Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

' 'Sid" Books ' Human Wreckage Mrs. Wallace Reid's Anti-Narcotic Picture Due for Runs in Large Cities 2550 "Is Divorce A Failure?" Praised in Albany Following the opening of the recent Albany run of, " Is Divorce a Failure," the Times-Union of that city, said: " ' Is Divorce a Failure""' now showing at the Clinton Square theatre, is a most timely picture, as it touches on a subject that is being much discussed throughout the United States — the divorce question. However, the patrons of the Clinton Square must not take this to mean that it is a preachy picture, for it is not — it is a drama with four big punches. "Leah Baird, one of the most popular women in filmdom, is seen :n the leading female part. She has been seen in many pictures but' never has she appeared better than in this screen offering. Arthur Beck, who produced the picture, deserves much credit for the production. It is one of the best pictures that will be in Albany this season." The Albany Times said : "The dramatic critic who stamped *ls Divorce A Failure?' a picture of punches knew what he was writing about. This picture, featuring charming Leah Baird, opened at the Clinton Square Monday before one of the biggest houses since Oscar J. Perrin took over the management." This is the first of Miss Baird's 1023 specials for Associated Exhibitors MARION BRAND IN A SUPERB SEE THIS GIGANTIC PHOTOPLAY AND IT WILL HELP VOU SOLVE YOUR. MONEY PROBLEMS Presented by LEE-BRADFORD CORP. 701 SEVENTH AVE., N. Y. C. Available for the State Right Market SID GRAUMAN has broken his established booking rule for his million dollar Hollywood theatre by booking Mrs. Wallace Reid's production, " Human Wreckage," for an indefinate run starting June 1. Negotiations have also been closed with Ackerman-Harris for their theatre in San Francisco to open a short time later. In addition to this a deal has been closed for a loop house in Chicago and a Broadway theatre in New York, all on the strength of "popular opinion." With the announcement of the proposed picture based on the degrading influence of narcotics, hundreds of civic leaders, United States department heads, United States Senators, Governors, social leaders and financiers offered moral and financial assistance. Cabinet and government officials urged that she make the film. Secretary of Labor, James J. Davis. Secretary of the Navy, Edwin Denby, William J. Burns. U. S. Senators David Elkins, (West Virginia). Frank B. Willis, (Ohio), Jos. Irwin France, (Maryland), David I. Walsh, (Massachusetts), Arthur Capper, (Kansas), H. O. Bursom. (New Mexico), Reed Smoot, (Utah), Kenneth Mc Keller, (Tennessee), J. W. Harreld. Miles Poindexter. (Washington), Wesley L. Jones, (Washington), Porter J. McCumber, (North Dakota), Morris Shcpard. (Texas), Fruiflod A LMOST without dissent critics ■fx for the New York newspapers had enthusiastic praise for Charles Ray and his work in "The Girl I Loved," a United Artists release which had its first showing on Broadway May 13 at the Capitol theatre. " 'The Girl 1 Loved' is. we think the greatest contribution to the screen since 'Broken Blossoms'" said Harriette Underhill in the New York Tribune's review. "Take our advice and do not miss this classic, and if you have tears prepare to shed them.' " "Charles Ray has made a really touching and illuminating motion picture," said the reviewer for the Daily News. "It did things to us that no photoplay ever has done In fore. It is really a tremendous picture in what it sets out to do and what it accomplishes through the trite medium of cinematographic art." "If you want to see a unique and charming picture, do not fail to go see Charles Ray's screen version of James Whitomb Riley's poem, 'The Girl I Loved,' " said Dorothy Day in the Morning Telegraph. "Charles Ray comes back into the atmosphere which suits him best in 'The Girl I Loved,'" said Robert E. Sherwood in the New York Herald "Mr. Ray has always been a splendid actor, possessed of sin Simmons (North Carolina), sent telegrams commending the move. Quick to appreciate the powerful influence and appeal connected with the showing of a picture backed by so many and swayed by the interest of the nation at large, Mr. Grauman paid a visit to the studio where the film was in the course of construction and after viewing some of the rushes he booked the production into his million dollar theatre, cancelling an important booking to pencil in "Human Wreckage." To date Mrs. Reid and her associates have almost completed page 3 of the film and on such a scale to make it irresistible, it is said. In