Motion Picture News (Dec 1920-Feb 1921)

1338 Motion Picture News Robert Vignola, E. K. Lincoln and James R. Quirk at the Bahama Islands, where exteriors for " Redemption Cove," a Cosmopolitan-Paramount production, are being filmed Ray Production Due Feb. 14 Release of " The Old Swimmin' Hole " to Be Delayed One Week riRST NATIONAL has changed *■ the release date for Charles Ray"s next great picture, " The Old Swimmin" Hole," in which Arthur S. Kane will present the star, from February 7th to February 14th. Even though this adaptation of James W'hitcomb Riley's bcst-loved heart-interest poem can be shown in comparatively few places on that date, it is peculiarly fitting that the release should be set for St. Valentine's Day. When Ezra slips candy hearts, freighted with such tender love messages as " I Love You," " Be Mine," and " Kiss Me," into the hands of the fascinating but fickle Myrtle, and Esther hides a big red apple in Ezra's desk, there is something strongly suggestive of the St. Valentine spirit. Also, this is the picture in which the star springs a "'reat production surprise, and surprises always ha\ e been appropriate to this holiday. The candy and apple incidents are characteristic of the whole picture, which is a succession of scenes from the every-day life of the normal American village boy and girl. Air. Ray described the spirit of the piece exactly when somebodv asked him how he aQted the part of the mischievous, barefoot Ezra. " I don't act it," he said. " I simply live over again many scenes of my boxhood. It seems only yesterday that I was going down the meadow path to the old creek near the home where I was raised. And the little schoolhouse came back to me vividly as if I were still making life a burden to ihe teacher." In selecting his favorite poem, " The Old Swimmin' Hole," for picturization, Mr. Ray insisted that the film must adhere closely to the time and locale of the original, and Bernard McConville, who made the adaptation, and Joseph DeGrasse who directed the production followed instructions to the letter. A Sm all Town Idol" Opens Sennett's Associated Producers' Comedy Drama Scores on Coast Beban Special in the South Has Scored Heavily in South and Is Now Headed for " Windy City " "A SMALL TOWN IDOL," Mack Sennett's first contribution to the output of Associated Producers, Inc., of which he is a member, opened to an immediate public and box office success at the New Mission theatre, Los Angeles, last week, according to word received from the Coast. The following telegram from Harry David, managing director of the Mission, to F. B. Warren, general manager of distribution for Associated Producers, indicates the production's success. " Mack Sennett's ' Small Town Idol ' positively the biggest thing that ever played Los Angeles. No question that it is Sennett's greatest picture. Our gross business week ending tonight, $13,950. This seems unbelievable, taking into considera tion that Mission theatre has onlv 880 seats." The newspaper critics of Los Angeles gave great praise to the production. Florence Lawrence, writing in the Los Angeles Examiner, said : " 'A Small Town Idol ' is an instant success. Huge audiences filled the Mission theatre yesterday to greet Mr. Sennett's picture. He has eliminated entirely the proverbial slapstick and has evoked one of the most amusing films of his career." " Hardly an angle of melodramatic art escapes unscathed," says Guy Price, in the Evening Herald. " Melodrama, farce, polite comedy, comedy drama revue, spectacle and plot are all there. It is Sennett's first big picture since ' Mickey.' " **( )NE MAN IN A MILLION," the George Beban production which is being released by Robertson-Cole, has turned its course Northwestward, after a sweep through the South. It is heading toward Chicago which it will reach soon after the middle of February, and where more than three full weeks will be played, announces Robertson-Cole. Starting at Newark, N. J., where its national premier was marked by the personal appearance of Mr. Beban, who wrote, directed and acts the leading role in the production, '"One Man In A Million" went to Atlanta, Ga., after which it went to Nashville, Tenn., where it played at the Orpheum Theatre, controlled by the Crescent Amusement Company. Its next engagement was at the Strand Theatre, Louisville, of which Col. Fred Levy is proprietor. Intervening between this engagement and the Chicago runs will be stops in Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee. These engagements are all included in the $100,000 worth of contracts which Mr. Beban had obtained for the picture at the time he arranged for its national distribution with Robertson-Cole. " In each city where ' One Man In A Million ' has been shown so far it has proved a sensation," declares a statement from Robertson-Cole headquarters. While in Nashville, Tenn., Mr. Beban, who is appearing with " One Man in a Million " for a limited tour, W'as invited to speak before the state legislature. In reporting this one of the Nashville newspapers said : " There will be no necessity for censorship or closing on Sundays when the little producers, the parasites of the trade, are w-iped out. and we get clean, wholesome pictures," declared George Bel;an, noted motion picture actor, in a talk to the joint session of the state legislature at 12:30 o'clock today at the capital. Mr. Beban is making a coast-to-coast tour of the larger cities in the country, making appeals for better, cleaner motion oictures in connection with the showing of his picture, ' One Man In A Million,' a featured attraction today and tomorrow for matinee and night performances at the Orpheum." New Priscilla Dean Story " The Conflict," bv Clarence Kelland, Is Purchased by Universal UNIVERSAL has acquired the screen rights to " The Conflict," a novel by Clarence Budington Kelland, now^ running in the Red Book, and hailed as one of the best stories of the year. It will be used as a starring vehicle for Priscilla Dean, the star of " Outside the Law " and " The Virgin of Stamboul." Miss Dean is now being starred in " False Colors," by Edwina Levin. Universal paid a good stiff price for " The Conflict " it was stated by Mr. John C. Brownell, scenario chief for the big film company. Negotiations regarding the purchase extended over considerable time. '■ As soon as I read the opening installment of " The Conflict " in the Red Book," said Mr. Brownell. " I knew that it was what we call a Priscilla Dean story. I lost no time getting in touch with Mrs. C C. Wilkening, the author's agent. Upon reading the entire novel, I wsa more firmly convinced that the story suited Priscilla Dean as it would no other actress on the screen. " The Kelland novel will be published in book form by Harper Brothers, after it has been completed in the Red Book. It is very likely that the book and the Universal picture will appear about the same time. "Clarence Budington Kelland has written several popular novels which have been made into photoplays. Among them are ' Sudden Jim,' which was produced by Triangle with Charles Ray, and ' The Hidden Spring,' produced by Metro with Harold Lockwood. Kelland also was the author of " The Little Moment of Happiness "' a very popular war story, and " Efficiency Edgar's Courtship." " ' The Conflict ' is a big powerful story of the north woods. It is as griping a tale as has been written in man\^ months . . . The story, despite its mystery and its gripping drama, is filled with thrills and virile action of the out-ofdoors." ■ Edith Roberts Starts New Production " Three at the Table," a new photodrama with a unique plot, has just been put in production at Universal City with Edith Roberts in the stellar role, supervised by \\ illiam Worthington. The story is from the pen of Bennet Cohen and was adapted for picturization bj^ Wallace Clifton. Edith Roberts will have the part of a small town girl who finds her way into New York society; Casson Ferguson, who will be remembered as the son in " Madame X," plaj'S opposite the star in the role of Donald Grant, alias the Kid. who comes to the small village to rob and remains to reform ; Willam Quinn and Joe Neary appear as his pals ; Spottiswoode Aiken has an excellent role, and other parts are plaved bv Augustus Phillips. Bert_ Frank. Mathilde Brundage, Jessie Pratt and Edith Stayart.