Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

2414 Motion Picture News Doug's "Robin Hood" Still Breaking Records ^JA-yAHE magnetism that surrounds the picture ' Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood ' has been demonstrated during the past week by the crowds who have daily visited the Capitol theatre," says the Montreal Daily Star in an article concerning this United Artists release. " So widespread has been the desire to see this production that a Canadian record was established by the Capitol during the last week both in the number of people entering the theatre and the amount of the box-office receipts. " ' Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood ' is so vast in its conception, the spirit of realism so thoroughly covers the span of centuries, and there is such an immense amount of detail in the creation, that one should see it more than once in order to appreciate to the full extent the real artistry of the achievement.' "Single Shot Parker" Now Ready Exclusive Features Offers Tom Mix Thriller For State Right Buyers Snow Scenes Made for "Master of Woman" Banff, Alberta, is the present scene of operations of the Reginald Barker production unit, which recently journeyed to Canada to film " The Law Bringers " for Louis B. Mayer. According to telegraphic advices received at the studio, the company detrained at Jasper, a small settlement located in the snowy fastnesses of Jasper National Park, where many of the future episodes will be made in the beautiful and picturesque setting of this enormous government reservation. Wishing to take advantage of an unusually heavy fresh snowfall reported in Banff, the director hurried across country to this district to stage certain scenes for which the story necessitates a snowstorm environment. Among the members of the Reginald Barker company in the north are Earle Williams, Renee Adoree, Pal O'Malley, Pat Harmon and George Kuwa of the cast ; Percy Hilburn, chief cameraman ; Harry Schenck, unit manager, and a large force of engineers., electrician?, and other technical men. EXCLUSIVE Features, Inc., with 11' offices in New York, offer Tom Mix in " Single Shot Parker," for state right buyers. It is a William N. Selig Western production in five reels, adapted from " The Heart of Texas Ryan," Gilson Willet's gripping romance of the borderland. Mix in the role of a devil-maycare cow puncher on the largest ranch of the Lone Star Stale comes to the ranch from " nowhere," a man without a country, but proves himself one of the best fellows in the state of Texas. The picture is said to be a thriller from start to finish and one of the fastest moving ones the popular Western star has ever appeared in. Colonel William N. Selig considers " Single Shot Parker " the greatest five-reel picture he ever produced. The cast is an exceptionally strong one with Mix in the role of Jack Parker, who turns up the lawless bunch of cattle rustlers after rescuing Texas Ryan, the heroine, from them. The role of Texas Ryan is played Ray 's "Girl I Loved" Is Praised in S. F. " A new Charles Ray in ' The Girl I Loved' — humorous, whimsical and magnetic as ever, but with a full flowering of dramatic ability to move audiences deeply. The picture sweeps across the screen with striking effect," said the reviewer for the San Francisco CallPost when this United Artists' release was shown recently at the Granada theatre. " The star translated facts and their implications into a series of thrilling incidents and acted them with great power." " In ' The Girl I Loved,' based on a little known story of the popular American poet, James Whitcomb Riley, Charles Ray has evolved a drama of powerful appeal," said the critic for the San Francisco Examiner. by Bessie Eyton, the belle of the -anch and much soug.n in marriage. Miss Eyton is said to be eminently suited to the part and during the five reels goes through many hair-raising exploits. Frank Campeau is " Dice " McAllister, the villain, who under the guise of town Marshall utilizes the law as a cloak to cover up his connection with the band of cattle rustlers. It is Campeau at his best, in a role similar to those in which he played opposite Douglas Fairbanks in some of his biggest successes. The role of Colonel Ryan, owner of the ranch, is played by George Fawcett, one of the prominent character men of Cecil de Mille productions Bessie Eyton is a star in her own right and this season was seen on the coast starring in Oliver Morosco's " Civilian Clothes," one of Broadway's biggest hits. " Single Shot Parker " was originally announced under the title of " The Heart of Texas Ryan." Tie-Up s on "Masters of Men" Authentic Picture of Naval Life Has Been Praised by Officers of U. S. Fleet EXPLOITATION tieups on " Masters of Men " indicate that this Vitagraph super-feature lends itself to more publicity and broader exploitation than even " The Ninety and Nine," released by the same organization. This story of the sea by