Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 7, 192$ 1703 4 'Why Women ReMarry" Sale Announced A. Canter, sales manager of Associated Photo-Plays, Inc., announces the sale of the first Milton Sills picture to be released by Associated Photo-Plays to Sam Zieler, president of Commonwealth Film Company. The first of the series of new Milton Sills pictures made by the John Gorman Producing Company has been titled " Why Women ReMarry," and is said to be novel in theme and excellently cast. It was made from an original story by Van A. James. Mr. Canter announces that the sale of foreign territory is going forward rapidly. Another Milton Sills picture will be ready in two weeks, according to Mr. Canter. In addition to Milton Sills the cast of "Why Women Re-Marry" includes Ethel Grey Terry, Carol Holloway, William Lowery, Clarissa Selwynne, Wildred Lucas and other well known stars. "Bell Boy 1 3" Approved in N.Y. "Little Old New York" Nears Completion Work on Marion Davies' next Cosmopolitan production "Little Old New York " is nearing completion. With the filming of the street scenes in Ireland next week at the Jackson Studio and some which are to be taken aboard ship the week following the big production will be practically finished. Work was begun on "Little Old New York" about the -middle of December. In spite of the fire which destroyed the stages at Cosmopoltian studios a few weeks ago the picture will be finished on schedule time. The Tilford studio on Forty-fourth street and Jackson studio in the Bronx have been used for the remaining scenes. The big Twenty-Third Regiment Armory in Brooklyn was engaged for the filming of the street scenes showing the Battery and Bowling Green as they were a century ago. "The Lure of Egypt" Takes New Spurt " The Lure of Egypt," according to Pathe, has taken on a recent strong spurt of new and re-booking, perhaps as a result of the volume of King Tut publicity. In addition to being based on an all-popular subject at the present time it has the advantage of a cast headed by Claire Adams, Robert McKim and Joseph Dowling. Its story is based on archaeological explorations on the Nile in the region of Luxor, and the plot centers in trouble with the native chiefs over the actual opening of the tomb and the securing of the treasures buried with the father-inlaw of Tut-ankh-amen — the young religious innovator, King Akhnaton. The parallel is thus extremely striking, and extends even to photographs taken at the opening of the tomb of Tut-ankh-amen. At the present stage of the renewed activity of more than twenty Pathe features which have been before the public continuously for upwards of two years, " The Lure of Egypt" is reported to be outstripping them all. Critics Praise Douglas MacLean "DELL BOY 13," a Thos. H. ■L* Ince Production with Douglas MacLean as the star, which is being released through First National, scored a big success at the Strand Theatre, New York, when it was shown there during the week of March 25. Motion picture critics of the New York dailies were unstinting in their praise of "Bell Boy 13." Following is what some of them had to say : Tribune — "Bell Boy 13" is one of Douglas MacLean's funniest pictures. It moves swiftly and is consistently amusing. E. V. Durling in the Globe — Yesterday's audience found "Bell Boy 13" highly amusing. Douglas MacLean, who this writer insists is Mr. Fairbanks' only logical successor, performs in his usual breezy and highly capable fashion. Evening Mail — There are two motion pictures at the Strand this Production with at Strand Showing week. The first one is just an ordinary photoplay * * *. The second is more interesting. It is a comedy called "Bell Boy 13," with Douglas MacLean furnishing the laughs. "Bell Boy 13" is a relief after the artificialities and crudities that permeate the other picture * * *'. It is worth while because of MacLean. This comedian has a contagious smile and a quiet manner of acting that is pleasing. Evening Telegram — "Bell Boy 13," starring Douglas MacLean is a farce comedy and was presented by Thos. H. Ince. It is one of the most humorous of films in which Mr. MacLean dons a bell hop's uniform to prove to his millionaire father he is capable of earning his own livelihood, with the result that his father consents to his marriage to an actress. The situations are very funny. "Shriek of Araby" Real Shriek Los Angeles Reviewers Say Sennett Comedy Fairly Reeks With Shrieks «* J^RING on more just like this," says Guy Price in his review the Los Angeles Evening Express of Mack Sennett's new feature length comedy, " The Shriek of Araby," starring Ben Turpin and Kathryn