Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

2552 Motion Picture News Will Rogers to Start Pathe Series Soon WLL ROGERS has notified Pathe that he will leave New York for the Pacific Coast on June 3, and will start work on the first of his two-reel comedies on June 11. Rogers' engagement under the Pathe-Hal Roach contract, made several months ago, stars him in a series of thirteen comedies, to be delivered at intervals of 28 days, work on the first to be begun within ten days after he leaves New York for the Coast. Mack Sennett Rushes ''Extra Girl" Mack Sennett's forthcoming comedy drama, " The Extra Girl," with Mabel Normand as the star, is progressing rapidly. Miss Normand and others of the company are working daily from early till late. The filming of interior scenes has been completed, and the company is about ready to go out on location lor exteriors. In these scenes the mid-Western little town of River Bend will he reproduced, according to previously announced plans, in the upper region of the Sacramento river where Sennett location experts have prepared the way for the players with Miss Normand. Maud Hill Is Signed for "Six Cylinder Love" Maud Hill, one of the most versatile and popular players on the screen has completed her work as the witch in "The Scarecrow," a Film Guild Production, starring Glenn Hunter. It will be distributed by Hodkinson. The completion of the picture does not mean that Miss Hill will enjoy a vacation. Practically before the last scene has been "shot"' the Fox Film Corporation had engaged her for a leading role in "Six Cylinder Love." Ernest Truex will be the featured member of the cast selected by Elmer Clifton, director of "Down to the Sea in Ships," who will also direct the screen version of the Broadway play. "Isle of Lost Ships" Is Praised Maurice Tourneur's Drama of the Sea is Well Received by N. Y. Reviewers MYURTCE Tourneur's drama of :he sea, "The Isle of Lost Ships," has won a high place among the list of big pictures of the season as far asthe New York newspaper critics are concerned. The production had its Metropolitan career on Sunday, May 13th, at the Broadway Strand. "We recommend it heartily to all lovers of excitement, romance and of the unusual," writes P. W. Gallico, in the Daily News. "Against a background that fires the imagination, Director Tourneur has told a fast-moving story that captures and holds one completely." "The production holds one from the opening scene to the last few feet of the film," wrote the New YorkTimes critic— "It is a good story and in the hands of Maurice Tourneur it is given every possibility on the film. Tourneur's spark is obvious throughout the photoplay, and some of the scenes of the storm at sea are as good as any if not better than have been put into other pictures." Under the heading of "Great Sea Tale at the Strand," the Evening Telegram writes : "Here at the Strand Theatre is something novel and stirring in motion pictures. Real romance that has an air of actuality even in its wildest moments holds the onlooker spellbound. 'The Isle of Lost Ships' is just the sort of hair raising story that an old salt tells as he sits ashore, between voyages, puffing on his old pipe and drawing on fact and fiction." The Evening Sun reviewer starts his criticism by announcing that " 'The Isle of Lost Ships' at the Strand, is a real thriller. This sea story, directed by Maurice Tourneur, is a fascinating picture fraught with beauty and full of excitement. There are views of ships silhouetted against tropical skies, of. beautiful wind swept seas and fights galore, and there is a rousing scene of a submarine struggling upward thru a sea of weeds to the water's surface with seemingly half of the Kelp of the Sargasso Sea strewn over her topsides." "Maurice Tourneur," writes Harriet Underhill in the New York Tri bune, "has managed to produce the most realistic storm at sea and subsequent wreck we ever saw. The island itself is so well produced that one has the weirdest feeling of tramping about over crumbling boats and dead men's bones." "Going Up" is Nearing Completion The cutting, editing and titling of "Going Up," Douglas MacLean's screen adaptation of the Cohan and Harris musical comedy success and his first independent production for Associated Exhibitors, are practically completed, according to news from the west coast, and it is expected the finishing touches will be placed on the comedy within the next two or three weeks. The release length of the picture will be approximately 6000 feet. George J. Crone, who edited a number of previous Douglas MacLean pictures, is in charge of the editing of this starring feature, while the sub-titles, aside from those which were taken from the musical comedy itself, are being written by Raymond Griffith, who adapted the story for use on the screen. The photoplay was directed by Lloyd Ingraham, with photography by Ross Fisher, Mr. MacLean's supporting cast includes, among others. Marjorie Daw, Edna Murphy, Hallam Cooley, Hughie Mack, and Francis MacDonald. French Territory Sold on "One Week of Love" Mr. E. J. Doolittle, Manager of the Foreign Department of Selznick Distributing Corporation, reports the sale of the French territory for "One Week of Love" to Gaumont, Paris, the negotiations being handled by M. S. Costil ; also the sale of the Flynn Series to Albion Cinema Supplies, Ltd., London, for the entire United Kingdom ; and the "Branded Four" serial for several South American territories to the American Trade Association. Neva Gerber, starring in the new Arrow serial, "The Santa Fe Trail." Hope Hampton Off To Do "Gold Diggers" Hope Hampton, who has been engaged by the Warner Brothers to play the leading role in the picturization of David Belasco's stage play, "The Gold Diggers," will leave this Saturday, May 19, for the Warner Coast studios to begin active work on the production. The scenario of "The Gold Diggers," written by Grant Carpenter, has been approved by Mr. Belasco. From present indications the picture will be started shortly after the arrival of Mr. Belasco and Lenore Ulric on the coast early in June. By this time, Sam and Jack Warner, production manager, expect to have lined up the entire cast which will be subjected to the approval of the theatrical producer. "The Gold Diggers" will be directed by Harry Beaumont. World Rights Sold on G. B. G. Features Absolutely 100 per cent sales on " More To Be Pitied," and " Only a Shopgirl," the first two of the all star features on the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation series, is the record this company has concluded during the season, they announce. This average covers not only the United States, but all foreign countries as well. Joseph Simonds has contracted for the entire world foreign rights on the C. B. C. product. LUDWIG G.B.ERB, PRESIDENT ERBOGRAPHI trade mark reg u s. pat off. MOTION PICTURE DEVELOPING AND PRINTING TELEPHONE AUDUBON 3716 203 to 211 W. 146 ™ St., New York City