Motion Picture News (Jan-Mar 1918)

March 2, i g i 8 1285 Goldwyn Launches Big Spring Drive Aims to Render First Aid to the Box Office by Delivering Four Pictures of Exceptional Drawing Power — Mary Garden New Production Is Included GOLDWYN this week announced itself in a position which it believes will be heartily hailed by the exhibitor, as it is one that promises an outlay of pictures that are expected to have an unusual drawing power throughout the country. The Goldwyn organization has inaugurated what it terms a great campaign " to bring the public back wholesale to box offices." As the biggest step in the campaign, Goldwyn has announced as one of its next four releases a second Mary Garden production, " The Splendid Sinner," which was completed in December before the release of " Thais." Surrounded by Secrecy " The Splendid Sinner " was made with some degree of secrecy, or at least Goldwyn desired to keep it unannounced. It is said to reveal an emotional and aggressive Mary Garden in contrast with the reserve of her " Thais." " It would be no misnomer to call ' The Splendid Sinner ' ;> social melodrama, and it is certain to be one of the box-office attractions of the year," said Goldwyn. Because of the welcome accorded Mabel Normand in " Dodging a Million " — her first picture to be released in more than a year — Goldwyn likewise announces for prompt release a second production for this star, the title being " The Floor Below," and very properly giving a hint of both mystery and drama. Without any further hint Mabel Normand herself is expected to take care of the other important element — laughter. The order of release for Goldwyn's next four productions is as follows : February 24, Mae Marsh in " The Beloved Traitor," by Frank L. Packard; March 10, Mabel Normand in " The Floor Below," by Elaine Sterne ; March 24, Madge Kennedy m " The Danger Game " ; April 7, Mary Garden in " The Splendid Sinner," by Kate Jordan. Emotional Mae Marsh Concerning the Mae Marsh picture, Goldwyn said : " Exhibitors have expressed their preference for two types of Mae Marsh productions — the type of story in ' The Cinderella Man ' and the emotional type. ' The Beloved Traitor ' is the latter type and it is the strongest dramatic role Miss Marsh has had under the Goldwyn imprint. This production was made in Maine and New York, was directed by William Worthington and is an action picture as well as a highly emotional one. Exhibitors are advised that they can emphasize the drawing power of the picture with the catch line ' The story of the good girl who whipped the vampire.' In the cast supporting Miss Marsh are : E. K. Lincoln, George Fawcett, Hedda Hopper and other notables." Mabel Normand's story, " The Floor Below," combines comedy with a touch of melodrama, and still another new phase of this star's attainments is revealed. Tom Moore in Cast " The Floor Below " was directed by Clarence Badger and in the cast with Miss Normand are Tom Moore, under contract with Goldwyn for a long engagement; Madge Kennedy, Goldwyn Comedienne Helen Dahl, Major Wallace McCutcheon, Lincoln Plumer, Charlotte Granville, Louis R. Grisel, and others. Madge Kennedy's production, " The Danger Game," will be, Goldwyn says, one of the big surprises • of the season, and more especially to the following she has created with " Baby Mine," " Nearly Married" and "Our Little Wife." Miss Kennedy has been given an entirely new type of role — one calling for adventure, melodrama and action plus comedy. The first news about the production indicated that it might be known as " Powder Nose Annie," but this was a temporary working title that piqued the curiosity without revealing the strong dramatic power of the story. In the cast are Leslie Austen, Ned Burton, Mrs. Hugo Ballin and other capable players. Garden Film " Stormy " In reference to the Mary Garden release, " The Splendid Sinner," Goldwyn said : " Mary Garden in this picture will cause many thousands to exclaim, ' Ah, there is the Mary Garden that we all know! ' " It is a big, stormy, thrilling picture of a luxurious woman who yielded to temptation but worked out for herself a tremendous redemption and martyrdom. Kate Jordan, the author, has in her story conceived a splendid realization of the powers of feminine personality, and Mary Garden as the heroine is twice as unusual iind challenging as she was when depicted as the courtesan of Alexandria. Edwin Carewe directed this production. In the cast with Miss Garden are Hamilton Revclle, who did distinctive work as Paphnutius in " Thais " ; Anders Randolph, Roberto Bellinger and others. " M'liss " Chosen for Mary Pickford The next vehicle for Mary Pickford under the Artcraft banner is to be " M'liss," from Francis Bret Harte's novel, one of the most stirring of all California stories by the author. " M'liss " is a mischievous, ingenuous, uncouth, yet lovable character, withal. It should give Mary Pickford an opportunity to again display the gifts that have blessed her. A large cast of principals with ensembles of extra people will support the star. Francis Marion supplies the scenario and Marshall Neilan will direct the production. The latest Pickford Artcraft picture, " .A.marilly of Clothes-Line Alley," has just been finished at the Lasky studio in Hollywood. This story by Belle K. Maniates was also adapted to the screen by Frances Marion and directed by Marshall Neilan. It is said to be Miss Pickford's most humorous play, to date, and will probably be released in March. Farnum and Company Back in New York March 24 has been set as the release date of '■ Rough and Ready," the William Fox production, starring William Farnum. Mr. Farnum and the large company appearing in his support returned last week from Port Henry, N. Y., where they were engaged in making snow scenes. They were gone about three weeks and Director Richard Stanton, who is in charge of the third picture Mr. Farnum has made since his return to the East last year, reports exceptionally fine results from the trip to the Adirondacks. Mr. Farnum has begun work on the remaining " interiors " of the drama in the studios in this city. The subject will he released as a Standard picture. . " The Claim " Promises Novel Effect Edith Storey, Metro star, and her director, Frank Reicher, claim credit for accomplishing what Metro terms a talking motion picture, perfectly synchronized, which is scheduled to make its appearance in " The Claim," which is now being produced in California. Miss Storey appears in " The Claim " as Belle Jones, a woman embittered by grief and a man's perfidy. One human trait which adversity cannot destroy is her love of song ; and it is when she sings " Annie Laurie " that Director Reicher achieves his new efTect.