McGuire, while this Allied Producers and Distributors' Corporation release was playing to capacity business in an extended run at the Symphony theatre. "All the favorable things that many moviemanics told me about this picture before I saw it are true. I went to the theatre expecting to laugh, and I laughed a lot more than I expected to. And I laughed because I couldn't help it. " It is a perfect picture of its kind. The burlesque is adroitly and grotesquely done; the titles have a very humorous, satricial slant; the comedy action is natural. If you have any more like this, Mr. Sennett, for the love of Allah, trot them forth. The screen needs such capital, wholesome entertainment." " Ben Turpin has never done anything funnier," said another writer for the Express. " There are many gags that are new. It is a first-class burlesque." " It is a whole crowd of shrieks," said the reviewer for the Times. " Ben is the king-pin shriek and the gags make another shriek, and the sub-titles are a procession of shrieks. If you want to laugh and forget your troubles, see this shriek." " It is a shriek of mirth," said the Examiner's critic. " It's a shriek, yes, in both description and appellation," said the writer of the Herald. " Ben Turpin's picture is all that the title implies." Reviewers Acclaim "Jazzmania Newspaper Critics All Over Country Latest Appi rove M ae JAZZ-LOVING Americans have completely capitulated to the charm of Robert Z. Leonard's presentation of Mae Murray in " Jazzmania," her latest and most gorgeous photoplay, released through Metro Pictures Corporation. East, south, west, north — newspaper reviewers as well as photoplay patrons have succumbed to Miss Murray's alluring motion picture, according to Metro. New Yorkers were among the first to fall, when the famous star and her photoplay were displayed at the Capitol theatre. " Mae did some of the stuff we thought nobody but Mrs. Mary Pickford Fairbanks capable of," wrote the Globe. " The very last word in gorgeous and tasteful clothes," said the Post. Not a whit less emphatic were the Murray reviews of other sections of the country. " Mae Murray proves an adorable queen, captivates audience," said the Dallas News. The Los Angeles Times declared the photoplay " the most spectacular, if not altogether the dizziest excursion of the star . . . interest well sustained." The San Francisco Call-Post calls " Jazzmania " Mae Murray's newest gilt edged, Tiffany-set luxury drama " more gay and gorgeous in setting than its predecessor." " The best settings wherein she has ever been featured are presentd in "Jazzmania," is the opinion of the Cleveland News. " Beautiful production and novel story make it a certain hit," is the judgment of the Bellefontaine (Ohio) Index. Arrow Concludes Big Pittsburgh Deal W. E. Shalknberger, president of Arrow Film Corporation, announces the consummation of a deal with the Progress Pictures Company of Pittsburgh, whereby that concern acquires a number of Arrow's greatest releases. The deal, which was negotiated by P. W. Hamilton and Harry C. Simeral, representing Progress, and W. Ray Johnston of Arrow, gives Progress Pictures the following product for Eastern Pennsylvania and West Virginia: "The Little Red Schoolhouse," a Martin J. Heyl production with Martha Mansfield, E. K. Lincoln, Sheldon Lewis, Edmund Breese, Paul Everton and Harlan Knight; "The Rip Tide," an A. B. Maescher production with Stuart Holmes, Rosemary Theby, Russell Simpson, J. Frank Glendon, George Rigas and D iana Alden ; "Man and AA/if e," an Effanem production with Gladys Leslie, Robert Elliott, Maurice Costello and Norma Shearer; "None So Blind," a Burton King production with Dore Davidson, Zena Keefe, Maurice Costello and Gene Burnell ; and "The Broken Violin," an Atlantic Features production with Reed Howes, Zena Keefe, Dorothy Mackaill, Rita Roganj Gladden James, Henry Sedley and Tack Richardson. ' ' ManNextDoor' ' Ranch Scenes Finished Victor Schertzinger has finished the scenes of "The Man Next Door," by Emerson Hough, author of "The Covered Wagon," at Palo Verdi ranch near Victorville, Cat, and is now working in the Vitagrapb studios at Hollywood. The director staged a roundup scene and used 5,000 head of cattle. The Palo Verdi ranch is one of the largest in Southern California and covers 3,800 acres. Alice Calhoun and James Morrison have the juvenile leads. Frank Sheridan will play Curley. David Torrence plays Colonel Wright, Alice Calhoun's father in the picture. John Steppling and Adele Farrington play David Wesner and his wife. Mary Culver is Katherine Kimberly. Bruce Boteler is Tom Kimberly, while Harry Todd plays the butler. MAK4