Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

2690 Motion Picture News Massive Goldwyn Set Is Assured The Goldwyn studios are taking no chances with the largest motion picture set ever constructed at the Culver City studio. The set is a medieval palace, and was built for use in " In the Palace of the King," the historic spectacle of Spain in the sixteenth century which Emmett Flynn is directing. Following completion of the palace, Abraham Lehr, vice-president of the Goldwyn company, contracted for an insurance policy with Behrendt and Levy, insurance brokers. The contract insures King Philip's massive residence for $500,000, and protects it against fire, storms, lightning or, to quote the policy, " any act of God which may damage or destroy the edifice." Mr. Lehr declares that destruction of the palace now would mean more than a $500,000 loss to the company, not only through the cost of the building alone, but also in delay caused in making the picture. Director Flynn and his company, which includes Blanche Sweet, Edmund Lowe, Hobart Bosworth, Pauline Starke, Sam de Grasse, William V. Mong, Aileen Pringle, Lucien Littlefield and Charles Glory, will film scenes about the palace exterior in a few days. "Famous Mrs. Fair" Is Approved Civic Leaders of Paducah Acclaim Production at Private Showing Fisher Will Closely Follow Novels Victor B. Fisher, supervising director of "Youth Triumphant," the initial offering of a series of Fisher Productions, announces a policy of close adaptation of popular novels in all pictures released under this trade mark. "So much criticism has been made against producers who change the original story to such an extent that nothing but the title remains ■ — and sometimes that is changed — that we believe a close adherence to well-known novels will ' meet with the hearty approval of both exhibitors and public," said Mr. Fisher. " Youth Triumphant " has a cast including Virginia Lee Corbin, Anna Q. Nilsson, Raymond Hatten, Joseph Dowling, Kate Price, Claire McDowell, William Boyd, Mary Anderson and other popular players. Preferred Pictures Well Received in England Preferred Pictures are doing an exceptional business in England, according to a letter just received from David L. Blumenfeld, of the Walturdaw Company, Ltd., which handles the Schulberg-Lichtman product abroad. "Shadows," the Tom Forman production in which Lon Chaney is featured at the Regent Theatre, Brighton, he writes, "Queues a hundred yards formed up outside every evening," " attracted by the astounding press notices which the film received." He goes on to say that thirtyfive enthusiastic stories about "Poor Mens' Wives," a Gasnier production for Preferred, appeared in the London dailies during a ten day period. Sales Manager Allen Byre of Walturdaw reports a record number of bookings on this release. TWO hundred men and women, ministers, leaders in club and civic affairs, welfare workers, and those socially prominent, were guests of the Orpheum theatre management at Paducah, Kentucky, several weeks ago at a private showing of Fred Niblo's Metro-Louis B. Mayer picture, " The Famous Mrs. Fair." This was done prior to the run of the picture during the week of April 30th. The result it is said was an avalanche of praise and enthusiasm which was sent broadcast through Paducah by those who had previewed it. Victor Doering, Metro exploitation representative in that territory, arranged the private showing which was the pivot of the entire campaign. Doering enlisted the aid of the " News Democrat " the leading Paducah paper, which in addition to giving the picture unusual space for press material all through the run, conducted a symposium among the townspeople as to the moral question involved in " The Famous Mrs. Fair " and a spread of advertising in which nine leading merchants co-operated. The advertising was tied up with a cut-up puzzle of a scene distributed through the ads for which prizes in money and tickets were given if properly put together. " The Famous Mrs. Fair " was unanimously endorsed by Paducah. It was cited by the press and by the public as an unusual and brilliant achievement and a great credit to the industry. " The Famous Mrs. Fair " is from the stage play of the same name by James Forbes. It was adapted to the screen by Frances Marion and photographed by Charles J. Van Enger. It is a Metro-Louis B. Mayer attraction released by Metro Pictures Corporation. ' 'Counterfeit Love" Due in June Elaborate Setting For "Green Goddess" Distinctive Pictures Corporation claims to have built the largest set ever constructed at an Eastern studio for the mob scene in "The Green Goddess," now well under way at the Distinctive production plant in the Bronx. It is an entire section of a Himalayan mountain town, showing the principal street going up a hillside. On top of the hill is the palace of the Rajah, the part played by George Arliss. Clark Robinson, Art Director, designed the set after a study of Hindoo architecture to which he devoted many months. The building and decorations were done under the supervision of Mr. Robinson, Frank Muchmore, the scene painter, and Roshanara, the East Indian dancer, who is in charge of the technical detail on the picture. At the base of the hill are homes