Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1923)

1236 Motion Picture News New Title Supervision Staff For C.B.C. A special department to supervise the mechanical end of the titling of the company's new features has been installed by the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation. The duties or the department are separate and apart from the actual writing of titles for the features, but have to do with the selection of special art subjects with which to dress them, the origination of new designs and styles of titles. The titles of " Yesterday's Wife," first of the new features released this season by C. B. C. have alreadyaroused much nattering comment from those who have seen the picture. The new department is under the direct supervision of Jack Cohn. Store Employees Benefit By "Safety Last" . Orchestra Hall, Chicago, 111., utilized an effective exploitation angle in conjunction with the theatre's showing of Pathe's " Safety Last." The theatre used to advantage Department Store scenes in the Harold Lloyd comedy, as a basis for exploitation to stir up interest and comment among the many workers employed in those establishments. Realizing that this class of workers would be particularly interested in " Safety Last " scenes which burlesque the every day trials of their own craft, the Orchestra Hall management arranged a special admission rate for members of that industry only. Mary Alden Prominent In " Pleasure Mad " Alary Alden, who had an unusually fine role in the recently completed Metro Premier Feature, " The Eagle's Feather," in which she enacted the feminine lead, has another big role in the new Reginald Barker production of " Pleasure Mad," a Metro picture to be presented by Louis B. Mayer. Appearing in " The Eagle's Feather " as the strong woman whose hopes of love are shattered, she is, in " Pleasure Mad," a wife of moderate means whose domestic happiness is spoiled by the acquisition of sudden wealth. " Pleasure Mad " was adapted by A. P. Younger from Blanche Upright's novel, "The Valley of Content." Miriam Battista Appears At Loew's Toronto Little Miriam Battista, who had just completed her work in Distinctive's " The Steadfast Heart," is making a week of personal appearances at Loew's, Toronto, Canada, in connection with one of her many photoplays. The cast of "The Steadfast Heart " includes Marguerite Courtot, Mary Alden, Joseph Striker, William B. Mack and Joseph Depew. This production will be released in the early fall after "The Green Goddess," through Goldwyn Cosmopolitan. Hughes to Address L. A. Lawyers on Divorce RUPERT HUGHES, author and Goldwyn director, has been asked to address the members of the Los Angeles Bar Association on " conflicting divorce laws," the theme of his present production, the tentative title for which is " Law Against Law." Mr. Hughes will make his address within the next two weeks, following his return from Yellowstone Park, where he " shot " scenes for his picture. In the cast are Helene Chadwick, George Walsh, Carmel Myers, Lew Cody, Hedda Hopper, Dale Fuller and other well-known players. Roosevelt Pays Tribute To " Four Horsemen " Added to the long list of tributes for Rex Ingram's Metro production of " The Four Horsemen" — a list which includes rulers of nations as well as the most humble — is one from Theodore Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the navy. The New York Sun has been printing daily the opinions of prominent Americans as to the six plays they have enjoyed most during their lives. Asked to contribute, Col. Roosevelt responded last week with a list of only three plays, one of which was " The Four Horsemen." Only recently the Russell Sage Foundation made a poll among 50,000 high school boys to determine which photoplay they regarded as the best they had ever seen. " The Four Horsemen " was first on the list. Rotogravure Layout for "Broadway Gold" A full-page layout of scenes from "Broadway Gold," Elaine Hammerstein's first production of a series for Truart Film Corporation, is the feature of a special rotogravure section prepared by the Picture Press, Inc. The roto section is a portion of daily newspapers, numbering in excess of fifty throughout the country, with an aggregate circulation of over 500,000. This display is one of the many items of national publicity through which Truart films are being brought to the attention of the theatre-going public. Fidelity To Make Race Track Feature Wm. G. Smith of Fidelity Pictures Company, announces that his company will shortly release via the State Right market a race track production under the title " Wings of the Turf," from the published