Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1920)

an u a r y 24, 1920 Pretentious Universal Film Completed Nearly five monihs spent in the makig over a quarter of a million dolrs expended on the production, near/ 4,000 actors and extras used in the arious scenes and nearly 100,000 feet f negative film exposed are marked p against this picture on the debit de of the Universal ledger for " The eautiful Beggar. " On its credit side re a story of interest based on H. H. /^an Loan's creation, "The Virgin of tamboul," the acting of Priscilla )ean, supported by such players as Vallacc Beery, Wheeler Oakman, F. L. Warren, Edward Burns, Eugenie brd. Clyde Benson, Ethel Ritchie and 'vette Mitchell, a subtle presentation f the mysterious atmosphere of the rient, and the fine direction of Tod rowning. 1093 [ore Reports Received on Mary Miles Film The Realart Pictures Corporation lorts that last week recorded ancr week of capacity business on ..ary Miles' starring vehicle, "Anne if Green Gables." Among the most nthusiastic reports from exhibitors re those of Harold B. Franklin, naging director of Shea's Hippome theatre, Buffalo, who reported tremendous " business on the feae, and Dave Harding, the Kansas \ exhibitor, who advised of doing a ipacity business against the keenopposition of the year." ^Robson of "The Harvest Moon" Cast Marries Stuart Robson was married on January 7. at the City Hall, to Miss S Yvette Ledoux, of Boston, daughter ^ of the former United States Ambas^ !or to Portugal. Mr. Robson is ing the juvenile lead in the pro• ••i action of Augustus Thomas' famous old rama, " The Harvest Moon," now bef ing produced with Doris Kenyon, as irjihe star, by Deitrich-Beck, Inc., at the ih Baird Studios, Cliffside, N. J., W. W. Hodkinson distribution. Glaum Feature Gets a Big Start J PARKER READ, JR.'S, knowl• edge of the exact dramatic materials demanded by exhibitors in a large measure accounts for the success reported on his second big Louise Glaum special production, " The Lone Wolf's Daughter," by Louis Joseph Vance and distributed by the Hodkinson organization. Exhibitors' own reports are said to rank this as a dramatically and technically perfect production and reports likewise strongly fix it as one of the few really big productions of the past twelve months. The reception of it by first-run exhibitors has been exceptionally enthusiastic and it has gone into the biggest theatres for immedrate play dates. Just two pictures, " Sahara " and "The Lone Wolf's Daughter" have cstabHshed Louise Glaum with leading feminine stars and all of the following that has recognized in her an emotional star have shown their approval of her by the patronage given to exhibitors since J. Parker Read, Jr., began his production of stories with Miss Glaum as the star. "The Lone Wolf's Daughter" is the first big production released through the Hodkinson organization to play the New York Capitol theatre, its opening being scheduled for January 18 after a city-wide billboard campaign and heavy newspaper advertising. " The Lone Wolf's Daughter " estab M any of Country's Finest Houses Run "Lone Wolfs Daugrhter " Marguerite De LaMotte, who has an important role in " The Sagebrusher," distributed by W. W. Hodkinson lished a week's attendance at Tom Moore's Garden theatre, Washington, last week, and the noted Capital City showman reports capacity business on its second Sunday presentation which u>lKrtd in another week's run of the powerful Louise Glauni picture. Charles H. Miles, for whom " Sahara" shattered all house records at his Majestic theatre, Detroit, has booked "The Lone Wolf's Daughter" fqr early February presentation. The Goodwin theatre, Newark, N. J., began a two weeks' engagement of the J. Parker Read, Jr., production on Sunday, and a capacity audience was the rule at every performance. Other first-run bookings tliat have just been closed for "The Lone Wolf's Daughter " are : The Colonial, Toledo, O. ; the Strand, NashvillCj Tenn. ; the Apollo, Peoria, 111. ; the Dome, Newcastle, Pa. ; the Orpheum, Galesburg, 111.; the Majestic, La Salle, 111.; the Fox, Aurora, 111. ; the Mirror, Moline, 111.; the Palm, Rockford, 111.; the Blackstone, Pittsburgh; the U. S. Pliotoplay, Paterson, N. J. ; the Majestic, Jackson, Mich. ; the De Luxe, Hammond, Ind. ; the Strand, Fort Dodge, la. Among the big theatres that have already presented " The Lone Wolf's Daughter" with splendid success are: The Boston