addition to Mrs. Reid, who was herself one of the leading lights of the screen before her marriage, the producers of the picture have gathered together such people as James Kirkwood, Bessie Love and Claire McDowell. Kirkwood, in order to take part in the picture, gave up the leading rele in Channing Pollock's "The Fool." in which he created the part. In the midst of "The Great White Way " idolatry, Kirkwood stepped down from his pedestal, turned his part over to his understudy and started for the coast. Newspapers and magazines throughout the country have taken up the cry against narcotics and have given Mrs. Reid columns upon columns of publicity. cerity and a pantomime ability which has lifted him far above the usual average of movie stars; but we doubt that he has ever done anything as good as his performance of the simple country boy of James Whitcomb Riley's poem." "In his love-making scenes in 'The Girl I Loved' Charles Ray is extremely fine," said Quinn Martin in the World, "and it is likely that the strong romantic theme combined with the star's well-wishing following and Patsy Ruth Miller's thoroughly good performance as the leading woman, will go a long way toward re-establishing Mr. Ray as one of the contending young picture players." "Charles Ray's 'The Girl I Loved' is a work of art, and Mr. Ray has never done anything better than his portrayal of John Middleton," said the critic for th" Evening Journal. '"A new Charles Ray — humorous and whimsical as ever but fired with a new force of dramatic power, in 'The Girl I Loved' " said the reviewer for the Evening Telegram. "The atmosphere of the production is excellent, the photography above the average, and the supporting cast, particularly Patsy Ruth Miller, unusually good," wrote the reviewer for the Globe. Motion Picture News Universal Sets Astound Japanese Official "Film production methods of .-\merica are astounding after seeing the same work in Germany, France, Italy and Austria," says S. Shimidzu, Secretary of the Department of Communication, Tokio. who visited Universal City on the last lap of a world tour that took him to practically every large city in Europe. "The American methods are more direct, and they impress an idea by pictures with far less effort — and far less film — than the European producer does. Mechanical methods, too, are far more perfect, although perhaps no more artistic than the German methods." Shimidzu inspected the " Hunchback of Notre Dame " and " MerryGo-Round " sets in detail. The latter aroused keen interest. " I was in Vienna a short time ago, and visited the Prater," he said, "and it is perfectly duplicated at the setting at Universal City. I recognized it at once." Regarding the " Hunchback " set, he said : " I have never seen anything so massive. The front of the cathedral is exactly as it is in Paris today, and the interior practically the same." Four N. Y. Schools Close for k 'Robin Hood" Inducing principals of four of the biggest public schools in New York City to call off classes for half a day that pupils might see " Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood," the United Artists' release, is some accomplishment, but it was put over by H. M. Chamberlain, manager of the Plaza theatre, a Leo Brccher house. Air. Chamberlain arranged for a special forenoon showing of this big feature at ten o'clock on four successive days. At each performance about 1.2D0 school children attended with their principal and teachers. Tickets were distributed among the teachers to be sold to the pupils for fifteen cents each, the theatre donating five of the fifteen cents to the school fund in each instance. The youngsters also were asked to write short essays on " Douglas Fairbanks in " Robin Hood," a cash prize of $5 being given to the best one from each school. Exceptional Tie-ups'For "Playing It'Wild" "Playing It Wild," starring William Duncan and Edith Johnson, is enjoying exceptional tie-ups, it is said. It is a story of a cowboy newspaper editor and newspapers are joining exhibitors in publicity and advertising. An exhibitor in the Middle West was fortunate enough to find a double of William Duncan in his city. He engaged this man to impersonate the Yitagraph star as a cowboy and arranged to have "William Duncan" edit the paper for one day. A facsimile of the newspaper was prepared as a throw aw ay and distributed by the exhibitor. The stunt provided a splendid bit of publicity for the theatre and the newspaper obtained actual benefit in the mutual exploitation scheme. N.Y. Verdict on "Girl I Loved Production and Work of Charles Ray Are Highly Approved by Reviewers