Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1706 Motion Picture News Washington Sees Metro Features Four Out of Five First Runs for Entire Week's Showing in Capitol Houses FOUR feature attractions released by Metro Pictures Corporation were presented in first-run theatres of Washington during the week of March 5, each engagement being for a full week. Only one firstrun theatre, the Metropolitan, showed a motion picture not a Metro attraction. At the Columbia was " The Toll of the Sea," the first motion picture to be made by a new natural color process; Reginald Barker's production, " Hearts Aflame," was presented at the Rialto ; Viola Dana in " Crinoline and Romance " was the feature at the Palace, and " The Forgotten Law," a Max Graf production, was shown at the Strand. " The Toll of the Sea " was thus appraised by the Washington newspapers : "Marks a step toward perfection in the motion picture industry."— Star. " A marvelous achievement."— Post. " Anna May Wong, a Chinese actress of extraordinary promise." — Times. Technicolor Pictures Corporation are the producers of this film, which is based on Frances Marion's story. Reginald Barker's production, " Hearts Aflame," received equally laudatory notices: "One of the most impressive spectacles of its kind ever filmed." — Star. " A thrilling photoplay . . . really startling episodes." — Post. " Should be remembered long by all who see it." — Times. This photoplay is a Metro-Louis B. Mayer production, based on Harold Titus' navel, " Timber." Viola Dana in " Crinoline and Romance" was the subject of the following critical appraisals : " A worth while picture . . . enjoyable."— Times. " A very pleasant evening's entertainment." — Post. " An entertaining picture." — Star. Bernard McConville prepared the story and scenario of this photoplay, which Harry Beaumont directed. To Film Arabian C. S. Clancy to to Do "Ali Baba Take Nights Tal( Unit Abroad 40 Thieves" CS. CLANCY, whose recent pro• duction " The Headless Horseman," featuring Will Rogers, is being shown throughout the country, has now completed arrangements to film an elaborate screen edition of that famous old Arabian Nights' tale " AH Baba and Forty Thieves." During the past six months Mr. Clancy has been preparing a continuity said to be filled with the dramatic excitement and emotional punch that the story itself lacks, and has picked out what he considers to be ideal exterior locations in the colorful city and province of Tunis in Northern Africa. The interiors will be taken in the Tec-Art Studios in New York. While in Europe this winter Mr. Clancy arranged with agents in Paris and in Rome to send actors for the minor parts and " extras " direct to Tunis, but he will take all his principals and a large technical staff with him from New York when he sails for the Mediterranean the latter part of April. Ned Van Buren, the cameraman who is responsible for the beautiful photographyin "The Headless Horseman," has been an< artistic scenes that have been planned tor " Ali Baba," and Lejaren Hiller is to be art director. To avoid climatic dangers in deferred negative development Mr. Clancy has arranged to take a complete laboratory equipment, laboratory men and cutters from New York to Tunis and will also carry projection and printing machines so that the exterior scenes will be completed and cut by the time the company returns to New York in June. Negotiations for the members of an all-star cast are now in progress. A release contract is soon to be signed with one of the four largest distribution concerns and will be announced soon. The production is expected to cost around $150,000 and will be released next fall. Boast Strong Cast For "This Way Out" Jack White is working an exceptionally good cast in the Educational Mermaid Comedy, " This Way Out," now in the course of production at the United studios. The Life of Reilly, is the title of the C.C. Burr all-star two reel comedy, Charles Murray the principal comedian. Commend Florence Vidor's Work Reviewers of Fan Magazines Praise Interpretation of "Alice Adams" Associated exhibitors; production, " Alice Adams," starring Florence Vidor, which has been scheduled for release on April 8, has been made the subject of considerable discussion in the columns of some or the fan movie publications. Miss Vidor's interpretation of the character created by Booth Tarkington has met with the approval of the reviewers who have already witnessed showings of the production. The favorable reception accorded the picture as well as Miss Vidor's past achievements have resulted in a heavy demand for first-run bookings, it is stated by Associated Exhibitors' home office. In April issue of Photoplay Delight Evans lists this as " one of the six best pictures of the month." and Miss Vidor's individual work as " one of the six best performances " in recent pictures. Miss Evans places particular stress on the fact that the star and her director have taken absolutely no liberties with Mr. Tarkington's text. " A Prize Story has become a Prize Picture," says this commentator. " The photoplay is true to Tarkington and true to the highest film standards. Rowland Lee, in directing and adapting, has not transplanted Virgil Adams and his whining wife and their two children to the screen ; he has simply made portraits of them. They are excellent likelinesses ; there si no retouching to remind you that you are not really sitting in on the Adams family councils and quarrels. Florence Vidor understands Alice, and resists all temptations to make her a motion picture heroine. Miss Vidor has never done finer work. Claude Gillingwater plays her father, and what a performance ! " In Motion Picture for May Florence Vidor receives yet further recognition, Neysa McMein, well known as a painter and designer of magazine covers, placing her in a carefully selected list 6f " the six most beautiful women or the screen." Principals in the new deal between Pathe, Mack Sennett and Hal Roach— Left to right: Harold Lloyd, Snub Pollard, Hal Roach, Mack Sennett, Ben Turpin and Will Rogera