Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

692 Motion Picture N e w s Harrison Ford, who has just signed for the leading role in " Maytime," a Preferred picture. New Organizations for Warner Product Two new organizations which arc the outgrowth of small independent exchanges distributing the Warner brothers pictures tor the past few years, have been formed to handle the new Warner series for 1923-24, and a number of other independent exchanges have also contracted for the eighteen productions, according to an announcement. The name of both organizations is Film Classics, Inc. The first in charge of L. K. Brin, whose organization was formerly known as Kwality Pictures Corp., Seattle, will distribute the Warner features in Seattle, Denver and Portland ; and the other under the management of Al Kahn, whose concern was known as Crescent Film exchange, Omaha, will control the distribution for Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines. Regal Films, Ltd., Toronto, and the Southern States Film Company, Atlanta, have contracted for the new Warner product. Both concerns are also releasing the current series of Warner classics. "Yesterday's Wife" Ready for Release Soon " Yesterday's Wife," first of the series of special Columt'a Pictures on the C. B. C. Film Sales Corpoation schedule for this season, ha> arrived at the New York offices from the Coast production centre. With sales already consummated on the feature and those on the series to follow it, final editing and titling is being put through at the greatest possible speed, and the picture, which features in its cast Irene Rich, Eileen Percy, Lewis Dayton, Josephine Crowell, Philo McCullough, William Scott and Lottie Williams, will be complete and ready for delivery to the various franchise holders within the week, it is announced. >f> , Jhs picture man who sneers at (j ^. his own business — ^ ZOe all know whar a DULCY ha h/ Many Critics Praise "Soft Boiled" Reviewers Unanimous in Commendation of Latest Tom Mix Special For Fox Action? Well, we'll say there is. Every conceivable kind of it. The entire production is distinctly high class, well produced, excellently photographed and well worth while." Moving Picture World — " It is a picture which should find welcome with every class of patron and keep a steady stream in front of the box office window. We don't wonder that William Fox calls this a 'J. G. Blystone production,' for the director has certainly done an excellent job and those associated with him are to be congratulated too." Film Daily — " As a whole it is a new venture for Mix. It is comedy that will register with Mix fans anrl serve to satisfy the majority of theatre-goers." New York Telegram — " A private screening of ' Soft Boiled ' with Tom Mix and his celebrated 1 Tony,' the wonder horse, was given at the 44th Street Theatre, and the audience, largely professional and clerical, was cicliphtcd." Motion Picture Journal — " The exhibitor who overlooks this production should retire from the show business. The story is so thorouphly human and so thoroughly true that the onlooker feels as if he or she were actually living in the ■ scenes." WITHOUT a single exception the critics representing newspapers, trade journals, fiction magazines and all publications interested in motion pictures, who reviewed " Soft Boiled," the Fox Film Corporation special production featuring the popular Tom Mix and his famous horse, "Tony," voiced unanimous and hearty praise for the photoplay in their printed expressions. The picture was presented to a large assemblage of the reviewers, exhibitors and prominent film men at a private showing at the Fortyfourth Street Theatre, New York, <>n July 18th. Extracts from some i if the reviewers that have already been published follows: N. Y. Telegraph—" ' Soft Boiled ' is fine comedy. It is a vindication of the theory that pies and dynamite and mules are not essential to humor on the screen. The first requirement is an idea and then— — but go to see for yourself how it is done. Tom Mix does splendid and the picture is very entertaining and well-done." Motion Picti're News — ' This i* the best picture Tom Mix has ever made. It has everything — fast action, thrills, romance, pretty girls, fun and attractive settings, both interior and exterior. As for the star, he shows he is a real comedian. " Trilby " Wins New York Approval Newspaper Reviewers Praise Both Production and Work of Andree Lafayette "TP RILBY," DU MAURIER'S * ivorld-famed heroine of the Latin quarter of Paris, whose name is a household word throughout the country, lived again on the screen of the Strand theatre in New York during the week of July 29th to the delight of thousands of admirers of the fascinating old play and novel. Metropolitan critics were unanimous in welcoming a return of "Trilby" to the silversheet. The New York papers settled the question of Andree Lafayette's screen appeal. The young French actress, imported from Paris by Richard Walton Tully to play the title role in this First National picture, was welcomed as a happy addition to the ranks of American screen players and further successes were prophesied for her. "Of course we enjoyed 'Trilby,' but not more than we enjoyed Andree Lafayette," writes the Daily News critic. "And how could we?" One is the other. It is difficult to conceive of a person better suited to the part of the little laundress, who turned artist's model, than this young French actress whom we've never had the pleasure of seeing before. As long as the picture lasts, Miss Lafayette is Trilby; she doesn't act her." Speaking of Arthur Edmund Carewe as Svengali, the reviewer states that he "adds a huge spotlight, brightly colored, to the scene of the picture. Mr. Carewe wears his makeup so well that often we felt, and we know we were not alone in the feeling, the same sort of revulsion that is clearly and naturally portrayed on Trilby's face — if you liked 'Trilby as a book, the motion picture production is just the book come to life. It is no imitation." "Not only," says the Evening Telegram, "was he (Mr. Tully) determined to make 'Trilby* the outstanding motion picture that it now is, but he was resolved to find the truly perfect actress for the title role to enhance it. She meets with every requirement called for in the novel." The Evening World calls the picture "a right good offering" and states that "as always, the part of Svengali, this time played by Arthur Edmund Carewe, stands out like a Woolworth Building on a desert. 'Trilby' is one of those films we wouldn't like to say we had missed.-' The Morning Telegraph praises each of the cast individually, especially Mile. Lafayette, Creighton Hale, Mr. Carewe, and calls the picture "thoroughly worth while." Mary Eaton, star of Ziegfeld Follies, who makes her screen debut in " His Children's Children " now being screened at Paramount Long Island Studio American Pictures Best, Says Actress Evelyn Brent, who is portraying one of the leading roles in Metro's all-star special, "Held to Answer," c< mparcs British and American 1 ic Lures to the disadvantage of the British. She kas just returned from starring in British pictures for a period of two and a half years, and testifies to the popularity of the American picture in I tigiand, by saying: "In England, if a British and an American picture were competing in theatres on opposite sides of the street, there would be a line waiting to see the American picture and no one going to sec the British-made photoplay." "Held to Answer" is a screen version of Peter Clark MacFarlane's popular novel, and is being directed by Harold Shaw. Export, Import Appointed Purchasing Agents The Export & Import Film Company, Inc., according to Louis Auerbach, has been appointed purchasing agents for several companies operating in Continental Europe and Japan. _ Export & Import recently disposed of their entire product in those territories. Boston Federated Buys Weber, North Product The Federated Film Exchange, of Boston, has purchased "Marriage Morals" and "Don't Marry For Money," for the New England states from L. Lawrence Weber & Bobby North. ■a. Ben Wilson, firodi/don released jn SEPTEMBER &QAN0-A5HER. DISTRIBUTINGCOBP