Motion Picture News (Dec 1920-Feb 1921)

ami ar y 22, i g 2 i 873 Fox Special Scores on Coast Charles Miller, well known artist who das been elected Chief Executive of The Motion Picture Directors' Association, New York Lodge »i M.P.D.A. Elect New Officers The annual meeting of the MoPicture Directors' Association, well as the date for election of icers, fell simultaneously on Jan4. A large attendance gathto cast their votes for their fared candidates, with the result .t Charles Miller will succeed lil'ames Vincent as Director; CTiarles VI. Seay will take up the work of scenarist laid down by Travers V^'ale, and the other officers elected ire as follows: Assistant director, 5. E. V. Taylor; technical director, Robert G. Vignola; treasurer, C. fay Williams; inner guard, Robert Ellis; outer guard, George A. Les-ey ; trustee for three years, James \lncent. THE Wm. Fox special production, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," from the Mark Twain satire of the same name, now showing at Miller's theatre, Los Angeles, at 50 cents, 75 cents and $1, is by many believed to be the most unusual and highly entertaining picture shown in Los Angeles for many months, and local press critics have lauded Director Emmett J. Flynn and the cast in most extravagant terms. The production is timely, even though the story was written many years ago, for it contains the doctrine that keeps Europe in an uplieaval, namely, the divine right of kings. The story having been brought up to date in every phase creates numerous comedy situations, keeps the big audiences iti almost continuous uproar. Perhaps the biggest laughs are caused by King Arthur's knights, clad in armor, going forth to war on motorcycles built in a modern factory under the supervision of the Connecticut Yankee, but the timely use of telephones, the creation of Ford automobiles from discarded armor and the destruction of the Queen's Castle by dynamite are almost equally ludicrous. The production may be spoken of as a spectacle for the settings, costuming, and effects giving an at By J. C. Jessen (Special Correspondent) mosphere of the time King Arthur's reign add a grandeur and beauty, not surpassed by films of early day atmosphere seen by the writer. There have been pictures made in which more people were used in the mob scenes, but I doubt if in any the people have been used to better advantage and dressed the sets in a more convincing manner than in this Fox film. The completion of this production brings another director into the limelight for in the making of this Emmett J. Flynn has outdone all previous efforts and produced a real special feature worth higher rentals and box office prices for the production will not only please every one but it will create that desired mouth to mouth advertising wherever shown, thus adding inestimably to its value. Superlative adjectives should be used in speaking of every member of the cast. Harry C. Meyers, whose recent work has been as heavy, is the leading man of this feature, playing the part of the Yankee in a manner most suitable lor this debonair semi-light comedian role, while Pauline Stark is a most captivating heroine as Sandy and gives the best performance of her several years on the screen. Rosemary Theby interprets the role of Queen Morgan Le Fay with a vampish hauteur that brings Mark Twain's word pictures to life. Merlin, the magician, is played by Wm. D. Mong, and this well known actor does not lose a single scene. Charles Clary satisfied your imagination in his performance as King Arthur and George Siegmann as Sir Sagramore is again a heavy and gives an exceptional performance. Charles Gordon as the page rounds out a truly all star cast, while Carl Forms gives an impersonation of Mark Twain in the introduction of characters. Of marked value to the production are the sub-titles, many which are composed of up-to-the-minute slang, which serve to contrast them with ye olde English statements of King Arthur's people. Bernard McConville is accredited with the scenario. Since the opening of this picture at Miller's theatre, Los Angeles, it has played from three to five capacity houses daily, and it is estimated the picture will continue at this theatre at the present prices for a run of eight or ten weeks. First Neilan Release for 1921 Striking Local Color in "Home Stuff" Time will roll back for many resiients of the big cities with their first glimpse of Viola Dana in Home Stuff," a piquant tale of laughs and tears now being filmed as a special Metro production. For the picture is being crowded with the all but forgotten home touches that will be recalled by every city dweller. Everything from the pet chicken that followed its mistress about the back j'ard, to the little opera house down on Main street, will be seen in the production, declares Metro. Pioneer Executive to Visit Exchanges Called away on some very important deals. Vice President and General Manager M. H. Hoffman of the Pioneer Film Corporation has left the city to visit Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit. In all probability he will also visit Chicago. while visiting these cities Mr. Hoffman will call on the Pioneer exchanges for conference with managers and their assistants and outline to them the program of activity for Pioneer for the New Year. MARSHALL NEILAN'S initial release for 1921 will be his spectacular visualization of Randall Farrish's book, " Bob Hampton of Placer," the big production of America's frontier days in 1876, which has been in the course of production since early last summer. Undoubted!} the most ambitious picture yet staged by this producer, declares a statement from the Neilan headquarters on the Coast, this film will mark the beginning of an active year for the Neilan producing organization. Upon his return to Hollywood from New York Mr. Neilan will finish this production for early release in the New Year. The picturization of Booth Tarkington's famous "Penrod" will then be started by the Neilan company, with Wesley Barry again in the starring role. This film will be staged in the east in order to give the picture its proper setting. Albert Payson Terhune's " The Lotus Eater " is also scheduled for early production. These three subjects indicate that Mr. Neilan will start the new year with the presentation of well known stories, staged in a big wa}'. For " Bob Hampton of Placer " the producer has used 1500 men and horses of the Tenth Cavalry stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. In the production of these spectacular military effects the entire fort was turned over to Mr. Neilan. A thousand Blackfeet Indians in their picturesque attire are also shown and many night views with novel lighting photographed by David Kesson and Jacques Bizeul at the head of a rorps of cameraman are said to present the " Bob Hampton of Placer " Heads Schedule for 192 I most artistic conceptions of Mr. Neilan's career of ten years in the producing branch of the industry. In picturing this story Mr. Neilan has found it unnecessary to deviate from the original plot. With the exception of the creation of the character portrayed by Wesley Barry, to give comedy relief to the otherwise highly dramatic theme, he has closely followed Mr. Parrish's book, which has had such wide popularity. Marion Fairfax, who has adapted all the Neilan stories for screen presentation during the past year, has worked for months on the script of " Bob Hampton" with the idea of making this her best achievement. In the part of " Bob," James Kirkwood is given a character that should register some of his best efforts. The mystery surrounding this character makes it a difficult one to portray. Wesley Barry, Marjorie Daw, Pat O'Malley, Noah Beery, Charles West and other popular Neilan players in "Go and Get It," "Dinty" and "The River's End " are assembled in the cast. Wesley Barry forsakes his newspapers and ragged cap of " Dinty " for the hair chaps and six-shooters in " Bob Hampton of Placer." In this production Mr. Neilan again entrusts the comedy high lights of the story to the frecklefaced youngster in a part especially written into the plot which is other wise of great dramatic tensity throughout. Playing opposite Tames Kirkwood, who portrays the title role, Wesley is always in the foreground of the action as the pard of the story's hero. "Dinty" has given the public an idea of the dramatic scope of this boy's talents, and while his work will chiefly be along a humorous vein in " Bob Hampton of Placer," there are several incidents of heart appeal in which he figures lhat are expected to outshine his previous efforts, including such work as he evidenced in the death scene in " Dinty," conceded to be one of the most striking bits of acting disclosed this season on the A scene from the Cecil B. De Mille's production " Something to Think About," a Paramount picture.