Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

646 M o t i o n Picture N e tu s Mack Sennett and Kane Close Deal Associated Exhibitors Will Distribute Series Starring Mabel Normand MACK SENNETT and Arthur S. Kane, president of Associated Exhibitors, have just signed a contract calling for the distribution by Associated of a series of features starring Mabel Normand. Two, but never to exceed three, productions a year, are to be made, the contract calling for pictures of a super-type, exclusively. Mr. Kane and Mr. Sennett discussed arrangemnts for Associated's distribution of the Mabel Normand features during Mr. Kane's recent business visit to the Pacific Coast, at which time Mr. Sennett's contract with United Artists' Corporation was Hearing its expiration. In the final negotiations E. If. Asher, Mr. Sennett's personal representative in New York, acted for the producer. Announcement was made t lint the first of the Normand features to be distributed by Associated Exhibitors will be " The Extra Girl," the film of which Mack Sennett is now engaged in cutting. The work of production occupied six months. The release date is yet to be set. " The Extra Girl," the story of which is by Mr. Sennett himself, is a comedy-drama, centering about life in a motion picture studio. ! " It is a story," Mack Sennett declared recently, " in which no other than the individual type of personality such as is possessed by Mabel Normand would fit so ideally. I had her in mind constantly in preparing the manuscript, and feel that she fits the title role exactly." 3Iiss Normand herself is no less enthusiastic. u I am truly in love with my part in 4 The Extra Girl,' " she said, just after completing production. "It is a new character to me and vivid in the extreme. While at times it is most vivacious, it never strays far from the strictly sympathetic. It is just such a part as I most love to play, as it gives me opportunity to portray every emotion, and I am confident the story is of the type that will appeal to the public whom we all strive to please in every way." Mr. Sennett, in word which has reached New York from Los Angeles, expressed great gratification at the closing of negotiations with Arthur S. Kane. " I am proud to be affil iated with him," he said. " and I have every confidence that the distribution arrangement with Associated Exhibitors will prove of tremendous advantage. And from a personal as well as a business standpoint I welcome the alliliation." Mr. Kane said: "This transaction is sure to be regarded as one of the most important consummated in the picture industry in a long time. It is a pleasure for Associated to add Mabel Normand to the list of stars whose features we are to distribute. Miss Normand occupies a unique place anions screen artist-, and now that Mr. Sennett has cast her in pictures of the type of ' The Extra Girl,' a yet more brilliant future is assured her. I am more than glad, too. to enter into this close business association with Mack Sennett." in Kirkwood Gets Lead "Wild Oranges" James Kirkwood, who was added to Goldwyn's permanent acting company two or three months ago, has now been assigned to his first part under this contract. It will he the lending male role in Joseph Hergeshehner's " Wild Oranges." which King Vidor has adapted to the screen and which he will direct. Ford Sterling1 is the second actor engaged for " Wild Oranges." He will play a character part and one of great importance to t lie story. This engagement is in the nature of a reward of merit for his excellent acting in " The Spoilers." Director Vidor and his company will leave this week on location near Savannah. Ga., where they will spend about three weeks in the swaifip lands and along the adjacent coast. Millhauser Will Adapt " Lucretia Lombard" Bertram Millhauser has been engaged by Harry Kapf to adapt " Lucretia Lombard," the Kathleen Norris novel which Warner Brothers will soon put into production. This is one of the most successful novels from the pen of Kathleen Norris. Arthur S. Kane, on left, and Mack Sennett, who have joined forces. Cherokee Kid" Signs for "Cameo Kirby" Director John Ford, who is busy making " Cameo Kirby " at the West Coast studios of Fox Film Corporation, found it necessary to spend three weeks seeking a single character to appear in the production — that person being the " Cherokee Kid," world famous gambler, known wherever the cards and roulette are played. That someone was Scott G. Turner, once tamed throughout all the West as the "Cherokee Kid," the smoothest gambler on the t rontier. Director Ford, after assiduous work, learned that Mr. Turner was living in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was pursuing his favorite hohf.'v of book collecting, for which he is now famous." Agents pf William Fox were despatched to Mr. Turner They persuaded him to forsake his book sh*''vt»s and sign a movie eontract. Cast Being Selected for "Law Again5t Law" The cast for Rupert Huglifs' " Law Against Law " is being carefullv seleeted As has been previouslv anni'"nced. Helene Chadwick will have the leading •feminine role. Lew Cody, George Walsh and (Jarrael Myers have now been assigned to leading roles in this production. Mr. Hughes, Abraham Lehr, vic<--l>resident in charge of production, and Robert Mclntyre. Goldwyn casting director, are noiW selfCting the other important members of fhfi cast and immediately upon their selection. L)'rect°r Hughe* will take his company to Yellm»vst°ne National Park, where many of the sequenfC* will be filmed. • These action stills show 'scenes from the William Fox picttire, " The Silent Command," a J. Gordon Edwards production. Eschmann Assumes Duties at First National EA. ESCHMANN, formerly sales manager of Pathe, assumed his new \ • duties as Manager of Distribution of Associated First National Pictures, Inc., last week, following a series of cdh . ferences at which he had the opportunity to study the organization and the routine of First National distribution at close range. " My observations," stated Mr. Eschmann, " have been thorough and comprehensive and I can only say that the results have left me highly enthusiastic. I find a splendid co-ordination of efforts and a spirit of co-operation as prevalent in our field force as in the home office. With such an organization I can safely say that there will be few, if any changes in personnel, and that the present First National field force will receive my cooperation in every way in their development, which has been steady and consistant."