Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

November 24, 1923 2475 JVEST COAST PRODUCTION NOTES BY IFIRE Studio and Player Brevities LITTLE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE ON THE LOT VICTOR SEASTROM is putting in all of his time on his next production, a film version of a popular novel, the name of which Goldwyn will not announce for several weeks. Erich Von Stroheim is still at work on the cutting and titling of "Greed" for Goldwyn. Edmund Goulding has completed his script for Fox's version of the Charming Pollock play, " The Fool." Lilyan Tashman who was formerly with the Follies and now in Goldwyn's " Nellie, The Beautiful Cloak Model," suffered severe cuts on one of her legs which may interfere with her dancing. Director Alan Crosland is taking the mob scenes in the exteriors of the big Sardaliar. Castle for Goldwyn's picturization of Elinor Glyn's v' Three Weeks." These scenes are designed by Cedric Gibbons. Seven hundred extras were used in this sequence. A fire at the Goldwyn studios on Tuesday night aroused great excitement in Culver City and Los Angeles. It resulted from the burning of a set for " Nellie, The Beautiful Cloak Model," which Emmett Flynn was photographing for the fire sequences in that picture. The first print of " The Daughter of Mother McGinn," featuring Colleen Moore, has arrived in NewYork from Los Angeles where the picture was made, and the film is now being edited for release by the Cosmopolitan Corporation. Holmes Herbert will play the part of Major Hillgrove in John S. Robertson's production of " The Enchanted Cottage," Richard Barthelmess's next starring vehicle. Universal announces the completion of camera work on " Blackmail," the big Universal Jewel production being made by King Baggot from Rita Weiman's sensational stage play, " The Co-respondent." Cameo, a trained dog, and Ben Alexander, First National's boy player, are reunited in J. K. MacDonald's picturization of " Misunderstood," a Booth Tarkington story. Harry Brown has started shooting on " The Sheriff of Tombstone " which is the third of the Fred Thomson series, for Callaghan's Monogram Company. " Long Live the King " will be released November 26th. Prints of the picture are already in New York. With the completion of " Pleasure Mad," his second contribution to the Metro 1923-1924 season, Reginald Barker has begun active production on " Women Who Wait " which has been announced in preparation these last several weeks. " Peaches " Jackson, who made her motion picture debut with Thomas Meighan in " The Prince Chap " a few years ago, has a principal role in Meighan's new pic ture, " Pied Piper Malone," which Booth Tarkington wrote. Forrest Halsey, who adapted Maude Fulton's play, " The Humming Bird," for screen production with Gloria Swanson in the star role, spent last week in Washington looking up war data at the War Department. Montmartre, that quarter of Paris artists known throughout the world and especially vivid in the memory of American soldiers who fought in the "Battle of Paris," has been transplanted in Astoria, L. I. A section of the outer boulevard — De Clichy, intersected by a small street which winds up the hill towards Sacre-Couer — has sprung up like magic at the Paramount studio where scenes for Gloria Swanson's latest Paramount picture, " The Humming Bird," are being filmed. The corner cafe is there as are the tobacco shops, the funny Kiosks and quaint houses. Old Fort Schuyler, New York, which has been virtually abandoned for a number of years, has been reconstructed to appear like the St. Lazare prison of Paris for scenes in Gloria Swanson's latest Paramount picture, " The Humming Bird." Laurette Taylor, J. Hartley Manners, her husband, King Vidor, director and members of Mr. Vidor's staff left New York late last week for the Metro studios in Hollywood where Mr. Vidor will complete the Metro picturization of Mr. Manners' stage play, " Happiness," in which Miss Taylor is starred. B. P. Schulberg, who is back again in Los Angeles busy with the production of his next series of Preferred Pictures, is concentrating his efforts just now on plans. George Reehm is to assist Joseph De Grasse in the direction of Richard Walton Tully's forthcoming production, " Flowing Gold," a picturization of Rex Beach's popular novel of the Texas oil fields. Richard Walton Tully announced this week the engagement of W. S. Henshelwood as art director of " Flowing Gold," the next Tully production on the First National program. Andree Lafayette, who came to America to appear in the title role of Richard Walton Tully's "Trilby," said " au revoir " to her host of Los Angeles friends last week end started for New York on the first lap of her journey home to Paris, where she goes to appear in a feature cinema production, the title of which has not yet been definitely announced. C. C. Burr used the estate of Ethel Watts Mumford. the novelist, at Port Washington, Long Island, for several locations and exteriors in making scenes for the new society melodrama, " Restless Wives," with Doris Kenyon. Gregory" La Cava is the