Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 28 , 1921 2029 WORD comes from the Coast that "The Covered Wagon," which opened the other night in Grauman's Egyptian theatre, Hollywood, went over with a bang. If it carries a sign like the one adorning the New York Criterion, it will have the folks uttering " Ohs and Ahs!" • • * HERE'S one for the book. Norma Talmadge has bought a half interest in Buster Keaton, the horse, not the doleful brother-in-law. The colt has been winning some purses at Tia J nana. If the steed is anything likt his namesake he'll draw away from the field. Index to Departments Editorial , Pictures and People 2028 General News and Special Features 2030 Chicago and Mid-West Comedies, Short Subjects and Serials 2072 Construction and Equipment 2085 Exhibitors' Box Office Reports Exhibitors' Service Bureau 2048 Feature Release Chart 2093 Opinions on Current Short Subjects Pre-Release Reviews of Features 2057 Production-Distribution Activities 2076 Regional News from Correspondents 2060 Studio Notes and Player Brevities With the First-Run Theatres 2044 2027 2029 2041 2042 2074 2092 2043 2056 2096 2071 2059 2083 2070 2084 2047 MR. H. H. HURN, Central Division Sales Manager for the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation returned from a flying trip to Exchanges in the Central West and left last week for Chicago in the interests of the Elmer Clifton special " Down to the Sea in Ships." During Mr. Hum's trip through the Central Division Territory he visited the Exchanges in Detroit, Omaha. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and Minneapolis. According to a general summing up of personal conversations with exhibitors Mr. Hurn states that in his opinion business has greatly improved throughout the middle west and that in a few months conditions will be back to normal. * * # EXHIBITORS, wouldst be humorous with Swedish gentlemen? Take heed and profit by the sorrow of Lawrence E. Goldman, counsel for the M. P. T. O. Western Missouri. Last week on the morning of the Western Missouri convention in Kansas City, President Charles Sears requested Mr. Goldman to have a sign made, notifying exhibitors where to register. To a Swedish friend went Goldman. " Olaf, a big sign, so big," instructed Goldman, giving approximate measurements with his hands. " A nice Swedish sign, Olaf, reading, ' Exhibitors Register Here,' " The latter was received with a laugh and self assurance that Olaf understood correctly what was desired. But, not so. When the sign was delivered and placed in front of the convention room in the Hotel Baltimore, it read : " Uppmsare Registrera Har." Not an exhibitor registered for the convention — and Goldman paid for the sign out of his own funds. # * # A/T.RS. and Mr. (that's just the way Jack wrote it) Jack Alicoate postcard from Paris that they are having the time of their lives forgetting the worries of the " fillum " business. Jack, as you probably know, is one of the " props " of the W. K. Film Daily and recently bounded into fame as the author of the stage play, " Extra." It didn't stay long on Broadway, but at least genial Jack can say to the skeptics " I put something over, and I'll do it again." Wedding bells rang out their glad tidings for him recently when he tork Gertrude Bambrick for his bride. * * • FIRST NATIONAL did itself proud last Wednesday night when it tendered a farewell dinner to Horace Judge at the Astor Hotel. The exploitation chief of F. N. sailed Saturday for London where he will spread the gospel of his company up and down Piccadilly, the Strand, Rotten Row, Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street and other highways and by-ways of the British capital. Horace was noticed registering deep feeling over the many eulogies paid in his honor. He gave mute testimony of his deep appreciation. His voice was choked with emotion but his eyes were eloquent. 7 WO animal Matures and a drama were selected by the National Board of Review as worthy of the asterisk — namely, Metro's "Trailing African Wild Animals," Vniver sal's ''Hunting Big Game in Africa," and First National's " The Bright Shawl." A LLOW us to give the retort courteous to First National and Inspiration for their exceptionally fine production, "The Bright Shawl," which might be an enlarged miniature so suggestive is it of a quaint old romance of yesterday. Adapted from Joseph Hergesheimer's vivid story of the same name which records the adventures of a patriotic Cuban family and their courageous American friend who enlisted his services for the cause, it comes to the screen like a breath of fresh air in Indian summer. The silversheet has never revealed a more beautiful production, nor one directed with such appreciation for its romantic glamour. It fairly exudes a fragrant charm which saturates the picture so that it glows like a May flower kissed by the sun and the dew. The honors for making this such a memorable achievement rest with John Robertson, who can be trusted to create a moving story, — who has a firm grasp upon the technique of the photoplay, — who, when given a script, knows just what to accomplish in making it compelling to the eye and intriguing to mind. The spectator sits back transported over the marvelous background and atmosphere. The spark of romance, the tingle of adventure embrace him so that Time and Worry are forgotten. He is thrust into the picturesque city of Havana for an hour. Years have slipped off his shoulders and he is revelling in this rich glorification of romance of the fifties. There is Richard Barthelmess faultlessly attired in the costume of the period and piloted through episodes of love and danger — who faces a tyrant and a temptress as a gentleman should. He charms you with his careless abandon when the net of intrigue is woven around him and wins your admiration for his courtesy with the ladies. And Dorothy Gish is a dashing, vivacious, capricious little hoyden who dances her way into his affection. The scenes are richly colorful and thoroughly saturated with a glowing atmosphere. Everett Shinn, the art director, is responsible for these backgrounds, having reproduced them down to the most minute detail. Such a story, written by an expert story-teller, has been given to men thoroughly grounded in their art. The result is the production perfect. * * * ROBERT G. VIGNOLA will arrive in New York from his five months' world tour on April 27th, according to cable advices received this week by his personal representative. Accompanied by his father, his sister, and Phil Carle, his assistant, all three of whom sailed from New York several weeks ago to meet him in Naples, Mr. Vignola will sail on the A.quitania from Southampton on April 21st which will bring him to New York on the 27th. The director of " When Knighthood Was In Flower " has reduced his weight by fifteen pounds, according to the cable, and is full of pep and energy and ready to plung back into his work. Until his apartment is set in order he will make his temporary home at the New York Athletic Club of -which he is a member.