story, " Boy Woodburn," by Alfred Ollivant. "Leavenworth Case" Is Making Progress Rapid progress is being made at the Yonkers studios of Whitman Bennett Productions by Charles Giblyn, director in filming "The Leavenworth Case," the famous detective story by Anna Katharine Green. Producer Bennett will release " The Leavenworth Case " through Vitagraph. It will be the second of the specials he will contribute toward the twenty-six super features announced by Albert E. Smith, president for the season of 1923-24. Leading players are Seena Owen, Martha Mansfield, Wilfred Lytell, Bradley Barker, Paul Doucet, William Walcott, Francis Miller Grant and Fred Miller. New York Rights Sold on " Barefoot Boy " Immediately following announcement that the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation had been selected to distribute on the State Right mar-ket " The Barefoot Boy," and other products of the Mission Film Corporation, Greater New York and Northern New Jersey rights to the feature were disposed of. Contracts have been completed with Sam Zierler, whereby the! Commonwealth Film Corporation, of which he is president, will handle the feature in the territory referred to. Elaborate Sets Feature " Rendezvous " Topping his big ballroom set in " The Eternal Three," Marshall Neilan recently directed scenes for his latest Russian drama, " The Rendezvous," on the largest interior set of his career — an exact replica of the Czar's banquet hall in his winter palace in St. Petersburg in the year 1904. Three hundred beautiful ladies in sweeping trains, and as many courtly gentlemen in gorgeous uniforms, dined in state in the immense marble hall, 152 feet wide and 200 feet long. From his box the Czar, impersonated by R. C. Pennell, addressed the brilliant assemblage, which included, in the foreground, Richard C. Travers as the Prince, and Kathleen Key, as his betrothed. Metro Animal Picture Is Hit In Sweden In a cablegram just received at the home offices of Metro Pictures Corporation from Raoul Le Mat of Stockholm, Sweden, this enterprising showman tells of the enthusiastic reception tendered Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson's " Trailing African Wild Animals," a Metro release. " Johnson film opened in Sweden's best house, the Red Mill, Stockholm, to capacity. Received finest press notices ever accorded a picture here," is the news contained in Mr. Le Mat's communication. Goldwyn Pictures Near Completion EMMETT FLYNN is putting the final editing and titling touches to "In the Palace of the King" and Tod Browning is nearing the end of his work on "The Day of Faith," Goldwyn productions. Lowell Completes Work on " Floodgates " John Lowell, star and producer of " Ten Nights in a Barroom," and " Lost in a Big City," is about through with his work in his latest feature, " Floodgates." The story, by L. Case Russell, is said to give Mr. Lowell his greatest characterization yet attempted. Directed by George Irving, photographed by Joe Settle, the supporting cast includes Angeline Russell, Jane Thomas, Ivy Ward, and other capable players, this production will interest exhibitors looking for genuine screen value. Return for Interiors on " No More Women " After a week of ideal weather amid the scenic glories of Arrowhead Lake, the Associated Authors' company of players making " No More Women " for release through Allied Producers and Distributors Corporation, have returned to the Ince studios to complete the interior scenes of this Elmer Harris original story and production. The players include Madge Bellamy, Kathleen Clifford. Matt Moore, Shannon Day, Clarence Burton, Stanhope Wheatcroft, H. Reeves-Smith and the director, Lloyd Ingraham. Convalescent Veterans in " Call of Canyon " Disabled war veterans and nurses from the Soldiers' Home, Sawtelle, Cal., providing true "hospital atmosphere," were motion picture actors for a day at Paramount's West Coast studio during the filming of scenes in Zane Grey's "The Call of the Canyon," featuring Richard Dix and Lois Wilson. The veterans needed few instructions from Victor Fleming, the director, but simply "Carried on" as they would in the convalescent ward at the Soldiers' Home. "Pioneer Trails" Ready For Exchanges Prints of " Pioneer Trails," recently completed at the Vitagraph studios in Hollywood, will be shipped from the Brooklyn headquarters to Branch exchanges shortly. It is a David Smith production and the director is said to have gone further with this dramatic photoplay of the West than ever before. A cast of exceptional talent has been gathered for " Pioneer Trails." Cullen Landis and Alice Calhoun have the leading roles.