Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

August ii, 1923 641 Svengali OlGN seen in front of a promi^ nent motion picture theatre on Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, last week: " Can a Woman Love Twice on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday? " SEVERAL seasons have elapsed since James Young directed the first " Trilby " with Clara Kimball Young in the title role. In those days there was no fear of censorship with the result that Du Maurier's celebrated artist's model could pose almost au naturel. The new version of " Trilby " may not be so bold — and it may miss some of the vitality of characterization as a result, but it is a far better picture — one directed with real sympathetic treatment for the tragic romance of Trilby and Little Billee — and the malign influence which exerted over the model with his hypnotic eyes. It's a picture revealing a colorful tapestry of the famous Latin Quarter — a picture finely staged and acted. Andree Lafayette, brought over from France for the occasion, makes a charming Trilby — one who suggests the elusive quality of the novel. Arthur Edwin Carewe's Svengali is as sinister a portrayal as has ever been shown on a canvas — a study so uncanny, so repellant as to be positively fascinating. The producers have made two endings — one, unhappy, in faith with the original — the other a conventional, happy finish to satisfy those patrons who insist on smiling when they say Goodby. ^ ^ WHAT we predicted about Paramount 's " Hollywood " is bearing fruit at the New York Rivoli. The S. R. 0. sign is up and the head doorman is having a difficult time keeping the customers in line. This exceptional picture will create box-office records everywhere. The whimsical story, the humor, the title and the long list of stars and celebrities — these combined will stimulate deep interest in any community that harbors a film theatre. Those who live in tha open country far from a center of amusement will make the pilgrimage by auto, or buggy, or bicycle — and some will come on foot. Get it quick, boys! # # * E> EPRINTED from F. P. A.'s column, The Conning Tower, ■* in the New York World of last Tuesday: — For Sale — Equipment and lease of theatre in good town, doing good business; cheap for cash, or will tetke automobile in trade. Address Box 73, Bird Island, Minn. • # * BILL HART didn't have to go on the screen to test his popularity with the masses. He made his " come-back " and " stopped the show " at a gathering of film celebrities brought together in honor of Actor's Fund Day of the Monroe Doctrine Centennial and Motion Picture Exposition. This marked his first bow since the announcement of his return to pictures. Stars present were introduced and acknowledged the cheers of the thousands gathered in the Stadium. But when Bill's name rang out the crowd went wild with enthusiasm. He made several bows and shouted " Hello ! " to the crowd. But the throng was not satisfied. They wanted more of him. Finally he was half escorted and half dragged from his box to the center of the arena, and there he stood while the crowd continued its noisy tribute. " I have had many a happy moment in my life," Hart said to a friend after his return to his box, " but that was the Index to Departments Editorial 639 Pictures and People 640-641 General News and Special Feature 641-651 Chicago and Mid-West ..678 Comedies, Short Subjects and Serials 652-654a Current Opinion on Short Subjects 668 Construction and Equipment 693-697 Exhibitor's Bex-Office Reports 654d Exhibitor's Service Bureau 658-667 Feature Release Chart 698-700 First-Run Theaters 655-657 Pre-Release Reviews of Features 669-672 Production-Distribution Activities. 686-692 Regional News from Correspondents 679-685 Studio and Player Brevities 677 happiest moment I ever have had or ever expect to have." The two-gun man of the screen will start work soon on his first picture since his retirement. " William S. Hart in Wild Bill Hickok " is the title. The star recently signed a long-term contract with Famous Players. * * * A DAPTING picture plays -O" from the famous songs of yesterday has been going on apace for some years. Charles K. Harris, in particular, has had great luck in having his songs come forth in a new disguise. Probably because the titles and lyrics are rich in heart interest may be the reason for their screen adaptations — not forgetting the appeal. We've had " Just a Song at rwihght," " The Old Oaken Bucket," and others of a sentimental flavor/ We are wondering when " Yes, We Have No Bananas,'* is produced, whether it will be a colorful journey m the land where bananas grow, or a slapstick farce built around a swarthy fruit-dealer selling a banana to a fat man and the latter slipping on the peel. * * # n/f ARCUS LOEW left New York recently on the Leviathan for a tour of the European countries. He expects to be away several weeks, combining business with pleasure. He is accompanied by Mrs. Loew. During his stay abroad the president of Metro will arrange for the foreign distribution of his company's output. CHANNING POLLOCK, the playwright, and author of the Broadway success, " The Fool," has said that the theatre is valuable as a therapeutic agent in curing ills. There is no question that the statement will be seconded in some quarters. Many will testify that it frequently offers a cure for insomnia. This goes for screen as well as stage attractions. A cure should be found however for the tardy patron who is ever in possession of the wrong seat — another should be found for the claque and coughers — and still another for the pest who reads subtitles aloud. >r< VfAT ROTHSTEIN, who is never so happy as when he is -L> engaged in work with General Publicity at his desk, or with Colonel Par and Major Bogey on the golf links, has left his various tasks on Mahogany and Green severely alone. Nat is now camping out at Grants, Maine — 578 miles from New York — a spot far north of the Rangeley Lakes which is so doggone wild that he has to stand behind a tree to bait his hook. F. B. 0. 's chief of the exploiteers has seen some deer and a black bear or three. The big game is so plentiful that he expects to bag a few wild elephants — to say nothing of that nifty fruit picker — the giraffe. Any time that Nat gets tired of his desk he can qualify as a good location man for a director staging pictures of the vast, open spaces. The postal looks like a vista from (must we repeat it?) God's Vast Cathedral. # # # J ESS ROBBINS, the director who fashioned those richly J human documents, " Too Much Business," and " A Front Page Story," for Vitagraph, is vacationing in New York and using some of his idle hours in talking over business matters. Z>ERT ADLER has resigned from Distinctive to accept a 7"* position with J. D. Williams of Ritz-Carlton.