Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

I une 30, 1923 3193 "Safety Last" Raises School Funds ANOTHER was added last week to the long list of educational and other institutions which have profited from showings of the Harold Lloyd Associated Exhibitor s' attra ction, " Grandma's Boy," when two entertainments with this photoplay as the central feature were given at St. Vincent's School. Madison, N. J. The showings were under the auspices of the Eighth grade, and, according to a report received by Associated Exhibitors, " netted a large amount to the fund being raised by the class to present the school with a gift at the close of the present term." CB.C. Lining Up Feature Casts All Around Strength Plan of Joe Brandt For Next Three Productions Mae Murray Starts on "Conquest" Although her present visit to New York was undertaken with the obvious intent of securing relaxation from the arduousness of her work in " The French Doll," lecently completed in Hollywood, Mae Murray and her director-husband, Robert Z. Leonard, have nevertheless reverted to type. During the past several weeks Miss Murray and Mr. Leonard have taken advantage of their presence in New York and have shot many exterior scenes of metropolitan atmosphere which figure prominently in Miss Murray's next picture, " Conquest." Miss Murray and Mr. Leonard will leave New York at the end of next week for Hollywood where they will continue the production of " Conquest " at the Metro studios. " Conquest " was written by Sada Cowan and Howard Higgins and will be one of Miss Murray's most elaborate productions of the coming Fall season. " The French Doll," which Miss Murray brought with her to New York, is from the famous Paris and New York stage success acted here in Miss Murray's role by Irene Bordoni. It was adapted from the French to the English stage by A. E. Thomas and scenarioized for Miss Murray by Frances Marion. It is a Robert Z. Leonard presentation through Metro and is sponsored by Tiffany Productions of which Mr. Leonard is director general and M. H. Hoffman, general manager. Estelle Taylor Signs With Thomas Estelle Taylor, who has the feminine lead in Richard, Thomas' production, " Phantom Justice," will have one of the stellar roles in Mr. Thomas' next " special," which is now being put in continuity by Burnell Manly, who adapted Daniel Frederick Whitcomb's story of " Phantom Justice " to screen purposes. Miss Taylor will return to the Thomas' banner when she completes her role, a highly emotional characterization, in Paramount's " Ten Commandments," which Cecil DeMille is filming. THAT the casts of the next three productions on the C. B. C. special series will be distinguished by a uniform strength throughout, is the announcement from Joe Brandt, president of C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation, who is now at the company's West Coast studios lining up the plans for an extensive Fall program. They will follow the policy established by the casts of " More to be Pitied," " Only a Shop Girl," and " Temptation." In each of these casts that were strong in name and personality, and picked especially for the roles, were the rule. On his way to the Coast Mr. Brandt stopped off at various key cities to interrogate franchise holders and exhibitors regarding casts of this kind as against the " single star" cast and found the majority overwhelmingly in favor of the gen erally strong casts of corresponding prominence. " With the wonderful bookings I found all along the line I was convinced we were on the right track," he said. " The biggest theatres everywhere — houses that never before were open to Independent pictures have played our features this year — because of the big stories, big casts, big ideas that have gone into their making'." " Kunsky's in Detroit, The Stanley Company in Philadelphia, The Chicago in Chicago, and many other big people who have run our ' Temptation ' and ' Only a Shop Girl ' this year have given us confidence that we were right. We are going along on the same plan for the Fall in planning the next three features — except that our plans call for bigger stories, bigger casts, bigger sets, and a greater artistic and monetary expansion." "Star Pictures Over '; Schulberg Train New Talent L Says Preferred P TN a statement made this week B. A P. Schulberg, president of Preferred Pictures, says that the day of the star picture is over. " The public," said Schulberg, " is no longer interested in seeing a story manhandled so that the star can have the stage to himself (or herself). The public is no longer