Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

2640 Motion Picture News Selznick Acquires Am. Releasing Co Unification of Sales Forces Means Strong, Economical Distribution Channel THE operating: activities of the American Releasing Corporation have been transferred to the recently reorganized Selznick Distributing Corporation, according to announcement made by the latter organization. The transfer became effective May 22 and was accomplished through the efforts of Utiea and Los Angeles banking groups. Complete and immediate elimination of a nation-wide system of twenty-four American Releasing branch offices and the partial unification of sales forces of the two organizations means the immediate creation of a greatly strengthened national physical distributor in the Selznick company and a saving in operation of more than .$500,000 a year in previously maintained expense, according to the announcement. \Y. C. J. Doolittle, president of Selznick and representing the Utica Investment Company holdings; Motley H. Flint, vice-president of the Pacific-Southwest Trust and Savings Bank of Los Angeles; W. E. Greene, president, and F. B. Warren, vice-president of American Releasing, closed this unexpected negotiation as a step in line with bankers' well-grounded opinion that there are too many separate distributing physical plants in the motion picture industry. There will be no interruption of seivice and all contracts now in force will be executed by the Selznick organization in exact accordance with the terms under which they were issued by American, it is said. This applies equally to the product now in the branches and that which is scheduled for future release. As a matter of fact in several territories such as Indianapolis, New Orleans and Salt Lake City, much better and more economical services can be rendered to exhibitors because Selznick already has well established exchanges at these points which heretofore had to be handled by American from more distant cities. In addi tion the Albany exchange of American wil probably be continued. Vitagraph Planning Many Productions VITAGRAPH anticipates an exceptional boom in the Fall, and as a consequence announces twenty-four special productions by J. Stuart Blackton, Whitman Bennett, David Smith, Jess Robbins and other directors. In addition to these and the regular productions there will be eight comedies based on the Sam Hellman stories in the Saturday Evening Post. President Albert E. Smith announced these activities on his return from the coast. The special productions will include six made under the personal supervision of Commodore Blackton, six specials from the Whitman Bennett studios, six by David Smith at the Hollywood Studios and six others with specially engaged directors. The Chester International Pictures Company will furnish the series of eight two-reel comedies based on the Sam Hellman stories. Work already has begun on the latter, the first of which will be the golf story, " A Twosome at Tuara." Of the immediate productions, " The Alibi," with Alice Calhoun, Cullen Landis, Percy Marmont and Joseph Kilgour has been completed. The first Bennett production will be " Loyal Lives." Schildkraut Engaged For "Master of Man " Joseph Schildkraut, the young Viennese actor whose rise to stardom on the American stage has been so rapid, will play the leading role in Victor Seastrom's first production for Goldwyn Pictures, a film version of Sir Hall Caine's latest novel, " The Master of Man." Schildkraut is a famous son of a famous father. Rudolph Schildkraut is known as one of the most capable character actors of Europe, and has acted in New York in various productions. The younger Schildkraut closed last week a very successful engagement in, the Theatre Guild's* production of Ibsen's " Peer Gynt " in which he played the title role— the part acted by Richard Mansfield just before his death. Mae Buseh will play the role of Bessie Collister. De Witt C. Jennings has been engaged for a prominent part. Seastrom started photography this week. Sam Wood Prepares for New Production Sam Wood has arrived in New York from the West Coast to begin preparations for his forthcoming production of " His Children's Children," Arthur Train's story which Monte M. Katterjohn is adapting for the screen. The picture will be started at the company's Eastern studio early in June. The only member of the cast, which will an all-star one, so far chosen is George Fawcett. Mr. Wood was accompanied to New York by Mr. Katterjohn, John Walters, his assistant, and Al Gilks, cameraman. AllStar Cast Signed for Cummings Production An all-star cast has been engaged by Irving Cummings for " Broken Hearts of Broadway," which he will produce in Hollywood. Colleen Moore, Johnnie Walker, Alice Lake. 'Fully Marshall, Kate Price, Creighton Hale, Arthur Stewart Hull, Freeman Wood, and Anthony Merlo are included in the cast, Mr. Cummings announced this week. The story is adapted by Hope Loring and Louis Duryea Lighton from an old play. The producer announces that he will bring the film to New York for a Broadway premiere upon completion. U. S. Navy Drama Under Way at Fox Studios Among the pictures now under way at the William Fox eastern studios is a drama of the United States Navv which bears the working title of " The Silent Command." The easl is headed by Edmund Lowe and Alma Tell, the direction being in the hands of J. Gordon Edwards. The story contains an international spy an■Je and is the brain child of Iwit'us King. Anthony Paul Kelly made the M-enario. "Six Cylinder Love" is in Production ff£iIX CYLINDER LOVE," with ^ Ernest Truex, a combinotion which made Broadway laugh for full year will be seen in a William Fox picture, now in course of production. It is said to closely follow the William Anthony McGuire stage play. Elmer Clifton is directing. Others in addition to Truex of the original play, who will be seen in the picture are, Donald Meek, Ralph Slippery and Berton Churchill. Miss Florence Eldridge will be seen opposite Truex. Other members of the cast are, Anne McKittrick, Grace Gordon Margaret Milton, Thomas Mitchell, H. J. Mann and Frank Tweddell. Two New F.B.O. Productions Are Under Way Production was started last week at the Powers studios on two scripts, " Alimony," an original story by A. T. Locke, and " So This is Hollywood," by Witwer who was responsible for the " Fighting Blood " stories. Emile Chautard will handle the direction of '" Alimony," the continuity having been written by Macnus Ingleton. The cast consists of Ruby Miller, Warner Baxter, Jackie Saunders, George Cowle, Cylde Filmore, Vola Vale and William Carrol. The story of " So This is Hollywood " is all about a trip to that famous port by a party of professional boxers who ignorantly break up a movie fight scene and consequently are offered jobs as picture actors. Beatrice Van is responsible for the continuity while the direction is being handled by Malcolm St. Clair. Those in the cast to date include George O'Hara, Albert Cooke and Kit Guard. Production Completed on Hoot Gibson Special Production has been completed at Universal City on "Pure Grit," Hoot Gibson's latest starring vehicle, which was directed by Edward Sedgwick. It was adapted to the screen by Sedgwick from a Blue Book magazine story, " Blinky," by Gene Markey. The play is the fourth of a series of feature productions starring Gibson under Sedgw ick's direction. The Gibson-Sedgwick unit will begin work shortly on another production, written especially for the star by his director. Supporting Gibson in " Pure Grit " are Esther Ralston, DeWitt Jennings, Elinor Field, Mathilde Brundage, Donald Hatswell, Charles K. French, John Judd, William E. Lawrence and W. T. MeCulley. Cast Selected for "The Unknown Purple" M. H. Hoffman, head of the Truart organization, stated that the cast which is to appear in the screen version of " The Unknown Purple " is practically completed. Roland West who wrote the original stage play will also direct the picture. Mr. West has spent considerable time in selecting his cast. The list of players will be headed by Henry B. Walthall, Alice Lake, Ethel Gray Terry, Helen Ferguson, Brinsley Shaw, Stuart Holmes and Richard Wayne. Other members of the cast are Frank Currier and Johnny Arthur. It is expected that work on " The Unknown Purple " will soon be started.