Motion Picture News (Dec 1920-Feb 1921)

876 Motion Picture X ejg WITH the new Pathe serial play announced for exhibition on release date in theatres in all parts of the country, Charles Hutchinson, serial daredevil, will make his bow to countless motion picture fans in an episode romance of stunts, thrills and excitement, when " Double Adventure " is offered on January 23rd. The film in which Hutchinson will star is a fifteen-episode play written by Jack Cunningham and produced by Robert Brunton. W. S. Van Dyke directed the picture. " Double Adventure " is primarily a " vehicle " for the star. Its plot was contrived so as to permit the famous stunt star all the freedom possible for the performance of his daring acrobatics with motorcycles, automobiles, aeroplanes and horses. Editorial Lauds "Edgar Series" by Tarkington Eloquent testimony to the lifelikeness, the humor, the insight and artistry of the series of two-reel comedies of American boy nature produced by Goldwyn and written by Booth Tarkington, master delineator of child types in modern American literature, is borne by the motion picture editor of the New York Times. Writing editorially on the outstanding screen developments of the year in the issue of the Times for Sunday, January 2, he says: " The writer is inclined to regard as among the most significant works of the year the Edgar comedies from the pen of Booth Tarkington, produced under the direction of E. Mason Hopper and Mason N. Litson, with Johnny Jones as Edgar. More imaginaton has entered into the making of these comedies than may be discerned in any other production seen in 1920." George Bunny Scoring in Capitol Comics George Bunny, son of the famous comedian, John Bunny, is starring in the latest Capitol Comedy, "You'd Better Get It," which is being released through the Goldwyn Distributing Corporation. Reports from the Goldwyn exchanges show that George Bunny is being well received. In support of the star appears Estelle Harrison. The Georee Bunny series of Capitol Comedies are being directed by Mark Goldaine; and Kingsley Benedict is writing them as well as acting in them. George Beban, in a scene from " One Man in a Million," the George Beban production distributed by Robertson-Cole To Exploit Beban Picture Action, Characters and Backgrounds Offer Fine Possibilities is Report "Scrambled Wives" Release in January Filming of " Scrambled Wive* the first production from the s* : '■'/ of Marguerite Clark, the chosen by the petite star for h : rr turn to the screen, has been completed and the finished print will he delivered to Associated First Xational Pictures, Inc., who will release the picture before the end of January. The cutting and titling will take somewhat longer than thai of the usual production of the ^ame length, due to a production theof)' held by Miss Qark. In the cast supporting Miss Clai^ appear Leon P. Gendron, Ralph Bunker, Florence Martin, Virginia Lee, Alice Mann, Frank Badgley, America Cheddister, John Mayer, John Washburn, T. A. Eraidon, Harry Fisher, Wesley Jenkins, .\da Neville and Emma Wilcox, Edwin H. Griffith, assisted by A. F. Bernadac, did the directing, and William McCoy and Ray June photography. Roche Pens Complete Comedy in Week Arthur Somers Roche, the latest acquisition of Metro's colony of prominent writers, set a new record by producing a complete comedy in one week. " Kissed " is the title of the story, which was written especially for May Allison, who will be seen in the production in the near future. THE week following the signing of the contract between Robertson-Cole and George Beban, whereby the former undertakes the distribution of Mr. Beban's special production, " One Man in a Million," finds the work of preparing an elaborate exploitation and advertising campaign for the picture well under way, announces a statement from Robertson-Cole headquarters. " One Man in a Million " on January 8, opened a week's engagement at the New Branford theatre, Newark, N. J., this being its national premier. Following this it will continue to play off the $100,000 in contracts which Robertson-Cole secured as part of its agreement with Mr. Beban and Sol Lesser, who was allied with Mr. Beban in making the production, declares the R.-C. statement. Only two or three of these engagements will have been played before Robertson-Cole will present to the trade its complete campaign for putting over " One Man in a Million," and then first runs everywhere may have the picture. Bookings are now being taken by the Robertson Cole branches in all parts of the country. "One Man in a Million" is said to be highly adaptable to exploitation in many forms. It has several human problems mingled with its action. Its actors present such picturesque characters as a city pound master, a post-war group of Belgian waifs, a Belgian mother seeking her lost child; a combination Fagin and bootleeger, a detective who pursues his investigations along sociological angles, dozens of children in appealing roles, and scores of dogs of all sorts, not to speak of a most remarkable educated parrot. The backgrounds of " One Man in a Million " add further to the exploitation possibilities of the picture. They include a city dog pound, and city streets wherein the dog catcher has amusing and dramatic adventures, a colorful low IS lunch room, a mysterious den of thievery and a secret still beneath the sidewalk, the home of the humble, big-hearted Italian, who is the picture's central figure, and other interesting scenes. Film Tester Invented by Metro Cameraman Jackson Rose, cameraman at the Metro studios in Hollywood, and photographer of May Allison's last three special screen productions, has perfected an apparatus whose application permits film to be printed and exposed to sunlight five minutes after exposure in the camera, declares a statement from Metro's headquarters. Mr. Rose has recorded patents on the device, and it will be used on all Metro productions. The " cinema film tester," as the invention has been named, consists of a tiny box attached to the camera. It is so arranged that it may be used at any stage of the making of exteriors or interiors, regardless of the strength of sunlight. Film Shows How New York Gets Its Food A motion-picture produced bjr the Community Productions, Inc. under the auspices of the State Division of Food and Market*, shows how New York City gets its food supply. The views show the transportation of food-stuffs from the New Jersey freight yards to the New York markets in lower Manhattan. The transfer of the food-stuffs through the jobbing sections to the retail store and finally to the family's breakfast table is interestingly visualized. A portion of the production was scheduled for showing at the Rialto, New York, for the week of December 19th. Prints will be loaned without cost to theatres, schools and civic organizations, announces the Division of Food and Markets. All-Animal Cast for Chester Comedy ■' Ladies' Pets," a Chester comedy, which is to be released through Educational exchanges earlj' in February, is promised as one of the most unique pictures in all film history in that every important role is taken by animals, with a single exception— that of the dog-catcher. Charles Ray's Picture Released Feb. 7th A smashing surprise is promised the public when Charles Ray's fourth independently produced picture, an adaptation of James Whitcomb Riley's poem, " The Old Swimmin' Hole," is released by First National February 7. According to Arthur S. Kane, who presents the star, the particular feature that is destined to make exhibitors and fans alike to stop, look and — look again, is something absolutely unique in film production. Bebe Daniels Chosen Most Popular Star Bebe Daniels, Realart star proved to be the most popular moving picture actress among the picture patrons in the competition recently conducted under the auspices of the Grand Rapids Herald. Bebe Daniels and Wallace Reid were chosen the most popular stars. \^TAQRAPH A