Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 7 , / 9 j 1705 U. S. Commander Likes "Masters of Men" " Masters of Men." the picturization by C. Graham Baker of Morgan Robertson's sea story, was submitted to the acid test when Lieutenant-Commander Foster of the Naval Recruiting Bureau, New York City, saw the picture. The United States Navy had lent to Vitagraph all possible aid in shooting those scenes dealing with life on board a man-of-war. Lieutenant-Commander Foster praised the picture highly for its admirable fidelity to the United States Navy manners and customs and praised equally the scenes on board the four-master, where the two naval men are shanghaied. The picture will be shown on board every ship in the United States Navy. " Masters of Men " is a David Smith production. The principal roles are played by Earlc Williams, Alice Calhoun, Cullen Landis and Wanda Hawlev. C. B. C. Sells More Foreign Rights A big deal was made this week, whereby the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation disposed of the entire world foreign rights on all its output, present and future. This gigantic transference of foreign rights was made by C. B. C. to Joseph Simmons, with offices in New York City, and provides that Mr. Simmons buy distribution rights to all the C. B. C. feature productions throughout the entire world, excluding the United States, Canada and Argentine. It is announced that the four C. B. C. productions which are ready will be launched at once in the foreign market. These include " Her Accidental Husband," the first Edward Belasco production, and the first three C. B. C. Box Office Winners, " More to be Pitied," " Only a Shopgirl " and " Temptation," in the territory not disposed of alreadv. Home Starts "Itching Palms" for F.B.O. James W. Home has begun work at the Film Booking Offices studio in Hollywood on " Itching Palms," a comedy drama, adapted by Wyndham Gittens and Helmer Bergman, F. B. O. scenarists, from the play "Jerry Comes Home," by Roy Briant. The story is laid in a small rural community and country types are said to provide many humorous moments. In the cast are Tom Wilson, who was recently signed to a long term contract by F. B. O. ; Virginia Fox, formerly leading woman with Buster Keaton and having her first dramatic role in this production ; Tom Gallery, Victor Potel, Monte Collins, Tom Lingham and others. The plot of " Itching Palms " centers about the theft of a large sum of money, and a sprightly and venturesome grandmother is one of the chief characters. This role is portrayed by Gertrude Claire, whose seventy-one years weigh lightly. on her shoulders. At left: Princess Thais Valkonsky, who appears in "Wandering Daughters," produced by James Young for First National. At right: Maurice Canonge, French comedian, who is cast in " Trilby." which Richard Walton Tully is to make for First National. Canonge will play " Zouzou." "Suzanna" Praised at Capitol M N. Y. Reviewers Acclaim Mabel Normand in Mack Sennett Comedy Drama ACK SENNETT'S comedy drama feature, " Suzanna," starring Mabel Normand, made a distinct hit with public and critics when this Allied Producers and Exhibitors Corporation release had its Broadway premier, March 25, at the Capitol theatre, New York. " Mabel Normand's appearances on the screen are regrettably infrequent," says Robert E. Sherwood in the Herald. " She has a remarkable flair for impudent comiedy and the sparkle of her wit cannot be dimmed. ' Suzanna ' is further enlivened by some beautiful scenes, beautifully photographed, and by a typical Mack Sennett chase at the finish." " The next time any one raises the question, ' What is the matter with the movies?' we will suggest an answer. It is that Mabel Normand doesn't make half enough of them," said Beauvais Fox in the Tribune. " After seeing the picture we inclined to join the ranks of the select, many who look on Mack Sennett as the master mind of the movies." " The principal features of this picture play are the uncommonly fine scenes showing horses racing in the distance, the remarkable ability of Mabel Normand to hang on behind her sweetheart while the chase is under way, and a horseback fight on the edge of a bluff made for the purpose of chilling the chillable," said Quinn Martin in the World. " Mack Sennett's latest attempt at being serious." said the reviewer for the Times, " is a very good little love story of Spanish California in the early eighties. The bullfight scenes are quite effective." " There's an exciting duel between the men, their horses never slackening their furious pace," said Grena Bennett in the American. " Mabel Normand acted Suzanna. Her art is flawless." " Mabel Normand, under the excellent direction of Mack Sennett, made another hit at the Capitol in ' Suzanna,' " said the critic for the Evening Telegram. " We've always contended that Mabel Normand was about the greatest screen comedienne and see absolutely no reason in the world for changing that opinion after sitting through her performance in ' Suzanna,' " said Don Allen in the Evening World. " If Winter Comes " Is Close Adaptation "If Winter Comes," which will be seen on Broadway shortly when the William Fox screen version opens an engagement in Times Square, promises to upset at least one of the rules for turning a "best seller" into a picture play, by being a faithful reproduction of the Hutchinson work. There has been a general outcry against the way many producers have altered the plots of widely read novels. The scenario writer and the director of "If Winter Comes," have, it is claimed, put the English writer's work on the screen exactly as he wrote it. "Wonders of the [Sea" for Washington House J. E. Williamson's undersea picture, " Wonders of the Sea," will be presented in Washington, D. C, by Harry Crandall, at the Metropolitan theatre, April 15. The showing will continue for one week. " Wonders' of the Sea " was exhibited, by request, before the Smithsonian Institution and National Museum on December 13, and the presentation was attended by Secretary of the Navy Denby and prominent staff officials. Special Song Number to Exploit 4 'Gimme" One of the many exploitation aids for the Goldwyn-Rupert Hughes picture, "Gimme," is a song number of the same name written by Eddie Bonns, director of exploitation for Goldwyn, Lou Marangella, and George Fairman. The song is described as a "Foxtrot" melody, and it is being successfully used by exhibitors throughout the country in advance of and during the showing of the picture. Goldwyn exploiteers are securing tie-ups with local music dealers in their respective territories, and a sweeping publicity and exploitation campaign is being carried on by the publishers in order to make it one of the outstanding song hits of the year. "Gimme" is published by Jack Mills, Inc., New York. F.B.O. Effects Tieup with Buick Another exploitation tie-up has been put into effect by Film Booking Offices of America with the Buick Automobile Companv in behalf of the " Fighting Blood " series now in course of filming at the F. B. O. studios in Hollywood. i When Gene Sarazen, American] professional golf champion, and Jack Hutchison, former champion of Great Britain and the United States, recently visited the F. B. O. lot with Gene's brand new Buick sport model touring car, they posed with Ann Perdue, now appearing in " Daytime Wives," and Clara Horton, female lead in " Fighting Blood," with the young women seated in the auto and the golf champions on the running board. These photographs, enlarged for window display, have been placed in the windows of more than 5,000 Buick distributors throughout the United States. "Close Deal on "Little Red Schoolhouse" W. E. Shallenberger, President of Arrow Film Corporation, announces the closing of a contract with Messrs. Neufeld and Luchese of the DeLuxe Film Company, Philadelphia, whereby that company secures the rights to the Martin j. Heyl production, " The Little Red Schoolhouse," for Eastern Pennsylvania Southern New Jersey and Delaware. " The Little Red Schoolhouse," made from the famous old stage plav by Hal Reid, MARH COMING / MARY WHO ? WAITAND— i