released as Holubar specials.