interested in the star's curls alone; what it wants is a logical coherent story, with skilled actors interpreting the necessary roles. One star and ten extras no longer make a picture. " This new situation undoubtedly means better pictures; but it also means extra difficulties for the producer. There are to-day only some thirty-odd players who can be classified as stars. With the bidding for their services constantly going on, there arises the problem of training new stars. " It would be splendid if we had minor leagues, so to speak, whence we could draw upon new material. That not being the case, each producer will now be compelled to develop his own stars. " As the nucleus for coming productions, I have three players under long-term contracts; Gaston Glass, whose work in ' Humoresque,' ' The Hero' and 'The Girl Who Came Back' have established him, Kenneth Harlan, who has just signed up again with me ; and Ethel Shannon, who is my own find. " For Glass and Harlan, I can claim no credit; both were established players long before they appeared in Preferred Pictures. But Miss Shannon was only an extra when I found her. I watched her carefully, much as a big-league scout watches a new player, and then signed her to a five-year contract. " And then I nursed her along as carefully as John McGraw would nurse a young busher whom he hoped to make a Ty Cobb of. I let her ' sit on the bench ' for a few ike Minor Leaguers, ictures President productions and just see what the regulars were doing. Then I gave her a small part in ' The Hero.' She caught on at once with exhibitors and the fans, and my mail showed me that I hadn't made a mistake. In ' The Girl Who Came Back ' I gave her a slightly bigger part, which she handled more than competently. " Figuring her almost ready to take her place in the regular line-up, I gave her one of the most difficult and important roles in ' Daughters of the Rich,' the first production in which she was featured. " And now I am entrusting her with the leading female role in ' Maytime.' She has earned her success, and I no longer need worry about her. " What I am looking for now is new screen material — men and girls who aren't looking for instantaneous success, who are satisfied to ' warm the bench ' until I am satisfied they are qualified to play with the regulars." Various featured players who will support Glass, Harlan and Miss Shannon in next season's fifteen Preferred Pictures, include Miriam Cooper, Ruth Clifford, Crauford Kent, Walter Long, Edith Yorke, Colleen Moore, Josef Swickard, Vola Vale, Priscilla Bonner, James Corrigan, Myrtle Vane, Kid McCoy. Richard Tucker, and Miss Dupont. "Accidental Husband" Sale Reported " Her Accidental Husband," the Edward Belasco Production, which C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation is distributing, was sold this week to Superior Screen Service of Salt Lake City. Superior will handle the picture, which features Miriam Cooper, Forrest Stanley, and Mitchell Lewis, in the Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and South Idaho territory. "Divorce" Is Booked for Grauman's Rialto t f |-x IVORCE," starring 1 Jane Novak and directed by Chester Bennett, has been booked to Grauman's Rialto theatre for an eight-week run, commencing Tuesday, June 5. With this announcement also comes word from the Powers studios of the starting on Miss Novak's next starring vehicle, titled, "The Lullaby." " The Lullaby " is based on a story by Lillian Ducey in the May first issue of Saucy Stories. Bennett started work on this production Thursday, June 7. So far engaged are Robert Anderson, who played Mons. Cuckoo in " Hearts of the World," and Frederick Maletesta as heavy of the production. The story is an adaption for the screen by Hope Loring and Louis D. Lighton. "Breaking Home Ties" Praised by Pastor Associated Exhibitors is receiving frequent and repeated evidences that its feature, "Breaking Home Ties," though based, in part, on a cherished Jewish song-prayer, is making much more than a merely sectarian appeal. Rev. Carl A. Reetz, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Atkinson, Wis., wrote: "I want to thank you for calling our attention to the picture, 'Breaking Home Ties.' Duratize YOUR FILMS PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR PRINTS Write for sample, or better still, send us a reel of new positive, not waxed, to be Duratized without charge. Duratizing is an economy. Not an expense. DURA FILM PROTECTOR CO. ALLAN A. LOWNES, President 220 W. 42nd St., NEW YORK CITY PHONE: BRYANT 5576 INSIST UPON Duratized FILMS