Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

August 25, 1 9 2 3 921 Rex Beach Pleased with 'The Spoilers" REX BEACH, author of the classic novel of Alaskan adventure in the Klondike gold rush days, agrees with the newspaper reviewers and Goldwyn officials that the Jesse D. Hampton screen version of " The Spoilers " is greatly superior in every way to the version made a decade ago. Mr. Hampton is just in receipt of the following letter from the novelist: " I want to thank you for your splendid production of ' The Spoilers.' Every one who has seen it agrees with me that it is in all ways vastly superior to the first production made nearly 10 years ago. Naturally there have been many advances in picture production, technique, photography, etc., but, aside from these, ' The Spoilers ' is a much bigger picture than it was when first made, and, inasmuch as a new motion picture audience springs up every five or six years, it is reasonable to believe that it will have an even greater success than the first picture." Says Pictures Great Ambassador Vignola Declares American Productions Wield Great Influence in Far East Beautiful N. Y. Homes For Picture Background In getting the true scenic atmosphere for his production of Arthur Train's story. " His Children's Children," which deals with sophisticated New York life, Sam Wood has utilized some of the most beautiful homes in and around New York City, it is said. To begin with he filmed the former home of William K. Yanderbilt at Fiftysecond Street and Fifth Avenue as the " Kayne " home in the story. The duck hunting episode was taken on the R. B. Ingersoll estate on Duck Island and the home of Nicholas Brady. Manhasset. L. I., was used as the English home of Lord Harrowdale. For the Butterfly club scenes the grounds of the Schonnard estate in Oyster Bay, L. L. formed the background. <4*Tp HE American made motion ™ picture is America's best ambassdor in the orient," says Robert G. Yignola, director of "When Knighthood Was In Flower," and now engaged in directing ''Yolanda," who returned recently from a six months' tour of the world embracing every country in the Far East. "More than any other element that we have ever sent out to the orient, more than all the missionaries, educators, and plenipotentiaries, the motion picture is today the greatest influence for good that America has yet given to the Far East," continued Mr. Vignola. "The big thing that I observed is that it is breaking down the prejudices of the orient for the Occident. It is creating an era of good feeling, of appreciation, cooperation, and understanding. It is the most convincing hand-shaker that America has in the Far East. "Millions of nationals in Japan, China, Philippines, Indo-China, Siam, Straits Settlements, India, and other oriental countries who have never been outside their own lands have come to know us intimately through the motion pictures we send them. The screen has broken down the barrier of distance and is cementing and extending the friendship between America and the oriental countries. "This influence is becoming great " Chic " Sale's Life Story Magazine Feature A story of the life of Charles " Chic " Sale is a feature in the July issue of the " American Magazine." This is probably the first time a vaudeville performer has been honored in this manner. Sale is now busily engaged in his first C. C. Burr production, under the direction of Gregory La Cava, at the Burr Glendale Studio. Scott Vacationing To Prepare For Drive Lester F. Scott, Jr., in charge of sales for Mastodon Films, Inc., of ■which C. C. Burr is president, is enjoying a two weeks' vacation preparatory to his fall drive on the four C. C. Burr Independent Specials: "Restless Wives," "Youth to Sell," "The Average Woman" and "Lend Me Your Husband" for the 1923-24 season. in er as more motion picture theatres are being built. The interior of China, for instance, is stiil an unexplored region as far as the screen is concerned but I understand that Chinese and American capital has been interested in a project to build theatres. This will mean, of course, an extension of American influence since it has been my observation that American films are in far greater demand than European films. "American life as it is delineated in motion pictures has a remarkable fascination for the oriental and the American films predominate almost to the exclusion of the European product. "It may be well to say at this point that the responsibility vested in the American producers and directors is a tremendous one. In a way the continuation of good will between America and the orient is in their hands. The home staying oriental judges us and our mode of life by the motion pictures we send him. Artificial delineation creates a corresponding reaction. Therefore, here is one more reason why our motion pictures should be true to life. We are what we are and it is a dangerous thing for the nation to permit exaggerated phases of our national life to be shown on the motion picture screens of the world." Ingram Selection Brings Tribute Great Grandson of French Hero Approves Choice For "Scaramouche" Role REX INGRAM, who recently completed his massive Metro production, " Scaramouche," is in receipt of a glowing tribute from Yincent J. Danton of Boston, a great grandson of Danton, the famous figure of the French Revolution, for his selection of George Siegmann for the role of the hero in this production. Mr. Ingram made a remarkable effort to secure a player who possessed as closely as possible the familiar mannerisms and physical appearance of Danton and finally entrusted the role to Mr. Siegmann. " There is no criticism to offer of George Siegmann's portrayal of Danton," wrote his great grandson. " We are amazed at the uncanny similarity of his features when compared with the original portrait in our possession. Mr. Siegmann has all of our family characteristics plus a composite cast of features that spell just Danton." When the news was first broadcast that Mr. Ingram was to film " Scaramouche " with its manyhistorical characters, Mr. Danton sent to Ingram the original tricolor rosette which his famous ancestor had worn and which he had given to his wife as he stepped on the guillotine. Mr. Danton requested that the character portraying Danton wear the rosette and Mr. Ingram in gratefulness sent him the first photographs which were taken of Mr. Siegmann in the Danton role. It was from these photographs that Mr. Danton drew his comparison and wrote his glowing tribute to Mr. Ingram. " Scaramouche " was adapted by Willis Goldbeck from Rafael Sabatini's romance. It is a Rex Ingram production for Metro by arrangement with Charles L. Wagner. It was photographed bv John F. Seitz. Avalanche Scene Thrills in " Hell's Hole " Five thousand tons of " cometing " dirt and stone crash down a steep, treeless hill and amid clouds of thick, curling dust bury a sturdy log cabin wherein sit two desperate men and one nervous, over-wrought girl. This is one of the scenes in the Fox Film Corporation special, " Hell's Hole," which is on the 1923-24 list, and stars the popular Charles Jones at the head of a notable list of players. This terrific avalanche is a brilliant instance of the advance of the motion picture art, embracing as it does a " shot " of Nature in all its colossal impressiveness. More than $20,000 and several tons of dynamite were necessary for the filming of this scene, it is said. Charles Jones as Tod Musgrave ; Ruth Clifford as Dorothy Owen ; and Maurice B. Flynn as the heavy, Dell Hawkins, are shown prisoners in the cabin buried by the avalanche. FOX FILM CORPORATION WILL PAY LIBERAL PRICES FOR short, entertaining moving pictures of actual life in any part of the world. The quaint, the picturesque, the startling and thrilling, the unique, the laughable; the adventures and eccentricities of men and women, the charm of little children, the appeal of animals, the lure of the outdoors, the romance of science and industry; the drama of sea, desert and jungle — this is what is wanted. Subjects that run between 500 and 900 feet (after final editing and titling) are most desirable, but longer and shorter subjects are acceptable. Original negative in first class condition must be available for all subjects submitted. Mail your picture for review (positive print preferred) to Mr. Harry McDonald, Manager, Educational Division, Fox Film Corporation, 800 Tenth Avenue, New York City. Acceptance or rejection will be immediate, and film will be promptly returned.