Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1924)

April 12. 19 2 4 163/ Atlas Educational Now Making Features The Atlas Educational Film Company, Oak Park, Illinois, has entered the Held of feature picture production. For ten year Atlas has been actively engaged in making commercial motion pictures and it is the belief of officials of this company that features can be produced in Chicago. "Blind Virtue," a five reel feature will be the first theatrical picture to be made by Atlas. It is already in production with a cast which includes several well known players, among tbem being Mahlon Hamilton. Gladys Leslie, Bur Mcintosh, Charles Delaney, Jane Jennings and Jack Drumier. Arthur Berthelet is handling the megaphone. The exteriors are being shot in Oak Park. Chicago, Forest Park, Pullman, Roseland, Glen Ellyn and other nearby points, while the interiors are being filmed in the well equipped Atlas studios. Warners Acquire Rights to Two Popular Novels Warner Brothers acquired rights to two popular novels during the week. They are Edna Ferber's " So Big " and Gonningsby Dawson's '• Vanishing Point." These will be added to the 1924-25 production schedule which already numbers twenty. " So Big " is one of the late novels that has sprung into recent popularity. A popular priced edition of the " Vanishing Point " is to be placed on the market in May by Grossett and Dunlap. Universal Changes Title on Cummings Picture Irving Cummings directed and completed *' When Johnny Comes Marching Home " at Universal City and the title has been changed for release to u Riders Up." Creighton Hale and Ethel Shannon head the large cast and the story is by Gerald Beaumont from a group of short stories dealing with the racetrack adventures of " The Information Kid." No Contract With Lloyd Emphatically Stated JD. WILLIAMS. President of Ritz •Carlton Pictures, again takes the opportunity of emphatically denying the rumor that recently bobbed up again in Los Angeles anent Mr Williams having Harold Lloyd under contract as soon as Mr. Lloyd completes his existing contract with Pathe. At a luncheon given last week at the Ritz to the trade paper representatives Mr. Williams stated most vigorously, in answer to a direct question, that he positively had no contract with Harold Lloyd. In order that this persistent rumor may be throttled Mr. Williams concludes with the following in his statement to the trade press: "In view of the fact that it is very unfair to Harold Lloyd and Pathe. as well as to myself, to print such rumors when there is no truth whatever in them. I sincerely trust that you will co-operate in putting an end to same by publishing this." Barker Cast Complete in "Broken Barriers" Several changes in the cast are shown from what was originally announced for Reginald Barker's production of " Broken Barriers " under Metro-Louis B. Mayer auspices. Those who will play the big roles now are James Kirkwood, Adolphe Meujou, Norma Shearer, Mae Busch, Robert Frazer, George Fawcett. Margaret MeWade, Robert Agnew. Ruth Stonehouse, Winifred Bryson, Walter Hiers, Edith Chapman and Vera Reynolds. Wanda Wiley to Appear in "Water Waves" After seeing her work in several of the Leather Pushers series. Stern Brother engaged Wanda Wiley for the leading ingenue role in Al. Herman's "Water Waves." in which Joe Bonner, William Irving and Betty Young play the featured roles. "Janice Meredith" Battle Scenes Are Finished Filming of the Battle of Trenton and the scene showing Washington crossing the Delaware are completed by Cosmopolitan for " Janice Meredith " with Marion Davies in the star role. The company has returned from Plattsburg where the battles were portrayed by soldiers of the 26th infantry and cavalry from Fort Ethan Allen. This is one of the biggest scenes which the company has so far taken in connection with the production and every item, action and scene was carefully checked by research experts so as to be historically correct in detail. "Rejected Woman" Soon to Be Released Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan will soon announce the release date of Distinctive Pictures Corporation's production of " The Rejected Woman," as the cutting and editing is now complete and prints are being made. Alma Rubens and Conrad Xagel, are said to have acting opportunities in this drama of modem society life such as they have not had in any other vehicle. Wyndham Standing is also featured in this production as the "heavy." Premiere of "Which Shall It Be" at Cameo Renaud Hoffman's " Which Shall It Be," for Hodkinson release, will be given its premier presentation at the Cameo Theatre. Xew York, this Sunday. This is a picturization of the sentimental poem, "Not One to Spare," by Mrs. E. L. Beers, which was first published in the fourth readers of the public schools a quarter cen Highlights from the latest Norma Talmadge vehicle "Secrets" which will be released through First Natio nal.