Motion Picture News (Dec 1920-Feb 1921)

January 22, i g 2 i 879 Stahi to Produce for Mayer on Coast After a three months' visit to \'e\v York, John M. Stahl, director, las returned to Los Angeles to regime production activities under he Louis B. Mayer banner. Mr. stahl's pictures will hereafter be aiown as John M. Stahl Producions. They will be famous stories ihned on an elaborate scale, and vill have all-star casts. -Mr. Stahl's first Louis B. MayerVssociated First National attracion, " The Woman in His House," las created much interest in film ircles in the East. Arrangements re now being made to put the picure in one of the big Broadway l.catres for an extended run. While in New York Mr. Stahl ut " Sowing the Wind," his latest licture for Louis B. Mayer. It lars Anita Stewart, and, according o the reviews of the Eastern critcs, it promises to be one of the i;g dramatic ofTerings of 1921. ^reparations are now under way or Mr. Stahl to begin work on the irst of his signed -productions that viU be released by Mr. Mayer hrough' Associated First National. lohnny Hines Extends Tour upon Demand So successful has been the peronal appearance of Johnny Hines, tar in Torchy comedies, released hrough Educational, in several learby cities, the leading exhibitors n Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pitts)urgh have sent urgent requests hat the celebrated portrayer of jewell Ford's red-headed office boy )e sent to those cities. Charles C. Burr, president of Jaster Films, Inc., has made the .rrangements for these visits hrough President E. W. Hamnons of Educational Film Ex:hanges. Inc. The schedule as aranged provides for Cincinnati the veek of January 16th, Cleveland he week of January 23rd, and then -"ittsburgh the week of January »th. This trip is made possible only )erause production of Torchy com■dies is well ahead of schedule. Elinor Fair Opposite Earle Williams Elinor Fair has been engaged to ippear as leading woman for Earle Ailliams in his next Vitagraph )roduction, " Loot of the Night," )y Frederick J. Jackson. She has ust returned to Los Angeles after inishing a picture in New York as eading woman for Eugene O'Brien. David Srnith will direct the star in his production. Two of W. W. Hodkinson's new pictures: Left — Bessie Barriscale in "The Broken Gate." Right — "The Truant Husband," with Francilia Billington and Mahlon Hamilton Hodkinson Issues Statement UNDER the caption .of " The Spoils System in Pictures," W. W. Hodkinson, president of the W. W. Hodkinson Pictures Corporation, discusses the reports, finding frequent place in the press of late, to the effect that a lessening of production and a general incisive retrenchment are the predominant features of the prevailing situation in the motion picture industrj'. Says Mr. Hodkinson : '■ Too many of us are trying to repress or defy the natural laws of growth, too many of us are seeking to escape the operation of inescapable laws. Here are the causes of all the ' howling and gnashing of teeth.' There are too many producer-distributor concerns in this industry built on the theory that they are capable single handed of supplying the theatres of the entire world with all the product they may need. Here begins one of the most fatal of all the errors now afflicting the industry. The producer be that their error arises merely •from over-weening ambition, though it is hard to resist the belief that greed enters into the situation. Now when we have a definite number of producers, all of them releasing on a definite and fixed schedule, and all of them geared on the belief that they are the best judges of the merits of their own product, there must be an end to all sound and healthy development. One unfailing effect is the instant depreciation of quality. This depreciation will progress steadily until we reach the point where the public, ordinarily the most patient animal in God's great menagerie rebels and there ensues great distress and confusion ending in disaster for those who have set natural laws at defiance. " Growth in this industry is possible only through the conscientious application of the selective principle. Talent must have free play — ability and genius must be made sure of their reward. How can this be done under a system which seeks to perpetuate arbitrary values and which has no use for talent or ability or genius except as these elements may fit into the rigid and unnatural scheme of producer-controlled organizations. " I believe that we have reached the point when the public is begin Spoils System " vs. " Merit System " His Subject ning to rebel. Constructive, conscientious and competent criticism places an arbitrary value upon his product. The fact is that no producer and no group of producers is capable of determining in advance of a public verdict the honest and genuine value of any nroduction. I do not necessarily impugn the good faith of these producers. It may has been a sore need in this industry. If we had had it in sufficient volume we might now now be confronted with the wrath of the public. The subject is tempting, but its further pursuit might lead me too far afield. The definite practical thing which concerns me and ought to concern every constructive and independent force within the industry is the result of this unfavorable verdict of the public on the man who owns the motion picture theatre. '■ W'e are entering on the final stage of the battle between the merit system and the spoils system. The spoils system is the fated method of the producer-controlled organization, the system which lives by despoiling both the exhibitor and the public and which will become extinct within a twelve-month or less. It will be succeeded by the merit system which automatically keeps down any pictures with a taint of inferiority; the system which automatically attracts and encourages talent in the producing field; the system which relying on the play of natural forces regulated by immutable laws will always be able to serve cream instead of skimmed milk." Pathe Films Night Scenes New Year's Eve Celebration on B'way Highlight of Pathe News /^NE of the most picturesque features of New York's celebration of the entrance of the New Year was the enthusiasm displayed by vast street crowds in the methods employed by the Pathe News organization in depicting its highlights for issue No. 2. The camera records of these methods form an important part of the reel, and legitimately, for they were hailed by multitudes all along the Great White Way as adding an unique efTect to the midnight spectacle. For the first time, Pathe claims, in the history of the News Screen, New York night life upon a great occasion was successfully filmed from a dozen different points of view. Editor Emanuel Cohen and his staff had prepared for the occasion, in the most thorough and farsighted manner. For purposes of photography at night, powerful illumination of course was necessary, and this is accomplished only by means of heavy and cumbersome apparatus. No single street installation would meet the opportunities of a celebration covering so large an area of the city, so three huge motor trucks were employed. On one of these the illuminating apparatus— including powerful sunlight arc lamps — was placed, while the others carried the cameras with their operators and assistants. Wherever the Pathe News studio on wheels appeared people gathered and crowds thickened as though by magic. Police officials with whom arrangements for right of way had been rnade estimated that more than a million persons struggled goodnaturedly to get within focus of the cameras. Wm. Farnum Wins Popularity Competition In a competition just concluded under the auspices of the Terre Halite Tribune, and conducted in conjunction with the Liberty theatre of that city, William Farnum polled a lead of 3,546 over his nearest competitor, announces William Fox.