director of this Izola Forrester story. The improvement program as laid out by M. C. Levee, president of the United studios, will continue and his original plans lor greater activity here will be carried on. Maurice Tourneur, Richard Walton Tully, Frank Lloyd First National producing units, and Joseph Schenck and other independent producing units are continuing activities and contemplate no shut down at this plant. " Horseshoes," Larry Semon's newest comedy and the third of the four which will be released by Vitagraph this season, is scheduled to go to Vitagraph branches for booking dates in January. " The Gown Shop " and " Lightning Love " are now being booked. Leslie Austen plays Harry Vassall, one of the characters in the divorce problem drama. " Let Not Man Put Asunder," now being produced by J. Stuart Blackton at Vitagraph studio. William F. Adler, noted author, explorer and producer of "The Isle of Vanishing Men," which is having its world premiere at Clune's theatre, Los Angeles, is to sail February 15th with Tibet as his destination, and instead of making a travel picture, he plans to build a drama around the Tibetans. He has ai-ked Oscar Apfel, who has just completed his contract with Metro, to go with him and direct the photoplay. Maurice Tourneur has started " Torment," his newest production, for M. C. Lee, a photoplay which offers an international crook drama iaid in Russia, Japan and the United States. Scenes for the picturization will be taken in these three countries, and technical men have been sent abroad to obtain shots which are mainly to obtain atmosphere for the film. King Baggot is considering a trip abroad upon the expiration of his Universal contract in February. If Carl Laemmle does not make " Ivanhoe," the English capital will, it is said. In any event Baggot has received overtures to come there and produce it. Coit Albertson appears in a heavy role in C. C. Burr's new production, " Restless Wives," with Doris Kenyon, which will be distributed on the Independent market. Gregory La Cava is the director of this Izola Forrester story from Ainslee's Magazine. David Smith, who is producing " Red Roses," a super-feature for Vitagraph adapted from the novel by George Randolph Chester, effectively tied up all traffic at the junction of the main thoroughfare of Los Angeles last week. Monty Banks is getting ready for his first five reel comedy drama to be made at the Grand-Asher studio under the direction of Herman Raymaker with Ray June as cameraman. Arthur Rosson who directed "The Satin Girl," will start on November 26th writh the first GrandAsher production starring Mabel Forrest. The company is now con sidering supporting players for Miss lorrest. Elliot Dexter is busy reading siories for his next production. Betty Blythe and Mahlon Hamilton have been engaged to play in J. Parker Reid, Jr.'s, production, "The Recoil," a Rex Beach story, which will be made in Europe and directed by T. Hayes Hunter. " Reno " is the new name selected by Rupert Hughes to supplant the old working title of his latest Goldwyn picture " Lawr Against Law," which he has just finished cutting. " Reno " is an original story written and directed by Rupert Hughes. The cast includes Helen Chadwick, Lew Cody, George Walsh, Carmel Meyers, Hedda Hopper, Dale Fuller. Kathleen Key. Grant Carpenter is now writing the continuity for Elinor Glyn's story " How to Educate a Wife," which will soon go into production under the direction of Wm. A. Seiter. Marie Prevost, HarryMyers and Claude Gillingwater compose the cast. Julian Josephson is writing the screen version of the Sinclair Lewis story " Babbit " which Harry Beaumont is to direct upon the completion of "Beau Brummel." Beaumont also has to his credit " Main Street " which was also from the pen of Sinclair Lewis. Dorothy Farnum has been engaged to adapt " Lover's Lane " which will be directed by William Beaudine. Monta Bell, recently signed by Harry Rapf to direct a series of Warner Classics, will soon begin work on his first story, " Broadway After Dark," Adolph Menjou has been engaged for a leading role. " The Beast," directed by Edward Mortimer with John Gilbert in the featured role and Norma Shearer as leading woman, has been completed. Shirley Mason has finished " With the Tide," an original story by Frederick and Fannie Hatton. J. Frank Glendon is the leading man. Charles Jones has finished " Cupid s Fireman," adapted from a story by Richard Harding Davis. The George Archainbaud company making "The Shadow of the East " has gone to Oxnard, Arizona, to film desert scenes for this production. The cast includes Frank Mayo, Mildred Harris and Norman Kerry. Tom Mix has finished " Eyes of the Forest " directed by Lambert Hillyer, with Pauline Starke as 'leading woman. W. C. Thompson of Shadowland Productions arrived in Los Angeles this week, and will shortly cast at his Los Angeles office for the first production of a series of twelve melodramas. " Flaming Barriers," directed by George Melford from scenario by Jack Cunningham, has been completed. " My Man," Pola Negri's fea(Continued on page 2486)