Morgan Robertson has been accorded the highest praise by United States Navy officers, it is claimed. " Masters of Men " is a drama dealing with a boy's life on board a man-of-war and before the mast on a deep sea sailing ship. The United States Navy contributed the use of its warships in the making of " Masters of Men " and the fact that naval officers praise it as the most realistic and faithful depiction of naval life that has been screened, is an assurance to the exhibitors and fans of the picture's authenticity, say the producers. In Minneapolis there was held a parade to which the Navy Contributed a Naval Reserve Band and in which the Minneapolis Naval Marine Post No. 472 marched, carrying the ship's bell of the U.S.S. Minneapolis, of SpanishAmerican War fame. There was a float on which was mounted the 24-sheet and two men dressed as naval blue-jackets boxed. This scene was taken from the picture where Cullen Landis as Halnin wins a decision in a boxing bout on board ship. One hundred thousand persons saw this " Masters of Men " parade. Adjutant Abbott of the United States Navy Recruiting Station in Los Angeles is lending every co operation to the theatre showing of " Masters of Men " in that city. He has supplied Vitagraph with various warship equipment such as signal pennants, torpedoes, big gun shells, etc. He will also detail for the theatre a guard of honor during the run of the picture, it is said. Metro Aids for African Animal Picture The Metro offices in New York and every Metro exchange is affording every possible aid to the exhibitors in putting Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson's "Trailing African Wild Animals," over profitably. A special press shee is already in the hands of the exchanges and is being distributed among exhibitors. This press sheet is replete with newspaper stories of feature interest written especially by several New York writers who are experts in animal life, and describes incidents of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson' big game hunt. Special advertising matter of every description calculated to arouse a natural interest in African wild animals is. also included. The posters and display ads are of unusual selling power, special effort having been put behind " Trailing African Wild Animals" to make it a success in every way. The Winchester Arms Company has ordered every branch of its organization to co-operate with every local exhibitor and to that end has had made a special window display, which it has sent out all over the country. Washington Approves "Tents of Allah" arpHE TENTS OF ALLAH," the E. A. MacManus production, was the feature attraction at the Cosmos Theatre, Washington, last week and proved a great drawing card, according to reports to Associated Exhibitors. Just following the opening of the run, the Washington Herald said: " One of the best of the sheik pictures of the year, ' The Tents of Allah,' dramatic, beautiful and interesting, with Monte Blue, Mary Alden and Mary Thurman in the leading roles, is being shown at the Cosmos theatre for the first time in Washington this week as one of the big fea. . tures of the bill. " It is a romance of Morocco, with an unexpected turn which brings about the happy climax after a number of thrilling episodes. It is well directed and its action moves swiftly and in natural sequence, and there is real drama throughout." Famous Woman Artist Paints Brownie A life size painting of Brownie, the Century Wonder Dog, has just been completed by Miss Graziella Boucher of Seattle. Miss Boucher beside being well known for her studies of animals is also a writer for Art Sections of Washington and Oregon newspapers. The painting which has taken about six months to complete is a splendid study of the clever Century Dog star and copies of it will be used for a press book which Century will issue for Brownie. The portrait which represents Brownie lying in a characteristic pose in the midst of a garden was on exhibition iii one of the principal art galleries of Seattle and was pronounced by Percy Taylor, an able judge of animal portraiture in this country and England, as one of the best studies of a dog that he had ever seen. "Your Friend" Societies are Formed In several cities throughout the United States special societies are being formed in connection with the showing of the Metro S. L. picture, "Your Friend and Mine." These societies are engaged in pointing out the evils resultant from neglect and inattention on the part of many husbands to their wives, the theme presented in a startling manner in the picture itself. In several instances theatre parties for the purpose of viewing the picture have been made up by the members, and publicity propaganda in the way of pamphlets and other literature has been issued broadcast throughout the town and State in which the society operates. The picture is enacted by Willard Mack, Rosemary Theby, Enid Bennett, Allene Ray and other star players.