Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

November 24, 1 y 2 j 2485 * PICTURE PARAGRAPHS m THE Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan Distributing Corporation has jus: issued the exhibitors' service book for Cosmopolitan's Marion Davies picture, " Little Old New York," which is a strikingly beautiful book from the front page cover, with its large portrait of Miss Davies in the dress of the girl of a century ago, against a yellow background, to its jeprodtiction on the back page of the attractive series of posters prepared for it. A touch of yellow is used on every page of the booklet, except those on news and feature stories for newspaper publicity campaigns, and the yellow adds to the attractiveness of the book. A special feature of this book is a reproduction of the gorgeous stage setting used for the showing of the film at the Empire theatre in London, and the other exploitation features used for that engagement. The art department has done nothing, perhaps, that is any better in the way of billboard posters for any of its releases than those prepared for "Little Old New York." The posters are artistic and beautiful, besides being very striking in appearance. AMONG the William Fox pictures which the National Committee for Better Films of the National Board of Review recommended for Motion Picture and Children's Week, November 11 to 17, are, "If Winter Comes," "Just Tony," " The Lone Star Ranger," " Mixed Faces," " Monna Vanna," " Monte Cristo," " Snowdrift," " St. Elmo," and " The Village Blacksmith." THE exploitation campaign for franchise holders and exhibitors on C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation's features " The Marriage Market," featuring Jack Mulhall, Alice Lake, Pauline Garon, Shannon Day, has been completed. The press book was compiled after securing from franchise holders and exhibitors comments on other press books hitherto issued by C. B. C. Their opinions and such changes as they suggested have been incorporated. The same was done in preparing the posters, window cards, lobby displays, oil paintings and slides. The heralds are also of a " teaser " variety. Two-color letter stickers have also been made. A trailer is also readv. ALBERT ROGELL of the Harry J. Brown Productions who is directing Fred Thomson in a series of six westerns for the Andrew J. Callaghan concern, the Monogram Corporation, claims that seventy per cent of the latest picture "North of Nevada," was shot on locations that had never before seen a camera. DOUGLAS MacLean's offer of $500.00 in prizes for the best decorated theatre front on his latest feature " Going Up," is creating a deal of interest among exhibitors, it ii reported. A large number have played " Going Up " since it was released late in September, and photographs of some exceptionally good fronts have been received by Associated Exhibitors, who are conducting the contest for MacLean. Any exhibitor who plays " Going Up" prior to December' 31st, may enter by sending a photograph of his display to Associated Exhibitors. The contest will be judged by the Exploitation Editors of the Motion Picture News, The Moving Picture World and The Exhibitors Trade Review. Five prizes, amounting to a total of $500,000, will be awarded. A CCORDIXG to announcement coming from Associated Exhibitors, a unique advertising accessory for use with " David Copperfield," recently released by them, has been issued by the publishers of the photoplay edition of the Charles Dickens novel. The accessory is a small cut-out of a hand holding a copy of the novel. It is lithographed in four colors and illustrates a scene from the picture which introduces four of the prominent characters. An arrangement has been made with book sellers throughout the country to use this novelty in pushing the sale of " David Copperfield." THE Philadelphia Public Ledger last Sunday in a big feature story dealing with the question " Is Modern Marriage a Form of Slavery?" devoted a good portion of the space to a large and colorful still of one of the big scenes in Metro's current production, " Strangers of the Night " which Fred Niblo picturized from Walter Hackett's international stage success, " Captain Applejack." Mr. Niblo's picture was captioned prominently, with the name of the production, " Strangers of the Night " played up so that Philadelph'ans now know the calibre of the picture. Which shows that real art in stills pays. JEAN Girardin, who played the leading role opposite Craufurd Kent in Associated Exhibitors' " Silas Marner," is now back in pictures after a trip to Europe where she went to star in a German film production, but changed her mind aUer she was in Berlin two days. " When I signed the contract," said Miss Girardin, " I did not understand phout 'exchange,' and when I realized that I would be paid accordingly, I took the next boat home. I can assure you that any star or director that wants to go to Germany better look before he leaps, and be sure he has a return ticket." Miss Girardin states that most of the English producing companies are using German studios. The English producer supplies the cast and director and pays their salaries, the German producer makes the picture, and then they go fifty-fifty on the profits, the cost being derived from the South American sale and the profit from the Continent sale of prints. " I met four American directors 111 Berlin, who told me they were stranded there, and had it not been for English producing companies employing them when thev were down to their 'last gold mark,' they don't know how they would ever get their passage home. "Actcrs get about ten dollars a week and work in a cabaret at night to make both ends meet. Directors are second to cameramen in the German producer's estimation, and the art director is the whole works and gets the most money of all. Sets and photography (the freakish kind is what the German people love. $5,000 is the most they spend on a production, though thev have a picture over there that Paul Wenger is directing that has cost, so they told me, over $500,000, American money, to date, and it's nowhere near completed. It is in twenty-five reels, and based on Homer's ' Odessv.' " TN a message to exhibitors, the *• Warner Brothers declare they have issued the most distinctive and high class exploitation aids for " Tiger Rose," the screen adaptation of the famous David Belasco play in which Lenore Ulric is starred. For all outdoor advertising and exploitation, the Warner organization has supplied some striking and artistic posters. Each one can be utilized as a cut-out, when mounted. There is a beautiful twenty-four sheet, a six-sheet, two three-sheets, two one-sheets and a special banner in colors to be spread across the street or in the lobby. In addition there is a colorful window card that can be utilized throughout the town. For lobby decoration, there are fifteen framed oil paintings, depicting the most striking and tense scenes from the photoplay. Then there is a 14 x 36 pastel card which can be used for either the lobby or for window displays. An attractive pennant to hang from the markee has also been issued. Many additional smaller accessories have been prepared. Constance Talmadge Feature Finished CONSTANCE TALMADGE has finished "The Dangerous Maid," a romantic comedy-drama of merrie olde England in which she has the role of a madcap little rebel who dons a cavalier's sword and costume and engages in a thrilling series df adventures with the officers of the king. " The Dangerous Maid " is a Joseph M. Schenck production and was directed by Victor Heerman for First National release. A TENSE DRAMA OF LOVE AND IDEALS SHATTERED BY WEALTH WITH A DISTINGUISHED ALLSTAR. CAST INCLUDING IRENE RICH EILEEN_PERCY Jl PROVEN Box-office mnmeb FORGIVE AND FORGET" THE STORY OF A W0MAWS MISTAKE FEATURING WVNDHAM STANDING ESTELLE TAYLOR. PAULINE GAROM A REAL MONEY GETTER THE MARRIAGE MARKET" WHERE HEARTS AND SOULS GO TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FEATURING JACK MULHALL ALICE LAKE: PAULINE GARON SHANNON DAV WILL DBFY^ AJLL_ * COMPETITION BOOK NOW FROM YOURLOCAL EXCHANGE OR' C.B.C FILM SALES CORP. IfcOO BROADWAY NEW YORK.