and Rose theatres, Chicago, for a week's run day and date presentation ; the Casino, Spokane, Wash. ; the Crystal, Joliet, 111. ; Poll's theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ; the Opera House, New Brunswick, N. J. ; the Liberty, Davenport, la. ; the Vendome, Chicago, 111. ; the Vista, Chicago. Jesse L. Lasky Issues Statements This fair lady is Helen Chadwick, who is appearing in Goldwyn's first Eminent Authors picture, " The Cup of Fury " JESSE L. LASKY, first vice-president of the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, has issued the following statement upon his return to New York after a stay of several months on the Pacific Coast, where he is reported to have made a thorough inspection of the corporation's western producing organization. The statem.ent follows in part : " If we in the motion picture industry ever thought we had seen the limit of big motion picture production," said Mr. Lasky, " we are destined to be pleasantly surprised in the next few months; for the rest of this season of 1920 will see the release of some of the most artistic, spectacular and dramatic pictures ever put on the screen. The hour of the big special has struck, and the vast army of motion picture lovers all over the country in the coming months will see the screen rise to new heights of artistic expression. " This is not a generality. I have seen Cecil B. DeMille making ' Why Change Your Wife?' And then I have seen this wonderful picture on the screen. It is strong drama, beautifully done, and will prove a fitting successor to those other big Cecil B. DeMille successes, ' Why Change Your Husband,' ' Male and Female,' and ' For Better, for Worse.' " Then there is William D. Taylor's production of ' Huckleberry Finn.' Mr. Taylor is a lover of Mark Twain's books, and in this production of the areat humorist's masterpiece he has lavished all the care and artistic attention that such a great story demands. ' Huckleberry Finn ' is the most widely read of American books, and has Official Returns from West Enthusiastic Over Prospects made millions of friends wherever the English language is read. As a motion picture its public is already assured in the tremendous number of people who have read Mark Twain's books. And these people will not be disappointed, for Mr. Taylor has closely followed the text of the story and has translated the atmosphere of Mark Twain with remarkable fidelity. " Maurice Tourneur has finished his production of ' Treasure Island,' and I promise every reader of Stevenson's book that the picture will contain all the thrills and pictitftsqueness that made the story a classic of English literature. " George Melford's production of Jack London's story, ' The Sea Wolf ' is another example of the big special productions which exhibitors can look forward to. " Just before I left Los Angeles, George Melford had started his production of Roscoe Arbuckle in 'The Round-Up.' " William DeMille is busy on his special production of ' The Prince Chap,' with Thomas Meighan in the title-role. Mr. Meighan's sterling abilities make him ideal for this role, and Mr. DeMille is planning an extraordinarily lavish production." Nat'l Film Plans Busy Year An "All-American " Program for 1920; Executive Predicts Successful Year << A YEAR of smashing success is predicted for the National Film Corporation of America by Capt. Harry M. Rubej^ president of that concern. It will be an "All-American" year for the National, according to word received from the West coast studios, as the tentative plans are to the effect that the productions will be confined to the screening of American stories by American authors. The first of this series is already in production, while active work on the second will commence within three weeks. A newserial will also be included in the 1920 program, with Jack Hoxie in the stellar role. The first cfi the National's 1920, which will be marketed about March first, is Opie P. Read's "The Kentucky Colonel" with a good cast including Joseph J. Dowling, Francis McDonald, Elinor Field, Lloyd Bacon, Fred Kohler, Thelma Salters, Gordon Griffiths and many Others. "Mary Minds Her Btisiness". a Mildred Considine adaptation of the George Weston story, now running serially in the Ladies Home Journal, will be the second of National's "AlfAmerican" series, it is stated. As soon as Flanagan and Edwards return from a trip to the PacificNorthwest, work will be resumed