Motion Picture News (Feb-Apr 1921)

1814 Motion Picture New Two scenes from Alice Calhoun's latest starring vehicle for Vitagraph, " The Charming Deceiver " To Release African Pictures ANNOUNCEMENT comes from the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation that it will release eight reels of the Paramount Vandenbcrgh African Pictures, obtained by Dr. Leonard J. Vandenbergh during his year of exploration of British East Africa and Uganda, in April. They will be available to exhibitors in series of four pictures, each two reels in length. The decision of Paramount to release these pictures, which show for the first time in film many of the least known African tribes, is declared to be the result of the favorable reception they were accorded when they were shown recently at the Rivoli and Rialto theatres in New York. The subject of the first episode in the scenes is " Wild Men of Africa," which is introduced with pictures portraying the strange life of the Wanyika, a tribe of villagers which was one of the first visited by the Vandenbergh party. The barbarous funeral customs are vividly shown; also the tribe's primitive dentistry and the art of body scarification which they practice. There is an interesting so-called witch dance, in which the natives, Dr. Vandenbergh says, " dance very much like some of our own people who frequent cabarets, dance halls and even private dances." The second episode is titled " The Lion Killers," at the end of which the Masai are seen putting the finishing spears into an ugly beast who has been committing depredations about the native village. Native marriage customs are also shown in this episode, along with a highlyinteresting series of scenes showing native hut builders at work. " Slaying the Hippopotamus," the third episode, shows this enormous beast in his native haunts and the way in which the savages set about to conquer him, the finishing incident being a barbecue, in which the black men find evident relish in what to Americans would probably seen rather tough fare. These pictures were taken in the land of the real African sleeping sickness, and Dr. Vandenbergh got a number of good photographs of some of the victims of this dread malady. The fourth episode is titled " The Land of the Pygmies," and beside being a subject which is certain to arouse great popular interest, it is of the greatest scientific value. For Dr. Vandenbergh and the photographer of the party, Dr. Shattuck, are among the few civilized human beings who have ever seen these strange and timid little people of the African forest, and these are the first photographs ever taken of them. The Mambuti, they are called, and in this wonderful film these tiny natives whose existence heretofore has been generally regarded as purely mythical are seen in their villages which are little more than bowers of leaves. This ROBERT G. VIGNOLA, who for the past year has been making special productions for CosmopolitanParamount, will undertake his first star picture under his present affiliations when he will begin work within a week on a production starring Marion Davies. The vehicle is a light comedy adapted by Luther Reed from Frank R. Adams's story, " Manhandling Ethel," which apneared recently in Cosmopolitan Magazine. This is the first of a series of four, or perhaps five, productions which Mr. Vignola will make for Cosmopolitan-Paramount during 1921. Tentative plans have already been laid for the entire year, including the choosing of the stories which have been written by a different well-known writer. As in the past year Mr. Vignola will observe strictly liis policy of making each production unlike the others in theme so that exhibitors who nlay the entire Vignola series will have a variety of treatments, it is declared. This policy proved successful during the past year when he produced "The World and His Wife," " The Passionate Pilgrim," " Straight Is the War," and " Redemption Cove," which is yet to be released. " I am looking forward with a great deal of pleasure and anticipation to directing Miss Marion Davies," said Mr. Vignola. " I race, Dr. Vandenbergh says, is fast vanishing, so that these pictures will probably remain for all time the only authentic pictorial record of their existence. Since returning from this expedition, which was financed by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Dr. Vandenbergh has been in great demand as a speaker before scientific organization in November last he spoke in Washington at the invitation of the National Geographic Society, an honor which is accorded only those who have accomplished unusual things for natural science. have never had the opportunity of working with her although I have known her personally for a long time. While we have long cherished the idea that some day we would do a picture together we did not want to start until we had found a certain type of story. I am glad to say that ' Manhandling Ethel ' is that story. It is a light comedy with a role that seems to have been especially designed for Miss Davies' unusual personality. Its opportunities for the display of her rare talents are tremendous and I am confident that with it she will set a new vogue in screen attractions." Stoll Sets "The Tidal Wave" for Feb 27 "The Tidal Wave." the Stoll Film production of the novel by Ethel M. Dell, will be released in this country on February 27, according to announcement from the offices of the company. This is the company's ninth publication since the first of the year, in its one-aweek program of productions by well-known writers. Among the members of the cast are Poppv Wyndham, Tudd Green. Sydnev Seaward. Annie Esmond and Pardoe Woodman. Sinclair Hill adapted, directed and produced " The Tidal Wave." May Yohe Will Make Personal Appearance Arrangements have been made U have May Yohe, formerly Lad: Francis Hope, make personal an pearance at the theatres where "Th< Hope Diamond Mystery," the ne» fifteen episode serial to be releaiec by the Howells Sales Company | Inc., is being shown. It is probable that May Yohe hat more sensational publicity than an; actress in the history of the theatnl in America, states Howells. Start1 ing out as the daughter of a poo> dressmaker in Philadelphia she roMI to fame almost ever night as tht star of a musical comedy. From that time her rise wa.' meteoric until she became the ac knowledged favorite of two continents. Then she met and marriet Lord Francis Hope and became the! possessor of the famous Hope dia-i mond. "The Hope Diamond Mystery" is largely a history of this sinister stone. It starts in the castle oL Lord Hale in England and show* the clandestine love affair between Lady Hale and her American lover. It then jumps to India and shows] the early history of the diamond and the manner in which it was stolen from the Goddess Rama Sita by a Frenchman named Tavernier, all for love of a dancing girl. The high priests of the temple then in-, voke the curse which has followetH the stone down through the age*. In her personal appearance at the theatres May Yohe will not only teB the sinister effect of the stone on her own life but will tell of the history of the stone which she has compiled from researches she made in the British Museum when she was Lady Hope. Screen Players Aid in Los Angeles Benefit February 2 was a red letter day for Los Angeles, the occasion being an entertainment and ball held at the Hotel Ambassador for the benefit of the Herbert Hoover fund for the relief of starving European children. Under the direction of Sid Grauman special acts by noted screen players were presented. Among those on the program was Realartist Bebe Daniels and Walter Hiers, who played opposite Miss Danieb in one of her latest pictures. They appeared in separate acts. Other numbers included the premiere showing of two productions; Kosloff and an elaborate musical interpretive dancing by Theodor program. Board of Review Honors "Big Four" Pictures United Artists have the distinction of having both of its last two releases. ''The Mark of Zorro" and " The Love Light " in which Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, respectively, starred, chose* by the National Board of Reviewj of Motion Pictures, as " Except lional Photoplays." In lining n» the best photoplays two montht ago, the National Board selectew the Fairbanks production as the' first, and in their second list of selections, they name the Fickfortf; production. Vignola to Do Star Picture Is About to Start Production in Which Marion Davies Will Be Star