Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1920)

November 27,1920 4125 Jes sen's Studio News by Wire UNIVERSAL Carl Laemmle arrived on last Sunday. August Thompson's famous stage play, Colorado," is now being converted into scenario form by Wallace Clifton. Frank Mayo will be starred in this production under the direction of Reeve's Eason. Harry Carey is to be starred under the direction of Jacques Jacard in "If Only Jim," from PhiKp Mighcl's story. " Bruvver Jim's Baby." Mary Fairfax is now engaged in writing the continuity for " Cinderella Jane," from Marjoree Benton Cook's novel. Carmel Myers will star in this production and Rolin Sturgeon will direct. Turman Van Dyke will play the leading role. Lyons and Moran are now editing " One Awful Night." The big Monte Carlo scenes for Von Stroheim's " Foolish Wives " have been postponed until November 28 when more guests will arrive at the fasionable winter hotels to take part in the scenes. Director Norman Dunn, Edith Roberts and her supporting company, have gone to Valdez to use the numerous caves there for scenes in the South American play, " Hidden Fires." A Bennet Cohen story, " Three at the Table," has been bought for Miss Roberts next starring vehicle. Nyles Welsh, who has been placed under contract by Universal, will play leads for the present, and will be starred later. The following release titles have been selected : Carmel Myers' "The Orchard," will be " Beautifully Trimmed " ; Eva Novak's " Out of the Sunset " will be named " The Torrent." John Blackwood, former scenario editor for Thomas Ince, is now serving in the same capacity for Universal. Mr. Blackwood is a former newspaper man and has also been a theatrical producer and photoplay playwright. Eva Novak's next starring vehicle will be " Plain Folks." It is a story of city life by Helen Christine. Douglas Doty is the scenarioist. Leo McCarh will direct. The following Century comedies are now in the course of production : Fred Fishback, making "Firebugs : " Tom Buckingham, making "A Fearful Finish;" James Davis, making a burlesque on golf, entitled, " Cowpasture Pool." GOLDWYN Director Frank Lloyd has begun the filming of Gouverneur Morris's " Water Lily." The cast includes Leatrice Joy, T. Frank Glending, E. A. Warren, Margaret McWade and six well known Japanese players. The story has a Japanese atmosphere. Pauline Stark has been engaged for an important role in " Snow Blindness." a Reginald Barker pro Sylvia Bremer has arrived in Los Angeles to play with the next Sid Franklin production. Arthur Kane arrived on Thursday of last week for a conference with Charles Ray, Carter DeHaven, Bessie Love, Cyrus Williams and others. A scene from Harry Carey's new Universal feature " West is West." duction. Both these subjects are original photoplays by prominent authors. Naomi Childers will be the lead tor Tom Moore in " Mr. Barnes of New York," to be made under fhe direction of Victor Schirtzinger. The original story was the " Alidi." An original story by Charles Kenyon, entitled, " The Alibi," was purchased by Goldwyn. Kenyon is writing the continuity. Clifford Robertson, casting director, has been called to New York to confer with Goldwyn executives on future productions. Ralph Block, a Goldwyn executive, is in Los Angeles. Arthur Statter is writing continuity for the Rip Van Winkle story which will be Will Roger's next starring vehicle. SPECIAL PICTURES The reorganized staff of Special Pictures Corporation is announced by President Louis W. Thompson as follows : H. J. Roberts, sales manager ; C. C. Craig, business manager ; E. H. Silcock, sales supervisor; Hamlin Dall, publicity; J. J. Lane, studio manager; V. E. Hampton, exchange editor; Reggie Morris, chief of productions; Frank Terry, scenario editor; Everett Maxwell, continuity editor. " The Winner Loses " is the working title selected for the next Chester Conklin comedy written by Frank Terry, who was formerly with Harold Lloyd. Conklin takes the role of a small-town tailor. Lillian Hackett, who was recently with Lyons and Moran, plays opposite Mr. Conklin. Harry Edwards is directing the production. Ford Sterling has completed his first picture, entitled " A Ballroom Romeo." Charlotte Merriam plays opposite Mr. Sterling. Other members of the cast include Eddie Baker, Jay Belasco and Margaret Cullington. Reggie Morris is directing. Roy Marshall has been engaged to direct the forthcoming Art Acord series of two-reel Westerns. H. J. Roberts announces the appointment of Barney Shea as manager of the exchange at Washington, D. C. H. C. Ryan has been appointed director at Denver, where a new exchange has been opened at 1534 California street. Special Pictures Corporation has purchased sixteen acres in Hollywood and will start the construction of new studios on this site immediately. Special Pictures companies are now using the Jesse Hampton studios, where at the present time six units are engaged, headed by Conklin, Sterling, Fazenda, Neely Edwards, Milborn Marranti and Gale Henry. FIRST NATIONAL Marshall Neilan has gone with a company of ten to Arizona to film scenes for " Not a Drum was Heard." The leading parts in this picture will be taken by Wesley Barry, Margery Daw, Pat O'Malley, James Kirkwood and Noah Beery. Mildred Harris has been granted a divorce from Charley Chaplin, settlement being made at $200,000. Chaplin's former wife will be known professionally as Mildred Harris. She left on Tuesday <>f this week for New York to star in " Playthings of Desire." Herbert Rawlinson has been engaged to play opposite Anita Stewart in " The Tornado," under the direction of Edwin Carewe. Walter McGrail has been engaged for an important role in this production. Tom Kelly is writing the continuity from Jane Murfin's story. Katherine MacDonald is on her way East to visit her mother and sisters in New York. Ben Schulberg spent a few days here last week conferring with other executives regarding future Katherine MacDonald productions. BRUNTQN Representatives from the New York office of Federal Photoplays arrived on the coast this week. Ben Hampton has engaged Elliott Clawson to write the script for William Allen White's " A Certain Rich Man." Howard Hickman will direct this production. The principal roles will be assumed by Claire Adams and Robert McKim. Richard Schayer is now writing the script for Stuart Edward White's novel of early California times, " The Gray Dawn," for Ben Hampton. J. L. Frothingham has returned from New York after making arrangements for the release of a series of all-star productions. Charles Hutchinson, who has recovered from his injuries recently sustained, will resume work in the near future in the Brunton-Pathe serial, " The Fortieth Door." Mary Pickford's company has returned to Los Angeles from Carmelby-fhe-Sea. Al Werker has been named as an assistant to Frances Marion. Lindsay McKenna has returned from the East after a three months' advertising campaign for Betty Compson. W. S. Van Dyke is now directing the eleventh episode of " The Avenging Arrow," the BruntonFathe serial, starring Ruth Roland. ROBERTSONCOLE An original script by C. Gardner Sullivan has been purchased for L. J. Gasnier's next production. The tentative title is " Good Women." An original Chinese story has been purchased for Sessue Hayakawa's next starring vehicle. Work on this production will begin next week under the direction of Colin Campbell. 'In the Jhadow of the Domsx A David G. Fischer Production