of the people. Further on up the slope are bazaars and public buildings, lining both sides of the street. Alice Joyce, David Powell and Harry T. Morey play the roles of the victims of the mob's frenzy. "The Green Goddess" will be distributed by Goldwyn and Cosmopolitan. Murray Garsson w of Romance, Crooks COUNTERFEIT love and counterfeit money are pitted against honor, real affection, and the indomitable will of a high-strung Southern girl, in "Counterfeit Love," the Playgoers Special, whose release has been set for June 10. This five-reel feature, described as a thrilling melodrama of romance, crooks and horse racing, is presented by Murray W. Garrson. The locale of the action is Dixieland, with the picturesque background of a county fair as the scene of the big dramatic climax — a nerve-wrecking race, upon the result of which hangs the fate of the fortune and life happiness of the heroine, a belle of the South. Ralph Ince directed the production and in the list of players are Joe King, Marion Swayne, Norma Lee, Jack Richardson and Alexander Giglio. Mary Shelley, whose father had once been a prosperpous breeder of race horses, assumed the burden of maintaining the Shelley household when the father died penniless. She had a crippled sister and a shell-shocked brother to provide for. To the community drifted a handsome and apparently wealthy stranger, who proceeded to make love to the Southern beauty. Almost coincidentally Mary was advised that a note owing the bank was almost due and could not be renewed. The big county fair was an event of deep importance to the Shelleys, for Mary had entered in the grand . sweepstakes the one thoroughbred remaining from the once extensive stable, and on the result seemed to depend the retention of the old homestead. The Shelley entry led until the last lap wa reached — then collapsed, almost in front of the grandstand. The fascinating stranger took advantage of the financial stress of ill Present Drama and Horse Racing the family to press his suit with Mary, and she, with the happiness of her sister and brother in mind, finally accepted his offer of marriage. A flood of counterfeit money had poured into the town and some of it was traced to the Shelley home. At about the same time a man was brutally assaulted and circumstantial evidence pointed to Mary's brother as the criminal, but all turns out well. Principal Creates New Theatre Department Principal Pictures Corporation has made an intensive study of the theatre owner's problems and as a direct result they have organized a department comprised of five experienced and successful showmen whose sole duties are the conception and preparation of advertising material which may be depended upon to bring results at the box office. The exhibitor aids which Sol and Irving M. Lesser are supplying with their Super Five Series include the following: an elaborate line of lithographic paper executed by the Otis Company, the sketches for which were made by Prival who was especially aommissioned for this work by Irving M. Lesser; hand painted and gold carbon lobby photos made by Ullman Mfg. Co., who also made the two-color rotogravure press books; complete musical programs arranged by James Bradford ; a series of three slides for each production; beautiful lobby frames by Krauss ; miniature photos, 2x3 inches, to be given to patrons, these being actual photographs of striking scenes from the photodrama. A portion of the advertising helps supplied, are a fourpage, full newspaper size, rotogravure section which has been completed for " The Spider And The Rose." Penwomen Endorse "The Famous Mrs. Fair" The Fred Niblo screen production of "The Famous Mrs. Fair," which is a Metro-Louis B. Mayer attraction, has received the official endorsement of the League of American Penwomen through its resident, Mrs. Louis N. Geldert, who is also chairman of the department of fiction of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Following a special viewing at the studios of Mrs. Harriet Hawley Locher, .director of public service and educational department, Crandall Theatre, Washington, D. C, the following telegram was received by Fred Niblo at Los Angeles. "Mrs. Louis N. Geldert, national president of the League of American Penwomen and a company of distinguished guests representing the General Federation of Women's Clubs today witnessed a preview of "The Famous Mrs. Fair." The picture was endorsed with unqualified praise by the representative women present." Doug's "Robin Hood" at Mikado's Theatre For the first time in the history of the Japanese empire a motion picture has been shown in Tokio at the Imperial theatre, which is owned by the royal family and recognized as the most famous playhouse in the Orient. The picture was "Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood," a United Artists release, and represented the introduction of this feature to the populace in the Land of the Rising Sun. In order to present this production at the Imperial theatre it was necessary to cancel the engagement of a very famous Japanese drama which had been booked for the time given over to the Fairbanks film. This arrangement was effected through the good graces of Baron Okura. The musical score for the picture was effective.