Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

August ii, 19 2 3 649 Hearst's New Cosmopolitan Theatre Opens in N. Y. THE Cosmopolitan Theatre, the new home of Cosmopolitan pictures at Columbus Circle, New York, opened in de luxe fashion Wednesday evening, August 1st. The decorations by Joseph Urban are wonderfully pleasing; no expense has been spared. Victor Herbert, his overture and orchestra of fifty pieces received an ovaticn. The audience comprised many of New York's prominent stage, literary and society people; cartoon sketches of them were made by Ralph Barton. The Mayor and his official family attended. The occasion was the premiere of " Little Old New York" with Marion Davies; and both principal and play scored an audience success completely borne out by the newspaper criticisms of the following day. The picture, of which many favorable forecasts have been made, is a thoroughly delightful one, praiseworthy from every standpoint. And Miss Davies who was present must have been gratified with her undeniable success. Her sincere effort as Patricia O'Day stamps her as one of the screen's foremost stars. .Honors go also to Harrison Ford and an excellent supporting cast and to Sidney Olcott, director.— W. A. J. Lloyd Hamilton Engaged for Jolson Role D. W. Griffith has engaged Lloyd Hamilton for the leading role in his forthcoming production, " Black and White," the same picture in which Al Jolson was rehearsing when he left without notice for Europe. Jack Noble will direct Mr. Hamilton, and the latter is bringing with him a personal staff including Lloyd Bacon, son of the late Frank Bacon, and Hugh Fay. Bacon and Fay have been associated with the screen comedian in several of his recent productions. Arrangements for Mr. Hamilton's appearance were made by Mr. Griffith through the courtesy of E. W. Hammons, president of the Educational Film Corporation, who has the comedy man under a long-term production contract. Jane Novak Given Lead In "Jealous Fools" Jane Novak will play the feminine lead in Maurice Tourneur's "Jealous Fools," to be produced by M. C. Levee at the United Studios. Contracts signed yesterday by Mr. Levee and Chester Bennett, who has Miss Novak under a long term starring contract for his own productions. The portrayal in " Jealous Fools " by Miss Novak will mark her return to the First National fold. Others in the cast for the Tourneur film already announced include Earle Williams, for 12 years a Yitagraph star, and Bennie Alexander, whose recent appearance in " Penrod and Sam " won him a place in movie stardom. Hawks to Handle "Green Goddess" in N.Y. Distinctive Pictures Corporation has engaged Wells Hawks as special representative for the engagement of "The Green Goddess" at the Sam H. Harris theatre, New York, opening on August 14. Here are some of the rong scenes from " Harbor Lights," an Associated Exhibitors' feature with Tom Moore in the leading role. Four Universal Releases in August Out of Luck" "Love Brand," Legally Dead" and "Shadows of North" on Schedule UNIYERSALS'S schedule for release during the month of August, supposedly the worst show month in the year, discloses four feature productions. In the order of their release they are : " Out of Luck," a Hoot Gibson special ; " The Love Brand." starring Roy Stewart; "Legally Dead," a Universal attraction de luxe with a strong cast, in which Milton Sills is featured, supported by Claire Adams, and " Shadows of the North," "starring William Desmond. Of these four pictures two are of super qualitv. They are " Out of Luck " and " Legally "Dead." "Out of Luck" was scheduled for release after September 1, as one of Hoot Gibson's 1923-1924 special productions. " Legally Dead " occupies a position on the the books of the Universal home office almost equal with the season's Jewel productions. " The Love Brand," to be released August 13, is a Western drama adapted from an original story by Raymond L. Schrock, and directed by Stuart Paton, who has made many successful Universal Jewels and feature productions. Roy Stuart is the star, and Margaret Landis, a sister of Cullen Landis, is the chief supporting player. The picture concerns a young rancher in the Southwest who falls in love with an Eastern girl and then finds she is double-crossing him. Included in the cast of " The Love Brand " are Marie Wells, Arthur S. Hull, Wilfred North, Sydney De Grey and Boris Karloff. "Legally Dead" is "to be released August 20. It is built around the newly found drug adrenalin, which restores life after many minutes, sometimes hours, of death by its powerful stimulation of the heart muscles. The picture was directed by William Parke, a newcomer in the ranks of Universal's directors. His excellent work with "Legally Dead" immediately won for him the direction of another important picture. Included in the cast supporting Sills and Miss Adams were Ewin Sturgis, Margaret Campbell, Faye O'Neill, Charles A. Stevenson, Joseph Girard, Brandon Hurst, Charles Wellsley, Albert Prisco, Herbert Fortier and Robert Homans. The last Universal release of the month, " Shadows of the North," is a William Des mond picture, laid in the placer mining country of Northwest Canada. It was directed by Robert Hill from a story by Edwin Marshall. Included in the cast which supports Desmond are Virginia Browne Faire, Fred Kohler, William Welsh, Albert Hart, James 0. Barrows, and R in-Tin-Tin, the famous police dog. " Shadows of the North " is to be released August 27. Tom Mix Will Appear in "Lone Star Ranger" " The Lone Star Ranger," from the pen of Zane Grey, will be adapted to the screen by Fox Film Corporation and Tom Mix assigned to the title role, according to an announcement from the New York offices of the organization this week. This production, while planned on an elaborate niasis, will not be listed in the arrav of Fox specials for 1923-24. " The Lone Star Ranger " will be one of Tom Mix's first photoplays under the " no-program-picture " policy which Fox Film Corporation announced recentlv. and the first of the " star feature series." Billie Dove will have the feminine lead. Others in the cast are L. C. Shumway, Ed Peil, William Conklin, Stanton Heck. Frank Clark, Tom Langham and Francis Carpenter. The picture is scheduled for release in the early part of September. "Hunchback" print Reaches Universal In N. Y. The print and negative of " The Hunchback of Notre Dame," the Universal Super Jewel . made by Wallace Worsley from Victor Hugo's book, arrived in New York City early this week. It is in fourteen reels. " The Hunchback of Notre Dame " has been a year in the making. Following long research on the part of the literary experts, the costume experts and the architectural advisersj at Universal City, the story was adapted foj the screen by Perley Poore Sheehan and into scenario form by Edward T. Lowe, Jr^