Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

3188 Motion Picture News ProductionDistribution Activities Massive Sets for Jackie's Next Irene Rich, who plays a leading role in C. B. C.'s Columbia picture, "Yesterday's Wife." U. S. Sailors Approve "Counterfeit Love" That the " sport of Kings " is also the " sport of Jacks " is the latest discovery of those whose mission it is to provide entertainment for the boys of Uncle Sam's navy. Down in Panama, where several thousand Yankee tars are stationed as the first line of defense in the protection of the inter-oceanic waterway, a motion picture popularity contest was held recently. Many photoplays had been submitted to the men, but, by an overwhelming majority, "Counterfeit Love," the Playgoers Special, an early print of which had been sent to the Isthmus was voted the best, according to Playgoers. The feature in this entertainment which made the greatest appeal to the jackies was the thrilling horse race which is its climax. Not only did the sailors vote " Counterfeit Love " the year's best picture, but they took occasion to proclaim the turf game only second to baseball as America's greatest sport. Rebuild Paris Streets For "Scaramouche" Three hundred carpenters, many of them working double shifts, have been busy two weeks on the construction of a mile of Paris streets at the Metro studios to be used in filming " Scaramouche," Rafael Sabatini's famous historical novel, which is serving as Rex Ingram's newest production. It will be at least three more weeks before the street is completed. Besides the carpenters there are between 40 and 50 plasterers and about 75 painters and scenic artists. " Scarmouche " is a Rex Ingram production for Metro Pictures Corporation by arrangement with Charles L. Wagner. It was adapted for the screen by Willis Goldbeck and photographed by John F. Seitz. First Productio Being Conducted S OME marvelous exterior sets ^ are being erected for Jackie Coogan's first picture for Metro, "Long Live the King," by Mary Roberts Rinehart. First of all is the great palace, which is said to be an exact duplicate of the castle of Neuschwanstein in Bulgaria. The set will occupy 240,000 square feet of ground, built up to a height of 70 feet, with battlements 20 feet higher, according to Metro. The castle fronts on the central square of the city of Lavonia, which will show the intersection of two streets lined with buildings and shops of various kinds. There is also a huge viaduct, and fountains that splash before the opera house and the cathedral, which also front on the square. The opera house is modelled after its prototype in Dresden, and the cathedral after the famous one in Herzegovini. This cathedral is located on a ramp or up-hill street, which leads to a height of 30 feet above level. The cathedral rises to a height of 60 feet above this hill, and its spires i for Metro Is on Lavish Scale are 60 feet higher. Another important building which fronts on the square is the inn, where several of the principal characters dwell, and in whose cellars the conspirators hold their secret meetings. Some idea of the vastness of these sets can be gained from the fact that over 350 men in all are employed just on this production; electricians, carpenters, plasterers, tinners, plumbers, modellers, propmakers, set dressers, painters, landscape gardeners and general laborers. On the interior sets the average number of men employed from day to day includes 50 carpenters, 25 painters, 25 electricians, and 10 helpers and property men. "Long Live the King" is being directed by Victor Schertzinger under the personal supervision of Jack Coogan, Senior. G. Gardner Sullivan made the screen adaptation, and Eve Unsell prepared the scenario. J. J. Hughes is art director and Frank Good and Robert Martin are at the camera. "Main Street" Meets Approval Reviewers Comment Favorably Following New York Strand Showing NEW York newspaper reviewers commented favorable on Warner Brothers' picturization of Sinclair Lewis' novel, "Main Street," following the opening engagement June 10 of the two weeks run at the Strand Theatre. The picture is to be held over for Fall release. Excerpts from the criticisms follow : Telegram: "One of the most interesting cinema's of the season. It is not only true to life but it has a rich vein of humor and through the story runs a pretty romance in which Florence Vidor and Monte Blue share the honors. If you want a good laugh go up to the strand.' Sun : " 'Main Street' is an admirable picture. The types are perfect. It is beautifully acted, and it follows the book to a greater extent than Sinclair Lewis had any reason to hope for." Morning Telegraph : "There are many factors in the screen version of 'Main Street,' to recommend it as a fine picture. On the whole it is a well presented." Evening World : "Frankly, we like 'Main Street' as a photoplay and really think we did more so because of Harry Beaumont's direction and the acting of Florence Vidor, Monte Blue, Harry Myers, Noah Beery and Alan Hale than because it was written by Sinclair Lewis." Evening Journal : "As a picture, 'Main Street,' is one of the most significant character studies that the screen has had in months." Tribune : "Why, at the end you realize that the picture has been made for residents of Gopher Prairie all over the world, and they are going to love it and say, 'Isn't it true to life, the way those city girls have such crazy ideas !' The cast is splendid." American : "Palatable and entertaining. It is as if the film literally enveloped the story much as a capsule envelopes quinine, eliminating the objectionable irritation." World : "The stage version never could have approached the picturization in its completeness." "Penrod and Sam" Has Unique First Run According to First National, " Penrod and Sam " has been given ■ the only first run in the history of the industry for which protection was not demanded. The exhibitor in this case was the United States Shipping Board and the theatre was the grand salon of the reconditioned S. S. Leviathan, which left on June 19th from Boston for a trial trip to Cuba. " Penrod and Sam " was selected by the officials as part of the entertainment program for the several hundred guests aboard the ship. Incidently this marks the first time that a production has received its world premiere on shipboard. Spec O'Donnell, whose clever work in " Main Street " has won him stardom with Warner Bros. "Alice Adams" Winning Much Praise Florence Vidor's picturization of Booth Tarkington's prize-winning novel, " Alice Adams," is winning encomiums from authors and others as one photoplay whose outstanding merit is its fidelity to the original, according to Associated Exhibitors. Critics agree that in this feature the word picture which Mr. Tarkington painted is accurately reproduced on the screen. The Herald, of Lexington, Ky., says : " The service the screen does to art and literature has never been more strikingly demonstrated than in the production of ' Alice Adams,' which was seen at the Alamo Sunday, and which delighted and impressed the crowds that beheld it." The Kansas City Star commented, " ' Alice Adams,' as the heroine of Booth Tarkington's novel by that name, was a delightful sort of person. Florence Vidor makes her just as delightful on the screen." The Kansas City Post said: " ' Alice Adams ' is the best photoplay on display this week." Burr Completes Sale on "You Are Guilty" Skirboll Brothers, of Gold Seal Productions of Cleveland, closed a contract last week with C. C. Burr, president of Mastodon Films, Inc., for the territorial rights on " You Are Guiily " for the states of Ohio and Kentucky. " You Are Guilty " is the Edgar Lewis production produced for Mr. Burr in which James Kirkwood, Doris Kenyon, Edmund Breeze, Robert Edeson, Mary Car-r and little Russell Griffin play the leading roles.